Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession

Ecological succession involves the transition from opportunistic ephemeral species, which display a minimal variation in functional traits, to slow growing, more functionally diverse, perennial species. The present study aimed in measuring the functional effect of changes in the community structure...

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Main Authors: Migné, Aline, Bordeyne, François, Davoult, Dominique
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Peer Community In 2025-01-01
Series:Peer Community Journal
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Online Access:https://peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10.24072/pcjournal.517/
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author Migné, Aline
Bordeyne, François
Davoult, Dominique
author_facet Migné, Aline
Bordeyne, François
Davoult, Dominique
author_sort Migné, Aline
collection DOAJ
description Ecological succession involves the transition from opportunistic ephemeral species, which display a minimal variation in functional traits, to slow growing, more functionally diverse, perennial species. The present study aimed in measuring the functional effect of changes in the community structure through succession and to compare the timing of successional sequences in communities dominated by canopy-forming algae established at two levels of the emersion gradient in a rocky shore. Granite slabs were set at two tidal levels, in the Fucus vesiculosus and F. serratus areas, in February 2013. Communities settled on the slabs during the first year exhibited low Fucus density (≈ 6 ind m-2), low taxa richness (≈ 17 taxa) and low metabolic activity (gross primary production, GPP, about 100 mg C m-2 h-1) at both levels. Communities established on the slabs were similar to the surrounding communities for the 5 and 3 following years in the F. vesiculosus and F. serratus area respectively. Communities were then characterized by high Fucus density (≈ 35 and 67 ind m-2), high taxa richness (≈ 26 and 39 taxa) and high metabolic activity (GPP ≈ 350 and 550 mg C m-2 h-1). However, Fucus populations did not persist on slabs on which communities turned into limpet dominated, with low Fucus density, low taxa richness and low metabolic activity. 10 years after the slabs setting, limpet densities averaged 34 and 92 ind m-2. Given the long life-span of Fucus and Patella, the survey needs to be pursued to test for cyclical changes of dominance.
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spelling doaj-art-dcfaa02e919148fab94a1efb356a755f2025-02-07T10:34:51ZengPeer Community InPeer Community Journal2804-38712025-01-01510.24072/pcjournal.51710.24072/pcjournal.517Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession Migné, Aline0Bordeyne, François1Davoult, Dominique2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8678-3998Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, AD2M, F-29680 Roscoff, FranceSorbonne Université, CNRS, Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, AD2M, F-29680 Roscoff, FranceSorbonne Université, CNRS, Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, AD2M, F-29680 Roscoff, FranceEcological succession involves the transition from opportunistic ephemeral species, which display a minimal variation in functional traits, to slow growing, more functionally diverse, perennial species. The present study aimed in measuring the functional effect of changes in the community structure through succession and to compare the timing of successional sequences in communities dominated by canopy-forming algae established at two levels of the emersion gradient in a rocky shore. Granite slabs were set at two tidal levels, in the Fucus vesiculosus and F. serratus areas, in February 2013. Communities settled on the slabs during the first year exhibited low Fucus density (≈ 6 ind m-2), low taxa richness (≈ 17 taxa) and low metabolic activity (gross primary production, GPP, about 100 mg C m-2 h-1) at both levels. Communities established on the slabs were similar to the surrounding communities for the 5 and 3 following years in the F. vesiculosus and F. serratus area respectively. Communities were then characterized by high Fucus density (≈ 35 and 67 ind m-2), high taxa richness (≈ 26 and 39 taxa) and high metabolic activity (GPP ≈ 350 and 550 mg C m-2 h-1). However, Fucus populations did not persist on slabs on which communities turned into limpet dominated, with low Fucus density, low taxa richness and low metabolic activity. 10 years after the slabs setting, limpet densities averaged 34 and 92 ind m-2. Given the long life-span of Fucus and Patella, the survey needs to be pursued to test for cyclical changes of dominance.https://peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10.24072/pcjournal.517/Field experiment; Temporal scale; Canopy forming macroalgae; Emersion gradient; Biotic interactions
spellingShingle Migné, Aline
Bordeyne, François
Davoult, Dominique
Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
Peer Community Journal
Field experiment; Temporal scale; Canopy forming macroalgae; Emersion gradient; Biotic interactions
title Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
title_full Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
title_fullStr Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
title_full_unstemmed Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
title_short Long-term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
title_sort long term survey of intertidal rocky shore macrobenthic community metabolism and structure after primary succession
topic Field experiment; Temporal scale; Canopy forming macroalgae; Emersion gradient; Biotic interactions
url https://peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10.24072/pcjournal.517/
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AT bordeynefrancois longtermsurveyofintertidalrockyshoremacrobenthiccommunitymetabolismandstructureafterprimarysuccession
AT davoultdominique longtermsurveyofintertidalrockyshoremacrobenthiccommunitymetabolismandstructureafterprimarysuccession