Functional and phylogenetic responses of motile cryptofauna to habitat degradation

Jessica S. Stella; Kennedy Wolfe; George Roff; Alice Rogers; Mark Priest; Yimnang Golbuu; Peter J. Mumby

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13809

journal article Open Access Sep 11, 2022

Functional and phylogenetic responses of motile cryptofauna to habitat degradation

Jessica S. Stella

Kennedy Wolfe

George Roff

Alice Rogers

Mark Priest Yimnang Golbuu Peter J. Mumby

Journal of Animal Ecology Vol. 91 No. 11 pp. 2203-2219 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/1365-2656.13809

Abstract

AbstractBiodiversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, is dominated by small, often cryptic, invertebrate taxa that play important roles in ecosystem structure and functioning. While cryptofauna community structure is determined by strong small‐scale microhabitat associations, the extent to which ecological and environmental factors shape these communities are largely unknown, as is the relative importance of particular microhabitats in supporting reef trophodynamics from the bottom up.The goal of this study was to address these knowledge gaps, provided coral reefs are increasingly exposed to multiple disturbances and environmental gradients that influence habitat complexity, condition and ecosystem functioning.We compared the density, biomass, size range, phylogenetic diversity and functional roles of motile cryptofauna in Palau, Western Micronesia, among four coral‐derived microhabitats representing various states of degradation (live coral [AcroporaandPocillopora], dead coral and coral rubble) from reefs along a gradient of effluent exposure.In total, 122 families across ten phyla were identified, dominated by the Arthropoda (Crustacea) and Mollusca. Cryptofauna biomass was greatest in livePocillopora, while coral rubble contained the greatest density and diversity. Size ranges were broader in live corals than both dead coral and rubble. From a bottom‐up perspective, effluent exposure had mixed effects on cryptic communities including a decline in total biomass in rubble. From a top‐down perspective, cryptofauna were generally unaffected by predator biomass.Our data show that, as coral reef ecosystems continue to decline in response to more frequent and severe disturbances, habitats other than live coral may become increasingly important in supporting coral reef biodiversity and food webs.

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Cited By

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Functional and phylogenetic responses of motile cryptofauna to habitat degradation

Jessica S. Stella, Kennedy Wolfe · 2022

Journal of Animal Ecology

Metrics

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Citations

137

References

Details

Published: Sep 11, 2022
Vol/Issue: 91(11)
Pages: 2203-2219
License: View

Authors

J

Jessica S. Stella

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Townsville Queensland Australia

K

Kennedy Wolfe

Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia

G

George Roff

Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia

A

Alice Rogers

Victoria University of Wellington, School of Biological Sciences Wellington New Zealand

M

Mark Priest

Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia

Y

Yimnang Golbuu

Palau International Coral Reef Center Koror Palau

P

Peter J. Mumby

Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia

Cite This Article

Jessica S. Stella, Kennedy Wolfe, George Roff, et al. (2022). Functional and phylogenetic responses of motile cryptofauna to habitat degradation. Journal of Animal Ecology, 91(11), 2203-2219. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13809

Functional and phylogenetic responses of motile cryptofauna to habitat degradation

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