Differences in fish herbivory among tropical and temperate seaweeds and annual patterns in kelp consumption influence the tropicalisation of temperate reefs.

ABSTRACT: Climate change is leading to novel species interactions and profoundly altering ecosystems. In marine systems, tropical and subtropical species are increasing in higher latitudes. This has been linked to the deforestation of temperate coastlines, as direct effects of ocean warming combine with increased herbivory from tropical and sub-tropical fishes and lead to the decline of canopy-forming kelp. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this deforestation may be facilitated by greater palatability of temperate kelp and other canopy seaweeds compared to tropical taxa. We used multiple-choice filmed feeding field experiments and chemical analyses to measure the palatability of temperate and tropical seaweeds from Tosa Bay (southeastern Japan) and we used single-species feeding assays to measure

SUBMITTER: Verges A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9731966 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature