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Experimental Approaches to Integrating Production, Structure and Dynamics in Sediment Communities

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Ecological Comparisons of Sedimentary Shores

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 151))

Abstract

The comparative approach to intertidal ecology has a long history, prompted initially by the recurrence of obvious biological patterns worldwide on rocky shores (Stephenson and Stephenson 1949,1972). The universal zonation patterns found on rocky shores, whereby the same kinds of organisms (lichens, barnacles and kelps) dominate the upper, middle and lower parts, respectively, of shores in many parts of the world, provided a strong indication that the same, strong underlying mechanisms and processes were at work on these shores (Raffaelli and Hawkins 1996). However, the comparative approach has not been so easy for sediment ecologists. Unlike rocky shores, the fauna of sediment beaches is not readily accessible so that recurrent biological patterns are not immediately obvious. Despite this, Dahl (1952) was able to demonstrate a certain universality in the zonation of isopod and amphipod crustaceans in sandy beaches, at least in the north-east Atlantic, whilst in other regions similar zones were occupied by other taxa (e.g. John and Lawson 1991; Santelices 1991; Chap. 3) or by functional groups (Brown and McLachlan 1990; McLachlan 1990). Physical patterns, associated with sediment water content, are often more readily apparent than biological patterns on sandy shores (Salvat 1964,1967), and these may in turn underpin the major biological patterns described above McLachlan 1990; Raffaelli et al. 1991).

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  1. D. Raffaelli
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  2. M. Emmerson
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  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Wattenmeerstation Sylt, 25992, List, Germany

    Karsten Reise

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Raffaelli, D., Emmerson, M. (2001). Experimental Approaches to Integrating Production, Structure and Dynamics in Sediment Communities. In: Reise, K. (eds) Ecological Comparisons of Sedimentary Shores. Ecological Studies, vol 151. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56557-1_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56557-1_17

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