Nursery value of Cystoseira forests for Mediterranean rocky reef fishes

Cheminée, Adrien; Sala, Enric; Pastor, Jérémy; Bodilis, Pascaline; Thiriet, Pierre; Mangialajo, Luisa; Cottalorda, Jean-Michel; Francour, Patrice

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.02.003

Cited by 160 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 51 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

123

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Lack of erect organisms able to form canopies, contrarily to what the pre-existing tall macroalgae used to do, implied loss of three-dimensional structure and hence of architectural complexity in rocky reef habitats (Parravicini et al, 2013). Similarly, the nursery value and functional importance of Cystoseira forests suggest that their loss may strongly affect the recruitment of littoral fishes (Cheminée et al, 2013). Reduced habitat complexity is a sign of degradation that has been highlighted as one of the major threats to marine biodiversity worldwide (Airoldi & Beck, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thirty years after - dramatic change in the coastal marine habitats of Kos Island (Greece), 1981-2013.

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Results of recent fieldwork were compared with data collected in 1981, taken as a reference condition. Surveys were conducted with the same method (time-based visual census along random paths), in the same sites, by the same people. Semi-quantitative inventories of conspicuous species were analysed by univariate and multivariate techniques. Available information on the main potential stressors indicated that a regime shift has occurred in these 30+ years: sea surface temperature rose by1-2°C, human pressure grew impressively, and invasion by several alien species took place. Consistently, a phase shift occurred in the biological communities. Of the 120 conspicuous species found in total, only 51 were common to both surveys; 30 species ('losses') were found in 1981 but not again in 2013, 38 ('gains') were found exclusively in 2013, 16 ('winners') increased their abundance, 8 ('losers') got scarcer, and 28 underwent little or no change. Gains included 7 alien, 2 nitrophilic, and 7 thermophilic species. Multivariate analysis evidenced biotic homogenisation in 2013 and huge change in rocky reef habitats. The once flourishing algal forests have disappeared to leave space to sponges and wide areas of bare substratum. This has most probably been the result of overgrazing by alien herbivorous fishes (Siganus luridus and S. rivulatus), whose establishment and spread has been favoured by seawater warming; the synergic action of local human impacts was also evidenced.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thirty years after - dramatic change in the coastal marine habitats of Kos Island (Greece), 1981-2013.

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, Cystoseira brachycarpa, which still grows in dense subtidal forests down to 15 m depth in undisturbed areas such as Corsica (Ballesteros et al, 2002;Thibaut et al, 2008;Sales & Ballesteros 2010;Cheminée, 2012), is known to be a nursery for some teleost species (Cheminée et al, 2013); obviously, it no longer plays this role along the French Riviera.…”

Section: Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline and local extinction of Fucales in French Riviera: the harbinger of future extinctions?

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The French Riviera is among the Mediterranean areas that have been subject to the most long-lasting anthropogenic influences with severe impact on the marine environment. Fucales are long-lived, habitat forming brown algae that constitute a good model for studying human impact on species diversity. We gathered all historical data (literature and herbarium vouchers), since the early 19 th century, to reconstruct their past distribution. The present distribution was established on the basis of an extensive 7-year

show abstract

“…These large perennial macroalgae are considered as "engineering species" (Jones et al 1994), because their three-dimensional structure dramatically alters the physical, chemical and biological environment. These forests provide shelter, food, habitat and nurseries for a multiplicity of species (Cheminée et al 2013). The decline of kelps and fucoids is a global phenomenon due, directly or indirectly, to humanmediated activities (Wernberg et al 2011, LamelaSilvarrey et al 2012, Franco et al 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Massive decline of <em>Cystoseira abies-marina</em> forests in Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands, eastern Atlantic)

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary: Brown macroalgae within the genus Cystoseira are some of the most relevant "ecosystem-engineers" found throughout the Mediterranean and the adjacent Atlantic coasts. Cystoseira-dominated assemblages are sensitive to anthropogenic pressures, and historical declines have been reported from some regions. In particular, Cystoseira abies-marina, thriving on shallow rocky shores, is a key species for the ecosystems of the Canary Islands. In this work, we analyse changes in the distribution and extension of C. abies-marina in the last decades on the island of Gran Canaria. This alga dominated the shallow rocky shores of the entire island in the 1980s; a continuous belt extended along 120.5 km of the coastline and occupied 928 ha. In the first decade of the 21st century, fragmented populations were found along 52.2 km of the coastline and occupied 12.6 ha. Today, this species is found along 37.8 km of the coastline and occupies only 7.4 ha, mainly as scattered patches. This regression has been drastic around the whole island, even in areas with low anthropogenic pressure; the magnitude of the decline over time and the intensity of local human impacts have not shown a significant correlation. This study highlights a real need to implement conservation and restoration policies for C. abies-marina in this region.Keywords: marine forests; habitat-forming species; human pressures; Fucales; regression; Atlantic Ocean. Regresión aguda de los bosques de Cystoseira abies-marina en la isla de Gran Canaria (Islas Canarias, Atlántico este)Resumen: Las algas pardas pertenecientes al género Cystoseira se distribuyen a lo largo del Mediterráneo y las costas atlánticas adyacentes, siendo uno de los "ingenieros ecosistémicos" más relevantes. Los bosques constituidos por especies de Cystoseira son sensibles a perturbaciones de origen antropogénico y, por esta razón, se han registrado declives históricos en distintas regiones. Concretamente, Cystoseira abies-marina, una especie que habita en costas rocosas someras, es clave para la buena salud de los ecosistemas costeros de las Islas Canarias. En este trabajo, analizamos los cambios en la distribución y extensión de C. abies-marina en las últimas 4 décadas en la isla de Gran Canaria. Esta especie dominaba las costas rocosas poco profundas de toda la isla en la década de los 80; una banda continua se extendía a lo largo de 120.5 km de costa, ocupando 928 ha. A comienzos del siglo XXI, poblaciones fragmentadas cubrían 12.6 ha, a lo largo de 52.2 km de la línea de costa. Hoy en día, se distribuye a lo largo de 37.8 km del perímetro costero, en su mayoría como parches dispersos, ocupando una extensión de tan sólo 7.4 ha. Esta regresión ha sido drástica en toda la isla, incluso en zonas con baja presión antropogénica; no encontramos una correlación significativa entre el número de impactos locales y la magnitud del declive en el tiempo. Este estudio señala la necesidad real de implementar políticas de conservación y restauración para C. abies-marina en esta región.Palabras clave: bosq...

show abstract

Nursery value of Cystoseira forests for Mediterranean rocky reef fishes

Cited by 160 publications

References 51 publications

Thirty years after - dramatic change in the coastal marine habitats of Kos Island (Greece), 1981-2013.

Thirty years after - dramatic change in the coastal marine habitats of Kos Island (Greece), 1981-2013.

Decline and local extinction of Fucales in French Riviera: the harbinger of future extinctions?

Massive decline of <em>Cystoseira abies-marina</em> forests in Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands, eastern Atlantic)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About