Seasonal dynamics and composition of cladoceran and copepod assemblages in ponds of a Hungarian cutaway peatland

Seasonal dynamics of cladoceran and copepod zooplankton were studied over a one‐year period in five permanent ponds of a cutaway peatland, situated in the Danube−Tisza Interfluve, Central Hungary. 17 cladoceran, 11 cyclopoid copepod and 6 harpacticoid copepod species were identified and most of them were typical of small lowland ponds. Nevertheless, some taxa like Cyclops insignis, Ceriodaphnia setosa and Macrocyclops distinctus are considered to be rare in Hungary. The microcrustacean assemblages exhibited apparent seasonal succession with typical seasonal species. There appears to be at least two main successional patterns in the five ponds. After general cyclopoid copepod dominance in winter (Cyclops strenuus and Cyclops insignis), at sites with higher proportion of open water and submerged vegetation, spring was characterized by the dominance of the large cladoceran Daphnia curvirostris, which declined during summer, when microcrustacean assemblages composed mainly of smaller, littoral cladocerans. At these sites, species richness and diversity reached their maximum in autumn. In the case of duckweed covered ponds, succession led to less diverse autumn assemblages with fewer species, dominated by Simocephalus exspinosus. Our results draw the attention to the importance of long‐term investigations and the often neglected winter sampling in the accurate evaluation of species richness (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Impact of abiotic factors on some biological indices of Cyprinus carpio (L., 1758) in Ghrib dam lake, (Algeria)

This study was conducted with a sample of 733 Cyprinus carpio collected between May 2013 and February 2016 from the ecosystem lake in the Ghrib dam which is eutrophic. Cyprinus carpio in this dam is characterized by a single fractional spawning that begins in the spring and ends in the late summer. The distributions of the viscerosomatic and gonadosomatic indices decrease between the spring and summer seasons. These periods correspond to the spawning period and the biological break of this species. They progressively increase between autumn and winter when the biological activity of the species returns. The hepatosomatic index progressively decreases between the spring and the summer when the hepatic reserves are used for reproduction. The repletion index shows that the trophic activity of C. carpio is intense in the spring. The condition factor varies between 1.1 and 1.35. The evolution of the biological indices of both sexes is well stressed in well‐defined periods according to the seasons. The values are weak for males and high for females. The redundancy analysis allows the characterization of the influence of the physico‐chemical parameters of the dam water, especially the role of the nutritious elements, in the biological seasonal cycle of C. carpio.     

内蒙古大青山灌木铁线莲根围丛枝菌根真菌群落季节动态研究

采用Illumina MiSeq测序技术研究了内蒙古大青山干旱阳坡灌木铁线莲(Clematis fruticosa)根围丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)群落的季节动态,并利用冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)和Mantel test分析了土壤和植被因子与AMF之间的关系,为进一步探索灌木铁线莲-AMF共生体对不同季节环境变化的响应提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)灌木铁线莲根围AMF孢子密度不存在显著的季节性差异,根系侵染率和丛枝丰度从春季至秋季呈下降趋势。(2)3个季节共检测出163个AMF OTUs(operational taxonomic units),春季、夏季、秋季分别为116OTUs、76OTUs和70OTUs。(3)夏季和秋季的AMF丰富度(实测OTUs数和Chao1指数)以及多样性(Shannon-Wiener指数和Invsimpson指数)显著低于春季,但夏、秋季间无显著异。(4)主成分分析和PERMANOVA分析表明,夏季和秋季的AMF群落组成与春季存在显著差异,而AMF群落组成在夏季与秋季间差异不显著。(5)RDA分析表明,采样季节、植被盖度、植物多样性、土壤含水量和土壤有机质对AMF ShannonWiener指数、Invsimpson指数、Chao1指数和实测OTUs数均产生显著影响;Mantel test分析发现,采样季节是影响AMF群落组成和菌根侵染率的主导因子,但对孢子密度无显著影响,而土壤有机质是影响孢子密度的主导因子。     

北京河流底栖硅藻沿城乡梯度带空间分布及其季节变化

研究了北京市区沿城乡梯度带河流底栖硅藻的空间分布及其季节变化特征。通过在2014年的春季、夏季和秋季在山区对照溪流、城市上游河道和城市下游河道3个样区,共23个样点进行了底栖硅藻样品采集。分析表明,主要优势种的空间差异明显。在对照溪流,主要优势种为极小曲丝藻(Achnanthidium minutissimum);在城市上游河道,主要优势种分别为短文假十字脆杆藻(Pseudostaurosira brevistriata)和连结十字脆杆藻腹面变种(Staurosira construens var.venter);在城市下游河道,主要优势种为谷皮菱形藻(Nitzschia palea)。然而,3个样区内的主要优势种相对丰度季节变化较小(P0.05)。其中,A.minutissimum及P.brevistriata的季节变化特征均为春季秋季夏季,而S.construens var.venter及N.palea的季节变化特征均为春季夏季秋季。结果发现,北京市城乡梯度带的河流硅藻种类组成差异较大,但主要优势属种季节变化相对较小,表明硅藻种类能较好地反映城乡梯度带的河流环境变化状况,可用于北京市河流水质生物监测。     

BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH: Diversity and distribution of macroinvertebrates in lentic habitats in massively altered landscapes in south‐eastern Australia

Aim We investigated whether faunas of lentic macroinvertebrates differed among two landscape types: (1) those that are largely covered in forests (presumed to be in a more pre‐human‐impact condition) and (2) those that are completely cleared for agricultural exploitation (massively altered). Location Five pairs of landscapes (each pair referred to as a region) – one of each landscape type – across a 30,000 km² region of north‐central Victoria, Australia. Methods Each individual waterbody was surveyed three times (austral spring 2006, autumn 2007, and spring 2007) for invertebrates. Waterbodies were characterized by measurements of static (e.g. abutting vegetation cover) and labile (e.g. pH) variables. Data were analysed using hierarchical Bayesian models of species richness, α‐ and β‐diversities and functional feeding groups. Assemblage composition was related to landscape and in‐waterbody characteristics. Results Neither measured, nor asymptotic estimates of, species richness differed among landscape types, notwithstanding consistent differences in in‐waterbody habitat characteristics among waterbodies in the two landscape types. There were no discernible differences in patterns of α‐ and β‐diversities at landscape scales relating to landscape type. Habitat diversity of waterbodies at the landscape scale did not affect β‐diversity, although distinct waterbodies within landscapes tended to have more distinct faunas. Main conclusions The lentic macroinvertebrate faunas are relatively homogeneous over the entire region, with little differentiation between wooded and cleared landscapes. The regional fauna may be a homogenized subset of native species, possibly arising from the huge numerical predominance of lentic habitats in agricultural landscapes producing ‘spill‐over’ effects into forested landscapes. Of taxa more frequently found in one or other landscape type, trophic group diversity was greater in forested landscapes.     

Temporal changes in fish diversity in lotic and lentic environments along a reservoir cascade

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Resilience of a high‐conservation‐value,semi‐arid grassland on fertile clay soils to burning,mowing and ploughing

