Algal epibionts as co-engineers in mussel beds: effects on abiotic conditions and mobile interstitial invertebrates

Algal epibionts as co-engineers in mussel beds: effects on abiotic conditions and mobile interstitial invertebrates

cic.institucionOrigen	Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario
cic.isFulltext	SI
cic.isPeerReviewed	true
cic.lugarDesarrollo	Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario
cic.parentType	Artículo
cic.version	Publicada
dc.date.accessioned	2023-05-24T14:18:38Z
dc.date.available	2023-05-24T14:18:38Z
dc.identifier.uri	https://digital.cic.gba.gob.ar/handle/11746/11880
dc.title	Algal epibionts as co-engineers in mussel beds: effects on abiotic conditions and mobile interstitial invertebrates	en
dc.type	Artículo
dcterms.abstract	Mussels and macroalgae have long been recognized as physical ecosystem engineers that modulate abiotic conditions and resources and affect the composition of rocky shore assemblages. Their spatial distributions in the intertidal zone frequently overlap, as many algal species thrive as epibionts on mussel beds. Nonetheless, their potential for combined engineering effects has not been addressed to date. Here we illustrate that Porphyra sp.—a desiccation-resistant macroalga that develops mostly epiphytically onto mussel beds—affects temperature, desiccation levels, and mobile interstitial invertebrates in mussel beds. Specifically, we observed that Porphyra cover (a) reduced temperature at the surface of the mussel bed but not at their base, (b) reduced desiccation both at the surface and base of the mussel bed and, (c) increased the densities of an abundant interstitial species—the amphipod Hyale grandicornis—in several study sites/dates. Additionally, we found that the positive responses of these grazing amphipods to Porphyra were driven by physical habitat modification (engineering) rather than food availability. This suggests that co-engineering by Porphyra and mussels generates abiotic states and focal species responses that would not be predictable from their individual effects. We expect that increased appreciation of co-engineering aids our understanding of complex ecological dynamics.	en
dcterms.creator.author	Gutiérrez, Jorge L. C.
dcterms.creator.author	Bagur, María
dcterms.creator.author	Palomo, M. Gabriela
dcterms.identifier.other	DOI: 10.3390/d11020017
dcterms.identifier.other	ISSN: 1424-2818
dcterms.isPartOf.issue	vol. 11, no. 2
dcterms.isPartOf.series	Diversity
dcterms.issued	2019
dcterms.language	Inglés
dcterms.license	Attribution 4.0 International (BY 4.0)
dcterms.subject	Physical ecosystem engineer	en
dcterms.subject	Rocky shore	en
dcterms.subject	Intertidal	en
dcterms.subject	Heat	en
dcterms.subject	Desiccation	en
dcterms.subject	Mussel	en
dcterms.subject	Algae	en
dcterms.subject	Epibionts	en
dcterms.subject	Amphipod	en
dcterms.subject	Invertebrates	en
dcterms.subject.materia	Ecología