Establishment of the introduced kelp Undaria pinnatifida following dieback of the native macroalga Phyllospora comosa in Tasmania, Australia
Joseph P. Valentine A and Craig R. Johnson A BA School of Zoology and Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: craig.johnson@utas.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 55(3) 223-230 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF03048
Submitted: 2 April 2003 Accepted: 12 March 2004 Published: 19 May 2004
Abstract
The Asian kelp Undaria pinnatifida has recently invaded the coastlines of several countries across both hemispheres. Although the occurrence and subsequent spread of the alga has been well documented, the processes underpinning establishment and spread remain poorly understood. Recent work involving canopy manipulations has demonstrated that disturbance to the native algal canopy facilitates establishment of U. pinnatifida sporophytes at high densities, however, the kelp’s response to a natural disruption of the native algal canopy has not been assessed. In summer/autumn 2001, we examined the response of U. pinnatifida to the significant dieback of a common native canopy forming macroalga (Phyllospora comosa) on the east coast of Tasmania. The response of U. pinnatifida and native algae to the dieback was observed during the season for growth of U. pinnatifida sporophytes (spring 2001) and compared with adjacent areas where dieback did not occur. Undaria pinnatifida sporophytes established at high densities (6.75 ± 1.99 stipes m–2) in dieback areas, but remained rare or entirely absent in control areas where the native canopy was intact. The dieback also resulted in bleaching of encrusting algae and increased cover of understorey algae and sediment. The results support the findings of our recent artificial disturbance experiments, confirming the importance of disturbance events for the successful establishment of U. pinnatifida at high densities.
Extra keywords: disturbance, introduced species, invasion, sediment, sporophyte.
Acknowledgments
We thank the many dive volunteers who assisted with fieldwork operations, particularly Edward Forbes, Miles Lawler and Liz Pietrzykowski. We are particularly grateful to Hugh Pederson for valuable assistance in the field. This study was part of a PhD project by J. P. V., which was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award. Research funds were provided by an ARC grant awarded to C. R. J.
Benedetti-Cecchi, L. , and Cinelli, F. (1992). Canopy removal experiments in Cystoseira dominated rockpools from the western coast of the Mediterranean (Ligurian Sea). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 155, 69–83.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Campbell, S. J. , and Burridge, T. R. (1998). Occurrence of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyta: Laminariales) in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 49, 379–381.
Camus, P. A. (1994). Recruitment of the intertidal kelp Lessonia nigrescens Bory in northern Chile: successional constraints and opportunities. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 184, 171–181.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Casa, G. N. , and Piriz, M. L. (1996). Surveys of Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) in Golfo Nuevo, Argentina. Hydrobiologia 326–327, 213–215.
Castric-Fey, A. , Girard, A. , and L’Hardy-Halos, M. T. (1993). The distribution of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) on the coast of St Malo (Brittany, France). Botanica Marina 36, 351–358.
Chapman, A. R. O. , and Craigie, J. S. (1977). Seasonal growth in Laminaria longicuris: relations with dissolved inorganic nutrients and internal reserves of nitrogen. Marine Biology 40, 197–205.
Coelho, S. M. , Rijstenbil, J. W. , and Brown, M. T. (2000). Impacts of anthropogenic stresses on the early development stages of seaweeds. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 7, 317–333.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Collie, J. S. , Escanaro, G. A. , and Valentine, P. C. (1997). Effects of bottom fishing on the benthic megafauna of Georges Bank. Marine Ecology Progress Series 155, 159–172.
Dayton, P. K. , Currie, V. , Gerrodette, T. , Keller, B. D. , Rosenthal, R. , and Ven Tresca, D. (1984). Patch dynamics and stability of some Californian kelp communities. Ecological Monographs 54, 253–289.
Dayton, P. K. , Tegner, M. J. , Parnell, P. E. , and Edwards, P. B. (1992). Temporal and spatial patterns of disturbance and recovery in a kelp forest community. Ecological Monographs 62, 421–445.
Dayton, P. K. , Tegner, M. J. , Edwards, P. B. , and Riser, K. L. (1999). Temporal and spatial scales of kelp demography: the role of oceanographic climate. Ecological Monographs 69, 219–250.
Draper, N., and Smith, H. (1981).
Edgar, G. J. (1984). General features of the ecology and biogeography of Tasmanian subtidal rocky shore communities. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 118, 173–186.
