Temperate macroalgae impacts tropical fish recruitment at forefronts of range expansion

Beck, Hayden J.; Nakamura, Yohei; Booth, David J.

doi:10.1007/s00338-017-1553-1

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…To our knowledge, rabbitfish are the only group of tropical herbivores documented as reproductively active at high latitudes [61]. Siganus fuscescens can recruit to kelp forests [62], indicating that temperate reefs are suitable for juveniles. Nevertheless, thermal tolerance is narrower in juvenile stages and extreme low temperatures can cause high rates of mortality [42,43].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overwintering tropical herbivores accelerate detritus production on temperate reefs

Zarco‐Perello

Langlois

Holmes³

et al. 2019

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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The tropicalization of temperate marine ecosystems can lead to increased herbivory rates, reducing the standing stock of seaweeds and potentially causing increases in detritus production. However, long-term studies analysing these processes associated with the persistence of tropical herbivores in temperate reefs are lacking. We assessed the seasonal variation in abundances, macrophyte consumption, feeding modes and defecation rates of the range-extending tropical rabbitfish Siganus fuscescens and the temperate silver drummer Kyphosus sydneyanus and herring cale Olisthops cyanomelas on tropicalized reefs of Western Australia. Rabbitfish overwintered in temperate reefs, consumed more kelp and other macrophytes in all feeding modes, and defecated more during both summer and winter than the temperate herbivores. Herbivory and defecation increased with rabbitfish abundance, but this was dependent on temperature, with higher rates attained by big schools during summer and lower rates in winter. Still, rabbitfish surpassed temperate herbivores, leading to a fivefold acceleration in the transformation of macrophyte standing stock to detritus, a function usually attributed to sea urchins in kelp forests. Our results suggest that further warming and tropicalization will not only increase primary consumption and affect the habitat structure of temperate reefs but also increase detritus production, with the potential to modify energy pathways.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overwintering tropical herbivores accelerate detritus production on temperate reefs

Zarco‐Perello

Langlois

Holmes³

et al. 2019

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…In contrast to corals, kelps and other habitat‐forming seaweeds, turf algae provide minimal structure and habitat functions (Filbee‐Dexter & Wernberg, ). Nevertheless, some structurally simple habitats, including turf algae dominated habitats, can be functionally important as juvenile fish nurseries for some species (Galaiduk, Figueira, Kingsford, & Curley, ), including many range‐shifting tropical species (Beck, Feary, Nakamura, & Booth, ). This suggests that the replacement of kelp forests by turf algae may create a positive feedback loop that facilitates tropicalisation of temperate reefs, especially in areas where boulders may also offer abiotic refuge spaces.…”

Section: Predicted Impacts To Biodiversity Ecosystem Functions and Sermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast to corals, kelps and other habitat-forming seaweeds, turf algae provide minimal structure and habitat functions (Filbee-Dexter & . Nevertheless, some structurally simple habitats, including turf algae dominated habitats, can be functionally important as juvenile fish nurseries for some species (Galaiduk, Figueira, Kingsford, & Curley, 2013), including many range-shifting tropical species (Beck, Feary, Nakamura, & Booth, 2017…”

Section: Provision Of Habitat and Nursery Functions And Implicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropicalisation of temperate reefs: Implications for ecosystem functions and management actions

et al. 2019

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Temperate reefs from around the world are becoming tropicalised, as warm‐water species shift their distribution towards the poles in response to warming. This is already causing profound shifts in dominant foundation species and associated ecological communities as canopy seaweeds such as kelp are replaced by tropical species. Here, we argue that the cascading consequences of tropicalisation for the ecosystem properties and functions of warming temperate reefs depend largely on the taxa that end up dominating the seafloor. We put forward three potential tropicalisation trajectories, that differ in whether seaweeds, turf or corals become dominant. We highlight potential gains to certain ecosystem functions for some tropicalisation endpoints. For example, local benthic fish productivity may increase in some tropicalised reefs as a higher proportion of primary production is directly consumed, but this will be at the expense of other functions such as carbon export. We argue that understanding these changes in flows of energy and materials is essential to formulate new conservation strategies and management approaches that minimise risks as well as capture potential opportunities. Regardless of which trajectory is followed, tropicalised systems represent largely novel ecosystem configurations. This poses major challenges to traditional conservation and environmental management approaches, which typically focus on maintaining or returning species to particular locations. We outline management practices that may either mitigate predicted structural and functional changes or make the most of potential new opportunities in tropicalised reefs. These include marine protected areas to increase resilience and connectivity, the development of new fisheries that target range‐expanding invaders, and assisted evolution and migration strategies to facilitate the dominance of large habitat formers like corals or seaweeds. We highlight important ecological and ethical challenges associated with developing novel approaches to manage tropicalised reefs, which may need to become increasingly interventionist. As technological innovations continue to emerge, having clear goals and considering the ethics surrounding interventions among the broader community are essential steps to successfully develop novel management approaches. A plain language summary is available for this article.

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“…High seawater temperatures may decrease winter mortality of K. bigibbus, leading to an increase in the number of overwintering individuals that are able to spawn the following season (Figueira and Booth 2010). Beck et al (2017) indicated that temperate macroalgal patches may strongly inhibit the recruitment of many tropical reef fish species, primarily planktivores and herbivores. The noticeable losses of kelp forests in 1998 may have facilitated the rapid increase in K. bigibbus recruitment since 1999.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using optimised otolith sectioning to determine the age, growth and age at sexual maturity of the herbivorous fish Kyphosus bigibbus: with a comparison to using scales

Ogino

Furumitsu

Kiriyama

et al. 2020

Mar. Freshwater Res.

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Determining the population parameters of herbivorous fishes facilitates our understanding of their overall effects on ecosystems. However, this has not been successful with species such as Kyphosus bigibbus that are difficult to age using otoliths. In this study, we estimated the age, growth and age at sexual maturity of K. bigibbus off the west coast of Kyushu, Japan, using fish scales and otoliths. Scales were found unreliable because they caused underestimation of the age of fish older than 5 years, whereas otoliths were reliable when used with our improved otolith-sectioning methodology. The maximum age and fork length were 46 years and 574mm for females and 32 years and 506mm for males. According to the von Bertalanffy growth curves, females became slightly larger than males, and both sexes showed nearly asymptotic fork lengths after 10 years. The age at 50% sexual maturity for females and males was 3.2 and 1.9 years respectively, which is extremely early considering their maximum age. The year-class composition of K. bigibbus suggests that its recruitment may have increased rapidly since 1999, following noticeable losses of kelp forests in this region. Our findings will contribute to the understanding of algal forest ecosystems and advancement of fish ageing studies.

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Temperate macroalgae impacts tropical fish recruitment at forefronts of range expansion

Cited by 14 publications

References 75 publications

Overwintering tropical herbivores accelerate detritus production on temperate reefs

Overwintering tropical herbivores accelerate detritus production on temperate reefs

Tropicalisation of temperate reefs: Implications for ecosystem functions and management actions

Using optimised otolith sectioning to determine the age, growth and age at sexual maturity of the herbivorous fish Kyphosus bigibbus: with a comparison to using scales

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