Data

Range expansion of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii leads to loss of taxonomic diversity in a kelp bed habitat, eastern Tasmania

University of Tasmania, Australia
Ling, Scott
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/dbae9f60-3679-11dd-9409-00188b4c0af8&rft.title=Range expansion of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii leads to loss of taxonomic diversity in a kelp bed habitat, eastern Tasmania&rft.identifier=https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/dbae9f60-3679-11dd-9409-00188b4c0af8&rft.description=The long spined sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii (Diadematidae) has recently undergone poleward range expansion to eastern Tasmania (southeast Australia). This species is associated with barrens habitat which has been grazed free of macroalgae, and therefore has potentially important consequences for reef structure and biodiversity. This study used urchin removal experiments from barrens patches in eastern Tasmania to monitor the subsequent response of the macroalgae relative to unmanipulated barrens patches.In removal patches, there was a rapid proliferation of canopy-forming macroalgae (Ecklonia radiata and Phyllospora comosa), and within 24 months the algae community structure had converged with that of nearby areas without urchins.Faunal species richness was comparatively low in barrens habitat, with C. rodgersii grazing activity resulting in an estimated minimum net loss of approximately 150 taxa compared with intact macroalgal habitats.Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: Experimental manipulation Six barrens patches (3-6m in diameter), supporting 8-116 resident C. rodgersii, were randomly assigned as either 'removal' or 'unmanipulated' [control] patches. The temporal response of the algal community following urchin removal was assessed using a non-destructive spatially nested sampling design: 3 replicate incipient barrens patches within each treatment (removal vs unmanipulated) and 4 replicate quadrats (0.25m2). Treatments were maintained and patches sampled ~2 months for 36 months. Monitoring algal response At each sampling occasion the quadrats were photographed, with each quadrat dissected by a grid of 10x10 equidistant lines, and percent cover of taxa and bare rock was estimated. Taxa were identified to species where possible, or functional group. Habitat and faunal structure of 'recovered' macroalgal beds - destructive sampling All experimental patches were destructively sampled at experiment end. The abundance and length of canopy-forming macroalgae were measured, and total biomass of canopy and understorey was calculated from dry weights (drying algal samples at 70°C for 48hr).Benthic fauna were sampled from each quadrat by sealing all excised macroalgal habitat and associated invertebrates in plastic bags. The remaining benthic fauna were extracted from the substratum using a venturi suction sampler connected to 1mm mesh bags. Fauna were extracted by agitating in seawater and sieving at 1mm. Species were identified to species level where possible, or taxonomic group.&rft.creator=Ling, Scott &rft.date=2008&rft.coverage=westlimit=148.25000000000003; southlimit=-41.95; eastlimit=148.45; northlimit=-41.75&rft.coverage=westlimit=148.25000000000003; southlimit=-41.95; eastlimit=148.45; northlimit=-41.75&rft.coverage=uplimit=15; downlimit=9&rft.coverage=uplimit=15; downlimit=9&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/au/&rft_rights=The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).&rft_rights=The data described in this record are the intellectual property of S. Ling.&rft_subject=biota&rft_subject=25 211001&rft_subject=Centrostephanus rodgersii&rft_subject=54 080001&rft_subject=Ecklonia radiata&rft_subject=54 102001&rft_subject=Phyllospora comosa&rft_subject=SEA URCHINS&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE&rft_subject=BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION&rft_subject=ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES&rft_subject=ECHINODERMS&rft_subject=GRAZING DYNAMICS/PLANT HERBIVORY&rft_subject=BIOSPHERE&rft_subject=ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS&rft_subject=SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS&rft_subject=COMMUNITY STRUCTURE&rft_subject=COMMUNITY DYNAMICS&rft_subject=RANGE CHANGES&rft_subject=REEF HABITAT&rft_subject=AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS&rft_subject=BENTHIC HABITAT&rft_subject=WATER TEMPERATURE&rft_subject=Temperate Reef&rft_subject=Ecological Impacts of Climate Change&rft_subject=ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES&rft_subject=ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS&rft_subject=Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)&rft_subject=BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES&rft_subject=ECOLOGY&rft_subject=Community Ecology&rft_subject=diver&rft_subject=Canopy coverage&rft_subject=Substrate coverage&rft_subject=Species coverage&rft_subject=Biotic taxonomic identification&rft_subject=Abundance of biota&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).

The data described in this record are the intellectual property of S. Ling.

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The long spined sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii (Diadematidae) has recently undergone poleward range expansion to eastern Tasmania (southeast Australia). This species is associated with barrens habitat which has been grazed free of macroalgae, and therefore has potentially important consequences for reef structure and biodiversity.

This study used urchin removal experiments from barrens patches in eastern Tasmania to monitor the subsequent response of the macroalgae relative to unmanipulated barrens patches.

In removal patches, there was a rapid proliferation of canopy-forming macroalgae (Ecklonia radiata and Phyllospora comosa), and within 24 months the algae community structure had converged with that of nearby areas without urchins.

Faunal species richness was comparatively low in barrens habitat, with C. rodgersii grazing activity resulting in an estimated minimum net loss of approximately 150 taxa compared with intact macroalgal habitats.

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: Experimental manipulation Six barrens patches (3-6m in diameter), supporting 8-116 resident C. rodgersii, were randomly assigned as either 'removal' or 'unmanipulated' [control] patches. The temporal response of the algal community following urchin removal was assessed using a non-destructive spatially nested sampling design: 3 replicate incipient barrens patches within each treatment (removal vs unmanipulated) and 4 replicate quadrats (0.25m2). Treatments were maintained and patches sampled ~2 months for 36 months. Monitoring algal response At each sampling occasion the quadrats were photographed, with each quadrat dissected by a grid of 10x10 equidistant lines, and percent cover of taxa and bare rock was estimated. Taxa were identified to species where possible, or functional group. Habitat and faunal structure of 'recovered' macroalgal beds - destructive sampling All experimental patches were destructively sampled at experiment end. The abundance and length of canopy-forming macroalgae were measured, and total biomass of canopy and understorey was calculated from dry weights (drying algal samples at 70°C for 48hr).Benthic fauna were sampled from each quadrat by sealing all excised macroalgal habitat and associated invertebrates in plastic bags. The remaining benthic fauna were extracted from the substratum using a venturi suction sampler connected to 1mm mesh bags. Fauna were extracted by agitating in seawater and sieving at 1mm. Species were identified to species level where possible, or taxonomic group.

Notes

Credit
Funding: School of Zoology, TAFI (University of Tasmania) Core grant (i.e. from State Govt) and grant from Tas Abalone Council; some funding from FRDC 2001/044
Purpose
To examine the impact of the range-extending sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii on reef habitat structure and associated biodiversity within the extended range by using controlled sea urchin removal experiments.

Created: 10 06 2008

Data time period: 2003-11-19 to 2006-11-30

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148.45,-41.75 148.45,-41.95 148.25,-41.95 148.25,-41.75 148.45,-41.75

148.35,-41.85

text: westlimit=148.25000000000003; southlimit=-41.95; eastlimit=148.45; northlimit=-41.75

text: uplimit=15; downlimit=9

Subjects
25 211001 | 54 080001 | 54 102001 | ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES | AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS | Abundance of biota | BENTHIC HABITAT | BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION | Biological Sciences | BIOSPHERE | Biotic taxonomic identification | COMMUNITY DYNAMICS | COMMUNITY STRUCTURE | Canopy coverage | Centrostephanus rodgersii | Community Ecology | EARTH SCIENCE | ECHINODERMS | Ecological Applications | ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS | Ecology | Environmental Sciences | Ecklonia radiata | Ecological Impacts of Climate Change | GRAZING DYNAMICS/PLANT HERBIVORY | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (Incl. Marine Ichthyology) | Phyllospora comosa | RANGE CHANGES | REEF HABITAT | SEA URCHINS | SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS | Species coverage | Substrate coverage | Temperate Reef | WATER TEMPERATURE | biota | diver |

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Other Information
(DATA - Algal recovery data following urchin removal from incipient barrens [direct download])

uri : https://data.imas.utas.edu.au/attachments/dbae9f60-3679-11dd-9409-00188b4c0af8/kelp_recovery.xls

(DATA - Presence/ absence data of algal and faunal taxa in kelp, barrens, and recovered patches [direct download])

uri : https://data.imas.utas.edu.au/attachments/dbae9f60-3679-11dd-9409-00188b4c0af8/Flora_and_Fauna_presence_absence_data.xls

MAP - Site of Centrostephanus removal and algal monitoring (imas:FR1_CRJohnson_Expansion_sea_urchin_loss_taxonomic_diversity_kelp_GV)

uri : https://geoserver.imas.utas.edu.au/geoserver/wms

(View and download this data through the interactive IMAS Data Portal.)

uri : https://data.imas.utas.edu.au/portal/search?uuid=dbae9f60-3679-11dd-9409-00188b4c0af8

Identifiers
  • global : dbae9f60-3679-11dd-9409-00188b4c0af8