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The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression
Published on: August 8, 2018
Predicting free-space occupancy on novel artificial structures by an invasive intertidal barnacle using a removal
Sally A Bracewell1, Leonie A Robinson, Louise B Firth
1School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|September 12, 2013
Summary
Artificial structures rapidly support invasive barnacle populations, with clearing size not affecting recruitment rates. These invasive species, Austrominius modestus, create dense monocultures, exceeding natural habitat densities.
Area of Science:
- Marine ecology
- Invasive species biology
- Habitat modification
Background:
- Artificial structures create novel marine habitats, often facilitating invasive species spread.
- Disturbance and available free space on these structures influence marine organism settlement.
- Limited research exists on invasive species' recruitment success in relation to disturbance scales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate invasion success of the acorn barnacle Austrominius modestus on artificial structures.
- To examine the impact of different disturbance clearing sizes on barnacle recruitment and population growth.
- To understand density-dependent processes in invasive barnacle populations.
Main Methods:
- Studied Austrominius modestus on an art installation in Liverpool Bay over 10 weeks.
- Compared recruitment rates in 4 different sizes of disturbance clearings.
- Monitored population development and recruitment density in relation to patch size.
Main Results:
- Disturbed areas were rapidly recolonized, forming A. modestus monocultures within 6 weeks.
- Patch size had no effect on recruitment rate, but recruit density showed a linear relationship with patch size.
- Density-dependent processes stabilized populations after 8-10 weeks, but densities remained high compared to natural habitats.
Conclusions:
- Artificial structures provide rapidly colonizable habitats for invasive species like A. modestus.
- Disturbance scale does not limit initial invasion success; free space availability is key.
- Increasing artificial structures may promote further expansion of fast-colonizing invasive species.
