Seaweed beds support more juvenile reef fish than seagrass beds in a south-western Atlantic tropical seascape

Eggertsen, Linda; Ferreira, Carlos E. L.; Fontoura, Luisa; Kautsky, Nils; Gullström, Martin; Berkström, Charlotte

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2017.06.041

Cited by 54 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…However, results from our experiment strongly support those observed from the initial sampling which covered similar depth ranges in both habitats, suggesting our findings were independent of depth. Indeed, macroalgal beds have been shown to support higher abundances of smaller fish species and juveniles (Eggertsen et al 2017) compared to unvegetated sediments (Guidetti 2000, Smith et al 2011.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, on subtidal rocky reefs the identity of habitats neighboring the brown macroalga, Sargassum linearifolium (coralline turfs or Caulerpa filiformis), altered the epifaunal community with some neighboring algae by acting as a dispersal barrier and reducing the connectivity of S. linearifolium patches for some species (Lanham et al 2015). In other vegetated marine habitats, epifauna can be exposed to higher predation by fish at patch edges in contrast to patch interiors and open sediments (Guidetti 2000, Smith et al 2011, while in macroalgal beds, smaller fish species and juveniles are more abundant within patches (Eggertsen et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Facilitation cascades create a predation refuge for biodiversity in a novel connected habitat

2020

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Communities structured via facilitation cascades whereby one habitat-forming species promotes a secondary habitat-forming species with synergistic effects on biodiversity are increasingly documented. Habitat-formers can also extend the realized niche of other habitat-forming species by facilitating their recruitment into novel environments across heterogeneous landscapes. However, further understanding of whether secondary habitat-formers in these novel environments differ in their structure or support different communities from those settled in their natal habitat is required. Here, we investigated whether abiotic and biotic conditions in a novel connected habitat influence biodiversity within a secondary habitat-former facilitated outside its natal habitat. We contrasted the morphology of the habitat-forming alga, Sirophysalis trinodis, and its associated fish and epifaunal community occurring on rocky reef (natal habitat) and on nearby a biogenic hard substrate, live clam shells (novel habitat) in soft sediments. The algae on clams had a different morphology to those on the rocky shore and supported increased abundance of some epifaunal species. A reciprocal transplant experiment of S. trinodis individuals among habitats found that differences in the abundance of epifauna were explained by the increased abundance and consumption rates of predatory fish on the reef habitat compared to soft-sediment habitats, and not by differences in algal morphology between habitats. We demonstrate that facilitation promotes a secondary habitat-former into a novel habitat, which then enhances the abundance of associated epifauna by providing a predation refuge. This study contributes to a small but growing body of research demonstrating landscape-scale effects of facilitation cascades, and that basal habitat-formers can extend the realized niche of secondary habitat-formers and their associated communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation cascades create a predation refuge for biodiversity in a novel connected habitat

2020

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“…Recent studies have found significantly greater numbers of juvenile fishes in Sargassum beds than in less structurally complex seagrass beds (Eggertsen et al 2017). A number of fish species recruit exclusively to seaweed beds (Wilson et al 2010;Hoey et al 2013;Fulton et al 2016), including species of commercial significance such as some Lethrinus spp.…”

Section: Ecological Role Of Macroalgae On Coral Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rehabilitation of coral reefs through removal of macroalgae: state of knowledge and considerations for management and implementation

Ceccarelli

Loffler

Bourne

et al. 2018

Restoration Ecology

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Coral reef ecosystems are under increasing pressure by multiple stressors that degrade reef condition and function. Although improved management systems have yielded benefits in many regions, broad‐scale declines continue and additional practical and effective solutions for reef conservation and management are urgently needed. Ecological interventions to assist or enhance ecosystem recovery are standard practice in many terrestrial management regimes, and they are now increasingly being implemented in the marine environment. Intervention activities in coral reef systems include the control of coral predators (e.g. crown‐of‐thorns starfish), substrate modification, the creation of artificial habitats and the cultivation, transplantation, and assisted recruitment of corals. On many coastal reefs, corals face competition and overgrowth by fleshy macroalgae whose abundance may be elevated due to acute disturbance events, chronic nutrient enrichment, and reduced herbivory. Active macroalgae removal has been proposed and trialed as a management tool to reduce competition between algae and corals and provide space for coral recruitment, in the hope of restoring the spatial dominance of habitat‐forming corals. However, macroalgae removal has received little formal attention as a method of reef restoration. This review synthesizes available knowledge of the ecological role of macroalgae on coral reefs and the potential benefits and risks associated with their active removal.

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“…In tropical coastal waters, various vegetation types, such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and seaweeds (henceforth referred to as "vegetative habitats"), offer valuable ecological functions. These habitats provide food, shelter, and physical links between back reef systems [1][2][3][4][5]. The trophic requirements of reef fishes, especially larger species, change over the course of development; many consequently undergo ontogenetic habitat shifts (reviewed by [6]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic Habitat Usage of Juvenile Carnivorous Fish Among Seagrass-Coral Mosaic Habitats

et al. 2019

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Seagrass beds and coral reefs are both considered critical habitats for reef fishes, and in tropical coastal regions, they often grow together to form “mosaic” habitats. Although reef fishes clearly inhabit such structurally complex environments, there is little known about their habitat usage in seagrass-coral mosaic habitats. The goal of this study was to examine potential factors that drive habitat usage pattern by juvenile reef fishes. We quantified (1) prey availability, (2) potential competitors, and 3) predators across a gradient of mosaic habitats (n = 4 habitat types) for four dominant carnivorous fishes (lethrinids and lutjanids) in the main recruitment season at Dongsha Island, South China Sea. We found that the coral-dominated habitats had not only a higher availability of large crustacean prey but also a higher abundance of competitors and predators of juvenile fishes. Food availability was the most important factor underlying the habitat usage pattern by lethrinids and lutjanids through ontogeny. The predation pressure exhibited a strong impact on small juvenile lethrinids but not on larger juveniles and lutjanids. The four juvenile fishes showed distinct habitat usage patterns through ontogeny. Collectively, mosaic habitats in the back reef system may be linked to key ontogenetic shifts in the early life histories of reef fishes between seagrass beds and coral reefs.

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Seaweed beds support more juvenile reef fish than seagrass beds in a south-western Atlantic tropical seascape

Cited by 54 publications

References 76 publications

Facilitation cascades create a predation refuge for biodiversity in a novel connected habitat

Facilitation cascades create a predation refuge for biodiversity in a novel connected habitat

Rehabilitation of coral reefs through removal of macroalgae: state of knowledge and considerations for management and implementation

Ontogenetic Habitat Usage of Juvenile Carnivorous Fish Among Seagrass-Coral Mosaic Habitats

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