Article
Ecology
Aaron Macy, Michael J. Osland, Julia A. Cherry, Just Cebrian
Summary: The study suggests that planting mangroves in the northern Gulf of Mexico may not be the most efficient use of limited resources. Restoration efforts may benefit from focusing initially on restoring abiotic conditions, followed by using marsh plants to jump-start ecosystem development.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anna R. Armitage, Carolyn A. Weaver, Ashley A. Whitt, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: The study found that woody encroachment of mangroves into coastal wetlands can lead to a decrease in plant species richness and changes in animal assemblages, with certain species being more common in areas without mangroves. Results were consistent with a previous manipulative experiment, indicating mangroves have significant impacts on associated plant and animal communities as woody encroachment continues and mangrove cover increases.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
John S. Kominoski, Carolyn A. Weaver, Anna R. Armitage, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: Changes in dominant plant species following a hurricane can affect carbon processing in coastal wetlands. Despite declines in soil nutrients, post-hurricane carbon processing increased with mangrove cover.
Article
Ecology
Tyler M. Rippel, Gina M. Wimp
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in fungal communities and their functionality during senescence and litter decomposition of the foundation plant species Spartina patens. The research found that different types of plant biomass hosted unique fungal communities and litter chemistry. Functional groups in live biomass were replaced by diverse saprotrophs during senescence, and lignocellulose saprotrophs showed the highest abundance in lower thatch.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matthew A. Sturchio, Jeff Chieppa, Samantha K. Chapman, Gabriela Canas, Michael J. Aspinwall
Summary: Temperature acclimation of leaf respiration plays a crucial role in ecosystem responses to temperature and CO2 feedbacks. In this study, two coastal wetland species showed contrasting patterns of respiratory temperature acclimation, with Avicennia increasing R-25 with higher growth temperatures and Spartina reducing R-25 as seasonal temperatures increased. Leaf nitrogen positively correlated with R-25 in both species, emphasizing the importance of leaf N in predicting respiratory capacity across different growth temperatures.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Havalend E. Steinmuller, Joshua L. Breithaupt, Kevin M. Engelbert, Prakhin Assavapanuvat, Thomas S. Bianchi
Summary: Globally, mangrove range limits are expanding, potentially affecting adjacent coastal ecosystems. This study in the Apalachicola Bay region of Florida found that soil organic carbon density in mangroves is not significantly influenced by dominant plant taxa, but rather by site-specific environmental attributes. The findings also indicate that shifts in plant taxa have occurred at all study sites. Overall, mangrove soil organic carbon concentrations are equal to or lower than those of neighboring saltmarsh habitats.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ping Li, Jingli Liu, Jiankun Bai, Yifan Tong, Yuchen Meng, Xiaoping Diao, Ke Pan, Xiaoshan Zhu, Guanghui Lin
Summary: This study assessed the ecological status of mangrove wetlands in Hainan, China following anthropogenic activities. The results showed spatial and seasonal variations in benthic macroinvertebrate communities, with lower species numbers and richness in the southern mangroves. More than half of the mangrove habitats on Hainan Island were found to have poor to moderate ecological quality. The study recommends long-term monitoring and holistic approaches to effectively manage and conserve disturbed mangroves.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Samantha K. Chapman, Ilka C. Feller, Gabriela Canas, Matthew A. Hayes, Nicole Dix, Mark Hester, Jim Morris, J. Adam Langley
Summary: This study conducted warming experiments at three coastal wetland sites in northeast Florida, showing that warming promoted the growth rate of mangroves in height but did not affect canopy area growth. Site differences in growth rate were pronounced, with the northern site exhibiting lower growth rates and a wider growth pattern.
Article
Ecology
Robyn A. Zerebecki, A. Randall Hughes, Josh Goff, Torrance C. Hanley, Whitney Scheffel, Kenneth L. Heck
Summary: Climate-driven range shifts can lead to changes in foundation species mixtures, affecting ecosystem structure and function. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill provided an opportunity to study the effects of salt marsh foundation species on plant and animal communities. While oil exposure had minimal impacts on plant communities, it increased the competitive advantage of Avicennia germinans, promoting its expansion. In contrast, the abundance of epibenthic animal communities was reduced by 30% and their composition altered at oiled sites.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Eva Ramirez-Llodra, Torstein Pedersen, Karen Filbee Dexter, Freija Hauquier, Katja Guilini, Nina Mikkelsen, Gunhild Borgersen, Margo Van Gyseghem, Ann Vanreusel, Daniel Vilas
Summary: The study found that the role of kelp detritus in deep-sea communities is complex, with differences in community structure and biodiversity of benthic fauna directly related to kelp detritus availability, but no clear pattern emerged. The results suggest that kelp detritus may provide organic matter to ecosystems further away than initially hypothesized, potentially influencing the structure and functioning of deep benthic communities distant from kelp forests.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenquan Zhen, Kit Yue Kwan, Chun-Chieh Wang, Xuwen Wu, Guo Guo, Qiuxiang Deng, Xing Huang, Xueping Wang, Junhua Zhu, Peng Xu
Summary: Introduced mangroves are widely used for mangrove ecosystem restoration in South China, but their potential impacts on benthic macroinvertebrates are still uncertain. This study explored the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in the mangrove ecosystem of northern Beibu Gulf, China and found that introduced Laguncularia racemosa mangrove had higher diversity and evenness but lower species richness and similarity compared to native Avicennia marina and mixed mangroves. These findings suggest that native mangroves should be prioritized in ecosystem restoration due to the lack of consensus on potential impacts of introduced mangroves on benthic macroinvertebrates.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jeannie M. Mounger, Isolde van Riemsdijk, M. Teresa Boquete, Cornelis A. M. Wagemaker, Samar Fatma, Marta H. Robertson, Sandy A. Voors, Jenna Oberstaller, Fleur Gawehns, Torrance C. Hanley, Ivo Grosse, Koen J. F. Verhoeven, Erik E. Sotka, Catherine A. Gehring, A. Randall Hughes, David B. Lewis, Marc W. Schmid, Christina L. Richards
Summary: By analyzing genetic and epigenetic variation in natural populations of Spartina alterniflora, researchers found that both source population and habitat played a role in explaining genetic and epigenetic diversity, and that DNA methylation distinctly contributed to plant responses in natural populations.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiao Xu, Shujuan Wei, Hongyang Chen, Bo Li, Ming Nie
Summary: The effects of Spartina alterniflora invasions on soil carbon content in coastal wetlands in China are not clear. This study found that S. alterniflora increased soil organic carbon content in salt marshes dominated by dwarf succulent species in the northern subtropics, but decreased carbon content in mangroves dominated by Kandelia obovata and mixed communities in the southern subtropics. The carbon content in S. alterniflora-invaded ecosystems increased only on a decadal scale and then decreased gradually.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Robyn A. Zerebecki, Erik E. Sotka, Torrance C. Hanley, Katherine L. Bell, Catherine Gehring, Chris C. Nice, Christina L. Richards, A. Randall Hughes
Summary: Microgeographic genetic divergence can lead to fine-scale trait variation which may impact community structure and ecosystem function. The observed parallel genetic differentiation in Spartina between tall and short forms likely enhances marsh health and functioning, providing a potentially important mechanism for marshes to adapt to rising sea levels.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Yiyong Rao, Lizhe Cai, Xiping Zhou, Sujing Fu, Wenqing Peng, Xinwei Chen, Bin Zheng
Summary: The study found that the community structure of benthic macrofauna significantly changed after mangrove afforestation, with decreases in species number, abundance, biomass, and diversity, as well as sediment fining. Additionally, epifauna and infauna showed different adaptabilities to mangrove vegetation, and shifts in the composition of functional feeding groups were observed.
Review
Ecology
James E. Byers
Summary: Climate change has significant impacts on parasites, affecting their sensitivity and responses, especially in marine systems where responses are less studied. Examples of these impacts allow for predictions and insight into useful study approaches.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL 13, 2021
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Amy H. Yarnall, James E. Byers, Lauren A. Yeager, F. Joel Fodrie
Summary: Examining community responses to habitat configuration across scales helps in understanding the functioning of ecosystems. This study conducted a meta-analysis on seagrass ecosystems to investigate the effects of edge and fragmentation on shoot density, faunal densities, and predation rates. The results showed that both edge and fragmentation effects reduced seagrass shoot densities, while fauna exhibited higher densities in patch edges. Fish densities trended higher in patch edges and fragmented landscapes. Invertebrate densities increased in patch edges but trended lower in fragmented landscapes. Predation rates were negatively affected by both edge and fragmentation. Overall, edge effects were more consistent than fragmentation effects. The study highlights the importance of considering edge and fragmentation effects in ecosystem models.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rachel S. Smith, Jeffrey Beauvais, James E. Byers
Summary: The study in Florida shows that mangrove establishment can be affected by the number of seedlings and nutrient factors in mangrove-dominated fringe habitats and marsh-dominated interior habitats. During spring tides, mangroves may influence the retention of mangrove nutrients, while in fringe habitats, most propagules are lost regardless of structural treatment.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sara M. Rodriguez, James E. Byers, Fernando Cerda-Aliaga, Nelson Valdivia
Summary: This study investigated the influences of environmental factors and host biological attributes on the infection probability and abundance of parasites. The results showed that the body size of the mole crab was the primary factor affecting the infection, and increasing mole crab density led to a decrease in the abundance of acanthocephalan parasites. Co-infection was also observed among different larval parasite species. The study suggested that parasite infection in this system is more strongly related to host exposure duration rather than spatially variable environmental factors, even across large spatial scales.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rachel S. Smith, Heather Alley, Diane Klement, Linsey E. Haram
Summary: The study found that planting native perennial plants is an effective restoration method that can replace herbicides without affecting the density of non-target species. It also showed that herbicide needs to be applied annually to maintain its efficacy, while planting native plants is most effective after a single herbicide application.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fan Li, Christine Angelini, James E. Byers, Christopher Craft, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: This study shows that tidal freshwater marsh plant and animal communities are vulnerable to long-term salinity changes but resilient to short saline pulses. While saline pulses did not impair most ecosystem functions, the decline of a single species in the pulse treatment was associated with reduced marsh accretion and no elevation gain, which are crucial for wetland survival in an era of rising seas.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Rachel S. Smith, Selina L. Cheng, Max C. N. Castorani
Summary: Oyster restoration can significantly increase oyster production, habitat provisioning, nitrogen removal, and sediment nutrients and organic matter. Restored oyster reefs perform similarly to reference reefs in providing these ecosystem services.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
James E. Byers
Summary: Ecosystem engineers play a crucial role in restoration by influencing ecosystems through their impact on abiotic properties. This article discusses the importance of selecting and incorporating ecosystem engineers based on utility, ease of establishment, and recognition of their engineering functions. Understanding these aspects helps make purposeful and efficient choices in restoration.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
James E. Byers, Julie A. Blaze, Alannah C. Dodd, Hannah L. Hall, Paul E. Gribben
Summary: Non-indigenous species (NIS) and hypoxia can disturb and restructure aquatic communities. Most studies show that NIS are tolerant of hypoxia and perform better than native species under hypoxia. However, NIS are more often considered passengers associated with hypoxia, rather than drivers of it.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jeffrey Beauvais, Nathan P. Nibbelink, James E. Byers
Summary: This study examines the distribution of water access infrastructure (WAI) in South Carolina, USA with respect to race and income. It finds that lower income areas are more likely to have public WAI, while the abundance of private docks is correlated with higher percentages of White residents. The racially unequal distribution of docks is likely a result of historic Black land loss.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Burton C. Suedel, Jon Calabria, Matthew V. Bilskie, James E. Byers, Kelsey Broich, S. Kyle McKay, Amanda S. Tritinger, C. Brock Woodson, Emily Dolatowski
Summary: Global environmental factors pose increasing threats to coastal communities. Hardened shorelines, while protecting against flooding and erosion, lead to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. The Engineering With Nature initiative aims to develop sustainable solutions that work with nature to enhance biodiversity and balance economic, environmental, and social benefits.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rachel S. Smith, Max C. N. Castorani
Summary: Restoration aims to reverse global declines of foundation species, but factors influencing restoration success are unclear. Oyster reef restoration in coastal seas is increasing, but outcomes vary and factors enhancing oyster production and biodiversity on restored reefs are unresolved.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Emlyn J. J. Resetarits, William T. T. Ellis, James E. E. Byers
Summary: Parasites can have both lethal and nonlethal effects on their hosts, influencing resource consumption. However, little research has investigated the joint impacts of these effects. In this study, we used equations from the indirect effects literature to quantify the combined influence of altered feeding rate and increased mortality due to parasitic infection. Our experimental results showed that infected snails had higher mortality rates and consumed more resources, resulting in positive nonlethal effects and negative lethal effects on resource consumption. These effects varied with temperature and experimental duration, emphasizing the context-dependent nature of parasite-host interactions.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Megan M. Tomamichel, Tina L. Walters, Richard J. Hall, James E. Byers, Marc E. Frischer
Summary: Emerging infectious diseases in marine systems pose a threat to food security and ecosystem functioning. Reliable supply of disease-free animals is needed for experiments on transmission and mortality from these emerging pathogens. However, imperfect detection of subclinical and early stage infections necessitates effective treatments to remove infection from animals with unknown infection status.
JOURNAL OF SHELLFISH RESEARCH
(2023)