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Seasonality dictates changes in the ecological interactions among spatial dominants

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Abstract

Marine coasts are dynamic environments where spatial-physical gradients interact with seasonality. In the Patagonia in particular, high temperatures and strong winds lead to stressing physical conditions that shape intertidal communities. In a previous study, we found that the interaction between the sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis and the macroalga Ulva lactuca was context-dependent, switching from positive at the harsher intertidal to negative at the milder subtidal environment. Temporal variation in the physical variables, however, may also affect species performance and interaction strength. Since Patagonian shores are strongly seasonal environments, we evaluated how the interactions (competitive or cooperative) among these two spatially dominant species changed over a temporal-stress gradient throughout a year. We predicted that the macroalga would facilitate the sponge in seasons with more severe environmental conditions, whereas negative or neutral interactions would prevail when environmental conditions were milder. Our results demonstrated that the sign and intensity of the interaction between Hymeniacidon and Ulva changed over the seasons and coincided with a hump-shaped model, involving a neutral interaction in the milder seasons of autumn and winter, then switching to a positive one in the inclement springtime, and finally shifting to a negative relationship in the harshness of the summer. The amelioration of stressful conditions through shading did not satisfactorily explain the underlying mechanism for this varying interaction, an aspect that still remains unclear. Nevertheless, several mechanisms are discussed both within the context of the stress gradient hypothesis and the specific physiological constraints of intertidal organisms.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Michael Lesser, Brian Silliman, Pedro Daleo, the associated editor Fabio Bulleri, and the three anonymous reviewers whose suggestions have made a significant improvement in the manuscript. We also are grateful to Maité Barrena, María Cecilia Salas, Giuliana Burgueño, and Macarena Valiñas for their help during samplings, and to Matías Ocampo-Reinaldo for his guidance in performing the R plots. Dr. Donald F. Haggerty, a retired academic career investigator and native English speaker, edited the final version of the manuscript.

Funding

M.G. was supported by a CONICET postdoctoral scholarship (https://www.CONICET.gob.ar). This study was partially supported by MG scholarship and the PIP-CONICET #112-201501-0465 to MN and FF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Martín 247, 8520, San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, República Argentina

    Marianela Gastaldi, Fausto Nahuel Firstater, María Alejandra Romero, Patricio Javier Pereyra & Maite Andrea Narvarte

  2. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos Almirante Storni, Güemes, 1030, San Antonio Oeste, República Argentina

    Fausto Nahuel Firstater, María Alejandra Romero, Patricio Javier Pereyra & Maite Andrea Narvarte

  3. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz, 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, República Argentina

    Fausto Nahuel Firstater, María Alejandra Romero, Patricio Javier Pereyra & Maite Andrea Narvarte

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  1. Marianela Gastaldi
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  2. Fausto Nahuel Firstater
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  4. Patricio Javier Pereyra
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Contributions

MG and FNF conceived of the idea and designed the study, MG collected the data, and MG and MAR analyzed the data. MG wrote the manuscript. MAR wrote part of the M-&-M section. FNF, PJP, and MAN assisted in the writing of the draft. All the authors assisted in the field, contributed critically to the drafts, and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Marianela Gastaldi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. All the authors consented to and agreed to carry out this research. The Argentine national guidelines for the sampling, care, and experimental use of organisms for the study have been followed and the necessary approvals obtained.

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Responsible Editor: F. Bulleri.

Reviewed by: G.M. Martins and undisclosed experts.

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Gastaldi, M., Firstater, F.N., Romero, M.A. et al. Seasonality dictates changes in the ecological interactions among spatial dominants. Mar Biol 167, 176 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03791-x

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