Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
Gabriela Laura Campana
Katharina Zacher
Anna Fricke
Markus Molis
Angela Wulff
María Liliana Quartino
Christian Wiencke
Abstract
Information on succession in marine benthic primary producers in polar regions is very scarce, particularly with regard to effects of abiotic and biotic drivers of community structure. Primary succession begins with rapid colonizers, such as diatoms and ephemeral macroalgae, whereas slow, highly seasonal recruitment and growth are characteristic of annual or perennial seaweed species. Colonization of intertidal and subtidal assemblages on polar rocky shores is severely affected by physical disturbance and by seasonal changes in abiotic conditions. Biotic factors, such as grazing, can strongly affect colonization patterns and also alter competitive interactions among benthic algae. Ambient UV radiation affects the diversity of macroalgal communities during early and later stages of succession. In contrast, microalgal assemblages have high tolerance to UV stress. Climate warming could alter algal latitudinal distribution and favor invasion of polar regions by cold-temperate species. Reduced sea ice cover and retreating glaciers could expand colonization areas but alter light, salinity, sedimentation and disturbance processes. Although the key role of macroalgae in coastal systems and, to a much reduced extent, the importance of microphytobenthos have been documented for polar regions, information on the successional process is incomplete and will benefit from further ecological studies.
Campana G.L., Zacher K., Fricke A., Molis M., Wulff A., Liliana Quartino M. and Wiencke C. (2009) Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities. Botanica Marina 52(6). 10.1515/BOT.2009.076
@article{Campana2009,
Title = {Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities},
Author = {Campana, Gabriela Laura and Zacher, Katharina and Fricke, Anna and Molis, Markus and Wulff, Angela and Liliana Quartino, María and Wiencke, Christian},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Botanica Marina},
Year = {2009},
Volume = {52},
Doi = {10.1515/BOT.2009.076},
Abstract = {Information on succession in marine benthic primary producers in polar regions is very scarce, particularly with regard to effects of abiotic and biotic drivers of community structure. Primary succession begins with rapid colonizers, such as diatoms and ephemeral macroalgae, whereas slow, highly seasonal recruitment and growth are characteristic of annual or perennial seaweed species. Colonization of intertidal and subtidal assemblages on polar rocky shores is severely affected by physical disturbance and by seasonal changes in abiotic conditions. Biotic factors, such as grazing, can strongly affect colonization patterns and also alter competitive interactions among benthic algae. Ambient UV radiation affects the diversity of macroalgal communities during early and later stages of succession. In contrast, microalgal assemblages have high tolerance to UV stress. Climate warming could alter algal latitudinal distribution and favor invasion of polar regions by cold-temperate species. Reduced sea ice cover and retreating glaciers could expand colonization areas but alter light, salinity, sedimentation and disturbance processes. Although the key role of macroalgae in coastal systems and, to a much reduced extent, the importance of microphytobenthos have been documented for polar regions, information on the successional process is incomplete and will benefit from further ecological studies.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Campana, Gabriela Laura
AU - Zacher, Katharina
AU - Fricke, Anna
AU - Molis, Markus
AU - Wulff, Angela
AU - Liliana Quartino, María
AU - Wiencke, Christian
TI - Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
T2 - Botanica Marina
PY - 2009
VL - 52
DO - 10.1515/BOT.2009.076
AB - Information on succession in marine benthic primary producers in polar regions is very scarce, particularly with regard to effects of abiotic and biotic drivers of community structure. Primary succession begins with rapid colonizers, such as diatoms and ephemeral macroalgae, whereas slow, highly seasonal recruitment and growth are characteristic of annual or perennial seaweed species. Colonization of intertidal and subtidal assemblages on polar rocky shores is severely affected by physical disturbance and by seasonal changes in abiotic conditions. Biotic factors, such as grazing, can strongly affect colonization patterns and also alter competitive interactions among benthic algae. Ambient UV radiation affects the diversity of macroalgal communities during early and later stages of succession. In contrast, microalgal assemblages have high tolerance to UV stress. Climate warming could alter algal latitudinal distribution and favor invasion of polar regions by cold-temperate species. Reduced sea ice cover and retreating glaciers could expand colonization areas but alter light, salinity, sedimentation and disturbance processes. Although the key role of macroalgae in coastal systems and, to a much reduced extent, the importance of microphytobenthos have been documented for polar regions, information on the successional process is incomplete and will benefit from further ecological studies.
ER -
