Stronger positive association between an invasive crab and a native intertidal ecosystem engineer with increasing wave exposure.
Mar Environ Res
; 142: 124-129, 2018 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30314636
ABSTRACT
Ecosystem engineers are predicted to have stronger facilitative effects when environmental stress is higher. Here we examined whether facilitation of the invasive porcelain crab Petrolisthes elongatus by the ecosystem engineering serpulid tube worm Galeolaria caespitosa increased with wave exposure. Petrolisthes occurs beneath intertidal boulders which often have a high cover of Galeolaria on their underside. Surveys across nine sites demonstrated Petrolisthes abundance beneath boulders increased with wave exposure and Galeolaria cover, although only when the habitat matrix beneath boulders was rock or mixed rock and sand. Moreover, as wave exposure increased, the strength of relationship between Petrolisthes abundance and the surface area of Galeolaria also increased. Experimentally, the presence of Galeolaria on the underside of boulders increased Petrolisthes abundance by 50% compared to boulders lacking Galeolaria. Our findings suggest the facilitative role of Galeolaria is stronger at more wave-exposed sites, which appears to contribute to a higher abundance of invasive Petrolisthes.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Poliquetos
/
Ecosistema
/
Anomuros
/
Olas de Marea
/
Especies Introducidas
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Environ Res
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article