Patch age alters seagrass response mechanisms to herbivory damage

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 197; p. 106443
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Ramos, Rocío, Egea, Luis G., Pérez-Estrada, Claudia J., Balart, Eduardo F., Vergara, Juan J., Brun, Fernando G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2024
• Subjects: Ecosystem disturbance; Food webs; Grazing; Gulf of California; Habitat loss and fragmentation; Halodule wrightii; Ontogeny; Phenolic compounds; Plant–herbivore interactions; Seagrass; Gulf of California; Plant–herbivore interactions; Seagrass; Ecosystem disturbance; Food webs; Ontogeny; Halodule wrightii; Habitat loss and fragmentation; Grazing; Phenolic compounds
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106443

Natural disturbances can produce a mosaic of seagrass patches of different ages, which may affect the response to herbivory. These pressures can have consequences for plant performance. To assess how seagrass patch age affects the response to herbivory, we simulated the effect of herbivory by clipping leaves of Halodule wrightii in patches of 2, 4 and 6 years. All clipped plants showed ability to compensate herbivory by increasing leaf growth rate (on average 4.5-fold). The oldest patches showed resistance response by increasing phenolic compounds (1.2-fold). Contrastingly, the concentration of phenolics decreased in the youngest patches (0.26-fold), although they had a similar leaf carbon content to controls. These results suggest that younger plants facing herbivory pressure reallocate their phenolic compounds towards primary metabolism. Results confirm the H. wrightii tolerance to herbivory damage and provides evidence of age-dependent compensatory responses, which may have consequences for seagrass colonization and growth in perturbed habitats.
•Effects of seagrass patch age on the response of Halodule wrightii to herbivory.•Evidences of age-dependent compensatory responses to herbivory were found.•Youngest patches presented the highest tolerance responses by increasing leaf growth.•Oldest patches showed resistance response increasing phenolic compounds.•Reallocation of phenolic compounds towards primary metabolism in youngest patches.