Abstract
Trait-based approaches and functional groups have a long history in macroalgae community ecology. However, their application to transitional waters in southern rocky shores is uncommon. Under the assumption that morphology represents the variability of macroalgal communities, we adjusted previous morpho-functional groups (MFGs) to local communities and developed an easy to apply classification of macroalgal organisms based on morphological traits. During 3 consecutive years we sampled the macroalgal communities and measured environmental variables in three rocky outcrops of a biogeographical transitional area with high environmental variability (i.e. temperature, salinity) in the temperate Southwestern Atlantic (Uruguay, ca. 33°– 35° S). Based on expert judgment, species were classified into eight MFGs. A classification tree (CART) model was used to validate the MFGs and select the best discriminating morphological traits. Most species were well classified into seven of the eight MFGs based only in three morphological traits: shape, consistency, and texture. The validated MFGs differed significantly in species richness and biomass, were differently distributed along the intertidal zone, and dominated under different environmental conditions (i.e. sea surface temperature, sea level, salinity). A key to classify organisms based on the selected morphological traits was constructed. Present results support easy recognition of algal assemblages and rapid ecological analysis, and might contribute to ecological studies and monitoring programs.
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Data availability
The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
GV-R is supported by SNI-ANII, PEDECIBA-Biología, Vaz Ferreira Fund (FVF2020_II/FVF/2019/025, Ministerio Educación y Cultura-MEC, Uruguay) and Rufford Small Grants (24957-B). CK SNI-ANII PEDECIBA Geociencias. This long-term study is also being supported by PAIE-CSIC (Udelar, Uruguay) and Rufford Small Grants (UK). We are grateful to the rangers (Dante Roibal and Manuel Barreneche) of the Coastal-Marine Protected Area of Cerro Verde e Islas de La Coronilla as well as to Leticia González, Marina Reyes, Paula Laporta, NGO Karumbé and volunteers for their help during the samplings. Thanks also goes to Angel Segura with his help with the script and the interpretation of the CART. For their expert help in different aspects considered in this work we acknowledge Franciane Pellizzari, Frederico Tapajós de Souza Tâmega and Paula Raffo. Sea surface temperature data was downloaded from the physical oceanography distributed active archive center of the PODAAC of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/. Sea level height and surface salinity was downloaded from http://marine.copernicus.eu/. The comments and corrections of three anonymous reviewers improved in several ways the manuscript and are especially acknowledged. A special memory goes to Pacha & Gutiérrez, Gabriela´s furry mates.
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All the authors agree to be listed and approve the submitted version of the manuscript. Study conception and design: CK, GMV-R, and FS; material preparation and data collection: CK, GMV-R, LG-E, FS, ML, MZ, VV, and AdL-M; formal analysis and interpretation of the data: CK, GMV-R, FS, RT, and GM; drafting of manuscript: GMV-R and CK; critical revision: FS, RT, GM, ML, MZ; funding acquisition: GMV-R, CK, and LG-E.
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Vélez-Rubio, G.M., González-Etchebehere, L., Scarabino, F. et al. Macroalgae morpho-functional groups in Southern marine ecosystems: rocky intertidal in the Southwestern Atlantic (33°–35° S). Mar Biol 168, 153 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03960-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03960-6