Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities

Abstract Research on intertidal community structure and recovery in the California Current System has largely focused on macrophytes and invertebrates occupying two‐dimensional, readily studied “open” rock surfaces. However, most rocky shores have a “third” dimension that includes channels, cracks,...

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Main Authors: Alissa J. Rickborn, Sarah A. Gravem, Bruce A. Menge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-06-01
Series:Ecosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4562
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author Alissa J. Rickborn
Sarah A. Gravem
Bruce A. Menge
author_facet Alissa J. Rickborn
Sarah A. Gravem
Bruce A. Menge
author_sort Alissa J. Rickborn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Research on intertidal community structure and recovery in the California Current System has largely focused on macrophytes and invertebrates occupying two‐dimensional, readily studied “open” rock surfaces. However, most rocky shores have a “third” dimension that includes channels, cracks, crevices, and overhangs whose organismal assemblages, termed “cryptic communities,” are poorly studied. Cryptic communities not only share many species with those on more accessible surfaces but also include high abundances of colonial invertebrates such as tunicates, sponges, bryozoans, and hydrozoans. We investigated species abundance and diversity of cryptic communities and tested their recovery from disturbance by comparing removal plots to undisturbed controls for ~1.5 years. Additionally, we tested whether community structure and recovery varied with contrasting large‐scale levels of ecological subsidies (invertebrate recruitment, nutrients, and phytoplankton) and local‐scale microhabitat differences (emersion and solar irradiation) on the Oregon Coast. We compared cryptic recovery rates to recovery rates on open‐surface communities. In cryptic communities, site explained most (92%) variance in community structure of undisturbed plots, while microhabitat metrics had little (1.2%) effect. Further, recovery rates were faster at a site with higher subsidy inputs than one with lower subsidies in both cryptic and noncryptic communities. Hence, larger scale environmental drivers appeared more important than local‐scale drivers within cryptic communities. Our research provides novel insight into intertidal cryptic surge channel community structure and dynamics.
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spelling doaj.art-f5a09c9384124a129fdfeadcc2be9ed32024-04-07T23:33:20ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252023-06-01146n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4562Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communitiesAlissa J. Rickborn0Sarah A. Gravem1Bruce A. Menge2Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USADepartment of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USADepartment of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USAAbstract Research on intertidal community structure and recovery in the California Current System has largely focused on macrophytes and invertebrates occupying two‐dimensional, readily studied “open” rock surfaces. However, most rocky shores have a “third” dimension that includes channels, cracks, crevices, and overhangs whose organismal assemblages, termed “cryptic communities,” are poorly studied. Cryptic communities not only share many species with those on more accessible surfaces but also include high abundances of colonial invertebrates such as tunicates, sponges, bryozoans, and hydrozoans. We investigated species abundance and diversity of cryptic communities and tested their recovery from disturbance by comparing removal plots to undisturbed controls for ~1.5 years. Additionally, we tested whether community structure and recovery varied with contrasting large‐scale levels of ecological subsidies (invertebrate recruitment, nutrients, and phytoplankton) and local‐scale microhabitat differences (emersion and solar irradiation) on the Oregon Coast. We compared cryptic recovery rates to recovery rates on open‐surface communities. In cryptic communities, site explained most (92%) variance in community structure of undisturbed plots, while microhabitat metrics had little (1.2%) effect. Further, recovery rates were faster at a site with higher subsidy inputs than one with lower subsidies in both cryptic and noncryptic communities. Hence, larger scale environmental drivers appeared more important than local‐scale drivers within cryptic communities. Our research provides novel insight into intertidal cryptic surge channel community structure and dynamics.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4562bryozoanscolonial invertebratescryptic communitiesdisturbancehydrozoansrecovery
spellingShingle Alissa J. Rickborn
Sarah A. Gravem
Bruce A. Menge
Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities
Ecosphere
bryozoans
colonial invertebrates
cryptic communities
disturbance
hydrozoans
recovery
title Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities
title_full Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities
title_fullStr Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities
title_full_unstemmed Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities
title_short Community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open‐surface communities
title_sort community structure and recovery in cryptic intertidal communities reflects dynamics on open surface communities
topic bryozoans
colonial invertebrates
cryptic communities
disturbance
hydrozoans
recovery
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4562
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AT sarahagravem communitystructureandrecoveryincrypticintertidalcommunitiesreflectsdynamicsonopensurfacecommunities
AT bruceamenge communitystructureandrecoveryincrypticintertidalcommunitiesreflectsdynamicsonopensurfacecommunities