Multiple effects of a Gracilaria vermiculophylla invasion on estuarine mudflat functioning and diversity

Davoult, Dominique; Surget, Gwladys; Stiger‐Pouvreau, Valérie; Noisette, Fanny; Riera, Pascal; Stagnol, Doriane; Androuin, Thibault; Poupart, Nathalie

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.09.020

Cited by 24 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The tidal flat in this study is submerged approximately 75% of the time, so our results describe the majority of its functioning. Additionally, our results agree with previous metabolism measurements of exposed Gracilaria mats by Davoult et al (2017), who measured the emergent carbon dioxide flux using in situ light and dark chambers. The sediment surface enclosed within these chambers had > 50% algal coverage, comparable to the mean algal coverage of our high density site (61%).…”

Section: Oxygen Metabolism Of Gracilaria Matssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The sediment surface enclosed within these chambers had > 50% algal coverage, comparable to the mean algal coverage of our high density site (61%). Assuming a 1 to 1 photosynthetic relationship be tween CO 2 and O 2 , they reported a mean summer R of −150 mmol m −2 d −1 , and a mean light flux of 240 mmol m −2 d −1 (Davoult et al 2017). This exposed R was very close to our value, while the light flux fell within the range of hourly daytime fluxes recorded at the high density site (Fig.…”

Section: Oxygen Metabolism Of Gracilaria Matsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Along the US mid-Atlantic coast, Gracilaria often colonizes previously bare tidal flats, where its invasion is facilitated by burrowing polychaetes (decorator worms Diopatra cuprea), which attach algae to their tubes, resulting in large intertidal mats . Drift algae such as Gracilaria can affect tidal flat function in numerous ways, including by providing structure and a food source to macrofauna (Nyberg et al 2009, Byers et al 2012, Davoult et al 2017, increasing hypoxia near the sediment surface (Valiela et al 1997), and decreasing the settlement success of larval sessile organisms such as oysters .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the addition of a large phototrophic biomass, the establishment of Gracilaria appears likely to increase tidal flat primary production. However, previous work has demonstrated mixed results , Cacabelos et al 2012, Davoult et al 2017, and consequently, researchers have recently argued that there is a need for more precise measurements of Gracilaria's impact on ecosystem productivity , Thomsen et al 2019. Measurements of benthic oxygen flux address this research gap, as they are a proxy for the primary production, heterotrophic activity, and integrated carbon metabolism of benthic systems (Glud 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurements of benthic oxygen flux address this research gap, as they are a proxy for the primary production, heterotrophic activity, and integrated carbon metabolism of benthic systems (Glud 2008). To date, few studies have focused on Gracilaria metabolism (Cacabelos et al 2012, Davoult et al 2017, and to our knowledge, only 1 study has measured oxygen flux during submerged conditions (Cacabelos et al 2012), using ex situ core incubations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

An invasive macroalga alters ecosystem metabolism and hydrodynamics on a tidal flat

Volaric¹,

Berg²,

Reidenbach³

2019

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Invasive macroalgae represent a growing global concern, yet there has been little research detailing their effects on native ecosystem metabolism and flow hydrodynamics. In this in situ study, we made aquatic eddy covariance oxygen flux and profiling acoustic Doppler velocimetry measurements over high and low density sites within an invasive Gracilaria vermi culophylla (also referred to as Agarophyton vermic ulophyllum) macroalgal mat located on a tidal flat along the Virginia (USA) coast. Mean ± SE (n) submerged dark and light oxygen flux over the high density site were −178 ± 9 (144) and 139 ± 26 (104) mmol m −2 d −1 , respectively, vs. −71 ± 7 (45) and 32 ± 15 (48) mmol m −2 d −1 over the low density site. The high density site was highly productive, with gross primary production of 169 ± 12 mmol m −2 d −1 (mean ± SE), yet maintained overall metabolic balance, as net ecosystem metabolism was −22 ± 39 mmol m −2 d −1. Close agreement with literature values for air-exposed flux measurements suggests that our results are good first-order approximations of true daily values, demonstrating that this invasion has significantly enhanced tidal flat productivity. Flow and turbulence were significantly attenuated by Gracilaria, resulting in decreased bed shear stress within the algal canopy, likely stabilizing tidal flat sediments and inhibiting mass transport at the sediment−water interface. Turbulence above the canopy was enhanced, but there was no increase in downward momentum transfer. These changes to the hydrodynamic environment decrease the risk of detachment and subsequent advective loss of algae, suggesting a positive feedback that facilitates algal invasion.

show abstract

Section: Oxygen Metabolism Of Gracilaria Matssupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Oxygen Metabolism Of Gracilaria Matsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

An invasive macroalga alters ecosystem metabolism and hydrodynamics on a tidal flat

Volaric¹,

Berg²,

Reidenbach³

2019

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Does experimental seaweed cultivation affect benthic communities and shorebirds? Applications for extensive aquaculture

Martínez‐Curci

Fierro

Navedo

2023

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Extensive seaweed aquaculture is a growing industry expected to expand globally due to its relatively low impact and benefits in the form of ecosystem services. However, seaweeds are ecosystem engineers that may alter coastal environments by creating complex habitats on previously bare mudflats. These changes may scale up to top-consumers, particularly migratory shorebirds, species of conservation concern that regulate trophic webs at these habitats. Understanding how habitats are transformed and how this affects different species is critical to direct ecological applications for commercial seaweed management. We experimentally assessed through a Before-After Control-Impact design the potential changes exerted by Gracilaria chilensis farming on bare mudflats on the abundance, biomass, and assemblage structure of benthic macroinvertebrates, and their scaled-up effects on shorebirds' habitat use and prey consumption. As predicted, experimental cultivation of G. chilensis significantly affects different components of biodiversity that scale-up from lower to upper trophic levels. The total biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates increased with seaweed cultivation and remained high for at least 2 months after harvest, boosted by an increase in the median size of polychaetes, particularly Nereids. Tactile-foraging shorebirds tracked these changes at the patch level increasing their abundance and spending more time foraging at seaweed cultivated plots. These results suggest that seaweed farming has the potential to impact shorebird populations by favoring tactile-foraging species which could lead to a competitive disadvantage to species that rely on visual cues. Therefore, the establishment of new seaweed farms in bare mudflats at key sites for shorebirds must be planned warranting habitat heterogeneity (i.e., cultivated and non-cultivated areas) at the landscape level and based on a previous experimental approach to account for local characteristics. Fostering properly designed extensive seaweed farming over other aquaculture industries with greater negative environmental impacts would provide benefits for human well-being and for ecosystem functions.

show abstract

Codon usage bias and phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast genome in 36 gracilariaceae species

Li,

Ma,

Ding

et al. 2024

Funct Integr Genomics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Multiple effects of a Gracilaria vermiculophylla invasion on estuarine mudflat functioning and diversity

Cited by 24 publications

References 53 publications

An invasive macroalga alters ecosystem metabolism and hydrodynamics on a tidal flat

An invasive macroalga alters ecosystem metabolism and hydrodynamics on a tidal flat

Does experimental seaweed cultivation affect benthic communities and shorebirds? Applications for extensive aquaculture

Codon usage bias and phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast genome in 36 gracilariaceae species

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About