Effects of micro- and mesograzers on intertidal macroalgal recruitment

This study examined the effects of a guild of micrograzing harpacticoid copepods (dominated by two species of Paradactylopodia sp. nov. and one species of Scutellidium sp. nov.) and a mesograzing periwinkle, Afrolittorina praetermissa, on the early recruitment of intertidal macroalgae on a wave-exposed, rocky shore. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to examine the effects of micrograzers (
Introduction Widespread loss of canopy-forming macroalgal assemblages is reported to occur across many parts of the world's coastlines and appears to be driven by a combination of urbanisation, pollution and [...]