Negative effects of warming on seagrass seedlings are not exacerbated by invasive algae

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 141; pp. 36 - 45
• Main Authors: Pereda-Briones, L., Terrados, J., Tomas, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Additives; Algae; Alismatales - growth & development; Alismatales - physiology; Biodiversity; Biota; Caulerpa - physiology; Caulerpa cylindracea; Coastal ecology; Coastal management; Coastal zone management; Ecological effects; Ecologists; Ecosystem; Ecosystem assessment; Ecosystems; Environmental impact; Grasses; Introduced Species; Invasive species; Lophocladia lallemandii; Marine ecosystems; Mediterranean Sea; Mesocosms; Multiple stressors; Posidonia oceanica; Rhodophyta - physiology; Sea grasses; Sea surface; Sea surface temperature; Seawater; Seedlings; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - physiology; Temperature; Tropical climate; Mediterranean Sea; Temperature; Multiple stressors; Posidonia oceanica; Mediterranean Sea; Caulerpa cylindracea; Lophocladia lallemandii
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.049

The observed and projected rise in sea surface temperature challenges marine biodiversity worldwide, and particularly in temperate ecosystems dealing with the arrival of novel species of tropical provenance. When the impacted biota are early life stages of ecosystem engineers, the effects of those impacts are of major concern for ecologists and coastal managers. We experimentally examined the individual and potential additive effects of seawater warming and the presence of the invasive algae on the development of seedlings of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in a three-month mesocosm experiment. Whereas the presence of the invasive algae (Caulerpa cylindracea and Lophocladia lallemandii) did not result in detrimental effects on seedlings, warming negatively affected seedling development. Interestingly, the presence of both invasive algae may ameliorate the negative effects of warming. •Rising seawater temperatures negatively affect the development of Posidonia oceanica seedlings•The invasive algae Caulerpa cylindracea and Lophocladia lallemandii do not have detrimental effects on Posidonia oceanica seedlings.•The presence of Caulerpa cylindracea promotes root production of Posidonia oceanica seedlings.