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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Grazing and recovery of kelp gametophytes under ocean warming
Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.9, 866136
20/04/2022
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Abstract
Kelp forests are economically important ecosystems that support a wealth of biodiversity but are declining globally. They are often replaced by biologically depauperate alternate stable states dominated by turfing algae. Hysteresis maintains algal turfs by inhibiting kelp recruitment, preventing the reestablishment of kelp forests. The mechanisms inhibiting kelp recruitment remain poorly understood as microscopic stages of kelp are difficult to study in situ. A potential mechanism contributing to the suppression of recruitment may be turf-facilitated grazing of kelp gametophytes, the haploid free-living reproductive life stage. Here we assess the resilience of kelp gametophytes to grazing pressure from a gastropod micrograzer commonly present in turf under current and future ocean warming scenarios. Gametophyte coverage and abundance were significantly reduced following grazing under all temperatures, however there was no significant effect of temperature on grazing rates. Once grazing pressure was removed, gametophyte abundance recovered to control levels, but the total coverage and length of gametophytes continued to decline in all treatments. Gametophytes were found to survive micrograzer ingestion and continued to grow in aggregations in the gastropod’s mucus trail and faeces, even producing sporophytes. Gametophyte survival post-ingestion may positively contribute to dispersal and sporophyte recruitment, however the lack of gametophyte recovery at elevated temperatures may counteract this effect under future ocean warming. Taken together, this study demonstrates complex interactions that take place in the turf micro-habitat of kelp gametophytes and highlights biotic factors influencing transitions between kelp forests and algal turfs.
Details
- Title
- Grazing and recovery of kelp gametophytes under ocean warming
- Creators
- Reina J. Veenhof - Southern Cross UniversitySymon A. Dworjanyn - Southern Cross UniversityCurtis Champion - New South Wales (NSW) Department of Primary Industries, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, NSW, AustraliaMelinda Ann Coleman - New South Wales (NSW) Department of Primary Industries, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.9, 866136
- Comment
- The authors would like to thank Dr. M.J. Nimbs for his help with identifying A. atkinsoni and M. Tan for fieldwork support.
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Grant note
- This work contributes to the NSW Primary Industries Climate Change Research Strategy, funded by the NSW Climate Change Fund. Funding was also provided by Australian Research Council grant DP190100058 awarded to MC. Funding was also provided by the Southern Cross University Higher Degree Research Scholarship. This work is supported by the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, awarded to RV.
- Identifiers
- 991013016096802368
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2022 Veenhof, Dworjanyn, Champion and Coleman
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article