Temperature and light explain spatial variation in growth and productivity of the kelp Ecklonia radiata

Bearham, Douglas; Vanderklift, Mathew A.; Gunson, Jim

doi:10.3354/meps10148

Cited by 46 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…) and the combined influence of these factors explained most of the variation in growth and productivity of western Australian Ecklonia radiata populations (Bearham et al. ) and may have also added to the observed effects in field material at Helgoland.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevailing sea surface temperatures inhibit summer reproduction of the kelp Laminaria digitata at Helgoland (North Sea)

Bartsch

Vogt

Pehlke

et al. 2013

Journal of Phycology

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The impact of abiotic factors on kelp sporophyte reproduction has rarely been investigated. Laminaria digitata (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux is one of the few summer fertile Laminaria species worldwide and reproduction is subjected to relatively high water temperatures. We investigated the impact of prevailing summer temperatures (~18°C in August) on the induction of sporangia, meiospore release, and germination at the island of Helgoland (North Sea). At Helgoland, fertile sporophytes are found between April and December with a maximum in late summer. While released meiospore numbers were constant between June and October, germination rates decreased significantly in summer. Short-term exposure of mature sori to 17°C-22°C induced a significantly higher meiospore release indicating enhancement of sporulation by elevated temperatures. Induction of sporangia on vegetative blade disks was not possible at 20°C, and fertility was only 20% at 18°C-19°C, but it was 100% in cool temperatures of 1°C-10°C. It was shown for the first time in a kelp species that "sporogenesis" is the life-cycle process with the narrowest temperature window compared to growth or survival of the sporophyte or reproduction, growth, and survival of the gametophyte. We incorporated several parameters (induction time, fertile area, and relative fertility) into a "Reproductive efficiency index." This indicates that sporogenesis of L. digitata is a cold-adapted process with an optimum at (5)-10°C. The results show that the population at Helgoland is at its reproduction limit despite the existence of other geographically more southerly located populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevailing sea surface temperatures inhibit summer reproduction of the kelp Laminaria digitata at Helgoland (North Sea)

Bartsch

Vogt

Pehlke

et al. 2013

Journal of Phycology

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“…Kelp decline also appeared unaffected by nutrients, although this should be interpreted with caution as the chlorophyll α proxy used here only correlates coarsely with biologically important nutrients such as nitrates and ammonia. The lack of a relationship between kelp abundance and nutrients is nevertheless not surprising, given that Ecklonia generally thrives in clear oligotrophic waters like those in the Solitary Islands (34) and several studies have failed to find compelling relationships between nutrient concentrations and growth of Ecklonia (36,37).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term empirical evidence of ocean warming leading to tropicalization of fish communities, increased herbivory, and loss of kelp

Vergés

Doropoulos

Malcolm

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

361

340

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Some of the most profound effects of climate change on ecological communities are due to alterations in species interactions rather than direct physiological effects of changing environmental conditions. Empirical evidence of historical changes in species interactions within climate-impacted communities is, however, rare and difficult to obtain. Here, we demonstrate the recent disappearance of key habitat-forming kelp forests from a warming tropical-temperate transition zone in eastern Australia. Using a 10-y video dataset encompassing a 0.6°C warming period, we show how herbivory increased as kelp gradually declined and then disappeared. Concurrently, fish communities from sites where kelp was originally abundant but subsequently disappeared became increasingly dominated by tropical herbivores. Feeding assays identified two key tropical/ subtropical herbivores that consumed transplanted kelp within hours at these sites. There was also a distinct increase in the abundance of fishes that consume epilithic algae, and much higher bite rates by this group at sites without kelp, suggesting a key role for these fishes in maintaining reefs in kelp-free states by removing kelp recruits. Changes in kelp abundance showed no direct relationship to seawater temperatures over the decade and were also unrelated to other measured abiotic factors (nutrients and storms). Our results show that warming-mediated increases in fish herbivory pose a significant threat to kelp-dominated ecosystems in Australia and, potentially, globally.climate change | macroalgae | plant-herbivore interactions | range shifts | tropicalization

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“…Arenas) indicate favorable conditions for the persistence of floating kelps. Highest growth rates in the kelp Ecklonia radiata have been reported under high light intensities and low temperatures, which contrasted with lowest growth at high temperatures (Bearham et al, 2013). During summer at mid latitudes the combination of high radiation and moderate temperatures could be favoring growth of both floating kelps.…”

Section: Seasonal Effects On Floating Kelpsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Temperature influences metabolic and growth rates, following similar seasonal patterns as light, but local conditions (coastal currents, upwelling zones, cloud cover, and coastal topography) can obscure large-scale patterns (Ramos-Rodríguez et al, 2012;Bearham et al, 2013;Tapia et al, 2014). Deleterious combinations of high light and temperature at the sea surface affect the tissue integrity causing biomass losses at low latitudes (Coquimbo), regardless of the season.…”

Section: Seasonal Effects On Floating Kelpsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Latitudinal and seasonal effects on short-term acclimation of floating kelp species from the South-East Pacific

Tala

Velásquez

Mansilla

et al. 2016

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Temperature and light explain spatial variation in growth and productivity of the kelp Ecklonia radiata

Cited by 46 publications

References 60 publications

Prevailing sea surface temperatures inhibit summer reproduction of the kelp Laminaria digitata at Helgoland (North Sea)

Prevailing sea surface temperatures inhibit summer reproduction of the kelp Laminaria digitata at Helgoland (North Sea)

Long-term empirical evidence of ocean warming leading to tropicalization of fish communities, increased herbivory, and loss of kelp

Latitudinal and seasonal effects on short-term acclimation of floating kelp species from the South-East Pacific

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