Stalked tunicates Boltenia ovifera form biogenic habitat in the rocky subtidal zone of Nova Scotia

Fiona T.Y. Francis; Karen Filbee-Dexter; Robert E. Scheibling

doi:10.1007/s00227-014-2425-7

Stalked tunicates Boltenia ovifera form biogenic habitat in the rocky subtidal zone of Nova Scotia

Fiona T.Y. Francis, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Robert E. Scheibling

Medicine

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The stalked tunicate Boltenia ovifera is widely distributed in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans on rocky substrata at 10-300 m depth, although its ecological role in benthic communities is poorly understood. The distribution and abundance of B. ovifera were recorded at 10-100 m depth in towed-video transects in November 2011 and in June, July, and November 2012 off a wave-exposed headland near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Specimens also were collected at 30 m depth using SCUBA (44°26.88′N, 63°31.59′W) in September 2012. Areas dominated by B. ovifera had densities of 10-100 individuals m^-2 on rocky substrata at 30-60 m depth. These tunicate beds often were associated with sparse kelp (Agarum clathratum) and turf-forming red algae. A generalized additive model indicated that depth, substrate type, and benthic algal type were strong predictors of tunicate abundance. Twenty-two epibiotic species were found on specimens of B. ovifera, including juvenile conspecifics. Filter-feeding macroinvertebrates, including anemones and soft corals, were more abundant in areas with B. ovifera than in areas without these tunicates. Our findings suggest that beds of B. ovifera can act as biogenic habitat to enhance local species richness in the rocky subtidal zone of Nova Scotia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1375-1383
Number of pages	9
Journal	Marine Biology
Volume	161
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-014-2425-7
Publication status	Published - Jan 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments We thank J. lindley, a. Harding, a. Pinder, C. Feehan, and a. McCurdy for field and laboratory assistance; a. Smith, W. link, and C. Francis for statistical advice; M. Brown for assistance in producing the study site map; and C. Francis for comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. This research was funded by a Discovery grant to r.e.S from the natural Sciences and engineering research Council (nSerC) of Canada. F.T-Y.F. was supported by an nSerC undergraduate research scholarship and funding from the Dalhousie Marine Biology Co-op Program. K.F-D. was supported by a Dalhou-sie Killam Scholarship and an nSerC Canada graduate Scholarship.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Aquatic Science
Ecology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s00227-014-2425-7

Cite this

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title = "Stalked tunicates Boltenia ovifera form biogenic habitat in the rocky subtidal zone of Nova Scotia",

abstract = "The stalked tunicate Boltenia ovifera is widely distributed in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans on rocky substrata at 10-300 m depth, although its ecological role in benthic communities is poorly understood. The distribution and abundance of B. ovifera were recorded at 10-100 m depth in towed-video transects in November 2011 and in June, July, and November 2012 off a wave-exposed headland near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Specimens also were collected at 30 m depth using SCUBA (44°26.88′N, 63°31.59′W) in September 2012. Areas dominated by B. ovifera had densities of 10-100 individuals m-2 on rocky substrata at 30-60 m depth. These tunicate beds often were associated with sparse kelp (Agarum clathratum) and turf-forming red algae. A generalized additive model indicated that depth, substrate type, and benthic algal type were strong predictors of tunicate abundance. Twenty-two epibiotic species were found on specimens of B. ovifera, including juvenile conspecifics. Filter-feeding macroinvertebrates, including anemones and soft corals, were more abundant in areas with B. ovifera than in areas without these tunicates. Our findings suggest that beds of B. ovifera can act as biogenic habitat to enhance local species richness in the rocky subtidal zone of Nova Scotia.",

author = "Francis, {Fiona T.Y.} and Karen Filbee-Dexter and Scheibling, {Robert E.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments We thank J. lindley, a. Harding, a. Pinder, C. Feehan, and a. McCurdy for field and laboratory assistance; a. Smith, W. link, and C. Francis for statistical advice; M. Brown for assistance in producing the study site map; and C. Francis for comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. This research was funded by a Discovery grant to r.e.S from the natural Sciences and engineering research Council (nSerC) of Canada. F.T-Y.F. was supported by an nSerC undergraduate research scholarship and funding from the Dalhousie Marine Biology Co-op Program. K.F-D. was supported by a Dalhou-sie Killam Scholarship and an nSerC Canada graduate Scholarship.",

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Stalked tunicates Boltenia ovifera form biogenic habitat in the rocky subtidal zone of Nova Scotia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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