Marine colonization and biodiversity at Ascension Island and remote islands
Barnes, David K.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9076-7867. 2017 Marine colonization and biodiversity at Ascension Island and remote islands. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 97 (4). 771-782. 10.1017/S0025315415001526
Before downloading, please read NORA policies.
Text
ASI colonisation JMBA revised 29_08_15.doc - Accepted Version Download (9MB) |
Abstract/Summary
Little is known about colonization of remote island coasts by marine invertebrates, other than corals. The structure of hard substrata assemblages was investigated across Ascension Island's littoral zone in comparison with other sites. Arrays of acrylic panels were deployed at two sites for 2 years at Ascension Island to measure subtidal recruitment. Colonization of panels at Ascension I. was low, though space occupation, abundance and richness varied considerably. After ~1 and 2 years Ascension panels were <17 and <37% covered by fauna and each had <22 recruits and 54 recruits (per 100 cm2) respectively, amongst the lowest density of recruits reported. Recruitment rates of corals (25 m2 year−1) at Ascension I. were also similar to the lowest levels reported elsewhere (e.g. at Bermuda or Midway islands). Less dispersive animal types, e.g. cheilostome bryozoans, were poorly represented. Panels immersed in Tanzania and Scotland were >30% covered, with >76 recruits per 100 cm2 and with bryozoans well represented after 1 year. Across-littoral surveys of established macrofauna at five remote islands (Ascension I., Easter I., Azores, South Georgia and Signy I., Antarctica) revealed similar trends of a rich sublittoral and lower littoral reducing drastically up-shore; molluscs dominating abundance and species numbers, whilst polychaetes, crustaceans and echinoderms were well represented. Established sessile animals occurred patchily at a mean density of 8.26 m−2 but recruits had mortality levels >99%. Polar or remote temperate/tropical sites are typically less colonized than at non-remote, low latitudes but the lowest levels reported are at remote polar sites. Reduced colonization at Ascension island reflects remoteness.
Item Type: | Publication - Article |
---|---|
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1017/S0025315415001526 |
Programmes: | BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation |
ISSN: | 0025-3154 |
Additional Keywords: | recruitment, isolation, dispersal, coral, latitude |
Date made live: | 13 Oct 2015 10:20 +0 (UTC) |
URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512010 |
Actions (login required)
View Item |
Document Downloads
Downloads for past 30 days
Downloads per month over past year