Nutrient conditions determine the strength of herbivore-mediated stabilizing feedbacks in barrens.
alternative stable states
environmental conditions
feedbacks
herbivory
limpets
marine forests
Journal
Ecology and evolution
ISSN: 2045-7758
Titre abrégé: Ecol Evol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101566408
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Mar 2023
Mar 2023
Historique:
received:
21
11
2022
revised:
23
02
2023
accepted:
05
03
2023
entrez:
27
3
2023
pubmed:
28
3
2023
medline:
28
3
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Abiotic environmental conditions can significantly influence the way species interact. In particular, plant-herbivore interactions can be substantially dependent on temperature and nutrients. The overall product of these relationships is critical for the fate and stability of vegetated ecosystems like marine forests. The last few decades have seen a rapid spread of barrens on temperate rocky reefs mainly as a result of overgrazing. The ecological feedbacks that characterize the barren state involve a different set of interactions than those occurring in vegetated habitats. Reversing these trends requires a proper understanding of the novel feedbacks and the conditions under which they operate. Here, we explored the role of a secondary herbivore in reinforcing the stability of barrens formed by sea urchin overgrazing under different nutrient conditions. Combining comparative and experimental studies in two Mediterranean regions characterized by contrasting nutrient conditions, we assessed: (i) if the creation of barren areas enhances limpet abundance, (ii) the size-specific grazing impact by limpets, and (iii) the ability of limpets alone to maintain barrens. Our results show that urchin overgrazing enhanced limpet abundance. The effects of limpet grazing varied with nutrient conditions, being up to five times more intense under oligotrophic conditions. Limpets were able to maintain barrens in the absence of sea urchins only under low-nutrient conditions, enhancing the stability of the depauperate state. Overall, our study suggests a greater vulnerability of subtidal forests in oligotrophic regions of the Mediterranean and demonstrates the importance of environment conditions in regulating feedbacks mediated by plant-herbivore interactions.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36969938
doi: 10.1002/ece3.9929
pii: ECE39929
pmc: PMC10030269
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e9929Informations de copyright
© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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