Journal article
Variation in the strength of continental boundary currents determines continent-wide connectivity in kelp
Journal of Ecology, Vol.99(4), pp.1026-1032
2011
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Abstract
<p><h3>Summary</h3></p>
<p><strong>1.</strong> Determining the extent to which coastal oceanographic processes facilitate connectivity of marine organisms underpins our understanding of the ecology and evolution of marine communities. Continental boundary currents are a dominant physical influence on marine connectivity, but determining their effect has proved elusive because of difficulties in achieving replication of currents within the distribution of a single species.</p>
<p><strong>2.</strong> Australia provides an unparalleled opportunity to address such questions because it has three replicate boundary currents within narrow latitudinal ranges that share continentally distributed species. We tested whether the strength of continental boundary currents influences coastal connectivity of a dominant foundation species (the kelp <em>Ecklonia radiata</em>).</p>
<p><strong>3.</strong> Variation in the strength of different boundary currents produced entirely different patterns of connectivity in kelp with high connectivity in strong currents and low connectivity in weak currents. Spatial patterns of genetic structuring were also correlated with the nature and strength of currents.</p>
<p><strong>4.</strong> <em>Synthesis</em>. This result has global implications; continental boundary currents are key drivers of marine connectivity and give predictive ability with which to understand variable ecologies of temperate coastlines world-wide.</p>
Details
- Title
- Variation in the strength of continental boundary currents determines continent-wide connectivity in kelp
- Creators
- Melinda A Coleman - University of New South WalesMoninya Roughan - University of New South WalesHelen S Macdonald - University of New South WalesSean D Connell - University of AdelaideBronwyn M Gillanders - University of AdelaideBrendan P Kelaher - NSW Department of Environment,Peter D Steinberg - University of New South Wales
- Publication Details
- Journal of Ecology, Vol.99(4), pp.1026-1032
- Identifiers
- 3158; 991012820615602368
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article