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TESTING THE CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATIONAL UNDERPINNINGS OF HERBIVORY ASSAYS: DOES VARIATION IN PREDICTABILITY OF
Caitlin R Fong1, Shayna A Sura2, Ashlyn T Ford3
1Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
|March 20, 2023
Summary
Avoid placing herbivory assays in the same location on sequential days. Researchers should report percent consumption for robust comparisons and test associational effects in multi-species assays. Attachment method does not impact results.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Ecological Methods
Background:
- Herbivory is a key driver of marine community dynamics.
- Existing herbivory assay methods lack standardization, hindering cross-study comparisons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of key herbivory assay design components on herbivory estimates.
- To provide recommendations for improving the design and interpretation of future herbivory assays.
Main Methods:
- Assessed temporal changes in herbivory with sequential assay placement.
- Compared biomass consumed versus percent loss under varying biomass densities.
- Investigated associational effects between palatable and unpalatable species.
- Evaluated the influence of different attachment methods on herbivory rates.
Main Results:
- Herbivory rates increased over time when assays were placed sequentially in the same site.
- Consumption was density-dependent, but percent loss was not, indicating percent consumption is a more reliable metric.
- Associational effects between species with differing palatability influenced herbivory rates inconsistently.
- Attachment method did not significantly affect herbivory estimates.
Conclusions:
- Recommend against sequential assay placement in the same site to avoid temporal biases.
- Advise reporting percent consumption for standardized and comparable herbivory data.
- Suggest testing for associational effects in multi-species assays.
- Recommend using any confident attachment method as it does not influence results.
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