Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae
Kelp forests provide habitat and resources to diverse organisms and provide valuable ecosystem services. However, marine deforestation due to wild kelp harvesting, among other drivers, is being observed worldwide. Studies assessing kelp removal effects often focus on the effects on kelp populations,...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942400009X |
| _version_ | 1797347784123219968 |
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| author | Daniela M. Carranza Gisela C. Stotz Julio A. Vásquez Wolfgang B. Stotz |
| author_facet | Daniela M. Carranza Gisela C. Stotz Julio A. Vásquez Wolfgang B. Stotz |
| author_sort | Daniela M. Carranza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Kelp forests provide habitat and resources to diverse organisms and provide valuable ecosystem services. However, marine deforestation due to wild kelp harvesting, among other drivers, is being observed worldwide. Studies assessing kelp removal effects often focus on the effects on kelp populations, although deforestation also impacts the organisms that interact directly or indirectly with kelp, including herbivores and algal assemblages. Using a meta-analytical approach, we estimated the magnitude and direction of kelp removal effects on kelp, invertebrate herbivores, and understory algae. We also tested if responses varied among functional groups of understory algae and whether results were influenced by the subtidal or intertidal distribution of the removed kelp species and the time elapsed since kelp removal. We observed a substantial decrease in kelp abundance, remaining for up to 4 years following kelp removal, with a larger decrease in subtidal kelp but no recovery observed in intertidal kelp over time. Invertebrate herbivore abundance showed no significant change over time. Understory algae abundance responded positively, although this effect tended to slightly decline over time following subtidal kelp removal. Canopy-, turf-forming and foliose algae were the most benefited, which raises concern about their potential to outcompete kelp. The early succession patterns and cascading effects within kelp forests illustrated here highlight the need for long-term studies to elucidate the long-lasting effects of kelp fisheries, which are scarce at present. There is also a need to consider kelp forests’ role in providing habitat and resources to improve predictive frameworks allowing kelp forest conservation and sustainable fisheries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:53:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dff9493bdbc1406b8d122231390f0e0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:53:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-dff9493bdbc1406b8d122231390f0e0c2024-01-24T05:21:18ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942024-01-0149e02805Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algaeDaniela M. Carranza0Gisela C. Stotz1Julio A. Vásquez2Wolfgang B. Stotz3Ecología y Manejo de Recursos (ECOLMAR), Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France; Correspondence to: Université de Montpellier, Faculté des Sciences, Place Eugène Bataillon, Bâtiment 24, UMR MARBEC, CC093, 34095 Cedex 5, Montpellier, France.Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, República 440, Santiago, ChileDepartamento de Biología Marina, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Algas (CIDTA), Facultad de Ciencias Del Mar, Universidad Católica Del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Ossandón 877, Coquimbo, Chile; Instituto Milenio de Socioecología Costera (SECOS), ChileEcología y Manejo de Recursos (ECOLMAR), Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Ossandón 877, Coquimbo, ChileKelp forests provide habitat and resources to diverse organisms and provide valuable ecosystem services. However, marine deforestation due to wild kelp harvesting, among other drivers, is being observed worldwide. Studies assessing kelp removal effects often focus on the effects on kelp populations, although deforestation also impacts the organisms that interact directly or indirectly with kelp, including herbivores and algal assemblages. Using a meta-analytical approach, we estimated the magnitude and direction of kelp removal effects on kelp, invertebrate herbivores, and understory algae. We also tested if responses varied among functional groups of understory algae and whether results were influenced by the subtidal or intertidal distribution of the removed kelp species and the time elapsed since kelp removal. We observed a substantial decrease in kelp abundance, remaining for up to 4 years following kelp removal, with a larger decrease in subtidal kelp but no recovery observed in intertidal kelp over time. Invertebrate herbivore abundance showed no significant change over time. Understory algae abundance responded positively, although this effect tended to slightly decline over time following subtidal kelp removal. Canopy-, turf-forming and foliose algae were the most benefited, which raises concern about their potential to outcompete kelp. The early succession patterns and cascading effects within kelp forests illustrated here highlight the need for long-term studies to elucidate the long-lasting effects of kelp fisheries, which are scarce at present. There is also a need to consider kelp forests’ role in providing habitat and resources to improve predictive frameworks allowing kelp forest conservation and sustainable fisheries.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942400009XKelp removalUnderstory algaeHerbivoresMeta-analysisCascading effectsKelp forest conservation |
| spellingShingle | Daniela M. Carranza Gisela C. Stotz Julio A. Vásquez Wolfgang B. Stotz Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae Global Ecology and Conservation Kelp removal Understory algae Herbivores Meta-analysis Cascading effects Kelp forest conservation |
| title | Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae |
| title_full | Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae |
| title_fullStr | Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae |
| title_short | Trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations, herbivores, and understory algae |
| title_sort | trends in the effects of kelp removal on kelp populations herbivores and understory algae |
| topic | Kelp removal Understory algae Herbivores Meta-analysis Cascading effects Kelp forest conservation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942400009X |
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