REEFNETS - Using ecological networks to predict marine ecosystem responses to human threats

Understanding mechanisms of ecological resilience in a changing world is crucial to reach sustainable development and to prioritize conservation efforts. ReefNets will use an ecological network modelling approach (based on multiple communities, their interactions and functional traits) to improve the current knowledge on biodiversity response to human impacts on rocky reefs. To achieve this aim, ReefNets will assess functional trait-environment relationships and redundancy among multiple taxonomic groups and the ecological processes driving the coexistence of species. Network models will be then used to predict changes in marine communities under different scenarios of anthropogenic impacts (e.g. climate change, fishing, pollution), while investigating how ecological resilience is affected by the complexity of the network. ReefNets will ultimately define suitable ecological indicators useful to further monitor status and impacts on rocky reef habitats.

Project Aims and Team

Project ReefNets aimed to improve the current ability to predict ecological response of biodiversity associated with rocky reef habitats due to human-induced changes, further extending previous approaches by considering complex functional interactions (including trophic webs), while providing a mechanistic explanation. Explicitly, the main research issues (RI) that were investigated to accomplish this goal were:

The assessment of trait-environment relationships of the reef-associated communities and their functional redundancy.
The understanding on ecological processes that drive the coexistence of species in rocky reefs (ecological networks).
The evaluation of the ecological responses of reef-associated communities to different human pressures, and how their resilience is affected by the complexity and stability of the network.
The definition of ecological indicators to monitor rocky reef habitats and follow human-induced changes.

In project ReefNets we used a case-study rocky reef system (in Arrábida Marine Protected Area - MPA) with high habitat complexity and considered a biodiversity hotspot (within mainland Portugal).

Sampling shallow rocky-reef food-webs

Underwater visual census were performed to estimate species abundance and individual size of fish and large invertebrates along a total of 63 transects (each transects with two passages: 25 x 4m for pelagic/demersal species and 25 x 1m for cryptic species, where the diver identified the species and estimated the size (length) and number of individuals). Benthic small invertebrates were sampled within 50x50cm quadrats using visual census for species larger than 1cm. Invertebrates smaller than 1cm were sampled through scrapping and collection of a total of 126 20x20cm quadrats (63 from horizontal and 63 vertical rocky substrate),using a suction pump to collect the horizontal samples . Length-weight curves were used to estimate biomasses of the species sampled using visual census. Macroalgae coverage and biomass data were obtained through algae collection in a total of 63 50x50cm quadrats and subsequent calculation of wet weight at laboratory. Additionally, density of macroalgae Saccorhiza polyschides and Treptacantha usneoides (when forming forests) were estimated in a total of 63 1X1m quadrats and a representative number of specimens were collected to define weigh-length equations. Zooplankton was collected with two complementary methods, namely superficial tows with plankton net - WP-2 net, 200 µm mesh size (42 in total) and vertical tows with 38 µm mesh size plankton net (42 tows in total). All zooplankton samples were preserved immediately after collection and sorted later in the laboratory. A total of 42 water samples were collected and filtered (336 L in total) in the laboratory to estimate phytoplankton (total concentration of Chlorophyll a, b and c), bacterioplankton (estimated through Flow Cytometry analyses) and Particulate Organic Matter. Biofilm estimation was obtained from pebbles collected in the rocky reefs and later processed in the laboratory (total of 63 pebbles collected). All the taxa were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, measured (using a binocular macroscope or a microscope) and weighed (using a high precision scale) individually or in pools (depending on their size). At the lab all the water samples were processed to estimate the biomass of organic matter, phytoplankton (Chlorophyll a stratified by size) and bacteria, while zooplankton biomass was estimated by size classes (i.e. microzooplankton and macrozooplankton) and taxa identified using a high quality binocular macroscope.

clicke here to download ReefNets protocols to sampling rocky-reef food-webs!

Reefnets protocols

Project Outcomes

[Pub 1] Lipcius R., Eggleston, D.B., Fodrie, F.J., Van der Meer, J., Rose, K.A., Vasconcelos, R.P., van de Wolfshaar, K.E. 2019. Modeling quantitative value of habitats for marine and estuarine populations. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6 1-22.

[Pub 2] Stratoudakis Y., Hilario A., Ribeiro C., Abecasis D., Goncalves E., Andrade F., Carreira G., Goncalves J., Freitas L., Pinheiro L.M., Batista M., Henriques M., Oliveira P., Afonso P., Arriegas P.I., Henriques S. (2019) Environmental representativity in marine protected area networks over large and partly unexplored seascapes. Global Ecology and Conservation 17, e00545.

[Pub 3] Cardoso-Andrade, M., Queiroga, H., Rangel, M., Sousa, I., Belackova, A., Bentes, L., Oliveira, F., Monteiro, P., Sales Henriques, N., M. L. Afonso, C., Martins Silva, A. F., Quintella, B. S. R., Costa, J. L. V. D. O., Pais, M. P., Henriques, S., I. Batista, M., Franco, G., Gonçalves, E. J., Henriques, M., … Horta E Costa, B. (2022). Setting performance indicators for coastal marine protected areas: an expert-based methodology. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9:848039. Impact Factor 5.247.

[Pub 4] Pires, H., Batista, M.I., Pais, MP., Silva, F., Tanner, SE., Henriques, S. (revision Submitted) Benthic source dominance in temperate rocky reefs revealed by stable isotopes. Food-webs.

[Pub 5] Nunes, Daniel, Batista, M.I., Pais, M.P., Errando, C.E., Anjos, M., Silva, M.C., Nunes, C., Henriques, S. (to be submitted). Disentangling the effects of environmental gradients and protection measures on the structure and function of temperate reef invertebrate assemblage.

[Pub 6] Silva, F., Batista, M.I., Pais, M.P., Pires, H., Henriques, S. (to be submitted) Spatial patterns of marine biodiversity associated with habitat-forming species on rocky reefs: the Arrábida Marine Protected Area case study.

[Pub 7] Pais, M.P., Nunes, C., Batista, M.I., Nunes, D., Anjos, M., Silva, M.C., Henriques, S. (to be submitted). Influence of reef structure, environmental features on the structural and functional characteristics of benthic invertebrate communities in rocky reefs. Functional Ecology.

[Pub 8] Pires, H., Pais, M.P., Batista, M.I., Henriques, S. (to be submitted). Seasonal variability of functional and structural patterns of invertebrate rocky reef assemblages within a no-take area.

[Pub 9] S. Henriques, M.I. Batista, R.P. Vasconcelos, S.E. Tanner, Nunes, D., Anjos, M., Marta, C.S., Nunes, C., Errando C.R., Tenreiro, A., F. Jordan, M. Coll, H. Hintz, M. Hidalgo, Pais, MP. (to be submitted in February 2023). Assessing the effects of season and protection level on subtidal temperate reef food web complexity can help pinpoint network indicators for Marine Protected Area Management at different network aggregation levels.

[Pub 10] Pais, MP, M.I. Batista, R.P. Vasconcelos, S.E. Tanner, F. Jordan, M. Coll, H. Hintz, M. Hidalgo, S. Henriques (to be submitted). Changes in complex rocky reef food-web due to the human threats: diversity-stability dynamics.

[Pub 11] Pais, MP, M.I. Batista, R.P. Vasconcelos, S.E. Tanner, Nunes, D., Anjos, M., Marta, C.S., Nunes, C., Pires, H.,Errando, C.R., Conan, R., Bernardo, B. Tenreiro, A., F. Jordan, M. Coll, H. Hintz, M. Hidalgo, S. Henriques (Data paper to be submitted after all project data has been published). Whole-community survey data and functional characterisation of invertebrates, vertebrates, macroalgae and plankton in shallow rocky reefs in the Arrábida Marine Protected Area, Portugal (2019-2020).

ADVANCED TRAINING

[MSc 1] Daniel Nunes, MSc student in Marine Ecology (FCUL). Marine macroinvertebrates as indicators to assess the effects of Marine Protected Areas on temperate rocky reefs. Concluded in 2021. Supervisor: Sofia Henriques; Co- supervisor: Marisa Batista (MARE/FCUL).

[MSc 2] Helena Pires, MSc student in Marine Ecology (FCUL). Stable isotope composition to validate ecological network models: the case of Arrábida Marine Park rocky reefs. Concluded in 2022. Supervisor: Susanne Tanner; Co-superviser: Sofia Henriques.

[MSc 3] Filipa Silva, MSc student in Marine Ecology (FCUL). Spatial patterns of marine biodiversity associated with habitat-forming species on rocky reefs: the Arrábida Marine Protected Area case study. Thesis concluded - waiting for public exams. Supervisor: Sofia Henriques; Co- supervisor: Marisa Batista.

[MSc 4] Catarina Nunes, MSc student in Ecology and Environmental Management (FCUL). Tilulo: Micro-habitat influence on benthic community traits of rocky reefs. Ongoing. Supervisor: Sofia Henriques; Co- supervisor: Miguel Pais (MARE/FCUL).

[MSc 5] André Martins, MSc student in Ecology and Environmental Management (FCUL). Assessment of ecosystem services associated with different habitats in the Arrábida Marine Protected Area, Portugal. Ongoing. Supervisor: Alexandra Marchal; Co-supervisor: Sofia Henriques.

[ MSc 6] Rodrigo Esteves, MSc student in Ecology and Environmental Management (FCUL). Monitoring progress in implementing a national network of Marine Protected Areas. Ongoing. Supervisor: Sofia Henriques; Co-Supervisor: Yorgos Stratoudakis (IPMA).

[AT 1] ERASMUS+ Internship (2021) – Duncan McDonagh, MSc student in MASTER 2 Sciences de la Mer parcours Océanographie Biologique et Ecologie Marine (Marseille Université). Concluded in 2021. Structural and functional patterns of invertebrate communities within a no-take area (Arrábida Marine Park, Portugal). Supervisor: Sofia Henriques.

[AT 2] IAEST+ Internship (2020) - Ronan Conlon, Internship involved the participation in field sampling at sea and invertebrate identification in the laboratory.

[PhD 1] Friederike Peiffer (FCT/2020/07299/BD) Climate change and local anthropogenic impacts on theconservation of endangered marine species in Portuguese Marine Protected Areas. PhD programme in Biology and Ecology of climate changes (FCUL). Ongoing. Supervisors: Sofia Henriques, Gonçalo Silva and Emanuel Gonçalves.

[PhD 2] Noelia Ríos (UI/BD/150958/2021) Integrating video and acoustic recorders to monitor the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park (PMPLS). PhD programme in Marine Biology (FCUL). Supervisors: Gonçalo Silva and Miguel P. Pais.

BOOK CHAPTERS

[BC 1] Sofia Henriques & Marisa Batista (2022) “Parque Marinho Professor Luiz Saldanha”. In “Proteger o mar”. IPMA, Portugal (eds). (published)

[BC 2] Henriques S, Dolbeth M, Matos P, Pecuchet L, Bernardo CP, Weigel B, McLean M, Hidalgo M, Tzanatos E, Vasconcelos RP. Assessing functional diversity in marine fish assemblages. In: Henrique Cabral, Jérémy Lobry, Mario Lepage and Olivier Le Pape (eds.). Ecology of Marine Fishes. Elsevier (in revision)

[BC 2] Batista, M.I., Erzini, K., Horta e Costa, B., Gonçalves, E., Claudet, J., Le Pape, O. Conservation of marine fish. In: Henrique Cabral, Jérémy Lobry, Mario Lepage and Olivier Le Pape (eds.). Ecology of Marine Fishes. Elsevier (in revision).

BOOKS

[B1] Batista M.I, Pais, M.P., Henriques, S., Coxey, M., Grilo, C., Sá, R., Barros, N. & Silva, G. (2022). Guia de Boas Práticas para a Gestão e Monitorização de Áreas Marinhas Protegidas (Best Practices Guide for the Management and Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas). ISPA - Instituto Universitário. ISBN: 978-989-8384-87-4

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Project Databases

A datapaper "Whole-community survey data and functional characterisation of invertebrates, vertebrates, macroalgae and plankton in shallow rocky reefs in the Arrábida Marine Protected Area, Portugal (2019-2020)" will be published after the publication of the project outputs. Meanwhile, if you need to use these data please contact us!

Other databases:

- Rocky-reef species interactions

- Rocky-reef species traits