http:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19987<\/p>\n
Michael A. Gil & Joseph B. Pfaller
\nOceanic barnacles act as foundation species on plastic debris:
\nimplications for marine dispersal
\nScientific Reports 6, Article number: 19987 (2016)
\ndoi:10.1038\/srep19987<\/p>\n
Abstract
\nPlastic has emerged as an abundant, stable substratum for oceanic
\ndispersal of organisms via rafting. However, the ecological mechanisms
\nunderlying community diversity on plastic debris remain poorly
\nunderstood. On a cruise from California to Hawai\u2019i, we surveyed plastic
\ndebris, some likely originating from the 2011 T\u014dhoku tsunami, to examine
\nthe relationship between rafting community diversity and both habitat
\narea and stalked barnacle (Lepas spp.) abundance. For sessile taxa
\nrichness, we observed an interaction in which the positive effect of
\ndebris area weakened the negative effect of barnacle cover. In contrast,
\nfor mobile taxa richness, including cohabiting species from opposite
\nsides of the Pacific Ocean, barnacle abundance had a positive effect
\nthat was strongest at smaller debris sizes. These findings suggest that
\nbarnacles, through interactions with habitat area, have trait-dependent
\neffects on other species, serving as both foundation species and
\ncompetitors, mediating the diversity and dispersal potential of marine
\norganisms on plastic debris.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19987.pdf<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19987#supplementary-information<\/p>\n
PDF files
\n1.
\nSupplementary Information<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.nature.com\/article-assets\/npg\/srep\/2016\/160127\/srep19987\/extref\/srep19987-s1.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19987 Michael A. Gil & Joseph B. Pfaller Oceanic barnacles act as foundation species on plastic debris: implications for marine dispersal Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 19987 (2016) doi:10.1038\/srep19987 Abstract Plastic has emerged as an abundant, stable substratum for oceanic dispersal of organisms via rafting. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying community diversity on plastic debris remain poorly understood. On a cruise from California to Hawai\u2019i, we surveyed plastic debris, some likely originating from the 2011 T\u014dhoku tsunami, to examine the relationship between rafting community diversity and both habitat area and stalked barnacle (Lepas spp.) abundance. For sessile taxa richness, we observed an interaction in which the positive effect of debris area weakened the negative effect of barnacle cover. In contrast, for mobile taxa richness, including cohabiting species from opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, barnacle abundance had a positive effect that was strongest at smaller debris sizes. These findings suggest that barnacles, through interactions with habitat area, have trait-dependent effects on other species, serving as both foundation species and competitors, mediating the diversity and dispersal potential of marine organisms on plastic debris. http:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19987.pdf http:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19987#supplementary-information PDF files 1. Supplementary Information http:\/\/www.nature.com\/article-assets\/npg\/srep\/2016\/160127\/srep19987\/extref\/srep19987-s1.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3484,3492,3444,3423],"tags":[2438],"yoast_head":"\n