Epibenthic species traits demonstrate how macroalgal decline degrades temperate reef function
Oviatt, J.H.; McLean, M.; LaCroce, M.E.; Freshwater, D.W. (2026). Epibenthic species traits demonstrate how macroalgal decline degrades temperate reef function. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 785: 1-12. https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps15131
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599, more
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functional traits, trait ecology, invertebrates, benthic ecology, reef ecology |
| Authors | | Top |
- Oviatt, J.H.
- McLean, M.
- LaCroce, M.E.
- Freshwater, D.W.
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| Abstract |
Understanding how changing biological communities will impact ecosystem function is critical for projecting future dynamics and maintaining resilient ecosystems. Trait-based ecology can provide a clearer mechanistic understanding of a system, which is useful for predicting biological changes and potential impacts on ecosystem functioning. Here, we apply a novel set of functional traits to epibenthic organisms, which, to our knowledge, has not been assessed in this way. We then use these traits to compare an epibenthic community from a North Carolina hard bottom reef over 2 consecutive years to demonstrate the utility of this trait-based method, and to explore the implications of a changing epibenthic community. We find that both taxonomic and trait community structure differed between the summers of 2016 and 2017, yet there was little change in either taxonomic or trait diversity. From 2016 to 2017, communities shifted from high percent cover of tall, uncalcified primary producers to low percent cover primarily composed of short, calcified consumers. This shift suggests an overall loss of reef functions, such as reduced biogenic habitat provisioning and primary production, and that this loss was driven by the loss of major macroalgae not replaced by other taxa. This ability to assess species traits inclusive of invertebrates and macroalgae will have broad implications for reef ecology under climate change, as algal-invertebrate phase-shifts become increasingly common. |
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