Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jacqueline Pocklington
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2017 Canopy-forming fucoid algae have an important role as ecosystem engineers on rocky intertidal shores, where they increase the abundance of species otherwise limited by exposure during low tide. The facilitative relationship between Ascophyllum nodosum and associated organisms was explored using a frond breakage experiment (100%, 50%, 25%, 0% intact-frond treatments) in southern England, to assess the consequences of disturbance. Understorey substratum temperature was on average 3°C higher in 0% and 25% intact-frond treatments than in plots with 50% and 100% intact fronds. Light (as PAR during low tide) doubled in 0% intact-frond treatments in comparison to other treatments (which had similar light levels). Mobile invertebrate species richness declined by on average 1 species per m2 in the treatments with only 25% and 0% intact fronds, and the abundance of Littorina obtusata declined by 2.4–4.2 individuals per m2 in the treatments with 25 and 0% intact fronds. Sessile taxa, including Osmundea pinnatifida and encrusting coralline algae, declined by half on average in the 0% intact-frond treatment. These results suggest that the ability of Ascophyllum to mediate environmental conditions to the understorey is the mechanism responsible for species distributed in the understorey (autogenic ecosystem engineering). The results of this study imply that a pulse disturbance resulting in a 50% breakage of Ascophyllum fronds significantly increases temperature and decreases the abundance of mobile invertebrates usually associated with Ascophyllum. Sessile taxa associated with Ascophyllum can, however, withstand disturbances down to 25% intact Ascophyllum fronds.
Author(s): Pocklington JB, Jenkins SR, Bellgrove A, Keough MJ, O'Hara TD, Masterson-Algar PE, Hawkins SJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Year: 2018
Volume: 98
Issue: 4
Pages: 687-698
Print publication date: 01/06/2018
Online publication date: 23/01/2017
Acceptance date: 02/04/2016
ISSN (print): 0025-3154
ISSN (electronic): 1469-7769
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315416002009
DOI: 10.1017/S0025315416002009
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric