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Early biotic interactions among introduced and native benthic species reveal cryptic predation and shifts in larval behaviour

Early biotic interactions among introduced and native benthic species reveal cryptic predation and shifts in larval behaviour
Early biotic interactions among introduced and native benthic species reveal cryptic predation and shifts in larval behaviour
Recurrent introductions of non-indigenous species generate novel interactions that vary with local conditions and the composition of the receiving community. Most studies examine relationships of newcomers with native species, but interactions among introduced species could also affect community shifts. As early ontogenetic stages are particularly vulnerable to biotic interactions, we explored direct and indirect interactions across early life-history stages in space-dominating marine invertebrates. We used introduced ascidians and both native and introduced mussels. To increase generality, we ran our experiments in two distant locations, one in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere (Mediterranean and South Africa). We found no sperm interference between the ascidians, nor were there interspecific effects on settlement or metamorphosis success. However, larvae of the ascidian species reacted to each other by shifting from aggregated to random settlement. Juvenile mussels consumed large numbers of ascidian larvae, though larvae that avoided mussel predation showed higher settlement success. Mussel species in the southern hemisphere locality (native Perna perna and introduced Mytilus galloprovincialis) consumed more ascidian larvae than mussels in the northern locality (native M. galloprovincialis) with a tendency for ascidian larvae to avoid settling close to mussels in the latter locality. We conclude that larval consumption by mussels affects the establishment of ascidians, but that the magnitude of this effect is context dependant. These results emphasize the importance of the composition of the receiving community in determining its susceptibility to invasion. Whether the species comprising this community are native or introduced is, however, less important than what manner of species they are.
65-79
Ordóñez, Victor
83bd0fd9-2c2e-49eb-943c-d0d6dbb4d71b
Rius, Marc
c4e88345-4b4e-4428-b4b2-37229155f68d
McQuaid, Christopher D.
97f8c217-f30c-405c-8cf3-f616208b5008
Pineda, M. Carmen
e70a00db-4737-4dcc-b256-6b9b904d6740
Pascual, Marta
1845f1ba-c502-484d-83ad-21439b727244
Turon, Xavier
df0c3b35-aba1-4657-add0-3c6aee7c08d3
Ordóñez, Victor
83bd0fd9-2c2e-49eb-943c-d0d6dbb4d71b
Rius, Marc
c4e88345-4b4e-4428-b4b2-37229155f68d
McQuaid, Christopher D.
97f8c217-f30c-405c-8cf3-f616208b5008
Pineda, M. Carmen
e70a00db-4737-4dcc-b256-6b9b904d6740
Pascual, Marta
1845f1ba-c502-484d-83ad-21439b727244
Turon, Xavier
df0c3b35-aba1-4657-add0-3c6aee7c08d3

Ordóñez, Victor, Rius, Marc, McQuaid, Christopher D., Pineda, M. Carmen, Pascual, Marta and Turon, Xavier (2013) Early biotic interactions among introduced and native benthic species reveal cryptic predation and shifts in larval behaviour. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 488, 65-79. (doi:10.3354/meps10416).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Recurrent introductions of non-indigenous species generate novel interactions that vary with local conditions and the composition of the receiving community. Most studies examine relationships of newcomers with native species, but interactions among introduced species could also affect community shifts. As early ontogenetic stages are particularly vulnerable to biotic interactions, we explored direct and indirect interactions across early life-history stages in space-dominating marine invertebrates. We used introduced ascidians and both native and introduced mussels. To increase generality, we ran our experiments in two distant locations, one in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere (Mediterranean and South Africa). We found no sperm interference between the ascidians, nor were there interspecific effects on settlement or metamorphosis success. However, larvae of the ascidian species reacted to each other by shifting from aggregated to random settlement. Juvenile mussels consumed large numbers of ascidian larvae, though larvae that avoided mussel predation showed higher settlement success. Mussel species in the southern hemisphere locality (native Perna perna and introduced Mytilus galloprovincialis) consumed more ascidian larvae than mussels in the northern locality (native M. galloprovincialis) with a tendency for ascidian larvae to avoid settling close to mussels in the latter locality. We conclude that larval consumption by mussels affects the establishment of ascidians, but that the magnitude of this effect is context dependant. These results emphasize the importance of the composition of the receiving community in determining its susceptibility to invasion. Whether the species comprising this community are native or introduced is, however, less important than what manner of species they are.

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Published date: 2013
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

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Local EPrints ID: 354689
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/354689
PURE UUID: c03e1a63-541f-4f95-9ee0-a40be17d2528

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Date deposited: 17 Jul 2013 12:41
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:23

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Contributors

Author: Victor Ordóñez
Author: Marc Rius
Author: Christopher D. McQuaid
Author: M. Carmen Pineda
Author: Marta Pascual
Author: Xavier Turon

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