Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins
The persistence of seagrass meadows reflects variation in factors that influence their productivity and consumption. Sea urchins (Amblypneustes pallidus) can over-graze seagrass (Amphibolis antarctica) to create sparse meadows in South Australia, but this effect is not observed in adjacent Posidonia...
Published in: | Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology |
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/2440/79177 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 |
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ftunivadelaidedl:oai:digital.library.adelaide.edu.au:2440/79177 2023-12-17T10:19:59+01:00 Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins Burnell, O. Connell, S. Irving, A. Russell, B. 2013 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/2440/79177 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 en eng Elsevier Science BV ARC Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2013; 448:114-120 0022-0981 1879-1697 http://hdl.handle.net/2440/79177 doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 Connell, S. [0000-0002-5350-6852] Russell, B. [0000-0003-1282-9978] Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Phase-shift Posidonia sinuosa Journal article 2013 ftunivadelaidedl https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 2023-11-20T23:19:52Z The persistence of seagrass meadows reflects variation in factors that influence their productivity and consumption. Sea urchins (Amblypneustes pallidus) can over-graze seagrass (Amphibolis antarctica) to create sparse meadows in South Australia, but this effect is not observed in adjacent Posidonia sinuosa meadows despite greater densities of inhabiting urchins. To test the effect of urchin grazing on seagrass biomass, we elevated the density of urchins in meadows of A. antarctica and P. sinuosa and quantified seagrass decline. Urchins removed similar amounts of biomass from both seagrass species, but the loss of leaf meristems was 11-times greater in A. antarctica than in P. sinuosa. In a second experiment to assess the recovery of seagrass, we simulated urchin grazing by clipping seagrass to mimic impacts measured in the first experiment, as well as completely removing all above ground biomass in one treatment. Following simulated grazing, P. sinuosa showed a rapid trajectory toward recovery, while A. antarctica meadows continued to decline relative to control treatments. While both A. antarctica and P. sinuosa were susceptible to heavy grazing loss, consumption of the exposed meristems of A. antarctica appears to reduce its capacity to recover, which may increase its vulnerability to long-term habitat phase-shifts and associated cascading ecosystem changes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. Owen W. Burnell, Sean D. Connell, Andrew D. Irving, Bayden D. Russell Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica The University of Adelaide: Digital Library Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 448 114 120 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Adelaide: Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivadelaidedl |
language |
English |
topic |
Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Phase-shift Posidonia sinuosa |
spellingShingle |
Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Phase-shift Posidonia sinuosa Burnell, O. Connell, S. Irving, A. Russell, B. Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
topic_facet |
Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Phase-shift Posidonia sinuosa |
description |
The persistence of seagrass meadows reflects variation in factors that influence their productivity and consumption. Sea urchins (Amblypneustes pallidus) can over-graze seagrass (Amphibolis antarctica) to create sparse meadows in South Australia, but this effect is not observed in adjacent Posidonia sinuosa meadows despite greater densities of inhabiting urchins. To test the effect of urchin grazing on seagrass biomass, we elevated the density of urchins in meadows of A. antarctica and P. sinuosa and quantified seagrass decline. Urchins removed similar amounts of biomass from both seagrass species, but the loss of leaf meristems was 11-times greater in A. antarctica than in P. sinuosa. In a second experiment to assess the recovery of seagrass, we simulated urchin grazing by clipping seagrass to mimic impacts measured in the first experiment, as well as completely removing all above ground biomass in one treatment. Following simulated grazing, P. sinuosa showed a rapid trajectory toward recovery, while A. antarctica meadows continued to decline relative to control treatments. While both A. antarctica and P. sinuosa were susceptible to heavy grazing loss, consumption of the exposed meristems of A. antarctica appears to reduce its capacity to recover, which may increase its vulnerability to long-term habitat phase-shifts and associated cascading ecosystem changes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. Owen W. Burnell, Sean D. Connell, Andrew D. Irving, Bayden D. Russell |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Burnell, O. Connell, S. Irving, A. Russell, B. |
author_facet |
Burnell, O. Connell, S. Irving, A. Russell, B. |
author_sort |
Burnell, O. |
title |
Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
title_short |
Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
title_full |
Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
title_fullStr |
Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
title_full_unstemmed |
Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
title_sort |
asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
publisher |
Elsevier Science BV |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/2440/79177 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_source |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 |
op_relation |
ARC Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2013; 448:114-120 0022-0981 1879-1697 http://hdl.handle.net/2440/79177 doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 Connell, S. [0000-0002-5350-6852] Russell, B. [0000-0003-1282-9978] |
op_rights |
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 |
container_title |
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology |
container_volume |
448 |
container_start_page |
114 |
op_container_end_page |
120 |
_version_ |
1785587911415037952 |