Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics

Lobelle, Delphine; Kenyon, Emma; Cook, Kevan J.; Bull, James

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057072

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Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics

Delphine Lobelle, Emma Kenyon

, Kevan J. Cook, James Bull

PLoS ONE, Volume: 8, Issue: 2, Start page: e57072

Swansea University Authors: Emma Kenyon , James Bull

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DOI (Published version): 10.1371/journal.pone.0057072

Abstract

It is well known that ecological processes such as population regulation and natural enemy interactions potentially occur over a range of spatial scales, and there is a substantial body of literature developing theoretical understanding of the interplay between these processes. However, there are co...

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Published in:	PLoS ONE
ISSN:	1932-6203
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spelling	v2 64049 2023-08-08 Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics 8f07d20c6cb93623521101c62c4e4eb3 0000-0002-3898-1866 Emma Kenyon Emma Kenyon true false 20742518482c020c80b81b88e5313356 0000-0002-4373-6830 James Bull James Bull true false 2023-08-08 BMS It is well known that ecological processes such as population regulation and natural enemy interactions potentially occur over a range of spatial scales, and there is a substantial body of literature developing theoretical understanding of the interplay between these processes. However, there are comparatively few studies quantifying the long-term effects of spatial scaling in natural ecosystems. A key challenge is that trophic complexity in real-world biological communities quickly obscures the signal from a focal process. Seagrass meadows provide an excellent opportunity in this respect: in many instances, seagrasses effectively form extensive natural monocultures, in which hypotheses about endogenous dynamics can be formulated and tested. We present amongst the longest unbroken, spatially explict time series of seagrass abundance published to date. Data include annual measures of shoot density, total above-ground abundance, and associated epiphyte cover from five Zostera marina meadows distributed around the Isles of Scilly, UK, from 1996 to 2011. We explore empirical patterns at the local and metapopulation scale using standard time series analysis and develop a simple population dynamic model, testing the hypothesis that both local and metapopulation scale feedback processes are important. We find little evidence of an interaction between scales in seagrass dynamics but that both scales contribute approximately equally to observed local epiphyte abundance. By quantifying the long-term dynamics of seagrass-epiphyte interactions we show how measures of density and extent are both important in establishing baseline information relevant to predicting responses to environmental change and developing management plans. We hope that this study complements existing mechanistic studies of physiology, genetics and productivity in seagrass, whilst highlighting the potential of seagrass as a model ecosystem. More generally, this study provides a rare opportunity to test some of the predictions of ecological theory in a natural ecosystem of global conservation and economic value. Journal Article PLoS ONE 8 2 e57072 Public Library of Science (PLoS) 1932-6203 21 2 2013 2013-02-21 10.1371/journal.pone.0057072 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057072 COLLEGE NANME Biomedical Sciences COLLEGE CODE BMS Swansea University 2023-09-12T12:08:07.2947893 2023-08-08T11:35:48.1304954 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science Delphine Lobelle 1 Emma Kenyon 0000-0002-3898-1866 2 Kevan J. Cook 3 James Bull 0000-0002-4373-6830 4 64049__28505__e5e9a28cd4aa472a9a1ec4480aa6c453.pdf 64049.VOR.pdf 2023-09-12T12:06:12.4980606 Output 563749 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2013 Lobelle et al. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics
spellingShingle	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics Emma Kenyon James Bull
title_short	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics
title_full	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics
title_fullStr	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics
title_full_unstemmed	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics
title_sort	Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics
author_id_str_mv	8f07d20c6cb93623521101c62c4e4eb3 20742518482c020c80b81b88e5313356
author_id_fullname_str_mv	8f07d20c6cb93623521101c62c4e4eb3_*_Emma Kenyon 20742518482c020c80b81b88e5313356_*_James Bull
author	Emma Kenyon James Bull
author2	Delphine Lobelle Emma Kenyon Kevan J. Cook James Bull
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description	It is well known that ecological processes such as population regulation and natural enemy interactions potentially occur over a range of spatial scales, and there is a substantial body of literature developing theoretical understanding of the interplay between these processes. However, there are comparatively few studies quantifying the long-term effects of spatial scaling in natural ecosystems. A key challenge is that trophic complexity in real-world biological communities quickly obscures the signal from a focal process. Seagrass meadows provide an excellent opportunity in this respect: in many instances, seagrasses effectively form extensive natural monocultures, in which hypotheses about endogenous dynamics can be formulated and tested. We present amongst the longest unbroken, spatially explict time series of seagrass abundance published to date. Data include annual measures of shoot density, total above-ground abundance, and associated epiphyte cover from five Zostera marina meadows distributed around the Isles of Scilly, UK, from 1996 to 2011. We explore empirical patterns at the local and metapopulation scale using standard time series analysis and develop a simple population dynamic model, testing the hypothesis that both local and metapopulation scale feedback processes are important. We find little evidence of an interaction between scales in seagrass dynamics but that both scales contribute approximately equally to observed local epiphyte abundance. By quantifying the long-term dynamics of seagrass-epiphyte interactions we show how measures of density and extent are both important in establishing baseline information relevant to predicting responses to environmental change and developing management plans. We hope that this study complements existing mechanistic studies of physiology, genetics and productivity in seagrass, whilst highlighting the potential of seagrass as a model ecosystem. More generally, this study provides a rare opportunity to test some of the predictions of ecological theory in a natural ecosystem of global conservation and economic value.
published_date	2013-02-21T12:08:09Z
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Local Competition and Metapopulation Processes Drive Long-Term Seagrass-Epiphyte Population Dynamics

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