In grassland reserves, managed disturbance is often necessary to maintain plant species diversity. We carried out experiments to determine the impact of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing and disc ploughing on grassland species richness and composition in a nature reserve in semi‐arid eastern Australia. Vegetation response was influenced by winter–spring drought after establishment of the experiments, but moderate rainfall followed in late summer–autumn. Species composition varied greatly between sampling times, and the variability due to rainfall differences between seasons and years was greater than the effects of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing or disc ploughing. In the fire experiment, species richness and composition recovered more rapidly after spring than autumn burning. Species richness and composition were similar to control sites within 12 months of burning and mowing, suggesting that removal of the dominant grass canopy is unnecessary to enhance plant diversity. Two fires (separated by 3 years) and post‐fire kangaroo grazing had only minor influence on species richness and composition. Even disc ploughing caused only a small reduction in native richness. The minor impact of ploughing was explained by the small areas that were ploughed, the once‐off nature of the treatment, and the high degree of natural movement and cracking in these shrink‐swell soils. Recovery of the composition and richness of these grasslands was rapid because of the high proportion of perennial species that resprout vegetatively after fire and mowing. There appears to be little conservation benefit from fire, mowing or ploughing ungrazed areas, as we could identify no native plant species dependent on frequent disturbance for persistence in this grassland community. However, the ability of the Astrebla‐ and Dichanthium‐dominated grasslands to recover quickly after disturbance, given favourable seasonal conditions, suggests that they are well adapted to natural disturbances (e.g. droughts, fire, flooding and native grazing).     

Activity and abundance of bumble bees near Crested Butte,Colorado: diel,seasonal, and elevation effects

1. We revisited bumble bee survey data collected by Pyke in 1974 (Pyke, Ecology, 63 , 555–573, 1982) to evaluate seasonal changes in abundances of bumble bees and their floral resources, diel patterns of bumble bee activity, and elevation effects on plant and bumble bee phenology. 2. Bumble bee abundance increased during summer as spring queens founded colonies that produced workers, followed by males and autumn queens. The number of plant species visited by bumble bees increased to a peak in midsummer, then declined. 3. The number of bumble bees recorded per person‐hour peaked later than the number of flowering plant species used by the bees. Few autumn queens were observed. 4. Despite species differences in emergence times of spring queens, there were no apparent phenological differences among species in worker abundances. 5. Because flowering commences later at higher elevation, abundances of workers and males are also shifted later; therefore elevational comparisons must be seasonally adjusted. 6. These analyses provide basic information about important pollinating insects, and permit future investigations of elevational shifts over time to be properly adjusted for phenological and elevation effects in survey data.     

The dissimilarity of species interaction networks

In a context of global changes, and amidst the perpetual modification of community structure undergone by most natural ecosystems, it is more important than ever to understand how species interactions vary through space and time. The integration of biogeography and network theory will yield important results and further our understanding of species interactions. It has, however, been hampered so far by the difficulty to quantify variation among interaction networks. Here, we propose a general framework to study the dissimilarity of species interaction networks over time, space or environments, allowing both the use of quantitative and qualitative data. We decompose network dissimilarity into interactions and species turnover components, so that it is immediately comparable to common measures of β‐diversity. We emphasise that scaling up β‐diversity of community composition to the β‐diversity of interactions requires only a small methodological step, which we foresee will help empiricists adopt this method. We illustrate the framework with a large dataset of hosts and parasites interactions and highlight other possible usages. We discuss a research agenda towards a biogeographical theory of species interactions.     

Does seasonal flooding give a native species an edge over a global invader?

1. The factors that promote coexistence of global invaders and native species are poorly understood. The role of abiotic factors in determining the dominance of invasive species is also an area of increasing interest. Gambusia holbrooki (Eastern Mosquitofish) is an important global invader, displacing endemic fish and frogs on four continents. However, Gambusia co‐occurs with a similar‐sized fish (Hypseleotris spp.) in dynamic floodplain wetland pools of south‐eastern Australia. 2. We examined the relative abundance of Gambusia and Hypseleotris in regularly flooded and irregularly flooded pools to determine whether seasonal hydrological disturbance may be advantageous to the native species. We aimed to determine whether Gambusia and Hypseleotris populations respond differently to regular seasonal flooding and whether this could reduce the ability of Gambusia to dominate numerically the native species. We tested this by sampling fish bi‐monthly in 15 floodplain pools over 2.5 years. 3. We found that the relative abundance of the two species differed between regularly and irregularly flooded pools, while both pool types persisted (over a period of a year). Hypseleotris were numerically dominant in regularly flooded pools from spring through to autumn, following a major spring flood. In contrast, Gambusia were more abundant than Hypseleotris in irregularly flooded pools from summer until pools dried completely. 4. Due to the higher reproductive response of Hypseleotris to a spring flood, and the timing of its breeding season, we suggest that Hypseleotris may have a reproductive advantage over Gambusia during productive post‐flood spring/summer conditions. While the abundances of both species were usually within a similar range, variation in hydrologic habitats and the inter‐play between life‐history traits and hydrologic disturbance may nonetheless give the native fish an edge.     

Seasonal profile of the diet of the dace Telestes karsticus Marčić & Mrakovčić, 2011 (Cyprinidae,Leuciscinae) endemic to Sušik Creek,Croatia

The first data on the feeding ecology of the endemic Telestes karsticus are presented for specimens sampled monthly (July 2007–July 2008) from the Su?ik Creek in the Lug Polje field, Croatia. Macrozoobenthos density was calculated and compared with the stomach contents of T. karsticus and the seasonal profile of the diet was examined. The ratio of gut length vs. standard length was 0.9 ± 0.12. Gut contents revealed that benthic invertebrates accounted for the majority of food consumed, although terrestrial arthropods, plant material, algae and fish were also found. Since this is the only fish species in the investigated creek, T. karsticus can be concluded to be cannibalistic. The proportion of empty guts found in all seasons was small, indicating year round feeding. The number and diversity of prey species was highest in spring and lowest in summer. Ivlev's electivity index was very high for Cladocera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Heteroptera and Hymenoptera in all seasons, suggesting positive selection for these prey groups, as opposed to Oligochaeta, Isopoda and Bivalva, which showed negative values in all seasons. For Actinopterygii, the Ivlev coefficient of selection was highly negative in spring, and highly positive in summer. Plant matter was detected in stomach contents in all seasons, with the highest share found in summer when other prey species were less available. The karstic dace is a generalised feeder, consuming the most available prey, and therefore can be classified as a euryphagous omnivore.     

Haplotypic differentiation between seasonal populations of Sargassum horneri (Fucales,Phaeophyceae) in Japan

Conspecific populations with different life‐cycle seasonality, particularly of their reproductive season, have been reported for many seaweed species. However, the number of genetic analyses of such seasonal populations is limited. Herein, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 gene (cox3) haplotype, we evaluated the genetic diversity of winter (January–March) and spring (April–June) fertile populations of the brown alga Sargassum horneri in Sado Island, Japan. Obviously, dominant cox3 haplotypes were different between seasons (even at a single site), and the N _ST values indicated the presence of a strong genetic differentiation between the two seasonal populations. AMOVA analyses confirmed that most of the genetic diversity was between seasons rather than between regions. Herein, the possibility of allochronic isolation is discussed. Considering the phylogeny of the mitochondrial cox3 DNA sequence, autumn or winter seasonal populations such as those in this investigation have evolved independently at least twice in the species. The present study shows that a shift in breeding season could be expected to conserve the genetic diversity of S. horneri in a certain region.     

桉树与针叶树、阔叶树生理生化指标季节变化的比较

该文对广西桂林灵田乡桉树、针叶树和阔叶树生理生化季节变化进行了比较研究。结果表明：桉树与其它4个针阔叶树种的生理生化指标因季节更替而呈现不同的变化规律,其中5个树种叶片的比叶面积是在夏季最高、冬季最低,其均值依次为桉树>红锥>黧蒴栲>杉木>马尾松;叶片叶绿素含量为夏季>秋季>春季>冬季,总叶绿素含量四季平均值为桉树>黧蒴栲>红锥>杉木>马尾松;叶片可溶性糖含量的季节变化为夏季>春季>冬季>秋季,桉树的平均可溶性糖最高;叶片蛋白质含量都在春季最高、夏季最低,阔叶树种的蛋白质含量显著高于针叶树种,桉树的平均蛋白质含量最高;叶片硝酸还原酶活性顺序为夏季>春季>秋季>冬季,桉树的平均硝酸还原酶活性最高。综上所述,在自然生长环境下,这5个树种的生理生化等指标对季节的响应机制不同,但桉树的生理指标大于其他几个树种。这反映了人工种植的桉树具有高生产力和生长优势。     

Seasonal inter‐calibration between acoustic and multi‐mesh gillnets sampling for fish biomass assessment in reservoirs

This paper presents the results of an inter‐calibration between acoustic and gillnets sampling in two North African reservoirs according to seasons. Gillnets with multi‐mesh were designed for sampling fish in lakes while acoustic surveys were performed with a split beam Simrad EK60 echosounder. Sampling events were carried out during summer (September 2015), autumn (December 2015), winter (March 2016) and spring (June 2016) in two Tunisian reservoirs (Kasseb and Siliana) with different depths and shapes. Gillnet catches showed a high proportion of barbell whatever the seasons in Kasseb Reservoir, while at Siliana Reservoir, significant seasonal changes in relative abundances have been evidenced. The highest fish biomass of the entire water column was observed in winter daytime (103 kg/ha) in Kasseb Reservoir and in summer daytime (283 kg/ha) in Siliana Reservoir. Average biomass observed in autumn (December) for the two reservoirs were lower than the other seasons. During spring, density daytime values in Kasseb were higher than during nighttime while it was the opposite in summer and autumn. Fish densities detected in Kasseb Reservoir in vertical beaming was higher than those detected in horizontal beaming (p < .05). The longitudinal distribution of fish in the reservoirs showed that there is no clear trend in fish densities according to strata. High numbers of fish were detected in deep strata and big fish were located in the surface water near the dam of Kasseb Reservoir. A significant linear correlation was showed between acoustic density/NPUE and acoustic biomass/BPUE but the perfect correlation with the 1:1 fit was showed only between acoustic biomass/BPUE.     

Seasonal dynamics in community structure,abundance, body size and sex ratio in two species of Neotropical annual fishes

Seven ephemeral pools on the coastal plain of southern Brazil were found to be inhabited by three annual and 22 non‐annual fish species. Two common annual species (Austrolebias minuano and Cynopoecilus fulgens) exhibited clear seasonal dynamics, with the appearance of young fishes in the austral autumn (May to June) and a decline in abundance over the seasonal cycle. The third annual species, Austrolebias wolterstorffii, was rare. No seasonal dynamics were observed in non‐annual fishes. The relative abundance of non‐annual fishes compared with annual fishes increased over the seasonal cycle, but they coexisted widely. The size structure of annual fishes suggested the presence of a single age cohort in most pools though a second age cohort was registered in one pool in August, coinciding with a large flooding. Strong sexual dimorphism in body size was found in C. fulgens throughout the seasonal cycle, while no sexual dimorphism in body size was found in A. minuano. Female‐biased sex ratios were recorded in both common annual fish species in the last three sampling dates (in spring), but not during the first two sampling dates (in winter). The natural lifespan of annual fishes was <8 months. Annual fishes disappeared before habitat desiccation in half of the pools, while non‐annual fishes were still present.     

