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The non-native turf-forming alga Caulacanthus ustulatus displaces space-occupants but increases diversity

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Abstract

Non-indigenous seaweeds can be found in coastal habitats worldwide yet the ecological effects of only ~6 % of macroalgal introductions have been studied. The turf-forming red alga Caulacanthus ustulatus, a putative introduction from Asia, was discovered in southern California in 1999, yet has received very little attention despite being common in rocky intertidal habitats in the region. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of Caulacanthus on native invertebrate and seaweed community composition. Macrofaunal, meiofaunal, and macroalgal community structure and diversity were compared between patches with (non-native) and without Caulacanthus (native) in the upper intertidal zone at 5 locations in southern California. Caulacanthus appears to displace macro invertebrates, such as barnacles, limpets, and periwinkles, while facilitating a more diverse array of meiofauna and macroalgae. This is likely due to the formation of a novel turf habitat in the upper zone where turfs are uncommon in this region naturally; algal turfs can increase habitat complexity, trap sediment, and maintain moisture during low tide which likely benefits meiofauna and seaweeds by providing food, habitat, or refuge from desiccation stress. Subsequent comparisons of invertebrate and seaweed assemblages were conducted in native and non-native patches at one site in the upper intertidal zone as well as in the middle intertidal zone where a native turf zone exists. Despite differences in community composition in the upper intertidal zone, no differences were observed in the middle zone, providing support that the novel turf created by Caulacanthus in the upper zone drives community differences.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the field assistance of several individuals from the Biological Sciences Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. We are also grateful for the comments by two anonymous reviewers. This study was funded by the University of Southern California Sea Grant Program/California Ocean Protection Council (Grant #6043) and the California State Water Resource Control Board under its grant award to the City of Newport Beach, CA. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of USC Sea Grant, Cal OPC, SWRCB, or the City of Newport Beach.

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Correspondence to Jayson R. Smith.

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Smith, J.R., Vogt, S.C., Creedon, F. et al. The non-native turf-forming alga Caulacanthus ustulatus displaces space-occupants but increases diversity. Biol Invasions 16, 2195–2208 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-014-0658-5

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