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Priority effects in coral–macroalgae interactions can drive alternate community paths in the absence of top‐down control.

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Title: Priority effects in coral–macroalgae interactions can drive alternate community paths in the absence of top‐down control.
Authors: Adam, Thomas C.1 (AUTHOR) thomas.adam@lifesci.ucsb.edu, Holbrook, Sally J.1,2 (AUTHOR), Burkepile, Deron E.1,2 (AUTHOR), Speare, Kelly E.2 (AUTHOR), Brooks, Andrew J.1 (AUTHOR), Ladd, Mark C.1,3 (AUTHOR), Shantz, Andrew A.4 (AUTHOR), Vega Thurber, Rebecca5 (AUTHOR), Schmitt, Russell J.1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Ecology. Dec2022, Vol. 103 Issue 12, p1-17. 17p.
Subjects: Corals, Communities, Coral reefs & islands, Algal communities, Coral reef fishes, Coral communities
Geographic Terms: Moorea (French Polynesia), French Polynesia
Abstract: The outcomes of species interactions can vary greatly in time and space with the outcomes of some interactions determined by priority effects. On coral reefs, benthic algae rapidly colonize disturbed substrate. In the absence of top‐down control from herbivorous fishes, these algae can inhibit the recruitment of reef‐building corals, leading to a persistent phase shift to a macroalgae‐dominated state. Yet, corals may also inhibit colonization by macroalgae, and therefore the effects of herbivores on algal communities may be strongest following disturbances that reduce coral cover. Here, we report the results from experiments conducted on the fore reef of Moorea, French Polynesia, where we: (1) tested the ability of macroalgae to invade coral‐dominated and coral‐depauperate communities under different levels of herbivory, (2) explored the ability of juvenile corals (Pocillopora spp.) to suppress macroalgae, and (3) quantified the direct and indirect effects of fish herbivores and corallivores on juvenile corals. We found that macroalgae proliferated when herbivory was low but only in recently disturbed communities where coral cover was also low. When coral cover was <10%, macroalgae increased 20‐fold within 1 year under reduced herbivory conditions relative to high herbivory controls. Yet, when coral cover was high (50%), macroalgae were suppressed irrespective of the level of herbivory despite ample space for algal colonization. Once established in communities with low herbivory and low coral cover, macroalgae suppressed recruitment of coral larvae, reducing the capacity for coral replenishment. However, when we experimentally established small juvenile corals (2 cm diameter) following a disturbance, juvenile corals inhibited macroalgae from invading local neighborhoods, even in the absence of herbivores, indicating a strong priority effect in macroalgae–coral interactions. Surprisingly, fishes that initially facilitated coral recruitment by controlling algae had a net negative effect on juvenile corals via predation. Corallivores reduced the growth rates of corals exposed to fishes by ~30% relative to fish exclosures, despite increased competition with macroalgae within the exclosures. These results highlight that different processes are important for structuring coral reef ecosystems at different successional stages and underscore the need to consider multiple ecological processes and historical contingencies to predict coral community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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  Data: Priority effects in coral–macroalgae interactions can drive alternate community paths in the absence of top‐down control.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Ecology%22&quot;&gt;Ecology&lt;/searchLink&gt;. Dec2022, Vol. 103 Issue 12, p1-17. 17p.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Moorea+%28French+Polynesia%29%22&quot;&gt;Moorea (French Polynesia)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22French+Polynesia%22&quot;&gt;French Polynesia&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The outcomes of species interactions can vary greatly in time and space with the outcomes of some interactions determined by priority effects. On coral reefs, benthic algae rapidly colonize disturbed substrate. In the absence of top‐down control from herbivorous fishes, these algae can inhibit the recruitment of reef‐building corals, leading to a persistent phase shift to a macroalgae‐dominated state. Yet, corals may also inhibit colonization by macroalgae, and therefore the effects of herbivores on algal communities may be strongest following disturbances that reduce coral cover. Here, we report the results from experiments conducted on the fore reef of Moorea, French Polynesia, where we: (1) tested the ability of macroalgae to invade coral‐dominated and coral‐depauperate communities under different levels of herbivory, (2) explored the ability of juvenile corals (Pocillopora spp.) to suppress macroalgae, and (3) quantified the direct and indirect effects of fish herbivores and corallivores on juvenile corals. We found that macroalgae proliferated when herbivory was low but only in recently disturbed communities where coral cover was also low. When coral cover was &lt;10%, macroalgae increased 20‐fold within 1 year under reduced herbivory conditions relative to high herbivory controls. Yet, when coral cover was high (50%), macroalgae were suppressed irrespective of the level of herbivory despite ample space for algal colonization. Once established in communities with low herbivory and low coral cover, macroalgae suppressed recruitment of coral larvae, reducing the capacity for coral replenishment. However, when we experimentally established small juvenile corals (2 cm diameter) following a disturbance, juvenile corals inhibited macroalgae from invading local neighborhoods, even in the absence of herbivores, indicating a strong priority effect in macroalgae–coral interactions. Surprisingly, fishes that initially facilitated coral recruitment by controlling algae had a net negative effect on juvenile corals via predation. Corallivores reduced the growth rates of corals exposed to fishes by ~30% relative to fish exclosures, despite increased competition with macroalgae within the exclosures. These results highlight that different processes are important for structuring coral reef ecosystems at different successional stages and underscore the need to consider multiple ecological processes and historical contingencies to predict coral community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Copyright of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder&#39;s express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.&lt;/i&gt; (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1002/ecy.3831
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Corals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coral reefs & islands
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Algal communities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coral reef fishes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coral communities
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      – SubjectFull: Moorea (French Polynesia)
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      – SubjectFull: French Polynesia
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      – TitleFull: Priority effects in coral–macroalgae interactions can drive alternate community paths in the absence of top‐down control.
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              Text: Dec2022
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