Timing of disturbance, top‐down, and bottom‐up driving on early algal succession patterns in a tropical intertidal community

Abstract

SUMMARY Herbivory and nutrient enrichment are major drivers of the dynamics of algal communities. However, their effects on algal abundance are under the influence of seasons. This study investigated the effects of herbivory and nutrient enrichment on early algal succession patterns using cages (uncaged and fully caged treatments) and two nutrient levels (ambient and enriched concentrations). To determine seasonal influences, experiment plots on dead coral patches were cleared during both dry and rainy season. Of the 17 algal species recruited in the experiment plots, three were dominant: Ulva paradoxa C. Agardh, Padina in the Vaughaniella stage, and Polysiphonia sphaerocarpa Børgesen. In this succession process, U. paradoxa was the earliest colonizer and occupied the cleared plots within the first month after clearing with the highest percentage of 83.33 ± 1.67% to 88.33 ± 9.28%. Then, it was replaced by the late successional algae, Padina in the Vaughaniella stage, and P. sphaerocarpa. The effects of herbivory and nutrient enrichment on algal abundance varied across algal functional groups and seasons. During the dry season, neither herbivory nor nutrient enrichment affected Ulva cover but during the rainy season, Ulva cover was influenced by nutrient enrichment. However, the abundance of algae in this early stage was not apparently affected by either herbivory or nutrient enrichment. Our results indicated that the timing of disturbance strongly influenced the algal abundance and successional patterns in this tropical intertidal community.

Wave exposure, shore level, and season of clearing modulate early algal abundance and succession in an intertidal zone

“…It might be because they can alter the availability of resources, competing for space, and preventing recruitment of other later species. A similar pattern of colonization was noted in the studies of Mayakun et al (2010), Mayakun (2019), Mayakun et al (2020), and Yang and Kim (2020). They found that Ulva appeared to inhibit and suppress recruitment by later colonists.…”

“…(2010), Mayakun (2019), Mayakun et al . (2020), and Yang and Kim (2020). They found that Ulva appeared to inhibit and suppress recruitment by later colonists.…”

“…This might depend on the seasonal availability of algal propagules for each species, reproductive strategies, and differences in herbivore species and grazing rates (Kim & DeWreede 1996; Burkepile & Hay 2010; Mayakun et al . 2010, 2020; Yang & Kim 2020). In this study, Ulva had a high abundance in the rainy season when the density of herbivores and grazing rates were low.…”

“…It might be that these algae are slower colonizers, have slower growth rates, and might not compete well against U. paradoxa (Mayakun 2019; Mayakun et al 2020). Once, Padina in Vaughaniella stage and P. Sphaerocarpa colonized the substrates, their abundances seemed to increase afterwards and persisted on the cleared plots.…”

Primary ecological succession of marine communities on the Tajogaite lava flows (La Palma, Canary Islands), fishes colonize faster than macroinvertebrates and algae

“…In both the intertidal and subtidal habitats, they exhibited high cover values for the lava flows, similar to those in the control zone from the beginning. The early stages of primary succession are also characterised by low interactions between organisms, and the exclusion of herbivores can alter the trajectory of algal communities (Mayakun et al, 2020;Srednick et al, 2023). The limited presence of herbivore populations in lava flows, particularly in the intertidal zone, undoubtedly contributed to the abundance of algae (Williams et al, 2000).…”