Effects of nutrient enrichment on macroalgal coralligenous assemblages

Abstract

Effects of eutrophication on marine ecosystems have been widely studied, even if both the effects on deep subtidal rocky assemblages and response of different successional stages to nutrients impact are still not clear. In this context, the study aimed to evaluate the effects of nutrient enrichment on Mediterranean macroalgal assemblages associated with coralligenous habitat. A manipulative field experiment was carried out by supplying both mature and early successional stages of assemblages with nutrients. A total of 62 macroalgal species were identified. Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that the structure of both mature and early successional macroalgal assemblages of coralligenous significantly varied between areas treated with nutrients and not treated areas. Moreover, differences were stronger when macroalgal assemblages were in the early successional stage than in the mature one. Results highlighted the role played by nutrients in determining the structure of macroalgal coralligenous assemblages, furthermore suggesting possible synergetic effects with other kinds of disturbances.