Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13657
copiedHigh rates of herbivory in remote northwest Australian seagrass meadows by rabbitfish and green turtles
- Mathew A. Vanderklift
- Richard D. Pillans
- Marlee Hutton
- Lisa De Wever
- Gary A. Kendrick
- Andrea Zavala-Perez
- Adriana Vergés
- Ruby Garthwin
- Daniel Oades
- Phillip McCarthy
- Kevin George
- Trevor Sampi
- Dwayne George
- Chris Sampi
- Zac Edgar
- Kevin Dougal
- Azton Howard
ABSTRACT: Herbivory is a key ecological process that often determines the composition and abundance of plants. Estimates of herbivory in seagrass meadows are typically lower than those in other vegetated coastal ecosystems, but herbivory can be intense when large herbivorous vertebrates are abundant. We surveyed rates of herbivory on 2 species of tropical seagrasses (Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides), the abundance of herbivorous vertebrates, and the diet of 2 abundant herbivorous vertebrates (the green turtle Chelonia mydas and the rabbitfish Siganus lineatus) in lagoons adjacent to remote islands off northwestern Australia. Rates of herbivory in some deployments of tethered seagrass were more than 1000 times higher than rates of production and were among the highest recorded. Consumption exceeded production in half the deployments (9 of 18). Remote underwater video revealed that S. lineatus was the most abundant herbivore. Stomachs of S. lineatus contained mostly seagrass, and models based on stable isotopes indicated that seagrass was the primary source of nutrition. Stomach contents of C. mydas were more variable, containing seagrass and macroalgae (although the sample size was low), but models based on stable isotopes indicated that seagrass was likely the primary source of nutrition. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the high rates of herbivory on the seagrasses T. hemprichii and E. acoroides are mainly due to direct consumption by the abundant S. lineatus, and perhaps also C. mydas. Seagrass is the primary contributor to the nutrition of both species.
KEYWORDS
Mathew A. Vanderklift (Corresponding Author)
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009 Western Australia, Australia
Richard D. Pillans (Co-author)
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, St. Lucia, 4067 Queensland, Australia
Marlee Hutton (Co-author)
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009 Western Australia, Australia
Lisa De Wever (Co-author)
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009 Western Australia, Australia
Gary A. Kendrick (Co-author)
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009 Western Australia, Australia
Andrea Zavala-Perez (Co-author)
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009 Western Australia, Australia
Adriana Vergés (Co-author)
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052 New South Wales, Australia
Ruby Garthwin (Co-author)
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052 New South Wales, Australia
Daniel Oades (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Phillip McCarthy (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Kevin George (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Trevor Sampi (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Dwayne George (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Chris Sampi (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Zac Edgar (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Kevin Dougal (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia
Azton Howard (Co-author)
- Bardi Jawi Rangers, One Arm Point, 6725 Western Australia, Australia