Hommersand and Sargassum Muticum (Yendo) Fensholt in Baynes Sound, British Columbia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Impacts and Interactions of Two Non-Indigenous Seaweeds Mazzaella japonica (Mikami) Hommersand and Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt in Baynes Sound, British Columbia by Kylee Ann Pawluk MSc, University of Alberta, 2007 BSc, University of Alberta, 2004 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Department of Geography © Kylee Ann Pawluk, 2016 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This dissertation may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Impacts and Interactions of Two Non-Indigenous Seaweeds Mazzaella japonica (Mikami) Hommersand and Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt in Baynes Sound, British Columbia by Kylee Ann Pawluk MSc, University of Alberta, 2007 BSc, University of Alberta, 2004 Supervisory Committee Dr. Stephen Cross, Department of Geography Co-Supervisor Dr. Mark Flaherty, Department of Geography Co-Supervisor Dr. John Dower, Department of Biology Outside Member Dr. Louise Page, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences Outside Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Stephen Cross, Department of Geography Co-Supervisor Dr. Mark Flaherty, Department of Geography Co-Supervisor Dr. John Dower, Department of Biology Outside Member Dr. Louise Page, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences Outside Member This thesis examines the interactions of two non-indigenous algae, Mazzaella japonica and Sargassum muticum, where they co-exist and their impacts on native species in their recipient habitats. Field and lab experiments were conducted to determine if they impact native seaweed communities, marine invertebrates, and supralittoral regions. In situ studies conducted in areas where Mazzaella japonica exists without Sargassum muticum found that removal of M. japonica allowed for an increase of native seaweed abundance and richness growing in fully subtidal regions, but had no detectable impact on native seaweeds growing in intertidal regions. Additionally, at the intertidal site, removal of M. japonica resulted in the recruitment of S. muticum. In regions where the two non-indigenous seaweeds co-exist, removal of both non-indigenous seaweeds negatively impacted native seaweeds. The magnitude of this negative impact was greater in subtidal compared to intertidal regions. M. japonica removal had a greater impact on native seaweed recovery than did S. muticum removal in areas of co-existence. iv Removal of Mazzaella japonica also allowed for a significant increase in percent cover of Sargassum muticum at both sites where these two seaweeds co-exist. An increase in percent cover of M. japonica was found at the subtidal site when S. muticum was removed. Though both species increased when reprieved from competition with the other non-indigenous species, removal of M. japonica had a far greater influence on the increase in cover of S. muticum. This suggests that M. japonica is the dominant competitor in the ecosystem outcompeting S. muticum. Field surveys found Mazzaella japonica was the dominant wrack species washing up on beaches in Baynes Sound. Though Sargassum muticum is also a component of the wrack, it has a disproportionately large influence as a spatial subsidy on beach habitats. S. muticum decayed and decomposed at a faster rate than M. japonica and all native seaweeds tested except for Chondracanthus exasperatus. Additionally, S. muticum was colonized by significantly more invertebrates than either M. japonica or Fucus spp. Results from these studies are intended to provide information for resource managers making policy decisions regarding the fate of these two non-indigenous species. v Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ......................................................................................................... ii Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ x Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................ xiii Dedication ............................................................................................................................... xiv 1 Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Multiple Invaders ................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Mazzaella japonica ................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Sargassum muticum .............................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Challenges Studying Invasive Species ............................................................................. 7 1.5 Social Implications ................................................................................................................ 8 1.6 Overall Questions Being Addressed by this Research ............................................... 9 2 Chapter 2 – Population Dynamics and Direct Impacts of the Non- Indigenous Seaweed Mazzaella japonica ...................................................................... 16 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 Study Sites ........................................................................................................................................ 18 2.2.2 Population Density ....................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.3 Removal Study ............................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.4 Statistical Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.3 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.1 Population dynamics ................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2 Removal Experiments ................................................................................................................. 23 2.4 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 25 3 Chapter 3 - A Tale of Two Aliens: Mazzaella japonica Outcompetes the Global Invader Sargassum muticum ............................................................................... 46 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 46 3.2 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 50 3.2.1 Study Sites ........................................................................................................................................ 50 3.2.2 Removal Experiment ................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.3 Urchin Feeding PreFerence ....................................................................................................... 52 3.2.4 Statistical Analyses ....................................................................................................................... 54 3.3 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 57 3.3.1 Seaweed Communities ............................................................................................................... 57 3.3.2 Motile Marine Macro-invertebrates ..................................................................................... 59 3.3.3 Abiotic Factors ............................................................................................................................... 59 3.3.4 Urchin Feeding PreFerence ....................................................................................................... 60 3.4 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 60 3.4.1 EfFect oF Introduced Seaweed Removals on Native Seaweeds .................................. 60 3.4.2 Interaction oF Mazzaella japonica and Sargassum muticum ...................................... 62 vi 3.4.3 Motile Marine Macro-invertebrates ..................................................................................... 63 3.4.4 Abiotic Factors ..............................................................................................................................