Edwards, M. S. (1998). Effects of long-term kelp canopy exclusion on the abundance of the annual alga Desmarestia ligulata (Light F). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 228, 309–326.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fletcher, R. L. , and Manfredi, R. L. (1995). The occurrence of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) on the South Coast of England. Botanica Marina 38, 355–358.
Floc’h, J. , Pajot, R. , and Mouret, V. (1996). Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) 12 years after its introduction into the Atlantic Ocean. Hydrobiologia 326/327, 217–222.
Gunnill, F. C. (1985). Population fluctuations of seven macroalgae in southern California during 1981–1983 including effects of severe storms and El Nino. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 85, 149–164.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harris, G. P. , Nilsson, C. , Clementson, L. , and Thomas, D. (1987). The water masses of the east coast of Tasmania: seasonal and interannual variability and the influence on phytoplankton biomass and productivity. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38, 569–590.
Harris, L. G. , and Tyrrell, M. C. (2001). Changing community states in the Gulf of Maine: synergism between invaders, overfishing and climate change. Biological Invasions 3, 9–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hay, C. H. (1990). The dispersal of sporophytes of Undaria pinnatifida by coastal shipping in New Zealand, and implications for further dispersal of Undaria in France. British Phycological Journal 25, 301–313.
Johnson, C. R. , and Mann, K. H. (1986). The crustose coralline alga, Phymatolithon foslie, inhibits the overgrowth of seaweeds without relying on herbivores. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 96, 127–146.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Keats, D. W. , Knight, M. A. , and Pueschel, C. M. (1997). Antifouling effects of epithallial shedding in three crustose coralline algae (Rhodophyta, Corallinales) on a coral reef. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 213, 281–293.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kennelly, S. J. (1987). Physical disturbances in an Australian kelp community. II. Effects on understorey species due to differences in kelp cover. Marine Ecology Progress Series 40, 155–165.
Kennelly, S. J. (1989). Effects of kelp canopies on understorey species due to shade and scour. Marine Ecology Progress Series 50, 215–224.
Kennelly, S. J. , and Underwood, A. J. (1993). Geographic consistencies of effects of experimental physical disturbance on understorey species in sublittoral kelp forests in central New South Wales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 168, 35–58.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Melville, A. J. , and Connell, S. D. (2001). Experimental effects of kelp canopies on subtidal coralline algae. Austral Ecology 26, 102–108.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pauly, D. , Christensen, V. , Froese, R. , and Palomares, M. L. (2000). Fishing down aquatic food webs. American Scientist 88, 46–51.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pederson, H. G. (2003). ‘Population Dynamics of the Sea Urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma on the East Coast of Tasmania.’ PhD Thesis. (University of Tasmania:: Hobart, Australia.)
Rueness, J. (1989). Sargassum muticum and other introduced Japanese macroalgae: biological pollution of European coasts. Marine Pollution Bulletin 20, 173–176.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanderson, J. C. (1990). A preliminary survey of the distribution of the introduced macroalga, Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringer on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia. Botanica Marina 33, 153–157.
Sanderson, J. C. (1997).
Sanderson, J. C. and Barrett, N. (1989). A Survey of the Distribution of the Introduced Japanese Macroalga Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringer in Tasmania, December 1988. Technical Report No 38. (Department of Sea Fisheries, Tasmania: Hobart, Australia.)
Suzuki, Y. , Takabayashi, T. , Kawaguchi, T. , and Matsunaga, K. (1998). Isolation of an allelopathic substance from the crustose coralline algae, Lithophyllum spp., and its effect on the brown alga, Laminaria religiosa Miyabe (Phaeophyta). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 225, 69–77.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tegner, M. J. (1997). Large-scale, low-frequency oceanographic effects on kelp forest succession: a tale of two cohorts. Marine Ecology Progress Series 146, 117–134.
Tegner, M. J. , and Dayton, P. K. (1987). El Nino effects on Southern California kelp forest communities. Advances in Ecological Research 17, 243–279.
Valentine, J. P. , and Johnson, C. R. (2003). Establishment of the introduced kelp Undaria pinnatifida in Tasmania depends on disturbance to native algal assemblages. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 295, 63–90.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watling, L. , and Norse, E. A. (1998). Disturbance of the seabed by mobile fishing gear: a comparison to forest clearcutting. Conservation Biology 12, 1180–1197.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zimmerman, R. C. , and Kremer, J. N. (1984). Episodic nutrient supply to a kelp forest ecosystem in southern California. Journal of Marine Research 42, 591–604.
