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Effect of habitat complexity on predation success: re-evaluating the current paradigm in seagrass beds

2009; Inter-Research; Volume: 393; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps08272

1616-1599

CR Canion, KL Heck,

Marine Biology and Ecology Research

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 393:37-46 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08272 Effect of habitat complexity on predation success: re-evaluating the current paradigm in seagrass beds Carly R. Canion1, 2, 3*, Kenneth L. Heck Jr.1, 2 1Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA 2Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, USA 3Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, USA *Email: carly.canion@gmail.com ABSTRACT: The complex structure of seagrass beds provides increased protection for prey compared to unvegetated substrates. Additionally, most studies support the notion that predation intensity is negatively correlated with seagrass density. However, virtually every study to previously test this idea has used the same number of predators and prey across a gradient of seagrass density treatments. This design ignores another well-established fact: invertebrate and fish abundance increase with increasing seagrass density. Therefore, it makes sense to carry out predation experiments that increase the number of both predators and prey as seagrass density increases. Outdoor tank experiments (7 density treatments: 0 to 3000 leaves m–2) were carried out using artificial seagrass units modeled after turtlegrass Thalassia testudinum and field mesocosm experiments (4 density treatments: 0 to 3000 leaves m–2) in living T. testudinum in Big Lagoon (Florida, USA). In these experiments the absolute number of predators (the pinfish Lagodon rhomboides) and prey (grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio) were increased with increasing seagrass density. Both experiments yielded similar results: the only significant difference in predation rate was between the unvegetated treatment and the seagrass treatments as a group. These results suggest that dense seagrass does not necessarily provide increased protection for prey organisms. KEY WORDS: Habitat complexity · Predation · Seagrass Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Canion CR, Heck KL Jr (2009) Effect of habitat complexity on predation success: re-evaluating the current paradigm in seagrass beds. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 393:37-46. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08272 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 393. Online publication date: October 30, 2009 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.