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Bolstered physical defences under nutrient-enriched conditions may facilitate a secondary foundational algal species in the South Pacific

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1. Humans have a long history of changing species’ ranges and habitat distributions, making studies
of the ecological processes that may facilitate these changes of key importance, particularly in cases
where a primary foundation species is replaced by another, less desirable species.

2. We investigated the impact of nutrients and herbivory on Turbinaria ornata, a secondary foundational
macroalga that depends on and likely competes with coral, the primary foundational community.
T. ornata is also rapidly expanding in range and habitat across the South Pacific. We
conducted (i) a mesocosm experiment assessing relative nutrient limitation, (ii) a field experiment
comparing importance of nutrients (+/-
) and herbivory (+/
-) to biomass accumulation, and (iii) an
herbivory assay and toughness test comparing enriched and ambient thalli to assess changes to antiherbivory
defences.

3. We found no evidence of growth being nutrient limited in T. ornata; rather than stimulating
growth, nutrient addition deterred herbivores. However, when physical toughness was removed,
enriched algae were preferred, with consumption rates 25-fold those of unenriched algae. Additionally,
enriched thalli were tougher than ambient thalli, suggesting physical defences were bolstered
by nutrient enrichment.

4. Synthesis. We found a unique interaction where nutrients inhibit herbivory and facilitate Turbinaria
ornata biomass accumulation. While concern is often placed on degradation of foundation species
via anthropogenic change, instead here we show that anthropogenic change can facilitate
secondary foundation species. This facilitation may allow a secondary foundation species to better
compete with primary foundation species.

Key-words: anti-herbivory defences, aquatic plant ecology, coral reefs, human impacts, secondary
foundation species, top-down and bottom-up control, Turbinaria ornata

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Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

Journal of Ecology

No. Panggil

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Penerbit

London : British Ecological Society., 2016

Deskripsi Fisik

Journal of Ecology 2016, 104, 646–653

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

doi: 10.1111/1365-27

Klasifikasi

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Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

2016, 104

Subjek

EKOLOGI

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

agus

Versi lain/terkait

Lampiran Berkas

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