The role of disturbance in differential regulation of co-occurring brown algae species: Interactive effects of sediment deposition, abrasion and grazing on algae recruits

• Disturbance is an important structuring factor in intertidal communities. This study aimed at experimentally testing the effects of three important sources of disturbance to intertidal rocky habitats (abrasion, sediment deposition and herbivory) on the survivorship and growth of embryos of canopy forming fucoid species (Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus serratus). Natural levels of sediment deposition and herbivore density were characterized and the temporal variation of populations of both species was followed. The experimental study showed that the survivorship of F. serratus embryos was negatively affected by herbivory but growth was enhanced in the presence of abrasion and herbivores. F. vesiculosus suffered the interactive negative effects of the three sources of disturbance tested, although abrasion was the most important factor affecting mortality rates of embryos. Conversely, none of the tested sources of disturbance significantly affected growth of embryos. These results highlight the importance of disturbance events in regulating species interactions which might be particularly relevant for population dynamics and persistence at the geographical borders of species' distribution. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Abrasion

Disturbance

Fucus serratus

Fucus vesiculosus

Herbivory

Sedimentation

competitive hierarchy model

turf-forming algae

ascophyllum-nodosum

fucus-vesiculosus

rocky shores

baltic sea

mean intensity

canopy

removal

fucoid algae

assemblages

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)