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Effects of invasive seaweeds on feeding preference and performance of a keystone Mediterranean herbivore

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Abstract

The consequences of invasive species on ecosystem processes and ecological interactions remain poorly understood. Predator–prey interactions are fundamental in shaping species evolution and community structure and can be strongly modified by species introductions. To fully understand the ecological effects of invasive species on trophic linkages it is important to characterize novel interactions between native predators and exotic prey and to identify the impacts of invasive species on the performance of native predators. Although seaweed invasions are a growing global concern, our understanding of invasive algae—herbivore interactions is still very limited. We used a series of feeding experiments between a native herbivore and four invasive algae in the Mediterranean Sea to examine the potential of native sea urchins to consume invasive seaweeds and the impacts of invasive seaweed on herbivore performance. We found that three of the four invasive species examined are avoided by native herbivores, and that feeding behaviour in sea urchins is not driven by plant nutritional quality. On the other hand, Caulerpa racemosa is readily consumed by sea urchins, but may escape enemy control by reducing their performance. Recognizing the negative impacts of C. racemosa on herbivore performance has highlighted an enemy escape mechanism that contributes to explaining how this widespread invasive alga, which is preferred and consumed by herbivores, is not eradicated by grazing in the field. Furthermore, given the ecological and economic importance of sea urchins, negative impacts of invasive seaweeds on their performance could have dramatic effects on ecosystem function and services, and should be accounted for in sea urchin population management strategies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to R. Gradel and the “Palma Aquàrium” staff for providing facilities and invaluable assistance with the experiments. We would also like to thank E. Ballesteros, A. Ceballos, N. Comalada, E. Infantes, F.J. Medina, A. Sureda, and S. Deudero and her students for help in the field and the laboratory, as well as P. Fernandez from the “Serveis Científico Tècnics” University of Barcelona for assistance with C/N analyses. Financial support was provided by Grant CTM2005-01434/MAR from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. FT was funded by Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Fellowship.

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  1. Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/Miquel Marques 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain

    Fiona Tomas & Jorge Terrados

  2. Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Universidad Islas Baleares—IMEDEA, Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain

    Antonio Box

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  1. Fiona Tomas
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Tomas, F., Box, A. & Terrados, J. Effects of invasive seaweeds on feeding preference and performance of a keystone Mediterranean herbivore. Biol Invasions 13, 1559–1570 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9913-6

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