INVESTIGADORES
IRIBARNE Oscar Osvaldo
artículos
Título:
Effects of an invasive reef-builder polychaete on biomass and composition of estuarine macroalgae assemblages.
Autor/es:
BAZTERRICA, M.C; BOTTO, F; O. IRIBARNE,
Revista:
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2012 vol. 14 p. 765 - 778
ISSN:
1387-3547
Resumen:
Invasive species can transform ecological
communities. Their profound effects may alter the
sources and pathways of primary production. We
investigated the effects of the reef forming polychaete
Ficopomatus enigmaticus invasion on the biomass and
distribution of estuarine macroalgae in a SW Atlantic
coastal lagoon (Mar Chiquita, 37 400S, 57 230W,
Argentina). Reefs built by this species serve as
substrates for macroalgal development and furnish
structures that modify physical and biological conditions
for the surrounding benthos. We showed that (1)
the red macroalga Polysiphonia subtilissima settles and
grows almost exclusively on the surface of the reef, (2)
the green macroalgae Cladophora sp. and Enteromorpha
intestinalis are found almost exclusively in areas
without reefs attached to mollusk shells and, (3) no
macroalgae occur in the sediment between reefs.
Manipulative experiments show that reefs provide a
complex substrate for settlement and survival and
therefore benefit red macroalga. These experiments
also show that the invasive reef builder has negative
indirect effects on green macroalgae by increasing
grazing and probably by increased sedimentation
between reefs. Via these direct and indirect effects,
reefs change the relative biomass contribution of each
macroalgal species to the overall production in the
lagoon. Knowledge of these processes is important not
only for predicting net effects on primary production but
also because changes inmacroalgal species composition
may produce effects that cascade through the food web.