Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, USA.
Mar Environ Res. 2020 Oct;161:105061. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105061. Epub 2020 Jul 7.
Macroalgal blooms pose a threat to coastal ecosystems worldwide, especially in highly eutrophic environments. Excess nutrients often facilitate the proliferation of opportunistic algae, but in some systems grazing activity counterbalances its effects. I evaluated the regulating role of mesograzers associated with eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Elkhorn Slough, a eutrophic estuary where Ulva spp. blooms are frequent during the upwelling season. I monitored recruitment and transplant success of Ulva spp. along transects placed across the edge of the largest Z. marina bed. Changes in abundance of Ulva spp. on transplants differed spatially and seasonally, and were significantly correlated with density of both small and large invertebrate groups. Grazing affected not only adult Ulva spp. but also its early developmental stages, leading to decreased Ulva spp. abundance on transplants and minimal recruitment inside the Z. marina bed.
大型海藻水华对全球沿海生态系统构成威胁，特别是在富营养化环境中。过量的营养物质通常会促进机会性藻类的繁殖，但在某些系统中，摄食活动会抵消其影响。我评估了与鳗草（Zostera marina）相关的中型食草动物在埃尔克霍恩沼泽（Elkhorn Slough）中的调节作用，该沼泽是一个富营养化河口，在上升流季节经常出现紫菜属水华。我在鳗草床最大床沿的横切线上监测紫菜属的繁殖和移植成功率。移植紫菜属的丰度在空间和季节上有所不同，与小型和大型无脊椎动物群的密度显著相关。摄食不仅影响成年紫菜属，还影响其早期发育阶段，导致移植紫菜属的丰度降低，鳗草床内的繁殖很少。
