16 Experimental Approaches to Integrating
Production, Structure and Dynamics in
Sediment Communities
D. RAFFAELLI and M. EMMERSON
16.1 Introduction
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). The close association between sediment characteristics and benthic
communities has also long been recognised in sublittoral systems through the
pioneering work in the North Sea of Thorson (1957, 1966), Glenmarec (1969,
1973), and Petersen (1914-24), where different sediment grades typically support characteristic species, such as the bivalves Macoma, Tellina, Venus and
Abra, the echinoderms Amphiura and Ophiura, and the amphipod Haploops
- the so-called Peterson-Thorson communities. Whilst it is now clear that
the rigid, categorical association of entire communities with sediment grades
(and other physical properties of the habitat) is probably not tenable
Ecological Studies, Vol. 151
K. Reise (ed.) Ecological Comparisons
of Sedimentary Shores
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001
Production, Structure and Dynamics in
Sediment Communities
D. RAFFAELLI and M. EMMERSON
16.1 Introduction
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). The close association between sediment characteristics and benthic
communities has also long been recognised in sublittoral systems through the
pioneering work in the North Sea of Thorson (1957, 1966), Glenmarec (1969,
1973), and Petersen (1914-24), where different sediment grades typically support characteristic species, such as the bivalves Macoma, Tellina, Venus and
Abra, the echinoderms Amphiura and Ophiura, and the amphipod Haploops
- the so-called Peterson-Thorson communities. Whilst it is now clear that
the rigid, categorical association of entire communities with sediment grades
(and other physical properties of the habitat) is probably not tenable
Ecological Studies, Vol. 151
K. Reise (ed.) Ecological Comparisons
of Sedimentary Shores
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001