Reassessing the nursery role of seagrass habitats from temperate to tropical regions: a meta-analysis

McDevitt‐Irwin, Jamie M.; Iacarella, Josephine C.; Baum, Julia K.

doi:10.3354/meps11848

Cited by 83 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Like McDevitt‐Irwin et al. () and Minello et al. (), we also found a stronger effect of habitat on some invertebrates (arthropods) than vertebrates (Actinopterygian fishes).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…When compared to other structured habitats, SAV was superior to all habitats other than mangroves (Figures and S8–S10). Thus, based on available evidence, SAV and mangroves appear to confer the greatest nursery benefits, a result that is consistent with several prior syntheses (Heck et al., ; Igulu et al., ; McDevitt‐Irwin et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…The increasing effect of structured habitats on juvenile density with increasing latitude was most recently reported in the meta‐analysis by McDevitt‐Irwin et al. () in which they proposed the availability of alternative nurseries in tropical regions could explain the weaker effects of seagrass habitat. Removing SAV comparisons from the dataset yielded a nonsignificant effect of latitude ( p = .063), indicating that this trend in our analysis was also driven primarily by SAV.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

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Are coastal habitats important nurseries? A meta‐analysis

Lefcheck

Hughes

Johnson

et al. 2019

CONSERVATION LETTERS

219

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Nearshore‐structured habitats—including underwater grasses, mangroves, coral, and other biogenic reefs, marshes, and complex abiotic substrates—have long been postulated to function as important nurseries for juvenile fishes and invertebrates. Here, we review the evolution of the “nursery habitat hypothesis” and use >11,000 comparisons from 160 peer‐reviewed studies to test whether and which structured habitats increase juvenile density, growth, and survival. In general, almost all structured habitats significantly enhanced juvenile density—and in some cases growth and survival—relative to unstructured habitats. Underwater grasses and mangroves also promoted juvenile density and growth beyond what was observed in other structured habitats. These conclusions were robust to variation among studies, although there were significant differences with latitude and among some phyla. Our results confirm the basic nursery function of certain structured habitats, which lends further support to their conservation, restoration, and management at a time when our coastal environments are becoming increasingly impacted. They also reveal a dearth of evidence from many other systems (e.g., kelp forests) and for responses other than density. Although recent studies have advocated for increasingly complex approaches to evaluating nurseries, we recommend a renewed emphasis on more straightforward assessments of juvenile growth, survival, reproduction, and recruitment.

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“…Like McDevitt‐Irwin et al. () and Minello et al. (), we also found a stronger effect of habitat on some invertebrates (arthropods) than vertebrates (Actinopterygian fishes).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

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Are coastal habitats important nurseries? A meta‐analysis

Lefcheck

Hughes

Johnson

et al. 2019

CONSERVATION LETTERS

219

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“…Anthropogenic impacts at high disturbance sites may in some cases have been historically higher than they are now (e.g., reduction in industrial practices in some estuaries), and may allow for a recovery of fish diversity over time. However, seagrass is a particularly important nursery habitat for marine fishes and invertebrates (Heck, Hays, & Orth, 2003;McDevitt-Irwin, Iacarella, & Baum, 2016) that remains a global conservation concern (Cullen- Unsworth & Unsworth, 2016). Zostera marina has also been found to be largely persistent despite urbanization in Puget Sound across 40 years, with both increases and declines at a localized scale (≤1 km ;Shelton et al, 2017).…”

Section: Anthropogenic Impacts On Communities and Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic disturbance homogenizes seagrass fish communities

Iacarella

Adamczyk

Bowen³

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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Anthropogenic activities have led to the biotic homogenization of many ecological communities, yet in coastal systems this phenomenon remains understudied. In particular, activities that locally affect marine habitat-forming foundation species may perturb habitat and promote species with generalist, opportunistic traits, in turn affecting spatial patterns of biodiversity. Here, we quantified fish diversity in seagrass communities across 89 sites spanning 6° latitude along the Pacific coast of Canada, to test the hypothesis that anthropogenic disturbances homogenize (i.e., lower beta-diversity) assemblages within coastal ecosystems. We test for patterns of biotic homogenization at sites within different anthropogenic disturbance categories (low, medium, and high) at two spatial scales (within and across regions) using both abundance- and incidence-based beta-diversity metrics. Our models provide clear evidence that fish communities in high anthropogenic disturbance seagrass areas are homogenized relative to those in low disturbance areas. These results were consistent across within-region comparisons using abundance- and incidence-based measures of beta-diversity, and in across-region comparisons using incidence-based measures. Physical and biotic characteristics of seagrass meadows also influenced fish beta-diversity. Biotic habitat characteristics including seagrass biomass and shoot density were more differentiated among high disturbance sites, potentially indicative of a perturbed environment. Indicator species and trait analyses revealed fishes associated with low disturbance sites had characteristics including stenotopy, lower swimming ability, and egg guarding behavior. Our study is the first to show biotic homogenization of fishes across seagrass meadows within areas of relatively high human impact. These results support the importance of targeting conservation efforts in low anthropogenic disturbance areas across land- and seascapes, as well as managing anthropogenic impacts in high activity areas.

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“…, McDevitt‐Irwin et al. ). Seagrass meadow nurseries have primarily been studied at a single‐habitat scale, but it is increasingly acknowledged that they are highly connected to their surrounding habitats (McMahon et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nearshore seascape connectivity enhances seagrass meadow nursery function

Olson

Hessing‐Lewis

Haggarty

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Diverse habitats composing coastal seascapes occur in close proximity, connected by the flux of materials and fauna across habitat boundaries. Understanding how seascape connectivity alters important ecosystem functions for fish, however, is not well established. For a seagrass‐dominant seascape, we predicted that configuration and composition of adjacent habitats would alter habitat access for fauna and trophic subsidies, enhancing nursery function for juvenile fish. In an extensive Zostera marina seagrass meadow, we established sites adjacent to (1) highly complex and productive kelp forests (Nereocystis luetkeana), (2) unvegetated sand habitats, and (3) in the seagrass meadow interior. Using SCUBA, we conducted underwater observations of young‐of the‐year (YOY) rockfish (Sebastes spp.) recruitment across sites. Using generalized linear mixed effects models, we assessed the role of seascape adjacency relative to seagrass provisions (habitat complexity and prey) on YOY recruitment. YOY rockfish collections were used to trace sources of allochthonous vs. autochthonous primary production in the seagrass food web, via a δ13C and δ15N isotopic mixing model, and prey consumption using stomach contents. Overall, seagrass nursery function was strongly influenced by adjacent habitats and associated subsidies. Allochthonous N. luetkeana was the greatest source of energy assimilated by YOY rockfish within seagrass sites. In seagrass sites adjacent to N. luetkeana kelp forests, YOYs consumed higher quality prey, which corresponded with better body condition relative to sites adjacent to sand. Moreover, kelp forest adjacency enhanced YOY rockfish recruitment within the seagrass meadow, suggesting that habitat complexity is a key seascape feature influencing the nursery function of nearshore habitats. In general, to promote seascape connectivity, the conservation and restoration of nursery habitats should prioritize the inclusion of habitat mosaics of high structural complexity and productivity. We illustrate and emphasize the importance of using a seascape‐level approach that considers linkages among habitats for the management of important nearshore ecosystem functions.

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Reassessing the nursery role of seagrass habitats from temperate to tropical regions: a meta-analysis

Cited by 83 publications

References 61 publications

Are coastal habitats important nurseries? A meta‐analysis

Are coastal habitats important nurseries? A meta‐analysis

Anthropogenic disturbance homogenizes seagrass fish communities

Nearshore seascape connectivity enhances seagrass meadow nursery function

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