Environmental temperature data collected at Cerro Mundo Bay, San Cristobal, Galapagos from 2022-2023 (Galapagos 2021 project)

For example, herbivory and temperature, via their effects on primary producers and the metabolic demands of consumers, can also influence macroalgal biomass and productivity, respectively.

Although there is a fair number of studies looking at the interactive effects of herbivores and nutrients in both tropical and temperate regions, there is a lack of studies looking at these effects in tropical or subtropical upwelling regions. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects that herbivores, temperature, and nutrient availability have on standing macroalgal biomass. We manipulated nutrient availability and herbivory in six field experiments during contrasting productivity and thermal regimes (cool-upwelling and warm, non-upwelling season) on a subtidal nearshore rocky reef.