Brief description
-- Layton et al. Chemical microenvironments within macroalgal assemblages: implications for the inhibition of kelp recruitment by turf algae. Limnology & Oceanography. DOI:10.1002/lno.11138 --Kelp forests around the world are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic stressors. A widespread consequence is that in many places, complex and highly productive kelp habitats have been replaced by structurally simple and less productive turf algae habitats. Turf algae habitats resist re-establishment of kelp via recruitment inhibition; however little is known about the specific mechanisms involved. One potential factor is the chemical environment within the turf algae and into which kelp propagules settle and develop. Using laboratory trials, we illustrate that the chemical microenvironment (O2 concentration and pH) 0.0–50 mm above the benthos within four multispecies macroalgal assemblages (including a turf-sediment assemblage and an Ecklonia radiata kelp-dominated assemblage) are characterised by elevated O2 and pH relative to the surrounding seawater. Notably however, O2 and pH were significantly higher within turf-sediment assemblages than in kelp-dominated assemblages, and at levels that have previously been demonstrated to impair the photosynthetic or physiological capacity of kelp propagules. Field observations of the experimental assemblages confirmed that recruitment of kelp was significantly lower into treatments with dense turf algae than in the kelp-dominated assemblages. We demonstrate differences between the chemical microenvironments of kelp and turf algae assemblages that correlate with differences in kelp recruitment, highlighting how degradation of kelp habitats might result in the persistence of turf algae habitats and the localised absence of kelp.
Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: see associated paper -- Layton et al. 2019, Chemical microenvironments within macroalgal assemblages: implications for the inhibition of kelp recruitment by turf algae, Limnology & Oceanography, DOI:10.1002/lno.11138
Created: 2019-01-22
Data time period: 2015-06-15 to 2016-02-28
text: westlimit=147.93; southlimit=-43.15; eastlimit=147.97; northlimit=-43.1
text: uplimit=14; downlimit=14
Subjects
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION |
Biological Sciences |
BIOSPHERE |
BROWN ALGAE |
CARBON DIOXIDE |
COMMUNITY DYNAMICS |
Concentration of oxygen {O2} per unit volume of the water body |
EARTH SCIENCE |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS | COASTAL | KELP FOREST |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
Ecology |
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS |
GREEN ALGAE |
MACROALGAE (SEAWEEDS) |
MARINE SEDIMENTS |
Marine and Estuarine Ecology (Incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
OCEAN CHEMISTRY |
OCEANS |
OXYGEN |
PH |
PHOTOSYNTHESIS |
Plant Biology |
PLANTS |
Phycology (Incl. Marine Grasses) |
RED ALGAE |
Recruitment of Stage 1 juvenile kelp per paver |
SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY |
SPECIES RECRUITMENT |
Temperate Reef |
biota |
depth of turf-sediment matrix |
macroalgae biomass by species name |
pH (total scale) of the water body |
water flow within flume |
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Other Information
(DATA ACCESS - chemical microenvironment within macroalgal communities [direct download])
Identifiers
- global : ffb04265-eb2a-4eea-943f-ef4cd2dd9531
- DOI : 10.25959/5c521ec4bea36
- DOI : https://doi.org/10.25959/5c522cadbea37
