Resistance of seagrass habitats to ocean acidification via altered interactions in a tri-trophic chain.

ABSTRACT: Despite the wide knowledge about prevalent effects of ocean acidification on single species, the consequences on species interactions that may promote or prevent habitat shifts are still poorly understood. Using natural CO₂ vents, we investigated changes in a key tri-trophic chain embedded within all its natural complexity in seagrass systems. We found that seagrass habitats remain stable at vents despite the changes in their tri-trophic components. Under high pCO₂, the feeding of a key herbivore (sea urchin) on a less palatable seagrass and its associated epiphytes decreased, whereas the feeding on higher-palatable green algae increased. We also observed a doubled density of a predatory wrasse under acidified conditions. Bottom-up CO₂ effects interact with

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Crego B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7083920 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature