Persistent thermally driven shift in the functional trait structure of herbivorous fishes: Evidence of top-down control on the rebound potential of temperate seaweed forests?

Nestor E Bosch; Matthew McLean; Salvador Zarco-Perello; Scott Bennett; Rick D Stuart-Smith; Adriana Vergés; Albert Pessarrodona; Fernando Tuya; Tim Langlois; Claude Spencer; Sahira Bell; Benjamin J Saunders; Euan S Harvey; Thomas Wernberg

doi:10.1111/gcb.16070

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Persistent thermally driven shift in the functional trait structure of herbivorous fishes: Evidence of top-down control on the rebound potential of temperate seaweed forests?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Persistent thermally driven shift in the functional trait structure of herbivorous fishes: Evidence of top-down control on the rebound potential of temperate seaweed forests?

Nestor E Bosch, Matthew McLean, Salvador Zarco-Perello, Scott Bennett, Rick D Stuart-Smith, Adriana Vergés, Albert Pessarrodona, Fernando Tuya, Tim Langlois, Claude Spencer, …

Global change biology, Vol.28(7), pp.2296-2311

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16070

PMID: 34981602

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Abstract

ecosystem resilience

herbivory

marine heatwaves

ocean warming

trait-based ecology

tropicalization

Extreme climatic events can reshape the functional structure of ecological communities, potentially altering ecological interactions and ecosystem functioning. While these shifts have been widely documented, evidence of their persistence and potential flow-on effects on ecosystem structure following relaxation of extreme events remains limited. Here, we investigate changes in the functional trait structure - encompassing dimensions of resource use, thermal affinity, and body size - of herbivorous fishes in a temperate reef system that experienced an extreme marine heatwave (MHW) and subsequent return to cool conditions. We quantify how changes in the trait structure modified the nature and intensity of herbivory-related functions (macroalgae, turf, and sediment removal), and explored the potential flow-on effects on the recovery dynamics of macroalgal foundation species. The trait structure of the herbivorous fish assemblage shifted as a result of the MHW, from dominance of cool-water browsing species to increased evenness in the distribution of abundance among temperate and tropical guilds supporting novel herbivory roles (i.e. scraping, cropping, and sediment sucking). Despite the abundance of tropical herbivorous fishes and intensity of herbivory-related functions declined following a period of cooling after the MHW, the underlying trait structure displayed limited recovery. Concomitantly, algal assemblages displayed a lack of recovery of the formerly dominant foundational species, the kelp Ecklonia radiata, transitioning to an alternative state dominated by turf and Sargassum spp. Our study demonstrates a legacy effect of an extreme MHW and exemplified the value of monitoring phenotypic (trait mediated) changes in the nature of core ecosystem processes to predict and adapt to the future configurations of changing reef ecosystems.

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Title: Persistent thermally driven shift in the functional trait structure of herbivorous fishes: Evidence of top-down control on the rebound potential of temperate seaweed forests?
Authors/Creators: Nestor E Bosch - The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
Matthew McLean - Dalhousie University
Salvador Zarco-Perello - The University of Western Australia
Scott Bennett - Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Rick D Stuart-Smith - University of Tasmania
Adriana Vergés - UNSW Sydney
Albert Pessarrodona - The University of Western Australia
Fernando Tuya - Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Tim Langlois - The University of Western Australia
Claude Spencer - The University of Western Australia
Sahira Bell - The University of Western Australia
Benjamin J Saunders - Curtin University
Euan S Harvey - Curtin University
Thomas Wernberg - Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
Publication Details: Global change biology, Vol.28(7), pp.2296-2311
Grant note: the Robson & Robertson UWA PhD awards SWR/14/2019 / the Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation DP190100058 / the Australian Research Council RA/1/411/101 / Ecological Society of Australia Holsworth Research Endowment Australian Government International Research Training Program DP170100023 / the Australian Research Council HSF13/13 / Hermon Slade Foundation
Identifiers: 991005592756907891
Murdoch Affiliation: Harry Butler Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.570 Coral Reef Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology