Macroscopic Properties and Keystone Species Complexes in Kelp Forest Ecosystems Along the North-Central Chilean Coast

2020 ◽  
pp. 95-125
Author(s):  
Brenda B. Hermosillo-Núñez ◽  
Marco Ortiz ◽  
Ferenc Jordán ◽  
Anett Endrédi
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Kelp Forest ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
North Central ◽  
Chilean Coast ◽  
The North ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Macroscopic Properties

scholarly journals Kelp forest ecosystems: biodiversity, stability, resilience and future

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Steneck ◽  
Michael H. Graham ◽  
Bruce J. Bourque ◽  
Debbie Corbett ◽  
Jon M. Erlandson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Kelp Forest ◽  
Kelp Forests ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Fishing Impacts

Kelp forests are phyletically diverse, structurally complex and highly productive components of coldwater rocky marine coastlines. This paper reviews the conditions in which kelp forests develop globally and where, why and at what rate they become deforested. The ecology and long archaeological history of kelp forests are examined through case studies from southern California, the Aleutian Islands and the western North Atlantic, well-studied locations that represent the widest possible range in kelp forest biodiversity. Global distribution of kelp forests is physiologically constrained by light at high latitudes and by nutrients, warm temperatures and other macrophytes at low latitudes. Within mid-latitude belts (roughly 40–60° latitude in both hemispheres) well-developed kelp forests are most threatened by herbivory, usually from sea urchins. Overfishing and extirpation of highly valued vertebrate apex predators often triggered herbivore population increases, leading to widespread kelp deforestation. Such deforestations have the most profound and lasting impacts on species-depauperate systems, such as those in Alaska and the western North Atlantic. Globally urchin-induced deforestation has been increasing over the past 2–3 decades. Continued fishing down of coastal food webs has resulted in shifting harvesting targets from apex predators to their invertebrate prey, including kelp-grazing herbivores. The recent global expansion of sea urchin harvesting has led to the widespread extirpation of this herbivore, and kelp forests have returned in some locations but, for the first time, these forests are devoid of vertebrate apex predators. In the western North Atlantic, large predatory crabs have recently filled this void and they have become the new apex predator in this system. Similar shifts from fish- to crab-dominance may have occurred in coastal zones of the United Kingdom and Japan, where large predatory finfish were extirpated long ago. Three North American case studies of kelp forests were examined to determine their long history with humans and project the status of future kelp forests to the year 2025. Fishing impacts on kelp forest systems have been both profound and much longer in duration than previously thought. Archaeological data suggest that coastal peoples exploited kelp forest organisms for thousands of years, occasionally resulting in localized losses of apex predators, outbreaks of sea urchin populations and probably small-scale deforestation. Over the past two centuries, commercial exploitation for export led to the extirpation of sea urchin predators, such as the sea otter in the North Pacific and predatory fishes like the cod in the North Atlantic. The large-scale removal of predators for export markets increased sea urchin abundances and promoted the decline of kelp forests over vast areas. Despite southern California having one of the longest known associations with coastal kelp forests, widespread deforestation is rare. It is possible that functional redundancies among predators and herbivores make this most diverse system most stable. Such biodiverse kelp forests may also resist invasion from non-native species. In the species-depauperate western North Atlantic, introduced algal competitors carpet the benthos and threaten future kelp dominance. There, other non-native herbivores and predators have become established and dominant components of this system. Climate changes have had measurable impacts on kelp forest ecosystems and efforts to control the emission of greenhouse gasses should be a global priority. However, overfishing appears to be the greatest manageable threat to kelp forest ecosystems over the 2025 time horizon. Management should focus on minimizing fishing impacts and restoring populations of functionally important species in these systems.

scholarly journals Dead wood fungi in North America: an insight into research and conservation potential

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan A. Moose ◽  
Dmitry Schigel ◽  
Lucas J. Kirby ◽  
Maria Shumskaya
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Educational Programmes ◽  
Managed Ecosystems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Saproxylic fungi act as keystone species in forest ecosystems because they colonise and decompose dead wood, facilitating colonisation by later species. Here, we review the importance of intact forest ecosystems to dead wood fungi, as well as trends in their diversity research and challenges in conservation. Saproxylic communities are sensitive to transition from virgin forests to managed ecosystems, since the latter often results in reduced tree diversity and the removal of their natural habitat dead wood. The impact of dead wood management can be quite significant since many saproxylic fungi are host-specific. The significance of citizen science and educational programmes for saproxylic mycology is discussed with the emphasis on the North American region. We intend to raise the awareness of the role that dead wood fungi play in forest health in order to support development of corresponding conservational programmes.

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