Abstract
Foundation species host diverse associated communities by ameliorating environmental stress. The strength of this facilitative effect can be highly dependent on the underlying biotic and abiotic context. We investigated community level patterns of macrofauna associated with and adjacent to the marine foundation species eelgrass (Zostera marina) along a hydrodynamic stress gradient. We could demonstrate that the relative importance of this foundation species for its infaunal community increases with environmental variables associated with increasing hydrodynamic stress (depth, sand ripples formation, sediment grain size and organic content). Faunal assemblages in proximity to the Zostera patch edges, however, showed no (infauna) or negative (epifauna) response to hydrodynamic stress. Our study highlights that the facilitative outcome of a foundation species is conditional to the faunal assemblage in question and can be highly variable even between positions within the habitat.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 8-23 |
| Journal | Journal of Sea Research |
| Volume | 150-151 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2019 |
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Keywords
- Conditional facilitation
- Ecosystem engineer
- Foundation species
- Habitat modification
- Seagrass
- Zostera marina
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Context-dependent community facilitation in seagrass meadows along a hydrodynamic stress gradient. / Meysick, Lukas; Ysebaert, Tom; Jansson, Anna; Montserrat, Francesc; Valanko, Sebastian; Villnäs, Anna; Boström, Christoffer; Norkko, Joanna; Norkko, Alf.
In: Journal of Sea Research, Vol. 150-151, 08.2019, p. 8-23.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Context-dependent community facilitation in seagrass meadows along a hydrodynamic stress gradient
AU - Meysick, Lukas
AU - Ysebaert, Tom
AU - Jansson, Anna
AU - Montserrat, Francesc
AU - Valanko, Sebastian
AU - Villnäs, Anna
AU - Boström, Christoffer
AU - Norkko, Joanna
AU - Norkko, Alf
PY - 2019/8
Y1 - 2019/8
N2 - Foundation species host diverse associated communities by ameliorating environmental stress. The strength of this facilitative effect can be highly dependent on the underlying biotic and abiotic context. We investigated community level patterns of macrofauna associated with and adjacent to the marine foundation species eelgrass (Zostera marina) along a hydrodynamic stress gradient. We could demonstrate that the relative importance of this foundation species for its infaunal community increases with environmental variables associated with increasing hydrodynamic stress (depth, sand ripples formation, sediment grain size and organic content). Faunal assemblages in proximity to the Zostera patch edges, however, showed no (infauna) or negative (epifauna) response to hydrodynamic stress. Our study highlights that the facilitative outcome of a foundation species is conditional to the faunal assemblage in question and can be highly variable even between positions within the habitat.
AB - Foundation species host diverse associated communities by ameliorating environmental stress. The strength of this facilitative effect can be highly dependent on the underlying biotic and abiotic context. We investigated community level patterns of macrofauna associated with and adjacent to the marine foundation species eelgrass (Zostera marina) along a hydrodynamic stress gradient. We could demonstrate that the relative importance of this foundation species for its infaunal community increases with environmental variables associated with increasing hydrodynamic stress (depth, sand ripples formation, sediment grain size and organic content). Faunal assemblages in proximity to the Zostera patch edges, however, showed no (infauna) or negative (epifauna) response to hydrodynamic stress. Our study highlights that the facilitative outcome of a foundation species is conditional to the faunal assemblage in question and can be highly variable even between positions within the habitat.
KW - Conditional facilitation
KW - Ecosystem engineer
KW - Foundation species
KW - Habitat modification
KW - Seagrass
KW - Zostera marina
U2 - 10.1016/j.seares.2019.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.seares.2019.05.001
M3 - Article
VL - 150-151
SP - 8
EP - 23
JO - Journal of Sea Research
JF - Journal of Sea Research
SN - 1385-1101
ER -