Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level
Coastal hypoxia and anoxia have become a global key stressor to marine ecosystems, with almost 500 dead zones recorded worldwide. By triggering cascading effects from the individual organism to the community- and ecosystem level, oxygen depletions threaten marine biodiversity and can alter ecosystem...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-03-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/1491/2014/bg-11-1491-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811262676866695168 |
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| author | B. Riedel T. Pados K. Pretterebner L. Schiemer A. Steckbauer A. Haselmair M. Zuschin M. Stachowitsch |
| author_facet | B. Riedel T. Pados K. Pretterebner L. Schiemer A. Steckbauer A. Haselmair M. Zuschin M. Stachowitsch |
| author_sort | B. Riedel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coastal hypoxia and anoxia have become a global key stressor to marine
ecosystems, with almost 500 dead zones recorded worldwide. By triggering
cascading effects from the individual organism to the community- and
ecosystem level, oxygen depletions threaten marine biodiversity and can alter
ecosystem structure and function. By integrating both physiological function
and ecological processes, animal behaviour is ideal for assessing the stress
state of benthic macrofauna to low dissolved oxygen. The initial response of
organisms can serve as an early warning signal, while the successive
behavioural reactions of key species indicate hypoxia levels and help assess
community degradation. Here we document the behavioural responses of a
representative spectrum of benthic macrofauna in the natural setting in the
Northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean). We experimentally induced small-scale
anoxia with a benthic chamber in 24 m depth to overcome the difficulties in
predicting the onset of hypoxia, which often hinders full documentation in
the field. The behavioural reactions were documented with a time-lapse
camera. Oxygen depletion elicited significant and repeatable changes in
general (visibility, locomotion, body movement and posture, location) and
species-specific reactions in virtually all organisms (302 individuals from
32 species and 2 species groups). Most atypical (stress) behaviours were
associated with specific oxygen thresholds: arm-tipping in the ophiuroid
<i>Ophiothrix quinquemaculata</i>, for example, with the onset of mild
hypoxia (< 2 mL O<sub>2</sub> L<sup>−1</sup>), the emergence of polychaetes on the
sediment surface with moderate hypoxia (< 1 mL O<sub>2</sub> L<sup>−1</sup>), the
emergence of the infaunal sea urchin <i>Schizaster canaliferus</i> on the
sediment with severe hypoxia (< 0.5 mL O<sub>2</sub> L<sup>−1</sup>) and heavy body
rotations in sea anemones with anoxia. Other species changed their activity
patterns, for example the circadian rhythm in the hermit crab
<i>Paguristes eremita</i> or the bioherm-associated crab <i>Pisidia
longimana</i>. Intra- and interspecific reactions were weakened or changed:
decapods ceased defensive and territorial behaviour, and predator–prey
interactions and relationships shifted. This nuanced scale of resolution is a
useful tool to interpret present benthic community status (behaviour) and
past mortalities (community composition, e.g. survival of tolerant species).
This information on the sensitivity (onset of stress response), tolerance
(mortality, survival), and characteristics (i.e. life habit, functional role)
of key species also helps predict potential future changes in benthic
structure and ecosystem functioning. This integrated approach can transport
complex ecological processes to the public and decision-makers and help
define specific monitoring, assessment and conservation plans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:30:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a61b8e3c230a435e808e78fea8d5972f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:30:00Z |
| publishDate | 2014-03-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a61b8e3c230a435e808e78fea8d5972f2022-12-22T03:19:22ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892014-03-011161491151810.5194/bg-11-1491-2014Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community levelB. Riedel0T. Pados1K. Pretterebner2L. Schiemer3A. Steckbauer4A. Haselmair5M. Zuschin6M. Stachowitsch7University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Paleontology, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Paleontology, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, AustriaCoastal hypoxia and anoxia have become a global key stressor to marine ecosystems, with almost 500 dead zones recorded worldwide. By triggering cascading effects from the individual organism to the community- and ecosystem level, oxygen depletions threaten marine biodiversity and can alter ecosystem structure and function. By integrating both physiological function and ecological processes, animal behaviour is ideal for assessing the stress state of benthic macrofauna to low dissolved oxygen. The initial response of organisms can serve as an early warning signal, while the successive behavioural reactions of key species indicate hypoxia levels and help assess community degradation. Here we document the behavioural responses of a representative spectrum of benthic macrofauna in the natural setting in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean). We experimentally induced small-scale anoxia with a benthic chamber in 24 m depth to overcome the difficulties in predicting the onset of hypoxia, which often hinders full documentation in the field. The behavioural reactions were documented with a time-lapse camera. Oxygen depletion elicited significant and repeatable changes in general (visibility, locomotion, body movement and posture, location) and species-specific reactions in virtually all organisms (302 individuals from 32 species and 2 species groups). Most atypical (stress) behaviours were associated with specific oxygen thresholds: arm-tipping in the ophiuroid <i>Ophiothrix quinquemaculata</i>, for example, with the onset of mild hypoxia (< 2 mL O<sub>2</sub> L<sup>−1</sup>), the emergence of polychaetes on the sediment surface with moderate hypoxia (< 1 mL O<sub>2</sub> L<sup>−1</sup>), the emergence of the infaunal sea urchin <i>Schizaster canaliferus</i> on the sediment with severe hypoxia (< 0.5 mL O<sub>2</sub> L<sup>−1</sup>) and heavy body rotations in sea anemones with anoxia. Other species changed their activity patterns, for example the circadian rhythm in the hermit crab <i>Paguristes eremita</i> or the bioherm-associated crab <i>Pisidia longimana</i>. Intra- and interspecific reactions were weakened or changed: decapods ceased defensive and territorial behaviour, and predator–prey interactions and relationships shifted. This nuanced scale of resolution is a useful tool to interpret present benthic community status (behaviour) and past mortalities (community composition, e.g. survival of tolerant species). This information on the sensitivity (onset of stress response), tolerance (mortality, survival), and characteristics (i.e. life habit, functional role) of key species also helps predict potential future changes in benthic structure and ecosystem functioning. This integrated approach can transport complex ecological processes to the public and decision-makers and help define specific monitoring, assessment and conservation plans.http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/1491/2014/bg-11-1491-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | B. Riedel T. Pados K. Pretterebner L. Schiemer A. Steckbauer A. Haselmair M. Zuschin M. Stachowitsch Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level Biogeosciences |
| title | Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level |
| title_full | Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level |
| title_fullStr | Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level |
| title_short | Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level |
| title_sort | effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour ecological perspectives from species to community level |
| url | http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/1491/2014/bg-11-1491-2014.pdf |
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