Ecosystems are under pressure from multiple human disturbances whose impact may vary depending on environmental context. We experimentally evaluated variation in the separate and combined effects of the loss of a key functional group (canopy algae) and physical disturbance on rocky shore ecosystems at nine locations across Europe. Multivariate community structure was initially affected (during the first three to six months) at six locations but after 18 months, effects were apparent at only three. Loss of canopy caused increases in cover of non-canopy algae in the three locations in southern Europe and decreases in some northern locations. Measures of ecosystem functioning (community respiration, gross primary productivity, net primary productivity) were affected by loss of canopy at five of the six locations for which data were available. Short-term effects on community respiration were widespread, but effects were rare after 18 months. Functional changes corresponded with changes in community structure and/or species richness at most locations and times sampled, but no single aspect of biodiversity was an effective predictor of longer-term functional changes. Most ecosystems studied were able to compensate in functional terms for impacts caused by indiscriminate physical disturbance. The only consistent effect of disturbance was to increase cover of non-canopy species. Loss of canopy algae temporarily reduced community resistance to disturbance at only two locations and at two locations actually increased resistance. Resistance to disturbance-induced changes in gross primary productivity was reduced by loss of canopy algae at four locations. Location-specific variation in the effects of the same stressors argues for flexible frameworks for the management of marine environments. These results also highlight the need to analyse how species loss and other stressors combine and interact in different environmental contexts.

Large-scale variation in combined impacts of canopy loss and disturbance on community structure and ecosystem functioning / Crowe, Tp; Cusson, M; Bulleri, F; Davoult, D; Arenas, F; Aspden, R; Benedetti-Cecchi, L; Bevilacqua, S; Davidson, I; Defew, E; Fraschetti, S; Golléty, C; Griffin, Jn; Herkül, K; Kotta, J; Migné, A; Molis, M; Nicol, Sk; Noël, LM-LJ; Sousa Pinto, I; Valdivia, N; Vaselli, S; Jenkins, Sr. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - 8:(2013), pp. 1-13. [10.1371/journal.pone.0066238]

Large-scale variation in combined impacts of canopy loss and disturbance on community structure and ecosystem functioning

Fraschetti S;
2013

Abstract

Ecosystems are under pressure from multiple human disturbances whose impact may vary depending on environmental context. We experimentally evaluated variation in the separate and combined effects of the loss of a key functional group (canopy algae) and physical disturbance on rocky shore ecosystems at nine locations across Europe. Multivariate community structure was initially affected (during the first three to six months) at six locations but after 18 months, effects were apparent at only three. Loss of canopy caused increases in cover of non-canopy algae in the three locations in southern Europe and decreases in some northern locations. Measures of ecosystem functioning (community respiration, gross primary productivity, net primary productivity) were affected by loss of canopy at five of the six locations for which data were available. Short-term effects on community respiration were widespread, but effects were rare after 18 months. Functional changes corresponded with changes in community structure and/or species richness at most locations and times sampled, but no single aspect of biodiversity was an effective predictor of longer-term functional changes. Most ecosystems studied were able to compensate in functional terms for impacts caused by indiscriminate physical disturbance. The only consistent effect of disturbance was to increase cover of non-canopy species. Loss of canopy algae temporarily reduced community resistance to disturbance at only two locations and at two locations actually increased resistance. Resistance to disturbance-induced changes in gross primary productivity was reduced by loss of canopy algae at four locations. Location-specific variation in the effects of the same stressors argues for flexible frameworks for the management of marine environments. These results also highlight the need to analyse how species loss and other stressors combine and interact in different environmental contexts.
2013
Large-scale variation in combined impacts of canopy loss and disturbance on community structure and ecosystem functioning / Crowe, Tp; Cusson, M; Bulleri, F; Davoult, D; Arenas, F; Aspden, R; Benedetti-Cecchi, L; Bevilacqua, S; Davidson, I; Defew, E; Fraschetti, S; Golléty, C; Griffin, Jn; Herkül, K; Kotta, J; Migné, A; Molis, M; Nicol, Sk; Noël, LM-LJ; Sousa Pinto, I; Valdivia, N; Vaselli, S; Jenkins, Sr. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - 8:(2013), pp. 1-13. [10.1371/journal.pone.0066238]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Croweetal2013.pdf

non disponibili

Descrizione: Articolo principale
Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Dominio pubblico
Dimensione 857.21 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
857.21 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/768732
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 44
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 44
social impact