Evidence of surplus carrying capacity for benthic invertebrates with the poleward range extension of the tropical seagrass Halophila decipiens in SE Brazil

Autor(es)

Pavone, Carla B. ^{[1, 2]} ; Gorman, Daniel ^[3] ; Flores, Augusto A. V. ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Marine Biol, Sao Sebastiao, SP - Brazil

^[3] CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Res Ctr, Crawley, WA - Australia

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH; v. 162, DEC 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Seagrasses may enhance the abundance and diversity of benthic invertebrates through trophic facilitation. We investigated this potential ecological function for two seagrasses in SE Brazil: Halodule emarginata, a native species, and Halophila decipiens, a tropical seagrass recently established in the region. At Halophila sites, the organic matter (or carbon) in sediments decreased steadily from seagrass patches to isolated bare grounds, indicating surplus primary production. This was not observed at Halodule sites. At one of the two Halophila sites, localized trophic enrichment was also consistently linked to increased invertebrate abundance within patches, chiefly through increased carrying capacity of small mesoherbivores. Rather than spillover, edge effects were observed at bordering bare habitats, where polychaete predators were abundant. The transition from seagrass edges to isolated bare habitats was marked by an increase of the density of sipunculid worms. The current spread of Halophila may thus change the spatial distribution of benthic ecological functions. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/26064-3 - Avaliação do potencial atual e futuro das Áreas Marinhas Protegidas (AMPs) para preservação da biodiversidade, da função e da resiliência das marinhas rochosas subtidais no Brasil subtropical
• Beneficiário: Daniel Gorman
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 18/06162-6 - Avaliação do potencial atual e futuro das áreas marinhas protegidas (AMPs) para preservação da biodiversidade, da função e da resiliência das marinhas rochosas subtidais no Brasil subtropical
• Beneficiário: Daniel Gorman
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 18/11044-2 - Ecologia funcional de gramas marinhas e bancos de macroalgas: subsídios tróficos para consumidores demersais
• Beneficiário: Augusto Alberto Valero Flores
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular