Posidonia australis seed predation in seagrass habitats of Two Peoples Bay, Western Australia
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522, more
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| Keywords |
Interspecific relationships > Predation
Seeds
Posidonia australis J.D.Hooker, 1858 [WoRMS]
ISW, Australia, Western Australia [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
predation; seed; Posidonia australis; Gammaridean amphipod |
| Authors | | Top |
- Orth, R.J.
- Kendrick, G.A.
- Marion, S.R.
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| Abstract |
Posidonia australis seed predation experiments conducted in three seagrass habitats (P. australis, Posidonia sinuosa, Halophila ovalis) and bare sand in Two Peoples Bay, Western Australia, showed higher predation rates in seagrass than bare sand, supporting general conclusions from two previous predation studies in Western Australia. However, much higher rates were noted in H. ovalis, compared to previous observations of very low rates in H. ovalis on Rottnest Island, Western Australia. We attribute these differences to gammaridean amphipods (family Lysianassidae) that were present in a detrital layer within the H. ovalis in Two Peoples Bay. Our data from Two Peoples Bay continues to add to the growing body of information showing high seed predation rates in most seagrass habitats by a diverse group of crustacean species. |
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