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Effects of estimated herbivory on the reproductive potential of four East African algal species – a mechanism behind ecosystem shifts on coral reefs?

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Abstract

The aim of this field study was to investigate effects of estimated fish- and sea urchin herbivory on the reproductive potential of four species of macroalgae; Halimeda macroloba (Decasine), H. renschii (Hauck), Turbinaria ornata (Turner) and Padina boergesenii (Allender et Kraft). Fish and sea urchin herbivory were calculated based on reported consumption rates for their biomass estimates. We hypothesized that reduced herbivory would increase algal size and the reproductive potential, which may promote algal recruitment and be one of the driving mechanisms behind algal shifts and persistent algae-dominated reefs. Algae were investigated in field sites where the estimated fish- and or sea urchin herbivory differed. Our results suggest that algal fecundity of T. ornata and P. boergesenii are positively correlated to their size. Fecundity of T. ornata was higher and individuals grew larger in areas where estimated fish herbivory was lower. The two species of Halimeda grew larger and had higher fecundity in areas where estimated sea urchin herbivory was lower. P. boergesenii responded ambiguously to patterns in herbivory. Due to species-specific responses to different herbivores, it is difficult to generalize about effects of overfishing on algal fecundity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Nils Kautsky, Lena Kautsky and Mats Björk for their support and advice, and the University of Linköping and Sida for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Systems Ecology, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ingrid Nordemar, Gustaf Lilliesköld Sjöö & Erik Mörk

  2. Marine Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA

    Tim R. McClanahan

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  1. Ingrid Nordemar
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  2. Gustaf Lilliesköld Sjöö
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  3. Erik Mörk
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  4. Tim R. McClanahan
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Correspondence to Erik Mörk.

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Nordemar, I., Sjöö, G.L., Mörk, E. et al. Effects of estimated herbivory on the reproductive potential of four East African algal species – a mechanism behind ecosystem shifts on coral reefs?. Hydrobiologia 575, 57–68 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0282-1

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