Biology subjects

Pessarrodona, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Pessarrodona, A..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

FUNCTIONAL EXTINCTION OF A GENUS OF CANOPY-FORMING MACROALGAE (CYSTOPHORA SPP.) ACROSS ITS WARM RANGE EDGE

Declines of canopy-forming algae are increasingly prevalent in temperate latitudes, although most losses have occurred across densely populated areas. Here, I use a combination of field surveys, anecdotal evidence, records from the literature and herbaria collections, to document the biogeography of the canopy-forming genus Cystophora across the sparsely populated end of its distribution in Western Australia. Although historically common, most species were found to be absent or exceedingly rare across their rear (warm) range edge, suggesting their functional extinction. Out of five species, three experienced range contractions >500 km, with some losing approximately 8% of their global distribution. Reasons for their decline are unknown, but likely involve gradual warming, marine heatwaves and rapid urbanization. Increasing human impacts and further warming in the region threatens several species with further extirpation, some of which are endemic to the area and play unique ecological roles.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2021

A global dataset of seaweed net primary productivity

Net primary productivity (NPP) plays a pivotal role in the global carbon balance, but estimating the NPP of underwater habitats remains a challenging task. Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) form the largest and most productive underwater vegetated habitat on Earth. Yet, little is known about the distribution of their NPP at large spatial scales, despite more than 70 years of local-scale studies being scattered throughout the literature. We present a global dataset containing NPP records for 242 seaweed species at 419 individual sites distributed on all continents from the intertidal to 55 m depth. All records are standardized to annual aerial carbon production (g C m-2 yr-1) and are accompanied by detailed taxonomical and methodological information. The dataset presented here provides a basis for local, regional and global comparative studies of the NPP of underwater vegetation, and is pivotal for achieving a better understanding of the role seaweeds play in the global coastal carbon cycle.

ecology↗