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: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213328 |
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ftunivhongkonghu:oai:hub.hku.hk:10722/213328 2023-05-15T13:55:05+02:00 Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins Connell, Sean D. Burnell, Owen W. Russell, Bayden D. Irving, Andrew D. 2013 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213328 eng eng Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2013, v. 448, p. 114-120 doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 120 0022-0981 eid_2-s2.0-84880958078 114 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213328 448 Phase-shift Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Posidonia sinuosa Article 2013 ftunivhongkonghu https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 2023-01-14T16:07:58Z 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. Link_to_subscribed_fulltext Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica University of Hong Kong: HKU Scholars Hub Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 448 114 120 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Hong Kong: HKU Scholars Hub |
op_collection_id |
ftunivhongkonghu |
language |
English |
topic |
Phase-shift Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Posidonia sinuosa |
spellingShingle |
Phase-shift Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem Posidonia sinuosa Connell, Sean D. Burnell, Owen W. Russell, Bayden D. Irving, Andrew D. Asymmetric patterns of recovery in two habitat forming seagrass species following simulated overgrazing by urchins |
topic_facet |
Phase-shift Amphibolis antarctica Habitat loss Herbivory Meristem 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. Link_to_subscribed_fulltext |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Connell, Sean D. Burnell, Owen W. Russell, Bayden D. Irving, Andrew D. |
author_facet |
Connell, Sean D. Burnell, Owen W. Russell, Bayden D. Irving, Andrew D. |
author_sort |
Connell, Sean D. |
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 |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213328 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_relation |
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2013, v. 448, p. 114-120 doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.07.003 120 0022-0981 eid_2-s2.0-84880958078 114 http://hdl.handle.net/10722/213328 448 |
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_ |
1766261316545150976 |