Seabird nutrient subsidies enrich mangrove ecosystems and are exported to nearby coastal habitats

Appoo, Jennifer; Bunbury, Nancy; Jaquemet, Sébastien; Graham, Nicholas A.J.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.109404

iScience

2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109404

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Seabird nutrient subsidies enrich mangrove ecosystems and are exported to nearby coastal habitats

Jennifer Appoo,

Nancy Bunbury,

Sébastien Jaquemet

et al.

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2024

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Cited by 4 publications

References 87 publications

(129 reference statements)

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Seabird nutrient subsidy alters size and resource use of functionally important mangrove macroinvertebrates

Appoo,

Graham,

Jones

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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Invertebrates have a central role in food webs and ecosystem functioning. By boosting productivity, allochthonous nutrient inputs influence the food webs of recipient communities. Understanding how allochthonous nutrient subsidies affect invertebrates is crucial, particularly in highly productive coastal areas. Here, we examine how mangrove macroinvertebrates are impacted by nutrient‐rich guano delivered by nesting seabird populations at Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. We compare nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios and nitrogen composition of basal resources and macroinvertebrate consumers in mangroves with and without nesting seabirds. Seabird‐derived nutrient enrichment increased the nitrogen content of basal food sources and herbivorous littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs. In mangroves with breeding seabirds, mean carapace widths of sesarmid and omnivorous portunid crabs were 6% and 11% larger, respectively. Isotopic niches of littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs were larger and had higher overlap at seabird compared to non‐seabird sites. Epiphytic macroalgae and guano comprised >50% of resource contributions to littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs at seabird sites. This differed markedly from non‐seabird sites where the main resource contributions were 77% mangrove leaves for littorinid gastropods, 36% sediment organic matter, and 41% mangrove leaves for sesarmid crabs. The increased sizes of mangrove crabs suggest that seabird nutrient enrichment can promote mangrove crab fisheries productivity and benefit the provisioning of mangrove ecosystem services. By shifting resource use of functionally important macroinvertebrates, we discuss how seabirds modify trophic interactions, with potential consequences for mangrove ecosystem processes and resilience.

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Seabird nutrient subsidy alters size and resource use of functionally important mangrove macroinvertebrates

Appoo,

Graham,

Jones

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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Atolls are globally important sites for tropical seabirds

Steibl,

Steiger,

Wegmann

et al. 2024

Nat Ecol Evol

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Atolls are vital for seabirds and vice versa

Dunn

2024

Nat Ecol Evol

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Seabird nutrient subsidies enrich mangrove ecosystems and are exported to nearby coastal habitats

Cited by 4 publications

References 87 publications

Seabird nutrient subsidy alters size and resource use of functionally important mangrove macroinvertebrates

Seabird nutrient subsidy alters size and resource use of functionally important mangrove macroinvertebrates

Atolls are globally important sites for tropical seabirds

Atolls are vital for seabirds and vice versa

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