Epiphytes and nutrient contents influence Sarpa salpa herbivory on Caulerpa spp vs. seagrass species in Mediterranean meadows
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http://hdl.handle.net/10045/59913
Títol: | Epiphytes and nutrient contents influence Sarpa salpa herbivory on Caulerpa spp vs. seagrass species in Mediterranean meadows |
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Autors: | Marco-Méndez, Candela | Ferrero-Vicente, Luis Miguel | Prado, Patricia | Sánchez-Lizaso, José Luis |
Grups d'investigació o GITE: | Biología Marina | Recursos Hídricos y Desarrollo Sostenible |
Centre, Departament o Servei: | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada |
Paraules clau: | Food choice | Sarpa salpa | Cymodocea nodosa | Posidonia oceanica | Caulerpa prolifera | Caulerpa cylindracea | Epiphytes | Nutrients |
Àrees de coneixement: | Zoología |
Data de publicació: | 5-de gener-2017 |
Editor: | Elsevier |
Citació bibliogràfica: | Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2017, 184: 54-66. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2016.11.005 |
Resum: | Mediterranean seagrass ecosystems are endangered by increased colonization of Caulerpa species, which may replace them, affecting key ecosystem processes. The fish Sarpa salpa (L.) is one of the main macroherbivores in the western Mediterranean seagrass meadows which is known to feed on a wide range of macroalgae such as Caulerpa species. In order to elucidate if this consumption could minimize the spread of invasive species, during summer-autumn 2012, we investigate the importance of S. salpa herbivory pressure on C. prolifera and C. cylindracea compared to Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa in a mixed meadow. A combination of field experiments and dietary analyses were used to investigate consumption rates, dietary contributions, and feeding preferences for the different macrophytes, including the role of epiphytes and nutrient contents in mediating fish herbivory. In summer, C. nodosa was the most consumed macrophyte (12.75 ± 3.43 mg WW·d−1), probably influenced by higher fish densities, higher nutritional quality of leaves and epiphytes, and by differences in epiphyte composition. Feeding observations suggest that fish may have a variable diet, although with a consistent selection of mixed patches with C. nodosa and C. prolifera. Indeed, food choice experiments suggest that when seagrass leaves are not epiphytized, fish prefer feeding on C. prolifera. Gut content and stable isotopic analyses supported the dietary importance of epiphytes and C. prolifera but also suggested that C. cylindracea could occasionally be an important food item for S. salpa. Our results highlight the role of epiphytes in S. salpa feeding decisions but also suggest that C. nodosa and C. prolifera may have an important contribution to fish diet. The variability in S. salpa diet confirm the need to carry out multiple approach studies for a better understanding of its potential influence over different macrophytes species. |
Patrocinadors: | This research was funded by the Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology (University of Alicante). |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10045/59913 |
ISSN: | 0272-7714 (Print) | 1096-0015 (Online) |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.11.005 |
Idioma: | eng |
Tipus: | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
Drets: | © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. |
Revisió científica: | si |
Versió de l'editor: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2016.11.005 |
Apareix a la col·lecció: | INV - BM - Artículos Científicos / Scientific Papers INV - Recursos Hídricos y Desarrollo Sostenible - Artículos de Revistas |
Arxius per aquest ítem:
Arxiu | Descripció | Tamany | Format | |
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2017_Marco-Mendez_etal_ECSS_final.pdf | Versión final (acceso restringido) | 1,02 MB | Adobe PDF | Obrir Sol·licitar una còpia |
2017_Marco-Mendez_etal_ECSS_accepted.pdf | Accepted Manuscript (acceso abierto) | 2,35 MB | Adobe PDF | Obrir Vista prèvia |
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