Introduction
K. REISE
This book is an attempt to encourage comparative studies on the ecology of
sedimentary shores. Most research on muddy and sandy shores has been local
or regional, analyzing small to meso-scale patterns and the underlying
processes. Comparisons between distant shores, across latitudinal gradients
or between separate biogeographic provinces, have rarely been carried out,
and such comparisons are often hampered by methodological differences in
quantifying coastal biota. Field experiments may not provide comparable
results when the spatio-temporal scales are different and, usually, little is
known about how representative an analyzed process or pattern is across an
entire region. Between different coasts, several important variables are likely
to differ at the same time. When particular aspects are compared, either data
from a large number of sites or a choice of carefully selected sites is required
and researchers must be cautious in the interpretation of such data.
Zonation of organisms perpendicular to the shoreline is less distinct in
sediments than on rock (Peterson 1991), and the ability of many species to
transform habitat structure and the mobility of species in soft sediments
contribute to dynamic and heterogeneous patterns over many spatial scales.
Not many soft-sediment comparisons have been conducted within regions
along gradients from exposed to sheltered, from atidal to macrotidal, from
onshore to offshore currents, from brackish to marine, from oligotrophic to
eutrophic, from small to large organic supplies originating from the sea or the
land, and with respect to other similar variables. Even fewer comparisons are
available between latitudes and between biogeographical provinces. Most of
these are confined to surf beaches (Dahl 1952; McLachlan et al.I993).
Nevertheless, the authors of this volume feel that the comparative ecology
of sedimentary shores is a ripe area for a global view of patterns and processes
studied at selected sites. This is necessary for both the development of conceptual theory, and for providing insights for effective coastal management. It
is acknowledged that this volume cannot provide definitive answers to all
these issues; its aim is to raise awareness of the need for a comparative perspective on the sedimentary shores of the world. Finding similarities and
Ecological Studies, Vol. 151
K. Reise (ed.) Ecological Comparisons
of Sedimentary Shores
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001
K. REISE
This book is an attempt to encourage comparative studies on the ecology of
sedimentary shores. Most research on muddy and sandy shores has been local
or regional, analyzing small to meso-scale patterns and the underlying
processes. Comparisons between distant shores, across latitudinal gradients
or between separate biogeographic provinces, have rarely been carried out,
and such comparisons are often hampered by methodological differences in
quantifying coastal biota. Field experiments may not provide comparable
results when the spatio-temporal scales are different and, usually, little is
known about how representative an analyzed process or pattern is across an
entire region. Between different coasts, several important variables are likely
to differ at the same time. When particular aspects are compared, either data
from a large number of sites or a choice of carefully selected sites is required
and researchers must be cautious in the interpretation of such data.
Zonation of organisms perpendicular to the shoreline is less distinct in
sediments than on rock (Peterson 1991), and the ability of many species to
transform habitat structure and the mobility of species in soft sediments
contribute to dynamic and heterogeneous patterns over many spatial scales.
Not many soft-sediment comparisons have been conducted within regions
along gradients from exposed to sheltered, from atidal to macrotidal, from
onshore to offshore currents, from brackish to marine, from oligotrophic to
eutrophic, from small to large organic supplies originating from the sea or the
land, and with respect to other similar variables. Even fewer comparisons are
available between latitudes and between biogeographical provinces. Most of
these are confined to surf beaches (Dahl 1952; McLachlan et al.I993).
Nevertheless, the authors of this volume feel that the comparative ecology
of sedimentary shores is a ripe area for a global view of patterns and processes
studied at selected sites. This is necessary for both the development of conceptual theory, and for providing insights for effective coastal management. It
is acknowledged that this volume cannot provide definitive answers to all
these issues; its aim is to raise awareness of the need for a comparative perspective on the sedimentary shores of the world. Finding similarities and
Ecological Studies, Vol. 151
K. Reise (ed.) Ecological Comparisons
of Sedimentary Shores
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001