Kelp Wrack and the Flow of Energy through a Sandy Beach Ecosystem

Griffiths, Charles L.; Stenton-Dozey, J.M.E.; Koop, K.

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2938-3_42

Cited by 97 publications

(79 citation statements)

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“…These transitional habitats are mainly subsidised by allochthonous inputs of organic material from the coastal ocean Dugan et al, 2003;Griffiths et al, 1983), that vary from phytoplankton to beach-cast wrack, consisting of seagrasses, macroalgae, and carrion (Griffiths et al, 1983;Rossi and Underwood, 2002). This marine organic material is transported onshore by physical forces (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Niche segregation amongst sympatric species at exposed sandy shores with contrasting wrack availabilities illustrated by stable isotopic analysis

Bessa

Baeta

Marques

2014

Ecological Indicators

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a b s t r a c tWrack supplies (macroalgae, seagrasses and carrion) are a common feature of sandy beaches worldwide. These allochthonous inputs are a potential high-quality food subsidy for beach fauna, but little is known about the feeding ecology and niche segregation strategies of these species in beaches with limited wrack availabilities. We used stable isotopic ratios of nitrogen and carbon to examine the diets and niche segregation among three sympatric crustaceans, the amphipods Talitrus saltator and Talorchestia brito, and the isopod Tylos europaeus, in two temperate beaches, Cabedelo and Quiaios, on the Portuguese Atlantic coast, with contrasting wrack availabilities, over winter and summer. In the beach with limited wrack (Quiaios), consumers showed significantly different interspecific and temporal isotopic signatures, suggesting a distinct foraging habitat and niche differentiation. Mixing models outputs (SIAR) revealed in this case a seasonal shift in the diet of consumers from terrestrial sources in winter towards marinebased sources (phytoplankton) in the summer. In contrast, at Cabedelo, consumers showed clear overlap in isotopic signatures, with similar contributions of the available wrack to their diets. As a whole, an opportunistic and generalist feeding behaviour was described for these species, namely for T. saltator. Isotopic profiles support the occurrence of spatial overlap during summer but different foraging strategies of the three species in these beaches during winter. Our results show that on temperate beaches with ephemeral wrack supplies, consumers might need to adopt different foraging strategies and niche segregation for their subsistence, and additionally illustrate the viability of using stable isotopes to capture subtle changes in trophic niches.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Niche segregation amongst sympatric species at exposed sandy shores with contrasting wrack availabilities illustrated by stable isotopic analysis

Bessa

Baeta

Marques

2014

Ecological Indicators

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“…Por otro lado, en la costa norte de Francia, Adin & Riera (2003) encontraron que el anfípodo Talitrus saltator (Montagu) utilizó preferentemente algas pardas por sobre algas verdes y rojas como fuente de alimento, a pesar de que las primeras son generalmente consideradas de menor valor nutritivo. Sin INTRODUCCIÓN Las playas arenosas expuestas se caracterizan por la ausencia de macroalgas adheridas al sustrato; por lo tanto, la mayor parte de la macroinfauna que habita en estos hábitat costeros está representada por especies carroñeras o suspensívoras, las primeras dependientes de subsidios tróficos provenientes de otros sistemas costeros (Griffiths & StentonDozey 1981, McLachlan et al 1981, Griffiths et al 1983. Por lo tanto, el subsidio de alimentos y nutrientes desde otros sistemas, puede tener importantes efectos sobre la macroinfauna de las playas arenosas.…”

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“…Por lo tanto, el subsidio de alimentos y nutrientes desde otros sistemas, puede tener importantes efectos sobre la macroinfauna de las playas arenosas. Una de las principales fuentes de materia orgánica en este tipo de ambientes, proviene del arribo de macroalgas (e.g., Griffiths et al 1983, Inglis 1989, Dugan et al 2003, Jaramillo et al 2006. Estas macrófitas pueden influir sobre la estructura comunitaria y poblacional de la macroinfauna, sirviendo como alimento y/o refugio (e.g., Duarte 1974, Griffiths et al 1983, Pennings et al 2000.…”

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“…Una de las principales fuentes de materia orgánica en este tipo de ambientes, proviene del arribo de macroalgas (e.g., Griffiths et al 1983, Inglis 1989, Dugan et al 2003, Jaramillo et al 2006. Estas macrófitas pueden influir sobre la estructura comunitaria y poblacional de la macroinfauna, sirviendo como alimento y/o refugio (e.g., Duarte 1974, Griffiths et al 1983, Pennings et al 2000. Por ejemplo, Griffiths et al (1983), mostraron que el 71 % de las algas depositadas en un año, sobre la zona intermareal de una playa de Sudáfrica, fue consumida por la macrofauna supralitoral, mayoritariamente representada por anfípodos talítridos.…”

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“…A pesar de las evidencias que sugieren que el subsidio trófico de las macroalgas varadas tiene un rol importante en las cadenas alimentarias de playas arenosas expuestas, la utilización de este tipo de detritus por parte de la macroinfauna ha sido escasamente estudiada (Griffiths & StentonDozey 1981, Griffiths et al 1983, Pennings et al 2000, Adin & Riera 2003. Los estudios realizados hasta la fecha se han enfocado principalmente a dar cuenta de las diferencias a nivel interespecífico en los patrones de alimentación de la macroinfauna (e.g., Griffiths & Stenton-Dozey 1981) o entre distintos ítemes alimentarios para una misma especie (e.g., Adin & Riera 2003).…”

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Macroalgas varadas sobre la superficie de una playa arenosa del sur de Chile: preferencias alimentarias y de habitat de juveniles y adultos de Orchestoidea tuberculata (Nicolet), (Amphipoda, Talitridae)

Duarte

Jaramillo

Contreras

2008

Rev. chil. hist. nat.

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Ecosystem connectivity and trophic subsidies of sandy beaches

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Ecological connectivity can influence the distributions of diversity and productivity among ecosystems, but relationships among multiple marine ecosystems remain relatively uncharacterized. Sandy beaches are recipient ecosystems that support coastal food webs through deposits of drift macrophytes (wrack), and serve as test cases for exploring within-seascape connectivity. We present results from the first comprehensive survey of geographic and temporal patterns of wrack cover and composition on beaches along the North Central Coast of California and test the role of local donor ecosystems and physical factors in predicting wrack distribution. We surveyed wrack at 17 beaches in August 2010, and monthly at a subset of 10 beaches for 13 months. We estimated explanatory variables of (1) local donor ecosystem cover (kelp forests, rocky intertidal, and bays and estuaries), (2) biomass transport, and (3) beach morphology. Regression analyses were used to evaluate relationships among the cover of six key wrack categories and the explanatory variables above, for two time periods. We found persistent geographic variation in wrack composition and detected significant relationships between wrack cover and cover of local donor ecosystems for five of the six wrack categories (Nereocystis, Zostera, Postelsia, mixed red algae, and mixed brown algae). Transport mechanisms (wind exposure, swell exposure) or attributes of the recipient ecosystem (beach width, beach slope) explained additional spatial variation for three of the six wrack categories (Zostera, Phyllospadix, and mixed red algae). Our results support the concept of considering ecological connectivity (particularly the role of donor ecosystems upon which recipient ecosystems rely) in the design and management of protected areas.

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Kelp Wrack and the Flow of Energy through a Sandy Beach Ecosystem

Cited by 97 publications

References 9 publications

Niche segregation amongst sympatric species at exposed sandy shores with contrasting wrack availabilities illustrated by stable isotopic analysis

Niche segregation amongst sympatric species at exposed sandy shores with contrasting wrack availabilities illustrated by stable isotopic analysis

Macroalgas varadas sobre la superficie de una playa arenosa del sur de Chile: preferencias alimentarias y de habitat de juveniles y adultos de Orchestoidea tuberculata (Nicolet), (Amphipoda, Talitridae)

Ecosystem connectivity and trophic subsidies of sandy beaches

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