title: Ecophysiological responses of three Mediterranean invasive seaweeds (Acrothamnion preissii, Lophocladia lallemandii and Caulerpa cylindracea) to experimental warming.
abstract: The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for invasive species and projected Mediterranean warming might affect their future spreading. We experimentally examined ecophysiological responses to the temperature range 23-31 °C in three invasive seaweeds commonly found in the Mediterranean: Acrothamnion preissii, Caulerpa cylindracea and Lophocladia lallemandii. The warming range tested encompassed current and projected (for the end of 21st Century) maximum temperatures for the Mediterranean Sea. Optimal ecophysiological temperatures for A. preissii, C. cylindracea and L. lallemandii were 25 °C, 27 °C and 29 °C, respectively. Warming below the optimal temperatures enhanced RGR of all studied invasive seaweeds. Although sensitive, seaweed photosynthetic yield was less temperature-dependent than growth. Our results demonstrate that temperature is a key environmental parameter in regulating the ecophysiological performance of these invasive seaweeds and that Mediterranean warming conditions may affect their invasion trajectory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Change Research, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, 07190 Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain; Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samperio-Ramos
authors.affiliation: The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Ylva S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, 07190 Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis 97331, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Change Research, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, 07190 Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain. Electronic address: nmarba@imedea.uib-csic.es.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marbà
mesh_terms: D046068:Caulerpa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D057231:Climate Change; D017753:Ecosystem; D058865:Introduced Species; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012624:Seaweed / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Alien species; Bioinvasion; Climate change; Macroalgae