The ecological condition of vermetid platforms affects the cover of the alien seaweed Caulerpa cylindracea

  1. Terradas-Fernández, Marc 1
  2. Valverde-Urrea, Miguel 1
  3. Casado-Coy, Nuria 1
  4. Sanz-Lazaro, Carlos 2
  1. 1 Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante
  2. 2 Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alicante - Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES), Universidad de Alicante
Zeitschrift:
Scientia Marina

ISSN: 0214-8358

Datum der Publikation: 2020

Ausgabe: 84

Nummer: 2

Seiten: 1-11

Art: Artikel

DOI: 10.3989/SCIMAR.04984.06A DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen Access editor

Andere Publikationen in: Scientia Marina

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Zusammenfassung

The seaweed Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder is one of the most important invaders on Mediterranean rocky shores. However, many driving pressures affecting its spread are poorly understood and seem to involve the interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. We studied the invasiveness of C. Cylindracea on two shallow vermetid platforms with a con­trasting ecological status on which C. Cylindracea was first detected simultaneously 15 years ago. The cover values of C. Cylindracea and the other macroalgal species were assessed for one year, embracing the whole platform width. Caulerpa cylindracea cover was higher on the platform that had a low ecological status, especially during warmer months at the outer seaward margin. The ecological status of the overstory of native species seems to be a key point conditioning the success of C. Cylindracea invasiveness on these platforms.

Informationen zur Finanzierung

This work was partially funded by the project GRE14-19 of the University of Alicante. We are thankful to Alberto Baraza, Aitor Navarro, Ana Belen Jodar, Lotte Krüger, Luís Enrique Alcaraz, Carlos Botana and Leticia Asensio for their help in the fieldwork. We are also thankful to J. Zubcoff for statistical advice. Ivan Egea helped us to improve the English grammar and two anonymous reviewers contributed to the improvement of the manuscript. C. S. was supported as “In-vestigador Distinguido” by the University of Alicante (Ref. UATALENTO 17-11).

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