Beyond the border: effects of an expanding algal habitat on the fauna of neighbouring habitats

Marine Environmental Research
Brendan S LanhamAlistair G B Poore

Abstract

The impacts of novel habitat-forming organisms on associated fauna have been difficult to predict, and may affect the fauna of neighbouring habitats due to changes in the spatial configuration of habitat patches of differing quality. Here, we test whether the localised expansion of a native habitat-forming macroalga, Caulerpa filiformis, on subtidal reefs can affect the abundance of fauna associated with a neighbouring macroalgal habitat. C. filiformis was a functionally distinct habitat for fauna, and the total abundance of epifauna associated with the resident alga, Sargassum linearifolium, was reduced at some sites when in close proximity to or surrounded by C. filiformis. Experimental manipulation of habitat configuration demonstrated that the low abundance of gastropods on S. linearifolium when surrounded by C. filiformis was likely explained by C. filiformis acting as a physical dispersal barrier for mobile fauna. Changes to the spatial configuration of novel and resident habitats can thus affect the abundance of fauna in addition to the direct replacement of habitats by species undergoing range expansions or increasing in abundance.

References

Jul 2, 1976·Science·P R Atsatt, D J O'dowd
May 27, 2011·American Journal of Botany·Kristin I PowellTiffany M Knight
Jul 26, 2013·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Don A DriscollAnnabel L Smith
Mar 29, 2014·The Quarterly Review of Biology·Nora UnderwoodPeter A Hambäck
May 20, 2014·Marine Environmental Research·Fernando TuyaFernando Espino

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Citations

Jun 9, 2018·Journal of Fish Biology·Daniel J BradleyPaul E Gribben
Mar 23, 2019·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ricardo J MirandaBrendan P Kelaher
Oct 28, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Melinda A Coleman, Thomas Wernberg
Apr 13, 2021·Marine Environmental Research·Brendan S LanhamPaul E Gribben

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