Synthesis: Comparative Ecology of Sedimentary Shores
371
are, the more they have been affected by humans. The spatio-temporal match
between young epibenthic predators and the recruits of their prey are more
important for population dynamics than the large predators which consume
most of the zoomass.
On a global scale, sandy beaches of exposed coasts are very similar in
taxonomic composition and dominant forms of life. Sheltered sand and mud
flats exhibit more variety, including regionally unique features, particularly in
the tropics. Versatile species may switch their food acquisition and this entails
changes up to the ecosystem level. On the other hand, very different forms of
life, such as lugworms and callianassid shrimps, may attain very similar roles
in feeding, transforming the sediment and affecting other species (Fig. 5). A
comparative approach to the biota of sedimentary shores on a worldwide
scale may greatly advance our insight and give more power to our judgements
and recommendations. To achieve this we need to proceed from studies
devoted to the analysis of contingent details on a local scale to an integration
of knowledge under a global perspective on the ecology of sedimentary
shores.
References
Connolly SR, Roughgarden J (1998) A latitudinal gradient in Northeast Pacific intertidal
community structure: evidence for an oceanographically based synthesis of marine
community theory. Am Nat 151:311-326
Daborn GR, Amos CL, Berlinsky M, Christian H, Drapeau G, Faas RW, Grant J, Long B,
Paterson DM, Perillo GME, Piccolo MC (1993) An ecological 'cascade' effect. Migratory birds affect stability of intertidal sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 38:225-231
Green MO, Hewitt JE, Thrush SF (1998) Seabed drag coefficients over natural beds of
horse mussels (Atrina zelandica). J Mar Res 56:613-637
Johnson RG (1973) Conceptual models of benthic marine communities. In: Schopf TJM
(ed) Model in paleobiology. Freeman and Cooper, San Francisco, pp 148-159
Mobius K (1877) Die Auster und die Austernwirtschaft. Wiegandt, Hempel Parey, Berlin
Reise K (1987) Experimental analysis of processes between species on marine tidal fiats.
In: Schulze E-D, Zwolfer H (eds) Potentials and limitations of ecosystem analysis.
Ecological studies, vol 61. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 391-400
371
are, the more they have been affected by humans. The spatio-temporal match
between young epibenthic predators and the recruits of their prey are more
important for population dynamics than the large predators which consume
most of the zoomass.
On a global scale, sandy beaches of exposed coasts are very similar in
taxonomic composition and dominant forms of life. Sheltered sand and mud
flats exhibit more variety, including regionally unique features, particularly in
the tropics. Versatile species may switch their food acquisition and this entails
changes up to the ecosystem level. On the other hand, very different forms of
life, such as lugworms and callianassid shrimps, may attain very similar roles
in feeding, transforming the sediment and affecting other species (Fig. 5). A
comparative approach to the biota of sedimentary shores on a worldwide
scale may greatly advance our insight and give more power to our judgements
and recommendations. To achieve this we need to proceed from studies
devoted to the analysis of contingent details on a local scale to an integration
of knowledge under a global perspective on the ecology of sedimentary
shores.
References
Connolly SR, Roughgarden J (1998) A latitudinal gradient in Northeast Pacific intertidal
community structure: evidence for an oceanographically based synthesis of marine
community theory. Am Nat 151:311-326
Daborn GR, Amos CL, Berlinsky M, Christian H, Drapeau G, Faas RW, Grant J, Long B,
Paterson DM, Perillo GME, Piccolo MC (1993) An ecological 'cascade' effect. Migratory birds affect stability of intertidal sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 38:225-231
Green MO, Hewitt JE, Thrush SF (1998) Seabed drag coefficients over natural beds of
horse mussels (Atrina zelandica). J Mar Res 56:613-637
Johnson RG (1973) Conceptual models of benthic marine communities. In: Schopf TJM
(ed) Model in paleobiology. Freeman and Cooper, San Francisco, pp 148-159
Mobius K (1877) Die Auster und die Austernwirtschaft. Wiegandt, Hempel Parey, Berlin
Reise K (1987) Experimental analysis of processes between species on marine tidal fiats.
In: Schulze E-D, Zwolfer H (eds) Potentials and limitations of ecosystem analysis.
Ecological studies, vol 61. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 391-400