Leaf partitioning of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica between two herbivores: Is Sarpa salpa herbivory underestimated because of Paracentrotus lividus grazing?

The functional importance of herbivory in seagrass beds is highly variable among systems. In Mediterranean seagrass meadows, macroherbivores, such as the fish Sarpa salpa and the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, have received most research attention, so published evidence highlights their importance in seagrass consumption. The role of small crustaceans in seagrass consumption remains less studied in the region. Herbivory on Posidonia oceanica seeds has not previously been reported. In turn, crustacean herbivory on P. oceanica leaves is broadly recognized, although the species feeding on the seagrass are mostly unknown (except for Idotea baltica). This work evaluates P. oceanica consumption by two species of amphipod crustaceans commonly found in seagrass meadows. Ampithoe ramondi and Gammarella fucicola actively feed on P. oceanica leaves and seeds. Both species preferred seeds to leaves only when the seed coat was damaged. This study provides the first direct evidence of consumption of P. oceanica seeds by the two named amphipod crustaceans, and confirms that they also consume leaves of this seagrass species.

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Interpopulation variability of the reproductive cycle of Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in the south-western Mediterranean

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315400002885 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (5) ◽

pp. 899-907 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Mourad Guettaf ◽

Gustavo A. San Martin ◽

Patrice Francour

Keyword(s):

Regional Scale ◽

Gonad Index ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Larval Phase ◽

Spawning Period ◽

Rocky Substrate ◽

Maximum Value ◽

Reproductive Cycles

The spawning of Paracentrotus lividus has been determined on the basis of the annual gonad index cycle at three sites in the Algiers area presenting low, intermediate and strong hydrodynamism. Three biotopes (Posidonia oceanica beds, rocky substrate with photophilous algae and overgrazed rocky substrate) and two depths (1–3 m and 6–10 m) were considered at these sites, the sex-ratio was always strongly in favour of females (2:1 to 3:1). In all sites but one, there were marked differences in the gonad index and the spawning period between sites; the gonad index reached its maximum value at the site with the weakest hydrodynamism, and the minimum value at the site with the strongest hydrodynamism. Spawning took place in April–May and August–September at the site with the weakest hydrodynamism, in April–June and October–December at the site with intermediate hydrodynamism and only in winter at the site with maximum hydrodynamism. The coexistence, on regional scale, of these reproductive cycles might enable Paracentrotus lividus to compensate the mortality during planktonic larval phase by the fact that spawning of this sea urchin occurred in all seasons.

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Distribution of heavy metals in the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus from the Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica ecosystem: seasonal and geographical variations

Journal of Sea Research ◽

10.1016/s1385-1101(97)00064-6 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 39 (3-4) ◽

pp. 267-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Michel Warnau ◽

Renzo Biondo ◽

Ali Temara ◽

Jean-Marie Bouquegneau ◽

Michel Jangoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Geographical Variations ◽

The Mediterranean

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Lack of Impact of Posidonia oceanica Leaf Nutrient Enrichment on Sarpa salpa Herbivory: Additional Evidence for the Generalist Consumer Behavior of This Cornerstone Mediterranean Herbivore

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0168398 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e0168398 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Candela Marco-Méndez ◽

Caitlin Wessel ◽

Whitney Scheffel ◽

Luis Ferrero-Vicente ◽

Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Consumer Behavior ◽

Nutrient Enrichment ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Sarpa Salpa

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Sarpa salpa herbivory on shallow reaches of Posidonia oceanica beds

Animal Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.32800/abc.2014.37.0049 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 49-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L. Steele ◽

◽

K. M. Darnelli ◽

J. Cebrián ◽

J. L. Sánchez-Lizaso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variability ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Sampling Time ◽