Benthic ctenophore (Order Platyctenida) reproduction,recruitment, and seasonality in south Florida

Reproductive structures, modes, and seasonal patterns of size–class abundances are examined in two benthic platyctene (Family Coeloplanidae) ctenophore species present in dissimilar shallow marine environments in subtropical southeast Florida. Coeloplana waltoni, a minute (1–3 mm body length) epizoic associate of octocorals, occurs in exposed environments often under turbulent conditions, and Vallicula multiformis (2–10 mm) commonly occurs epiphytically on macroalgae in protected, calm‐water environments. Reproductive activity in C. waltoni is most active during the warm‐water summer season (June–October); gonadal development in V. multiformis occurs year‐round, and is most pronounced during sea‐warming periods in late spring (May) and late summer to early autumn (August–October), with release of cydippid larvae. Both species are hermaphroditic brooders, exhibiting paedogenesis (early gonadal development) at body lengths approximately one‐third (Coeloplana) to one‐sixth (Vallicula) of maximum adult size. Juvenile individuals (<0.6 mm) increased in abundance in C. waltoni during the summer reproductive period, and large (≥1 mm) pink‐colored individuals comprised 50% or more of samples from July through September. Seasonal abundance of gravid individuals and the timing of cydippid larval release in V. multiformis did not correspond closely with juvenile or adult population densities. Asexual fragmentation occurred in both ctenophore species, but was observed more frequently in individuals of V. multiformis. This asexual mode of reproduction probably accounted in part for the discordance between ctenophore abundances and larval recruitment events by sexual means. Morphological structures and behaviors associated with reproduction are described in this study. Uncommon images of reproductive products (gametes, embryos, larvae), spawning events, brooding, and asexual fragmentation are included, some for the first time in the published literature.     

Phytoplankton community diversity is influenced by environmental factors in the coastal East China Sea

Surface seawater was collected in four different seasons in the coastal East China Sea adjacent to the Yangtze River Estuary and phytoplankton community diversity was analysed using rbcL genetic markers. Phytoplankton diversity (Shannon Index) was found to be highest in autumn and lowest in summer, which was mainly controlled by seawater temperature, river runoff, the Taiwan Warm Current and possibly other environmental factors. For taxa characterized by Form IAB rbcL, the abundance of Chlorophyta was much greater than those of Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria throughout the year with the most dominant taxa being Bathycoccus prasinos (Chlorophyta) in spring and Micromonas sp. (Chlorophyta) in other seasons. For taxa identified by Form ID rbcL, Coscinodiscophyceae (diatoms) constituted the largest group (most clones) in the phylogenetic tree. Dinophysis fortii (a dinoflagellate) was found to be the most abundant species in winter and spring and Skeletonema spp. (a diatom) dominated the phytoplankton community in summer and autumn. The seasonal dominance of Dinophysis fortii agreed well with the recently increasing proportion of dinoflagellates in the phytoplankton community in the coastal East China Sea. The abundance of Dinophysis fortii was negatively correlated with seawater temperature, suggesting that harmful algal blooms caused by this species may primarily occur in spring.     

Seasonal diversity and dynamics of haptophytes in the Skagerrak,Norway, explored by high‐throughput sequencing

Microalgae in the division Haptophyta play key roles in the marine ecosystem and in global biogeochemical processes. Despite their ecological importance, knowledge on seasonal dynamics, community composition and abundance at the species level is limited due to their small cell size and few morphological features visible under the light microscope. Here, we present unique data on haptophyte seasonal diversity and dynamics from two annual cycles, with the taxonomic resolution and sampling depth obtained with high‐throughput sequencing. From outer Oslofjorden, S Norway, nano‐ and picoplanktonic samples were collected monthly for 2 years, and the haptophytes targeted by amplification of RNA/cDNA with Haptophyta‐specific 18S rDNA V4 primers. We obtained 156 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), from c. 400.000 454 pyrosequencing reads, after rigorous bioinformatic filtering and clustering at 99.5%. Most OTUs represented uncultured and/or not yet 18S rDNA‐sequenced species. Haptophyte OTU richness and community composition exhibited high temporal variation and significant yearly periodicity. Richness was highest in September–October (autumn) and lowest in April–May (spring). Some taxa were detected all year, such as Chrysochromulina simplex, Emiliania huxleyi and Phaeocystis cordata, whereas most calcifying coccolithophores only appeared from summer to early winter. We also revealed the seasonal dynamics of OTUs representing putative novel classes (clades HAP‐3–5) or orders (clades D, E, F). Season, light and temperature accounted for 29% of the variation in OTU composition. Residual variation may be related to biotic factors, such as competition and viral infection. This study provides new, in‐depth knowledge on seasonal diversity and dynamics of haptophytes in North Atlantic coastal waters.     

