The influence of canopy algae on vertical patterns of distribution of low-shore assemblages on rocky coasts in the northwest Mediterranean

Bulleri, Fabio; Benedetti‐Cecchi, Lisandro; Acunto, Stefano; Cinelli, Francesco; Hawkins, Stephen J.

doi:10.1016/s0022-0981(01)00361-6

Cited by 150 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

121

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Overall, this suggests that the ability of C. racemosa to acquire space could be greater where macroalgae dominate benthic assem blages at the expense of sessile invertebrates. These patterns match well those that emerged at the landscape level, since Posidonia oceanica and canopyforming macroalgae, being important habitat formers, generally support more diverse sessile invertebrate assemblages than degraded habitats (Bulleri et al 2002, Balata et al 2007b.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Determinants of Caulerpa racemosa distribution in the north-western Mediterranean

Bulleri¹,

Alestra²,

Ceccherelli³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predicting community susceptibility to invasion has become a priority for preserving biodiversity. We tested the hypothesis that the occurrence and abundance of the seaweed Caulerpa racemosa in the north-western (NW) Mediterranean would increase with increasing levels of human disturbance. Data from a survey encompassing areas subjected to different human influences (i.e. from urbanized to protected areas) were fitted by means of generalized linear mixed models, including descriptors of habitats and communities. The incidence of occurrence of C. racemosa was greater on urban than extra-urban or protected reefs, along the coast of Tuscany and NW Sardinia, respectively. Within the Marine Protected Area of Capraia Island (Tuscan Archipelago), the probability of detecting C. racemosa did not vary according to the degree of protection (partial versus total). Human influence was, however, a poor predictor of the seaweed cover. At the seascape level, C. racemosa was more widely spread within degraded (i.e. Posidonia oceanica dead matte or algal turfs) than in better preserved habitats (i.e. canopy-forming macroalgae or P. oceanica seagrass meadows). At a smaller spatial scale, the presence of the seaweed was positively correlated to the diversity of macroalgae and negatively to that of sessile invertebrates. These results suggest that C. racemosa can take advantage of habitat degradation. Thus, predicting invasion scenarios requires a thorough knowledge of ecosystem structure, at a hierarchy of levels of biological organization (from the landscape to the assemblage) and detailed information on the nature and intensity of sources of disturbance and spatial scales at which they operate.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Determinants of Caulerpa racemosa distribution in the north-western Mediterranean

Bulleri¹,

Alestra²,

Ceccherelli³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In contrast, some sponge species appear to be positively influenced by conditions (e.g. shade and sedimentation) that occur un derneath the canopy (Smith 1996, Bulleri et al 2002). The effect of surface inclination on sessile organisms has been considered extensively (Barnes 1995, Turon et al 1998, Baynes 1999, Bell & Barnes 2000b,c, Maughan & Barnes 2000, Bell 2001, Irving & Connell 2002, Knott et al 2006, Walker et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlations between algal abundance, environmental variables and sponge distribution patterns on southern hemisphere temperate rocky reefs

Cárdenas

Davy²,

Bell³

2012

Aquat. Biol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sponges are important components of temperate rocky reefs whose abundance and diversity are influenced by a range of biological and physical factors. In high light environments, sponges are generally less abundant and are often restricted to shaded microhabitats. However, this generalisation stems primarily from research conducted in the northern hemisphere, with comparatively little information from the southern hemisphere. The aim of the present study was to examine correlations between sponge abundance and assemblage composition and between algal abundance and environmental variables. We measured the distribution patterns of sponges relative to macroalgal abundance, physical factors (including depth, surface inclination, turbidity, rugosity and temperature) and the abundance of other phyletic groups at multiple sites in New Zealand. A negative correlation was found between sponge abundance and algal abundance, with surface inclination strongly correlating with the distribution patterns of both groups. Our results support the generalisation from previous studies in the northern hemisphere that sponge and algal abundance are negatively correlated.

show abstract

“…Enhanced loads of sediment to coastal habitats, along with water eutrophication, have been indicated as the main determinants of the shift of dominance from canopy-forming species to algal turfs (Airoldi et al 1995, Benedetti-Cecchi et al 2001, Gorgula & Connell 2004. Once established, algal turfs, while hindering the recovery of more diverse algal assemblages through pre-emption of space and retention of sediments (Bulleri et al 2002, Airoldi 2003, facilitate the spread of C. racemosa through the provision of a more suitable substratum. Indeed, when established within algal turfs, C. racemosa would exacerbate negative effects on native assemblages by fostering entrapment of sediments (Piazzi et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation of the introduced green alga Caulerpa racemosa by resident algal turfs: experimental evaluation of underlying mechanisms

Bulleri¹,

Benedetti‐Cecchi²

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is convincing evidence showing that resistance to invasion greatly varies among recipient assemblages. We assessed whether variation in the performance of the introduced macroalga Caulerpa racemosa between algal turfs and surfaces dominated by encrusting corallines (barrens) arises from their physical or biological properties, by comparing the invasion success of this alga between natural assemblages and their mimics. Furthermore, to establish whether greater retention of sediments by algal turfs can favour C. racemosa, sediment deposition in barrens was raised to levels matching those recorded in turfs. The effects of herbivores on patterns of distribution of C. racemosa between habitats were evaluated by removing urchins from some experimental patches. The performance of C. racemosa was greater in turfs than in barrens, regardless of the type of substratum (natural or artificial), suggesting that positive effects of turfs on C. racemosa are physical (e.g. entrapment of fragments of the alga and/or enhancing the anchoring of stolons). Removing urchins or enhancing the deposition of sediments in barrens had no effect on C. racemosa. Our results show that the complexity of biogenic substrata is key to determining the spread of this invader and that facilitation of exotic species by natives could enhance ecosystem invasibility. This study has important implications for the management of C. racemosa, as turfs are progressively replacing canopy-forming species along urbanised coasts. Also, it suggests that current invasion theories based on the assumption that interactions between native and exotic species are exclusively negative may be inadequate to predict future invasion scenarios

show abstract

The influence of canopy algae on vertical patterns of distribution of low-shore assemblages on rocky coasts in the northwest Mediterranean

Cited by 150 publications

References 43 publications

Determinants of Caulerpa racemosa distribution in the north-western Mediterranean

Determinants of Caulerpa racemosa distribution in the north-western Mediterranean

Correlations between algal abundance, environmental variables and sponge distribution patterns on southern hemisphere temperate rocky reefs

Facilitation of the introduced green alga Caulerpa racemosa by resident algal turfs: experimental evaluation of underlying mechanisms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About