Epiphytic hydroids on Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows are winner organisms under future ocean acidification conditions: evidence from a CO 2 vent system (Ischia Island, Italy)

Effects of ocean acidification (OA) on the plant phenology and colonization/settlement pattern of the hydrozoan epibiont community of the leaves of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica have been studied at volcanic CO 2 vents off Ischia (Italy). The study was conducted in shallow Posidonia stands (2.5–3....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: C. Gravili, F. Cozzoli, M. C. Gambi
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: Taylor & Francis 2021
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Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14357413
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Epiphytic_hydroids_on_i_Posidonia_oceanica_i_seagrass_meadows_are_winner_organisms_under_future_ocean_acidification_conditions_evidence_from_a_CO_sub_2_sub_vent_system_Ischia_Island_Italy_/14357413
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Summary:Effects of ocean acidification (OA) on the plant phenology and colonization/settlement pattern of the hydrozoan epibiont community of the leaves of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica have been studied at volcanic CO 2 vents off Ischia (Italy). The study was conducted in shallow Posidonia stands (2.5–3.5 m depth), in three stations on the north and three on the south sides of the vent’s area (Castello Aragonese vents), distributed along a pH gradient. At each station, 10–15 P. oceanica shoots were collected every three months for one-year cycle (Sept 2009–2010). The shoot density of Posidonia beds in the most acidified stations along the gradient (pH Sertularia perpusilla, Plumularia obliqua, Clytia hemisphaerica). All hydroids species showed a clear tolerance to low pH levels, including chitinous and non-calcifying forms, likely favoured also by the absence of competition for substratum with the calcareous forms of epiphytes selected against OA.