The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems
This study demonstrated the plasticity of reef-decapod according with the exposed anthropogenic pressure. Comparing the reef-decapods at sites with different anthropogenic pressures in two different ecoregions (tropical and subtropical reef ecotypes), we demonstrated that historical anthropogenic ac...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21011304 |
| _version_ | 1819320293396578304 |
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| author | Bruno Welter Giraldes Petrônio Alves Coelho Petrônio Alves Coelho Filho Thais P. Macedo Andrea Santarosa Freire |
| author_facet | Bruno Welter Giraldes Petrônio Alves Coelho Petrônio Alves Coelho Filho Thais P. Macedo Andrea Santarosa Freire |
| author_sort | Bruno Welter Giraldes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study demonstrated the plasticity of reef-decapod according with the exposed anthropogenic pressure. Comparing the reef-decapods at sites with different anthropogenic pressures in two different ecoregions (tropical and subtropical reef ecotypes), we demonstrated that historical anthropogenic activity is molding directly and indirectly their population. A direct impact over target decapods for fishing (e.g. Lobsters and large crabs) that are removed directly by human activities. A positive indirect impact related to a top-down trophic imbalance with the increase of naturally dominant preys (small decapod) due to the removal of top predators. Thus, insufficient predators to control the abundant prey in a classic unbalanced prey-predator relationship. An indirect and negative impact, related to a bottom-up trophic imbalance, is the exclusion of niche-restricted species in association with benthic cover (e.g. corals). This also has the positive outcome, however, of increasing numbers of herbivores, detritivores and scavengers. As hypothesis, we propose that a current biodiversity balance in anthropogenically impacted ecosystem is just reflecting past trophic cascade events. Where the remaining biodiversity is monopolizing the vacant niches after the removal of components in a trophic chain. Therefore, we are suggesting that reef-decapod biodiversity, observed using visual identification, can be used to highlight the “Ghost of the past anthropogenic impact” in threatened ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T11:17:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-141e8df63ddd41d891f77855b4ca974e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T11:17:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-141e8df63ddd41d891f77855b4ca974e2022-12-21T16:58:21ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-12-01133108465The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystemsBruno Welter Giraldes0Petrônio Alves Coelho1Petrônio Alves Coelho Filho2Thais P. Macedo3Andrea Santarosa Freire4Environmental Science Center (ESC), Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; Corresponding author.Laboratório de Carcinologia, Museu Oceanográfico da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (MOUFPE), Avenida Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDepartamento de Engenharia de Pesca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Avenida Divaldo Suruagy, s/n, Centro, 57200-000 Penedo, AL, BrazilLaboratório de Crustáceos e Plâncton, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC 88010-970, BrazilLaboratório de Crustáceos e Plâncton, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC 88010-970, BrazilThis study demonstrated the plasticity of reef-decapod according with the exposed anthropogenic pressure. Comparing the reef-decapods at sites with different anthropogenic pressures in two different ecoregions (tropical and subtropical reef ecotypes), we demonstrated that historical anthropogenic activity is molding directly and indirectly their population. A direct impact over target decapods for fishing (e.g. Lobsters and large crabs) that are removed directly by human activities. A positive indirect impact related to a top-down trophic imbalance with the increase of naturally dominant preys (small decapod) due to the removal of top predators. Thus, insufficient predators to control the abundant prey in a classic unbalanced prey-predator relationship. An indirect and negative impact, related to a bottom-up trophic imbalance, is the exclusion of niche-restricted species in association with benthic cover (e.g. corals). This also has the positive outcome, however, of increasing numbers of herbivores, detritivores and scavengers. As hypothesis, we propose that a current biodiversity balance in anthropogenically impacted ecosystem is just reflecting past trophic cascade events. Where the remaining biodiversity is monopolizing the vacant niches after the removal of components in a trophic chain. Therefore, we are suggesting that reef-decapod biodiversity, observed using visual identification, can be used to highlight the “Ghost of the past anthropogenic impact” in threatened ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21011304TaxonomyMarine biologyMarine ecologyTrophic chainMarine protected areasAnthropogenic impacts |
| spellingShingle | Bruno Welter Giraldes Petrônio Alves Coelho Petrônio Alves Coelho Filho Thais P. Macedo Andrea Santarosa Freire The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems Ecological Indicators Taxonomy Marine biology Marine ecology Trophic chain Marine protected areas Anthropogenic impacts |
| title | The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems |
| title_full | The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems |
| title_short | The ghost of the past anthropogenic impact: Reef-decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems |
| title_sort | ghost of the past anthropogenic impact reef decapods as bioindicators of threatened marine ecosystems |
| topic | Taxonomy Marine biology Marine ecology Trophic chain Marine protected areas Anthropogenic impacts |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21011304 |
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