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Context-dependant survival of the invasive seaweed Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in kelp bed and urchin barren habitats off Nova Scotia

2008; Inter-Research; Volume: 2; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/ab00035

2195-2744

DA Lyons, RE Scheibling,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 2:17-27 (2008) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00035 Context-dependant survival of the invasive seaweed Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in kelp bed and urchin barren habitats off Nova Scotia Devin A. Lyons*, Robert E. Scheibling Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada *Email: dalyons@dal.ca ABSTRACT: This study examines the fate of the invasive alga Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides at destructive grazing fronts of the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis along the margins of algal beds and in barren grounds formed in the wake of these fronts. We monitored the first reported encounter between an urchin front and an algal bed containing C. fragile, and conducted a series of manipulative experiments at a grazing front and in a barrens habitat. Urchin density had a significant effect on survival of C. fragile. At low densities, urchin fronts were more likely to bypass the invasive alga, though urchins following behind the front eventually consumed most individuals. Urchins’ preferred food, laminarian kelps, affected the survival time of C. fragile by slowing the forward propagation of the front, but did not divert urchins from consuming C. fragile. The presence of dense stands of the unpalatable macroalgae Desmarestia viridis and periods of high water temperature and wave action appeared to facilitate the survival of C. fragile by affecting urchin foraging behaviour. Our results suggest that, although urchins have the potential to exert strong control over populations of C. fragile, the outcome of interactions between the 2 species is likely to depend on their biotic and abiotic context. KEY WORDS: Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides · Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis · Herbivory · Invasion · Invasive seaweed Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Lyons DA, Scheibling RE (2008) Context-dependant survival of the invasive seaweed Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in kelp bed and urchin barren habitats off Nova Scotia. Aquat Biol 2:17-27. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00035 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 2, No. 1. Online publication date: February 22, 2008 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2008 Inter-Research.