Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates
Recent studies have shown a decline in predation intensity in seagrasses with higher latitude, but knowledge about arctic and subarctic regions is scarce. Moreover, changes in trophic structure are likely to vary with latitude, and to impact predation. Thus inclusion of high-latitude sites and the q...
Published in: | Marine Ecology Progress Series |
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2019
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/11370/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 |
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ftunigroningenpu:oai:pure.rug.nl:publications/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d 2024-06-02T08:02:37+00:00 Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates Reiss, Katrin Fieten, Nina N. Reynolds, Pamela L. Eriksson, Britas Klemens 2019-11-07 info:eu-repo/date/embargoEnd/2024-11-07 https://hdl.handle.net/11370/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 eng eng https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess Reiss , K , Fieten , N N , Reynolds , P L & Eriksson , B K 2019 , ' Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows : Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates ' , Marine Ecology Progress Series , vol. 630 , pp. 41-54 . https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 Eelgrass Fish composition Nursery role Ecosystem functioning Tethering Habitat complexity HABITAT STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY FORAGING SUCCESS TROPHIC INTERACTIONS SEAGRASS HABITATS PREY BEDS TEMPERATE PRESSURE article 2019 ftunigroningenpu https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 2024-05-07T20:54:14Z Recent studies have shown a decline in predation intensity in seagrasses with higher latitude, but knowledge about arctic and subarctic regions is scarce. Moreover, changes in trophic structure are likely to vary with latitude, and to impact predation. Thus inclusion of high-latitude sites and the quantifyication of predation at multiple trophic levels are critical for our understanding of predator-prey dynamics in seagrasses at a global scale. In this in situ study, we investigated predator communities and predation rates in 2 subarctic seagrass meadows in Northern Norway. We measured the effect of seagrass density on abundances of small-bodied fish and predation rates on small (amphipods/mesograzers) and medium-sized crustaceans (shrimps/mesopredators) using a standardized live tethering technique. Results varied strongly between both study sites. Juvenile fish occurred in higher diversity and density in high seagrass density in one meadow, while sticklebacks dominated the other meadow, irrespective of habitat complexity. Predation rates varied strongly between prey type; on average, 41 % of shrimps and 16% of amphipods were consumed, while a standardized non-live prey was consumed at a rate of only 3%. In one meadow, predation on shrimp was strongly reduced (from 60% outside the meadow to 3% in high-density patches), indicating the importance of habitat complexity in reducing predation rates at this site. The results demonstrate that predation rates differ between trophic levels, and that habitat effects on predation depend on local meadow characteristics. We found that subarctic seagrass provides habitat for a diverse fish community, and specifically one meadow hosted more juveniles of commercial species compared to bare habitats. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Northern Norway Subarctic University of Groningen research database Arctic Norway Marine Ecology Progress Series 630 41 54 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Groningen research database |
op_collection_id |
ftunigroningenpu |
language |
English |
topic |
Eelgrass Fish composition Nursery role Ecosystem functioning Tethering Habitat complexity HABITAT STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY FORAGING SUCCESS TROPHIC INTERACTIONS SEAGRASS HABITATS PREY BEDS TEMPERATE PRESSURE |
spellingShingle |
Eelgrass Fish composition Nursery role Ecosystem functioning Tethering Habitat complexity HABITAT STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY FORAGING SUCCESS TROPHIC INTERACTIONS SEAGRASS HABITATS PREY BEDS TEMPERATE PRESSURE Reiss, Katrin Fieten, Nina N. Reynolds, Pamela L. Eriksson, Britas Klemens Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
topic_facet |
Eelgrass Fish composition Nursery role Ecosystem functioning Tethering Habitat complexity HABITAT STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY FORAGING SUCCESS TROPHIC INTERACTIONS SEAGRASS HABITATS PREY BEDS TEMPERATE PRESSURE |
description |
Recent studies have shown a decline in predation intensity in seagrasses with higher latitude, but knowledge about arctic and subarctic regions is scarce. Moreover, changes in trophic structure are likely to vary with latitude, and to impact predation. Thus inclusion of high-latitude sites and the quantifyication of predation at multiple trophic levels are critical for our understanding of predator-prey dynamics in seagrasses at a global scale. In this in situ study, we investigated predator communities and predation rates in 2 subarctic seagrass meadows in Northern Norway. We measured the effect of seagrass density on abundances of small-bodied fish and predation rates on small (amphipods/mesograzers) and medium-sized crustaceans (shrimps/mesopredators) using a standardized live tethering technique. Results varied strongly between both study sites. Juvenile fish occurred in higher diversity and density in high seagrass density in one meadow, while sticklebacks dominated the other meadow, irrespective of habitat complexity. Predation rates varied strongly between prey type; on average, 41 % of shrimps and 16% of amphipods were consumed, while a standardized non-live prey was consumed at a rate of only 3%. In one meadow, predation on shrimp was strongly reduced (from 60% outside the meadow to 3% in high-density patches), indicating the importance of habitat complexity in reducing predation rates at this site. The results demonstrate that predation rates differ between trophic levels, and that habitat effects on predation depend on local meadow characteristics. We found that subarctic seagrass provides habitat for a diverse fish community, and specifically one meadow hosted more juveniles of commercial species compared to bare habitats. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Reiss, Katrin Fieten, Nina N. Reynolds, Pamela L. Eriksson, Britas Klemens |
author_facet |
Reiss, Katrin Fieten, Nina N. Reynolds, Pamela L. Eriksson, Britas Klemens |
author_sort |
Reiss, Katrin |
title |
Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
title_short |
Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
title_full |
Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
title_fullStr |
Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows:Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
title_sort |
ecosystem function of subarctic zostera marina meadows:influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/11370/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 |
geographic |
Arctic Norway |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Norway |
genre |
Arctic Northern Norway Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic Northern Norway Subarctic |
op_source |
Reiss , K , Fieten , N N , Reynolds , P L & Eriksson , B K 2019 , ' Ecosystem function of subarctic Zostera marina meadows : Influence of shoot density on fish predators and predation rates ' , Marine Ecology Progress Series , vol. 630 , pp. 41-54 . https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 |
op_relation |
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fc9238c7-6da4-40bb-9992-b65396481b5d |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13115 |
container_title |
Marine Ecology Progress Series |
container_volume |
630 |
container_start_page |
41 |
op_container_end_page |
54 |
_version_ |
1800747098967113728 |