β-diversity of deep-sea holothurians and asteroids along a bathymetric gradient (NE Atlantic)

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Michael A. Rex¹  Kerry L. Howell¹  David S. M. Billett¹  Martine C. Wagstaff¹  Brian J. Bett¹  Carol T. Stuart¹  Solange Brault¹ 

关键词: Beta diversity;    Nestedness;    Turnover;    Source-sink dynamics;    Deep sea;    Echinoderms;    Asteroids;    Holothurians;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps10877

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Measuring and understanding patterns of β-diversity remain major challenges in community ecology. Recently, β-diversity has been shown to consist of 2 distinct components: (1) spatial turnover and (2) species loss leading to nestedness. Both components structure deep-sea macrofaunal assemblages but vary in importance among taxa and ocean basins and with energy availability. Here, we present the first evidence for turnover and nestedness along a bathymetric gradient in 2 major megafaunal taxa, holothurians and asteroids. Turnover is the dominant component of β-diversity throughout bathyal and abyssal zones in both taxa, despite major differences in β-diversity and trophic composition. High spatial turnover suggests a role for evolutionary adaptation to environmental circumstances within depth bands. This pattern differs fundamentally from those in some macrofaunal groups in low-energy environments where abyssal nestedness is high and diversity low, with diversity maintained partly by source-sink dynamics.

【 授权许可】

Unknown