Invasion success of the seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla correlates with low palatibility

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Mareike Hammann¹  Esther Rickert¹  Florian Weinberger¹  Gaoge Wang¹  Sung Min Boo¹ 

关键词: Biological invasion;    Invasive seaweeds;    Enemy release hypothesis;    Novel weapons hypothesis;    Herbivory;    Gracilaria vermiculophylla;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps10361

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Differences with respect to anti-herbivore defense were investigated in invasive and native populations of the seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla. Specimens from 6 native populations in East Asia and from 8 populations invasive in Europe and the Mexican Pacific coast were maintained under identical conditions and offered to herbivorous snails from both the native range (Littorina brevicula) and Europe (L. littorea) in no-choice feeding assays. L. brevicula consumed in total significantly larger amounts of G. vermiculophylla tissue than did L. littorea. Further, both snail species least consumed the seaweed specimens originating from either non-native populations or from populations native to the Korean East Sea/Sea of Japan. The Korean East Sea/Sea of Japan had previously been identified as putative donor region of all the invasive populations of G. vermiculophylla. Thus, populations in the donor region as well as non-native populations in different invaded realms feature an increased capacity to resist feeding pressure. Differences in nutrient content did not account for the observed patterns of consumption, as palatability and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio were not significantly correlated. Thus, mechanical or chemical defenses or the content of feeding cues influenced the behavior of the snails. We suggest that low palatability contributed to the invasion success of the species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown