Ecosystem engineering by a canopy‐forming kelp facilitates the recruitment of native oysters

• DOI: 10.1111/rec.13019
• Publication Date: 2019-08-01T13:58:07Z
• Authors: Victor Shelamoff; Cayne Layton; Masayuki Tatsumi; Matthew J. Cameron; Jeffrey T. Wright; Craig R. Johnson
• Keywords: Ecosystem engineer; Kelp forest; Radiata

Ecosystem engineers are species that influence the abiotic and biotic environment around them may assist restoration of associated species, including other habitat‐forming species. We deployed an array 28 artificial reefs with transplanted Ecklonia radiata , dominant canopy‐forming kelp across southern Australia, to investigate how patch size density E. influenced establishment communities plants animals. Many were rapidly colonized by Ostrea angasi a critically depleted reef‐forming oyster. Over 24‐month deployment reefs, thick oyster mats formed entire surface many estimated biomass densities exceeding 5 kg live oysters/m 2 ; however, was dependent on density. Increasing presence resulted in significantly higher oysters months after at end experiment, where approximately three times more numerous compared those without kelp. appeared facilitate O. largely through its capacity reduce benthic light thus suppress competition from turfing algae. These results inform development novel approaches tackle recruitment bottlenecks affecting reefs.