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The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity
Citation
Convey, P and Chown, SL and Clarke, A and Barnes, DKA and Bokhorst, S and Cummings, V and Ducklow, HW and Frati, F and Green, TGA and Gordon, S and Griffiths, HJ and Howard-Williams, C and Huiskes, HL and Laybourn-Parry, J and Lyons, WB and McMinn, A and Morley, SA and Peck, LS and Quesada, A and Robinson, SA and Schiaparelli, S and Wall, DH, The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity, Ecological Monographs, 84, (2) pp. 203-244. ISSN 0012-9615 (2014) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 Ecological Society of America
Abstract
Patterns of environmental spatial structure lie at the heart of the most
fundamental and familiar patterns of diversity on Earth. Antarctica contains some of the
strongest environmental gradients on the planet and therefore provides an ideal study ground
to test hypotheses on the relevance of environmental variability for biodiversity. To answer the
pivotal question, How does spatial variation in physical and biological environmental
properties across the Antarctic drive biodiversity? we have synthesized current knowledge on
environmental variability across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine Antarctic biomes and
related this to the observed biotic patterns. The most important physical driver of Antarctic
terrestrial communities is the availability of liquid water, itself driven by solar irradiance
intensity. Patterns of biota distribution are further strongly influenced by the historical
development of any given location or region, and by geographical barriers. In freshwater
ecosystems, free water is also crucial, with further important influences from salinity, nutrient
availability, oxygenation, and characteristics of ice cover and extent. In the marine biome
there does not appear to be one major driving force, with the exception of the oceanographic
boundary of the Polar Front. At smaller spatial scales, ice cover, ice scour, and salinity
gradients are clearly important determinants of diversity at habitat and community level.
Stochastic and extreme events remain an important driving force in all environments,
particularly in the context of local extinction and colonization or recolonization, as well as
that of temporal environmental variability. Our synthesis demonstrates that the Antarctic
continent and surrounding oceans provide an ideal study ground to develop new
biogeographical models, including life history and physiological traits, and to address
questions regarding biological responses to environmental variability and change.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Antarctic biodiversity |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
UTAS Author: | McMinn, A (Professor Andrew McMinn) |
ID Code: | 91208 |
Year Published: | 2014 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 186 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-05-12 |
Last Modified: | 2017-10-31 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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