Wave action modifies the effects of consumer diversity and warming on algal assemblages

• DOI: 10.1890/14-0577.1
• Publication Date: 2014-09-17T07:21:09Z
• Authors: Robert J. Mrowicki; Nessa E. O'Connor
• Keywords: Marine ecosystem; Tide pool

To understand the consequences of biodiversity loss, it is necessary to test how biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships may vary with predicted environmental change. In particular, our understanding will be advanced by studies addressing interactive effects multiple stressors on role across trophic levels. Predicted increases in wave disturbance and ocean warming, together climate‐driven range shifts key consumer species, are likely have profound impacts dynamics coastal marine communities. We tested whether action temperature modified gastropod grazer diversity ( Patella vulgata , Littorina littorea Gibbula umbilicalis ) algal assemblages experimental rock pools. The presence or absence L. appeared drive changes microalgal macroalgal biomass assemblage structure. Macroalgal also decreased increasing species richness, but only when was enhanced. Further, independently diversity, had Warming led a reversal grazer–macroalgal interaction strengths from negative positive, there no action. Our results show that hydrodynamic can exacerbate changing disrupt influence other consumer–resource interactions. These findings suggest combined anticipated abiotic biotic change ecosystems, although difficult predict, substantial.