Seasonal dynamics of waterbird assembly mechanisms revealed by patterns in phylogenetic and functional diversity in a subtropical wetland

Despite growing interest in using phylogenetic and functional methods to understand community assembly, few studies have examined how these methods can be used to assess seasonal variation in assembly mechanisms among migrant species. Migration can rapidly alter the relative influence of stochastic processes, species interactions, or environmental factors in shaping communities across seasons. Here, we describe seasonal dynamics in the phylogenetic and functional diversity of waterbirds in Mai Po Wetland, a subtropical region with significant and predictable temporal variation in climate and migratory bird density. Phylogenetic α diversity varied seasonally, exhibiting a clustered structure (indicative of environmental filtering) in summer, and over‐dispersed structure (indicative of biotic filtering) in winter. Phylogenetic diversity in spring and autumn exhibited a more intermediate, random structure, consistent with stochastic arrivals and departures of migrants. Functional diversity was clustered in spring but showed over‐dispersion in the other three seasons. Phylogenetic β diversity in summer and winter assemblages was characterized by two distinct groups, while spring and autumn assemblages were mixed. Our results suggest that waterbird assemblages were primarily shaped by interspecific competition in winter, while random processes tended to shape assemblages in spring and fall. Environmental factors played a more important role in summer, during periods of high heat stress. In addition, species co‐occurrence patterns were significantly more strongly related to phylogenetic similarity in winter than in summer. Our results suggest that the relative importance of assemblage mechanisms can vary seasonally in response to changing environmental conditions, suggesting that studies attempting to infer a single dominant assembly mechanism may ignore important assembly processes. Temporal shifts in assembly mechanisms may play an important role in maintaining diversity in subtropical and temperate wetlands and perhaps also in other dynamic systems.     

Seasonal variation in epifaunal communities associated with giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) at an upwelling‐dominated site

Kelp forests are highly productive and species‐rich benthic ecosystems in temperate regions that provide biogenic habitat for numerous associated species. Diverse epifaunal communities inhabit kelp sporophytes and are subject to variations in the physical environment and to changes experienced by the kelp habitat itself. We assessed seasonal variations in epifaunal invertebrate communities inhabiting giant kelps, Macrocystis pyrifera, and their effects on this seaweed. Six seasonal samplings were conducted over a year at an upwelling‐dominated site in northern‐central Chile where physical conditions are known to fluctuate temporally. More than 30 taxa were identified, among which peracarid crustaceans stood out in both diversity and abundance. Species richness and abundance differed among sporophyte sections (holdfast and fronds) and throughout the year. The frond community was dominated by two grazers (the amphipod Peramphithoe femorata and the isopod Amphoroidea typa), while suspension feeders, grazers, and omnivores (the amphipod Aora typica, the isopod Limnoria quadripunctata, and polychaetes) dominated the holdfasts. Abundances of the dominant species fluctuated throughout the year but patterns of variation differed among species. The most abundant grazer (P. femorata) had highest densities in summer, while the less abundant grazer (A. typa) reached its peak densities in winter. Interestingly, the area of kelp damaged by grazers was highest in autumn and early winter, suggesting that grazing impacts accumulate during periods of low kelp growth, which can thus be considered as ‘vestiges of herbivory past.’ Among the factors determining the observed seasonal patterns, strong variability of environmental conditions, reproductive cycles of associated fauna, and predation by fishes vary in importance. Our results suggest that during spring and early summer, bottom‐up processes shape the community structure of organisms inhabiting large perennial seaweeds, whereas during late summer and autumn, top‐down processes are more important.