Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates
Positive interactions among foundation species play a crucial role in achieving and maintaining a good state of the marine environment, enhancing the habitat stability, productivity, and the whole ecosystem functioning. In this regard, macroalgal canopies may affect the biotic and abiotic environmen...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1214252/full |
| _version_ | 1797355311223275520 |
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| author | Emanuela Claudia La Marca Emanuela Claudia La Marca Francesca Ape Francesca Ape Alessandro Rinaldi Alessandro Rinaldi Marco Spoto Marco Martinez Enrico Dini Simone Mirto Simone Mirto Valeria Montalto Valeria Montalto |
| author_facet | Emanuela Claudia La Marca Emanuela Claudia La Marca Francesca Ape Francesca Ape Alessandro Rinaldi Alessandro Rinaldi Marco Spoto Marco Martinez Enrico Dini Simone Mirto Simone Mirto Valeria Montalto Valeria Montalto |
| author_sort | Emanuela Claudia La Marca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Positive interactions among foundation species play a crucial role in achieving and maintaining a good state of the marine environment, enhancing the habitat stability, productivity, and the whole ecosystem functioning. In this regard, macroalgal canopies may affect the biotic and abiotic environmental features, improving the habitat quality for the establishment of other sedentary organisms. In this study, we investigated the effect of intertidal canopy-forming algae on the colonization success of the central-Mediterranean vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates produced for reef restoration purposes. An in situ experiment was carried out along the northwestern coast of Sicily during the breeding season of the vermetid snails, by using geopolymer concrete settlement discs with a topographic design to facilitate the vermetid settlement. The discs were placed on the seaward reef rim, underneath the macroalgal canopy, and on adjacent control bare reef areas. The canopy effect on the understory algal colonization and the environmental temperature at the vermetid settlement substrate were also surveyed. After 35 days of field exposure, the vermetid settlement increased by 1.7-fold on the discs underneath the macroalgal canopy compared with that on the bare settlement discs. Moreover, the understory algae showed a higher homogeneity and a lower percent cover on the settlement discs underneath the macroalgal canopy. The peaks of temperature were higher on the bare reef, and the macroalgal canopy also reduced temperature variability under maximum sun irradiance during the diurnal low tides. The vermetid settlement was positively correlated to the canopy cover, which, directly or indirectly, improved the success of colonization of the reef-builder snails on artificial substrates. The deployment of settlement discs where canopy-forming algae are naturally present may facilitate the gardening of vermetid clusters that may be translocated to restock the reef-builder density at degraded areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:09:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7c9b20eb01549b39aab85f0f1b2d075 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:09:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7c9b20eb01549b39aab85f0f1b2d0752024-01-15T04:20:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452024-01-011010.3389/fmars.2023.12142521214252Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substratesEmanuela Claudia La Marca0Emanuela Claudia La Marca1Francesca Ape2Francesca Ape3Alessandro Rinaldi4Alessandro Rinaldi5Marco Spoto6Marco Martinez7Enrico Dini8Simone Mirto9Simone Mirto10Valeria Montalto11Valeria Montalto12Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Palermo, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, ItalyIstitute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council (ISMAR-CNR), Bologna, ItalyInstitute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Palermo, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, ItalyInstitute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Palermo, ItalyInstitute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Palermo, ItalyMonolite UK Ltd., London, United KingdomInstitute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Palermo, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, ItalyInstitute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Palermo, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, ItalyPositive interactions among foundation species play a crucial role in achieving and maintaining a good state of the marine environment, enhancing the habitat stability, productivity, and the whole ecosystem functioning. In this regard, macroalgal canopies may affect the biotic and abiotic environmental features, improving the habitat quality for the establishment of other sedentary organisms. In this study, we investigated the effect of intertidal canopy-forming algae on the colonization success of the central-Mediterranean vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates produced for reef restoration purposes. An in situ experiment was carried out along the northwestern coast of Sicily during the breeding season of the vermetid snails, by using geopolymer concrete settlement discs with a topographic design to facilitate the vermetid settlement. The discs were placed on the seaward reef rim, underneath the macroalgal canopy, and on adjacent control bare reef areas. The canopy effect on the understory algal colonization and the environmental temperature at the vermetid settlement substrate were also surveyed. After 35 days of field exposure, the vermetid settlement increased by 1.7-fold on the discs underneath the macroalgal canopy compared with that on the bare settlement discs. Moreover, the understory algae showed a higher homogeneity and a lower percent cover on the settlement discs underneath the macroalgal canopy. The peaks of temperature were higher on the bare reef, and the macroalgal canopy also reduced temperature variability under maximum sun irradiance during the diurnal low tides. The vermetid settlement was positively correlated to the canopy cover, which, directly or indirectly, improved the success of colonization of the reef-builder snails on artificial substrates. The deployment of settlement discs where canopy-forming algae are naturally present may facilitate the gardening of vermetid clusters that may be translocated to restock the reef-builder density at degraded areas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1214252/fullfoundation speciesmacroalgal canopybiogenic reefssettlementrestoration ecologyeco-engineering |
| spellingShingle | Emanuela Claudia La Marca Emanuela Claudia La Marca Francesca Ape Francesca Ape Alessandro Rinaldi Alessandro Rinaldi Marco Spoto Marco Martinez Enrico Dini Simone Mirto Simone Mirto Valeria Montalto Valeria Montalto Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates Frontiers in Marine Science foundation species macroalgal canopy biogenic reefs settlement restoration ecology eco-engineering |
| title | Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates |
| title_full | Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates |
| title_fullStr | Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates |
| title_short | Canopy-forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef-builder Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) on artificial substrates |
| title_sort | canopy forming algae improve the colonization success of the vermetid reef builder dendropoma cristatum biondi 1859 on artificial substrates |
| topic | foundation species macroalgal canopy biogenic reefs settlement restoration ecology eco-engineering |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1214252/full |
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