Herbivorous Fish ◽

Small Scale ◽

Bite Size ◽

Sarpa Salpa ◽

Sampling Times

Here, we examined the temporal and small–scale spatial variability of grazing by the herbivorous fish Sarpa salpa on shallow beds of the temperate seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Herbivory intensity expressed as the percent of leaf area taken by fish bites was higher in September 2006 than in February 2007, and at 0.5 m than at 1.5 m during both sampling times. All S. salpa feeding at the shallow locations studied were juveniles, with bite sizes ranging from 0.03 to 0.62 cm2. Juveniles feeding at 1.5 m were larger in February 2007 than in September 2006, as evidenced by significant differences in mean bite size per shoot. However, the larger juveniles feeding at 1.5 m in February 2007 did not appear to feed as frequently as the comparatively smaller juveniles feeding at the same depth in September 2006, as suggested by significant differences in number of bites per shoot. The number of bites per shoot was also lower at 1.5 m than at 0.5 m in February 2007, although mean bite size did not differ significantly between the two depths at that sampling time. In general S. salpa juveniles did not select a particular range of leaf ages when feeding in the study locations, although the juveniles feeding at 1.5 m in September 2006 appeared to select mid–aged leaves. Fish did not show a preference for more epiphytized leaves. These results show that grazing activity by S. salpa juveniles in shallow reaches of P. oceanica meadows may vary temporally and across small changes in depth, which in turn may affect the overall intensity of herbivory on the seagrass.

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Physiological response of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus fed with the seagrass Posidonia oceanica and the alien algae Caulerpa racemosa and Lophocladia lallemandii

Marine Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.marenvres.2012.10.008 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 83 ◽

pp. 48-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Silvia Tejada ◽

Salud Deudero ◽

Antonio Box ◽

Antoni Sureda

Keyword(s):

Sea Urchin ◽

Physiological Response ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Caulerpa Racemosa

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Lipoxygenase Pathways in Diatoms: Occurrence and Correlation with Grazer Toxicity in Four Benthic Species

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md18010066 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 66 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadia Ruocco ◽

Genoveffa Nuzzo ◽

Giuliana d’Ippolito ◽

Emiliano Manzo ◽

Angela Sardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Benthic Communities ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Benthic Diatoms ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Benthic Species ◽

Planktonic Diatoms ◽

Cylindrotheca Closterium ◽

Gulf Of Naples

Oxygenated derivatives of fatty acids, collectively called oxylipins, are a highly diverse family of lipoxygenase (LOX) products well described in planktonic diatoms. Here we report the first investigation of these molecules in four benthic diatoms, Cylindrotheca closterium, Nanofrustulum shiloi, Cocconeis scutellum, and Diploneis sp. isolated from the leaves of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica from the Gulf of Naples. Analysis by hyphenated MS techniques revealed that C. closterium, N. shiloi, and C. scutellum produce several polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) and linear oxygenated fatty acids (LOFAs) related to the products of LOX pathways in planktonic species. Diploneis sp. also produced other unidentified fatty acid derivatives that are not related to LOX metabolism. The levels and composition of oxylipins in the benthic species match their negative effects on the reproductive success in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. In agreement with this correlation, the most toxic species N. shiloi revealed the same LOX pathways of Skeletonema marinoi and Thalassiosira rotula, two bloom-forming planktonic diatoms that affect copepod reproduction. Overall, our data highlight for the first time a major role of oxylipins, namely LOFAs, as info-chemicals for benthic diatoms, and open new perspectives in the study of the structuring of benthic communities.

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Lipid metabolism of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in two contrasting natural habitats

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93669-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Roberto Anedda ◽

Silvia Siliani ◽

Riccardo Melis ◽

Barbara Loi ◽

Maura Baroli

Keyword(s):

Sea Urchins ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Food Sources ◽

Gut Contents ◽

Total Lipids ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Recovery Stage ◽

Sea Grass ◽

Halopteris Scoparia

AbstractSea urchins Paracentrotus lividus were harvested monthly from April 2015 to March 2016 from two sites in Sardinia (Italy). The two sites, a Posidonia oceanica meadow and a rocky bottom habitat, were naturally characterized by different food sources and availability, being mainly populated by the sea grass Posidonia oceanica and the brown algae Halopteris scoparia, respectively. Total lipids showed a minimum during winter in mature gonads, and a maximum in the summer (recovery stage). Fatty acid (FA) profiles of gut contents and gonads differed from those of the most available food sources. Levels of C18:3 (n-3) (ALA) discriminated samples from the two sites. Despite the very low amounts of C20:5 (n-3) (EPA) and C20:4 (n-6) (ARA) in P. oceanica, the main FA in gonads and gut contents were EPA and ARA in both sites. Increase in green algae intake prior to gametogenesis, especially C. cylindracea, likely affected EPA and ARA levels in gonads. The results show that P. lividus is able to concentrate lipids in gut contents and also to selectively store EPA, ARA and their precursors ALA and 18:2 (n-6) (LA). Moreover, bioconversion of ALA to EPA and of LA to ARA in P. lividus is suggested.

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