Resilience and stability of kelp forests: The importance of patch dynamics and environment-engineer feedbacks

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210220
• Publication Date: 2019-01-25T18:44:21Z
• Authors: Cayne Layton; Victor Shelamoff; Matthew J. Cameron; Masayuki Tatsumi; Jeffrey T. Wright; Craig R. Johnson
• Keywords: Kelp forest; Ecosystem engineer; Patch dynamics

Habitat forming 'ecosystem engineers' such as kelp species create complex habitats that support biodiverse and productive communities. Studies of the resilience stability ecosystem engineers have typically focussed on role external factors disturbance. However, their population dynamics are also likely to be influenced by internal processes, environmental modifications caused engineer feedback affect own demography (e.g. recruitment, survivorship). In numerous regions globally, forests declining experiencing reductions in patch size density. To explore how is this habitat degradation, we created an array reefs various sizes supporting adult Ecklonia radiata transplanted at different densities. This enabled testing sub-canopy abiotic conditions change with density, demographic processes microscopic macroscopic juvenile kelp. We found engineering E. modified environment reduce water flow, sedimentation, irradiance. capacity canopy was dependent size, a lesser extent, Reductions density impaired growth survivorship radiata, even after provisioning established juveniles, were absence sufficient These results consistent hypothesis facilitates development conspecifics. degradation seems impair ability change, causing breakdown positive intraspecific collapse functions, overall, leading well before local extirpation.