Interaction of herbivory and seasonality on the dynamics of Caribbean macroalgae
Interaction of herbivory and seasonality on the dynamics of Caribbean macroalgae
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DOI：
10.1007/s00338-012-0889-9
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发表时间：
2012-09-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Mumby, Peter J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ferrari, Renata;Gonzalez-Rivero, Manuel;Mumby, Peter J.
许多加勒比珊瑚礁正在经历从珊瑚为主到大型藻类为主的阶段转变。理解驱动藻类丰度和群落结构变化的过程需要澄清自上而下的相对影响（例如，食草动物）和自下而上的过程（例如，光、温度和营养物）。到目前为止，一些研究已经检查了放牧与营养的相对影响，但草食动物和自然之间的相互作用，温度和光照的季节性波动还没有调查。本研究考虑了三种加勒比大型藻类[Lobophora variegata（Lamouroux），Dictyota pulchella（Hornig和Schnetter）和Halimeda opuntia（Linnaeus）]和藻类草皮的动态。建立了一个现场实验，以测量物种特定的藻类动态（丰度的变化）超过13个月的存在和不存在草食动物。草食性和季节变化是控制大型藻类和草坪丰富度的重要过程。水温和光照对D. pulchella;在水温和光照最高的夏季，该物种的丰度显著增加，而在冬季，该物种的丰度下降。令人惊讶的是，草食动物似乎没有控制D。pulchella直接。而植食作用是控制L. variegata、黑腹叶蝉H.仙人掌和草皮这两种藻类的丰度与环境的季节性变化有关，但在笼子外全年都被耗尽。H.仙人掌与温度和光照呈正相关，但驱动因素之间没有统计学交互作用。温度和光照的统计交互作用对L. variegata和草皮，但藻类丰度下降，这两个因素的增加。总体而言，大型藻类和草坪覆盖主要由草食动物控制，而群落结构（其中物种有助于整体覆盖）在很大程度上受温度和光照的季节变化的影响。
Many Caribbean coral reefs are undergoing a phase shift from coral to macroalgal dominance. Understanding the processes driving changes in algal abundance and community structure requires clarification of the relative effects of top-down (e.g., herbivory) and bottom-up processes (e.g., light, temperature, and nutrients). To date, a number of studies have examined the relative effects of grazing versus nutrification but interactions between herbivory and natural, seasonal fluctuations in temperature and light have not been investigated. This study considered the dynamics of three Caribbean macroalgal species [Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux), Dictyota pulchella (Hornig and Schnetter), and Halimeda opuntia (Linnaeus)] and algal turf. A field experiment was established to measure species-specific algal dynamics (changes in abundance) over 13 months in the presence and absence of herbivory. Both herbivory and seasonal changes were important processes controlling macroalgal and turf abundance. Water temperature and light had a key role on D. pulchella; this species' abundance significantly increased in the summer, when water temperature and light were the highest, and decreased during winter. Surprisingly, herbivory did not seem to control D. pulchella directly. However, herbivory was the most important process controlling the abundance of L. variegata, H. opuntia, and turf. The abundance of both algal species was correlated with seasonal changes in the environment, but was depleted outside cages throughout the year. The abundance of H. opuntia was positively correlated with temperature and light, but there was no statistical interaction between drivers. The statistical interaction between temperature and light was significant for the abundance of L. variegata and turf, but algal abundance declined as both factors increased. Overall, macroalgal and turf cover were mainly controlled by herbivory, while community structure (which species contributed to the overall cover) was largely influenced by seasonal changes in temperature and light.