ORCID

Abstract

Rhodolith beds are diverse and globally distributed habitats. Nonetheless, the role of rhodoliths in structuring the associated species community through a hierarchy of positive interactions is yet to be recognised. In this review, we provide evidence that rhodoliths can function as foundation species of multi-level facilitation cascades and, hence, are fundamental for the persistence of hierarchically structured communities within coastal oceans. Rhodoliths generate facilitation cascades by buffering physical stress, reducing consumer pressure and enhancing resource availability. Due to large variations in their shape, size and density, a single rhodolith bed can support multiple taxonomically distant and architecturally distinct habitat-forming species, such as primary producers, sponges or bivalves, thus encompassing a broad range of functional traits and providing a wealth of secondary microhabitat and food resources. In addition, rhodoliths are often mobile, and thus can redistribute associated species, potentially expanding the distribution of species with short-distance dispersal abilities. Key knowledge gaps we have identified include: the experimental assessment of the role of rhodoliths as basal facilitators; the length and temporal stability of facilitation cascades; variations in species interactions within cascades across environmental gradients; and the role of rhodolith beds as climate refugia. Addressing these research priorities will allow the development of evidence-based policy decisions and elevate rhodolith beds within marine conservation strategies.

Publication Date

2025-02-01

Publication Title

Biological Reviews

Volume

100

Issue

1

ISSN

1464-7931

Acceptance Date

2024-09-10

Deposit Date

2024-12-18

Funding

The preparation of this review was supported by EuroMarine through the Foresight Workshop RHODOCARB (https://euromarinenetwork.eu/activities/rhodocarb/). F.B. was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 869300 (FutureMARES). N.S. acknowledges funding by Portuguese National Funds from FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through an Assistant researcher grant (https://doi.org/10.54499/2020.01282.CEECIND/CP1597/CT0003), by a FCT/CAPES project (2019.00067.CBM), and through FCT-funded projects UIDB/04326/2020, UIDP/04326/2020, and LA/P/0101/2020. F.T. and V.P. acknowledge funding by the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry (project “POPCORN”, PID2021-124257OB-I00). F.R. acknowledges NBFC support to the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN), funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) Mission 4, Component 2, Investiment 1.4 -Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n 3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union -Next Generation EU. Project code, CN00000033 Concession Decree No.1034, of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP: C63C22000520001 Project title “National Biodiversity future Center-NBFC”. M.N. was supported by a PhD fellowship funded by the SZN (Open University – SZN PhD Program). R.B.F.-F. is grateful for a research productivity scholarship provided by CNPq (#309651/2021-2). H.L.B. and N.A.K. acknowledge funding from the Kempe Foundation (JCSMK24-0033). Finally, we sincerely thank two anonymous reviewers for providing insightful comments and constructive criticism.

Keywords

benthic habitats, encrusting coralline algae, facilitation cascades, foundation species, maerl beds, marine biodiversity, rhodoliths

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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