Herbivory in the gammarid amphipod Aora typica: relationships between consumption rates, performance and abundance across ten seaweed species

Taylor, Richard B.; Brown, Pam J.

doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0245-0

Cited by 52 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…To evaluate algal quality as an herbivore's food source, it is fundamental that information concerning the relationship between the diet choice and the fitness or performance of the consumer be available (Cruz-Rivera & Hay, 2000a, b;Jormalainen et al, 2001a;Taylor & Brown, 2006). However, very few studies have directly evaluated this relationship, and results to date have been mixed, indicating both positive (e.g., Poore & Steinberg, 1999;Cruz-Rivera & Hay, 2003;Lastra et al, 2008) and negative relationships (e.g., Jormalinen et al, 2001a, b;Cruz-Rivera & Hay, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marine algae can differ greatly in their nutritional quality, i.e., in their proximate chemical compositions (e.g., Neighbors & Horn, 1991;Poore & Steinberg, 1999, Taylor & Brown, 2006. For herbivores, nutrient content of the diet may be especially crucial for their growth, fecundity and fitness (Mattson, 1980;CruzRivera & Hay, 2000a, b) because the food ingested has a lower nutritional content than their own body (e.g., Sterner & Hessen, 1994;Gulati & DeMott, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Feeding preferences of the sandhopper Orchestoidea tuberculata: the importance of algal traits

et al. 2010

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Factors such as nutritional quality and the secondary metabolite content of food resources have been shown to influence the feeding behavior of herbivores in many marine habitats. For intertidal macroalgae consumers on sandy beaches, the influence of these factors on feeding behavior and the consequences on their performance is poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the relationships of nutritional quality, chemical defenses (phlorotannins), and the structure of three macroalgal species that form the bulk of imported wrack subsidies to beaches in southern Chile, with the feeding behavior, absorption efficiency, and growth rate of the talitrid amphipod Orchestoidea tuberculata, one of the most abundant organisms in this environment. The amphipods preferred Durvillaea antarctica over Lessonia nigrescens and Macrocystis pyrifera when simultaneously offered fresh pieces of each alga. Similar results were observed when artificial food made of dry powdered algae of each species was provided, suggesting that the structure of these three algae did not influence preference. The performance of amphipods when reared on a diet of a single algal species matched feeding preferences; higher growth rates were observed in treatments with the preferred alga, D. antarctica. These results imply that D. antarctica is a superior food item for O. tuberculata when compared to L. nigrescens or M. pyrifera, and also that the alga's intrinsic quality (i.e., not structure) may influence dietary preference in these consumers. The higher content of proteins and carbohydrates found in D. antarctica may explain why this macroalga represents better quality food for O. tuberculata. Phlorotannin content did not have obvious negative effects on diet choice or growth, as D. antarctica, the alga with greater content of these secondary metabolites, was preferred and associated with higher growth rates of O. tuberculata. However, it is necessary to emphasize that the low phlorotannins concentrations registered in the three macroalgae species examined in this study, may not have been sufficient to deter O. tuberculata. When the amphipods were fed with each alga individually, they consumed significantly higher quantities of D. antarctica, which suggests that O. tuberculata did not eat more to compensate for the lower nutritional quality of the other algal species in order to maintain growth. Nor was compensation for lower food quality achieved by increasing absorption efficiency. Our results imply that the composition of the macroalgae arriving on the beach can significantly affect the performance and subsequent life history traits of O. tuberculata and by extension other amphipod species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Feeding preferences of the sandhopper Orchestoidea tuberculata: the importance of algal traits

et al. 2010

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“…obs.) and utilize amphipods as a significant prey source (Jones 1984, Taylor 1991, Day 2001. We collected N. celidotus by handnet via SCUBA at Ti Point near Leigh, New Zealand.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation constrains host choice for a marine mesograzer

