Invasion-mediated effects on marine trophic interactions in a changing climate: positive feedbacks favour kelp persistence.

ABSTRACT: The interactive effects of ocean warming and invasive species are complex and remain a source of uncertainty for projecting future ecological change. Climate-mediated change to trophic interactions can have pervasive ecological consequences, but the role of invasion in mediating trophic effects is largely unstudied. Using manipulative experiments in replicated outdoor mesocosms, we reveal how near-future ocean warming and macrophyte invasion scenarios interactively impact gastropod grazing intensity and preference for consumption of foundation macroalgae ( Ecklonia radiata and Sargassum vestitum). Elevated water temperature increased the consumption of both macroalgae through greater grazing intensity. Given the documented decline of kelp ( E. radiata) growth at higher water temperatures,

SUBMITTER: Miranda RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6452063 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature