Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2016-10, Vol.111 (1-2), p.305-310
• Main Authors: Zwerschke, Nadescha, Emmerson, Mark C., Roberts, Dai, O'Connor, Nessa E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; Crassostrea; Crassostrea gigas; Ecosystem; ecosystems; Functional similarity; habitats; indigenous species; Introduced Species; Invasive species; Ireland; littoral zone; Marine; Ostrea; Ostrea edulis; oysters; reefs; species diversity; water pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.094

Invasive species can impact native species and alter assemblage structure, which affects associated ecosystem functioning. The pervasive Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, has been shown to affect the diversity and composition of many host ecosystems. We tested for effects of the presence of the invasive C. gigas on native assemblages by comparing them directly to assemblages associated with the declining native European oyster, Ostrea edulis. The presence of both oyster species was manipulated in intertidal and subtidal habitats and reefs were constructed at horizontal and vertical orientation to the substratum. After 12months, species diversity and benthic assemblage structure between assemblages with C. gigas and O. edulis were similar, but differed between habitats and orientation, suggesting that both oyster species were functionally similar in terms of biodiversity facilitation. These findings support evidence, that non-native species could play an important role in maintaining biodiversity in systems with declining populations of native species. •We manipulated the presence of Ostrea edulis and Crassostrea gigas in the field.•After 12months assemblages associated with both oyster species were similar.•Supported taxa diversity was also not different between both oyster species.•C. gigas may replace the functional role of O. edulis and stabilize diversity.