Lasley-Rasher¹,

Rasher²,

Marion³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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For small sedentary herbivores that inhabit seaweeds, choosing a host that provides adequate nutrition and refuge should be favored by natural selection. Yet, the relative importance of seaweed nutritional value versus habitat quality in driving mesograzer host choice remains poorly understood for most herbivores. Previous work in coastal North Carolina, USA, and 2 tropical locations suggests that amphipods often utilize host seaweeds that offer superior refuge from both omnivorous and carnivorous consumers. Our study was conducted in New Zealand, where carnivores alone are the major consumers of seaweed-dwelling amphipods. We show that the herbivorous amphipod Aora typica preferentially utilizes the dictyotalean seaweed Dictyota kunthii over a dominant canopy-forming kelp, Ecklonia radiata, and that this preferred seaweed host provides a superior refuge from predators in both laboratory and field experiments. There was no difference in A. typica feeding preference between D. kunthii and E. radiata, but A. typica grew faster when reared on E. radiata. These results suggest that seaweed refuge quality, not nutritional quality, drives A. typica host preference and distribution in this system. KEY WORDS: Amphipod · Enemy-free space · Fitness · Plant−herbivore interaction · New Zealand · SeaweedResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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“…Other studies of invertebrate herbivores in kelp beds have found similar results. Taylor & Brown (2006) and Davis et al (2005) found Ulva lactuca to be the preferred and most readily eaten alga, relative to other common algae, by the amphipod Aora typica and the turbinid gastropod T. undulatus, respectively, and Johnson & Mann (1986) found a clear pattern of size-dependent consumption of the kelp Saccharina by the gastropod L. vincta. These patterns in consumption rates suggest that, in addition to well-established differences among species (Sala & Graham 2002 and references herein), per capita interaction strengths also vary within a species according to its density, size and the food sources available.…”

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population structure of turbinid gastropods on wave-exposed subtidal reefs: effects of density, body size and algae on grazing behaviour

Wernberg¹,

White²,

Vanderklift³

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Knowledge of the population structure and feeding capabilities of herbivores is critical to evaluate their influence on energy flow and community structure in their habitats. We tested for patterns in abundance (24 reefs) and size (12 reefs) of turbinid gastropods across 4 locations spanning > 6°latitude (~1000 km) in Western Australia, and we tested the effect of density (1 to 5 individuals) and size (38.8 to 747.1 g wet wt) of Turbo torquatus on consumption of macroalgae with different thallus structure (Functional Groups 3 to 5). Turbinid gastropods were found at all locations (up to 2.4 ind. m -2 ); 82.4% of all individuals were T. torquatus. One location (Marmion, Perth) had considerably higher abundances than all other locations. Populations of T. torquatus at the 2 southern locations had a broad range of sizes (9 to 119 mm total shell length [TSL]), although 1 location was dominated by small, and the other, by large, individuals. In contrast, both northern locations were strongly dominated by 1 size class (40 to 60 mm TSL). T. torquatus consumed Ulva lactuca, Hypnea valentiae, Hennedya crispa and juvenile Ecklonia radiata at rates of 150 to 450 mg blotted fresh weight d -1 , depending on density of gastropods and species of algae. There was a positive relationship between the rate of consumption and size of T. torquatus when fed U. lactuca and H. valentiae. The present study has produced 3 main insights: (1) densities of turbinids on offshore, wave-exposed, subtidal reefs are similar to those in other coastal habitats; (2) patterns of abundances and sizes are consistent with broad-scale processes, such as ocean climate, fishing pressure and eutrophication; and (3) T. torquatus can consume a variety of macroalgae at rates that suggest it has the potential to exert topdown control of macroalgae, although low densities of gastropods preclude strong effects.KEY WORDS: Turbinid gastropods · Turbo torquatus · Broad-scale patterns · Population structure · Offshore subtidal reefs · Grazing rates · Kelp beds Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 362: [169][170][171][172][173][174][175][176][177][178][179] 2008 (intertidal: >100 m , Edgar et al. 2004). The abundance and the size distribution of turbinid gastropods on intertidal reefs change along environmental gradients associated with elevation (Worthington & Fairweather 1989, Bruton et al. 1991, and similar patterns may be found along the depth gradient on shallow subtidal reefs (Clarkson & Shepherd 1985). There have been relatively few studies of turbinids on subtidal compared to intertidal reefs, and almost all have focused on nearshore, shallow reefs (< 8 m), or reefs of low to intermediate wave exposure (e.g. Clarkson & Shepherd 1985, Vanderklift & Kendrick 2004. Consequently, although deeper (>10 m) and more waveexposed offshore reefs comprise substantial areas, little is known about the abundance and distribution of turbinids in these habitats. Similarly, climate conditions can affect t...

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Herbivory in the gammarid amphipod Aora typica: relationships between consumption rates, performance and abundance across ten seaweed species

Cited by 52 publications

References 37 publications

Feeding preferences of the sandhopper Orchestoidea tuberculata: the importance of algal traits

Feeding preferences of the sandhopper Orchestoidea tuberculata: the importance of algal traits

Predation constrains host choice for a marine mesograzer

Population structure of turbinid gastropods on wave-exposed subtidal reefs: effects of density, body size and algae on grazing behaviour

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