Grazing by the intertidal gastropod Melampus coffeus greatly increases mangrove leaf litter degradation rates

Proffitt, C. Edward; Devlin, Donna J.

doi:10.3354/meps296209

Cited by 41 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Outrossim, demonstra preferência por certas espécies (e.g. Rhizophora mangle e Avicennia germinans) e consome mais rapidamente folhas mais velhas (PROFFITT et al, 1993;PROFFITT & DEVLIN, 2005). PROFFITT et al (1993) O aumento da biomassa úmida e seca das folhas observado a partir da quinta semana de experimento pode ter sido provocado pelo acúmulo de biofilme sobre as folhas que surgiu na área em estudo de forma abundante a partir da quarta semana de experimento.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Contribuição de Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) na degradação da serapilheira do médio estuário do rio Pacoti, Ceará, Brasil

Tavares

Maia

Rocha‐Barreira

2011

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Contribution of Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) to leaf litter decomposition in the middle estuary of the Pacoti river, Ceará, Brazil. The leaf litter decomposition in the middle estuary of the Pacoti river was studied in the presence and absence of the gastropod Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758), aiming at examining the contribution of this invertebrate to the organic matter cycling in mangroves ecosystems. The local population density of M. coffeus and leaf distribution based on wet biomass, dry biomass, and abundance, were estimated. A field experiment was conducted using samples of Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) leaves (with similar color, and wet and dry biomass) equally distributed in 64 leaf litter cages. Groups of 14 individuals of M. coffeus were placed in 32 of these cages. The experimental cages were equally distributed with their respective control cages (leaves only) in the field among four points, totaling 64 cages. During eight weeks four pairs of cages (experimental and control) were collected weekly. Once collected, the leaves showing signs of grazing by M. coffeus were counted. The wet and dry biomasses of samples were also determined. Although M. coffeus can contribute to leaf litter degradation, in this study, its effect on leaf degradation was not significant when comparing experiment and control groups during the experimental time in the studied area. KEYWORDS. Leaves, macrodetritivores, mangroove, Rhizophora mangle. RESUMO.A degradação da serapilheira no médio estuário do rio Pacoti foi estudada na presença e na ausência do gastrópode Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758), visando verificar a possível contribuição desse invertebrado na ciclagem da matéria orgânica dos manguezais. A densidade populacional de M. coffeus e a distribuição das folhas, em termos de biomassa úmida, biomassa seca e abundância, presentes na serapilheira do local, foram estimadas a partir de uma amostragem. Um experimento em campo foi realizado com amostras de coloração e biomassas similares de folhas de Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) sem sinais de herbivoria, distribuídas igualmente entre 64 gaiolas. Em 32 destas foram colocados também exemplares de M. coffeus. Essas gaiolas foram distribuídas entre quatro pontos, sendo oito pares de gaiolas (controle e experimento) por ponto. Durante oito semanas, quatro pares de gaiolas foram coletados semanalmente. Após coletadas, os sinais de pastagem nas folhas causados por M. coffeus foram contados e as biomassas úmida e seca das amostras foram determinadas. Comparando controle e experimento, verificou-se que M. coffeus é capaz de contribuir na degradação da serapilheira na área estudada, porém, não foi verificada uma participação significativa desse gastrópode na degradação das folhas quando comparados experimento e controle ao longo do experimento.

show abstract

Section: Discussionunclassified

Contribuição de Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) na degradação da serapilheira do médio estuário do rio Pacoti, Ceará, Brasil

Tavares

Maia

Rocha‐Barreira

2011

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This species is a grazer and a facultative detritivore, and given its high density and biomass (range: 16-100 ind./m 2 ; 11.9-74.3 g/m 2 ; [40]), it seems to be responsible for the rapid processing of black mangrove (A. germinans) leaflitter (A. Taborda and J. F. Blanco in preparation). Gastropods in the Caribbean and elsewhere have been pointed as key detritivores and sediment grazers, even outweighing the role of crabs [80][81][82]. Available assessments on the impacts of mangrove deforestation on benthos report that vegetation provides support and physical habitat that may reduce predation and desiccation (Asia: [83,84]; Africa: [85,86]; Australia: [87]).…”

Section: Impacts Of Selective Logging and Mangrove Reclamation On Benmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem-Wide Impacts of Deforestation in Mangroves: The Urabá Gulf (Colombian Caribbean) Case Study

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mangroves are ecologically important and extensive in the Neotropics, but they are visibly threatened by selective logging and conversion to pastures in the Southern Caribbean. The objective of this paper was to summarize the impacts of both threats on forest structure, species composition, aboveground biomass and carbon reservoir, species introgressions, and benthic fauna populations by collating past and current data and by using an interdisciplinary approach in the Urabá Gulf (Colombia) as a case study. Mangroves in the Eastern Coast have been decimated and have produced unskewed tree-diameter (DBH) distributions due to the overexploitation of Rhizophora mangle for poles (DBH range: 7-17 cm) and of Avicennia germinans for planks and pilings (DBH > 40 cm). Selective logging increased the importance value of the light-tolerant white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa, also increasing biomass and carbon storage in this species, thus offsetting reductions in other species. Introgressions (cryptic ecological degradation) by L. racemosa and Acrostichum aureum (mangrove fern) and low densities of otherwise dominant detritivore snails (Neritina virginea) were observed in periurban basin mangroves. Finally, basin mangroves were more threatened than fringing mangroves due to their proximity to expanding pastures, villages, and a coastal city.

show abstract

“…Adults of Melampus coffeus feed on falling leaves observed on the surface of mangrove substrate (PrOffitt et al, 1993;PrOffitt & delvin, 2005). In the present study, it was expected to find higher population densities of M. coffeus in areas with larger leaf biomass or larger number of leaves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…For this reason, M. coffeus is considered a very important agent for leaf litter decomposition in mangrove forests and acts as a link between mangrove forests and estuarine food webs (PrOffitt & delvin, 2005). Apart from the fact that leaf litter provides these animals with food resource, the physical presence of these vegetal detritus may increase the humidity retention on the ground, creating a particular environment that prevents desiccation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ecological relations between mangrove leaf litter and the spatial distribution of the gastropod Melampus coffeus in a fringe mangrove forest

Tavares

Maia

Rocha‐Barreira

et al. 2015

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Leaf litter represents a food source to many organisms that may directly contribute to organic matter decomposition. In addition, the physical presence of these vegetal detritus contributes for the modification of some environmental areas and produce microhabitats that may act as a refuge against predators and desiccation for many animals. The pulmonate gastropod Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ellobiidae) is a very common specie in Atlantic Coast mangrove forests and feeds on fallen mangrove leaves. It was hypothesized that the spatial distribution of Melampus coffeus is directly affected by mangrove leaf litter biomass deposition. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the spatial distribution of these gastropods in relation to the biomass of mangrove leaf litter through a twelve-month period. The study area was established in the middle estuary of Pacoti River, state of Ceará, Brazil where two adjacent zones with different topographic profiles were determined. Samples of Melampus coffeus and leaf litter were collected monthly, throughout a year, from the mangrove ground surface. The results indicated that the presence of twigs in mangrove litter favor the occupation by smaller individuals of M. coffeus, probably because smaller individuals are more susceptible to predator attacks and desiccation than larger ones, and twigs and branches may provide a safe microhabitat.KEYWORDS. Ellobiidae, macrodetritivore, microhabitat, Pacoti river, Rhizophora mangle. RESUMO. Relações ecológicas entre a serrapilheira de manguezal e a distribuição espacial do gastrópodo Melampus coffeus em uma borda de floresta de mangue.A serapilheira representa fonte de alimentos para diversos organismos que podem contribuir diretamente para a decomposição de matéria orgânica. A presença física desses detritos vegetais pode modificar áreas do ambiente e promover a formação de microhabitats, servindo de refúgio para diversos animais contra predadores e dessecação. O gastrópode Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ellobiidae) é comum em florestas de mangue na costa do Atlântico e se alimenta de folhas de mangue caídas. Nesse trabalho foi assumida a hipótese de que a distribuição espacial do Melampus coffeus é diretamente afetada pela deposição de serapilheira no manguezal. Objetivou-se avaliar a distribuição espacial desses gastrópodes em relação à serapilheira de mangue durante doze meses de coletas. A área de estudo foi estabelecida no médio estuário do rio Pacoti, Estado do Ceará, Brasil onde foram determinadas duas zonas de diferentes perfis topográficos. Amostras de Melampus coffeus e de serapilheira foram coletadas mensalmente. Os resultados indicaram que a presença de galhos na superfície do solo do manguezal favorece a ocupação do ambiente por indivíduos dessa espécie de molusco de menor tamanho, provavelmente porque indivíduos menores são mais suscetíveis ao ataque de predadores e à dessecação e a presença de galhos pode formar microhabitats mais seguros.

show abstract

Grazing by the intertidal gastropod Melampus coffeus greatly increases mangrove leaf litter degradation rates

Cited by 41 publications

References 21 publications

Contribuição de Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) na degradação da serapilheira do médio estuário do rio Pacoti, Ceará, Brasil

Contribuição de Melampus coffeus (Gastropoda, Ellobiidae) na degradação da serapilheira do médio estuário do rio Pacoti, Ceará, Brasil

Ecosystem-Wide Impacts of Deforestation in Mangroves: The Urabá Gulf (Colombian Caribbean) Case Study

Ecological relations between mangrove leaf litter and the spatial distribution of the gastropod Melampus coffeus in a fringe mangrove forest

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About