Recovery after trampling disturbance in a canopy-forming seaweed population

Rita, A.; Isabel, S. P.; Serrão, Ester; Per, A.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/4104

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
Recovery after trampling disturbance in a canopy-forming seaweed population.pdf		586.35 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Abstract(s)

The recovery of Ascophyllum nodosum, and the associated benthic community, was followed after repeated trampling disturbance at different intensities, from 2005 to 2010, at its southern limit (41º41'27'N; 8º55'7''W). The cover of A. nodosum and associated organisms and the demography of A. nodosum individuals in the most disturbed areas were followed over a recovery period of 54 months. Recovery of A. nodosum assemblages was negatively affected by increasing trampling intensity. After 54 months, the highest intensity plots were still signiﬁcantly different from control plots. Growth and mortality rates of A. nodosum increased shortly after disturbance but progressively recovered to levels close to control plots. The results of this study demonstrate the sensitivity of this habitat-building species to human trampling and also show its plasticity to cope with disturbance events.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/4104

Citation

Rita, A.; Isabel, S.-P.; Serrão, E.A.; Per, A.Recovery after trampling disturbance in a canopy-forming seaweed population, Marine Biology, 159, 3, 697-707, 2012.