TY - JOUR
T1 - Invasion of Sargassum muticum in Limfjorden (Denmark) and its possible impact on the indigenous macroalgal community
AU - Stæhr, Peter Anton
AU - Pedersen, Morten F.
AU - Thomsen, Mads S.
AU - Wernberg, Thomas
AU - Krause-Jensen, Dorte
N1 - KEY WORDS: Sargassum muticum · Macroalgae · Invasion · Macroalgal community structure
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Attached Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt was first observed in the westernmost part of Limfjorden (Denmark) in 1984, and it has since colonized Limfjorden from west to east at a rate of 15 to 17 km yr-1. By 1997, S. muticum had become the most dominant macroalga, covering more than 6% of the bottom between 0 and 6 m depth, corresponding to ca 35% cover of the hard substrate. In 1990, the cover of S. muticum was strongly correlated with distance from the original source area in the westernmost part of the estuary, suggesting that colonization was still in progress. By 1997, the cover of S. muticum was less correlated with distance from the original source area and more strongly correlated with the amount of hard substrate, indicating that colonization was reaching its climax. The absence of S. muticum from certain parts of Limfjorden by 1997 is therefore best explained by lack of hard substrate in these areas, and not by insufficient colonization time. The increased abundance of S. muticum between 1990 and 1997 affected species richness and diversity of the macroalgal community only marginally. However, multivariate community analysis revealed significant changes in the macroalgal community structure that were closely related to the increased abundance of S. muticum. Not only did the dominance of S. muticum increase significantly from 1990 to 1997, but the cover of several indigenous species belonging to the genera Laminaria, Fucus, and Codium decreased during the same period, indicating competitive displacement through competition for hard substrate and light.
AB - Attached Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt was first observed in the westernmost part of Limfjorden (Denmark) in 1984, and it has since colonized Limfjorden from west to east at a rate of 15 to 17 km yr-1. By 1997, S. muticum had become the most dominant macroalga, covering more than 6% of the bottom between 0 and 6 m depth, corresponding to ca 35% cover of the hard substrate. In 1990, the cover of S. muticum was strongly correlated with distance from the original source area in the westernmost part of the estuary, suggesting that colonization was still in progress. By 1997, the cover of S. muticum was less correlated with distance from the original source area and more strongly correlated with the amount of hard substrate, indicating that colonization was reaching its climax. The absence of S. muticum from certain parts of Limfjorden by 1997 is therefore best explained by lack of hard substrate in these areas, and not by insufficient colonization time. The increased abundance of S. muticum between 1990 and 1997 affected species richness and diversity of the macroalgal community only marginally. However, multivariate community analysis revealed significant changes in the macroalgal community structure that were closely related to the increased abundance of S. muticum. Not only did the dominance of S. muticum increase significantly from 1990 to 1997, but the cover of several indigenous species belonging to the genera Laminaria, Fucus, and Codium decreased during the same period, indicating competitive displacement through competition for hard substrate and light.
U2 - 10.3354/meps207079
DO - 10.3354/meps207079
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0171-8630
VL - 207
SP - 79
EP - 88
JO - Marine Ecology - Progress Series
JF - Marine Ecology - Progress Series
ER -