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Components of benthic communities. “ Infauna ” classified by size Bacteria & protozoa Macro- and meiofauna Major taxonomic groups Polychaetes , crustacea Echinoderms, molluscs In similar habitats, community composition suggests convergence in form. Major questions. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Components of benthic communities “Infauna” classified by size
Bacteria & protozoaMacro- and meiofauna
Major taxonomic groupsPolychaetes, crustaceaEchinoderms, molluscs
In similar habitats, community composition suggests convergence in form
Major questions What are the major components of
communities in unvegetated sediments? What is the relationship between
taxonomic classification and ecological function? (“Functional equivalents”)
How can disturbance promote diversity? What are the consequences of bottom-
dredging fishing techniques?
Functional groups: examples of sediment stabilizers and bioturbators
Parallel infaunal communities in North Temperate oceans: Ecological convergence
Apparent paradox: high diversity, low habitat heterogeneity “Competitive” exclusion is observed Deposit feeders exclude suspension feeders
(really “amensalism”) Competition for space is documented
Why not have more competitive exclusion? More niches than we thought?
Vertical sorting hypothesis
More niches?, continued Biotic facilitation
Mutualism
Commensalism (e.g., inquilines in tubes)
Can disturbance facilitate diversity? Sources of disturbance Biotic disturbance
Burrowing, sediment processingpredation (exclosure experiments)
Water turbulence, wave action Human disturbance
Beam trawls – designed to scrape sediments a few centimeters below surface
Otter trawls, etc. along surfaceConsider differences in scale
Effects of local and mid-scale disturbance Very patchy distributions
Leading to high species turnover in space Lower density than required for
competitive exclusionSuperior competitor is reduced before
inferior competitors disappearRecolonization patterns add to diversity
because larval settlement depends on timing
Effects of trawling on bottom structure
Fished UnfishedKaiser & Spencer. 1996. Journal of Ecology 65: 348-358
Changes in community diversity with trawling
Why does disturbance from trawling reduce diversity?
Direct effects on habitat
Scale of disturbanceDisrupt biotic interactionsReduce potential for recolonization
Benthic processes: deep ocean systems
Benthic processes: coastal, subtidal systems
Benthic processes: vegetated, subtidal systems