Endemic grazers control benthic microalgal growth in a eutrophic tropical brackish ecosystem

T.S. Sakihara; B.D. Dudley; Richard A. MacKenzie; J.P. Beets

doi:10.3354/meps11099

Treesearch

Endemic grazers control benthic microalgal growth in a eutrophic tropical brackish ecosystem

Formally Refereed

Authors:

T.S. Sakihara, B.D. Dudley, Richard A. MacKenzie, J.P. Beets

Year:

2015

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11099

Source:

Marine Ecology Progress Series. 519: 29-45

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Abstract

Anthropogenic changes to nutrient supply, numbers and behavior of grazers and interactions of these factors are known to change epilithon composition and biomass. In brackish waters, these changes occur across wide-ranging abiotic conditions (e.g. nutrient concentrations and salinity), which may alter their relative impacts on microphytobenthic communities. Such mediating processes are poorly understood, particularly in tropical brackish ecosystems. We examined the separate and interactive effects of nutrient additions and grazer exclusion on epilithon composition and biomass in eutrophic Hawaiian anchialine pools between contrasting levels of salinity and concomitant nutrient-rich groundwater influence (2.3 to 22.0 ppt; nitrite + nitrate, 6.3 to 102.6 µM; soluble reactive phosphorus,

Keywords

Anchialine pool, Top-down control, Bottom-up control, Epilithon, Grazing, Nutrient enrichment, Halocaridina rubra

Citation

Sakihara, T.S.; Dudley, B.D.; MacKenzie, R.A.; Beets, J.P. 2015. Endemic grazers control benthic microalgal growth in a eutrophic tropical brackish ecosystem. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 519: 29-45.