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Seagrass tolerance to herbivory under increased ocean temperatures
Ruby G Garthwin1, Alistair G B Poore2, Adriana Vergés3
1Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|September 3, 2013
Summary
Long-term ocean warming did not affect the seagrass Zostera muelleri's ability to tolerate herbivory. This dominant temperate seagrass species shows resilience to warming temperatures, suggesting it may withstand future climate change impacts.
Area of Science:
- Marine ecology
- Climate change impacts
- Seagrass ecosystems
Background:
- Marine ecosystems face significant threats from climate change, particularly rising ocean temperatures.
- The impact of warming on crucial species interactions, like plant-herbivore dynamics, is not well understood.
- Seagrasses are vital marine foundation species providing essential ecosystem services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of elevated temperatures on the plant-herbivore interactions of the dominant seagrass, Zostera muelleri.
- To compare the growth, herbivory rates, and tolerance to damage of Zostera muelleri in a thermally altered environment versus control sites.
- To assess the resilience of Zostera muelleri to warming and herbivory under simulated climate change scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Field study comparing Zostera muelleri in a 30-year-old thermally impacted meadow (2-3 °C above ambient) with three control locations.
- Quantification of leaf growth rates and tissue loss under natural conditions.
- Controlled experiments simulating herbivory to assess plant tolerance to defoliation across temperature regimes.
Main Results:
- Leaf growth rates and tissue loss in Zostera muelleri varied spatially but showed no correlation with long-term warming or temperature regimes.
- Natural herbivory levels on Zostera muelleri were generally low across all study sites.
- Simulated herbivory experiments revealed no significant difference in Zostera muelleri's tolerance to defoliation between warmed and control meadows; damaged and undamaged plants exhibited similar growth rates regardless of temperature.
Conclusions:
- The temperate seagrass Zostera muelleri demonstrates a high degree of resilience to ocean warming concerning its tolerance to herbivory.
- Long-term exposure to elevated temperatures did not impair the ability of Zostera muelleri to recover from or withstand herbivory.
- Zostera muelleri may be relatively resilient to future climate change impacts, particularly those involving increased sea surface temperatures and associated herbivory pressures.
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