ON THE APPLICATION OF THE THEORY OF ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY AND ITS MODERN EXTENSIONS TO SUBMARINE BANK COMMUNITIES
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Authors
Stortini, Christine
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
island biogeography , ecology , theoretical ecology , marine ecology , marine biogeography , Scotian Shelf , fish , invertebrates
Alternative Title
Abstract
This thesis explores the application of a traditionally terrestrial-based ecological theory, the Theory of
Island Biogeography (TIB), to a large marine ecosystem. Decades of testing of this theory have led to
various extensions acknowledging that the slope of the Species-Area Relationship (SAR) reflects species
traits related to dispersal capacity, and species’ competitive and predatory interactions. Until recently, it
was largely believed that marine ecosystems were too large and interconnected for this body of theory to
apply. My research indicates that this is not true. I tested the applicability of TIB and its derivatives to the
structure and dynamics of fish and macroinvertebrate communities inhabiting ten highly productive
offshore banks (ranging 500 to 10’500 km2) located on the Scotian Shelf, NW Atlantic Ocean. In Chapter
2, I found support for the TIB: there was a positive SAR for the fish species of the offshore banks. I also
found support for predictions of the Trophic TIB concerning the role of predators in controlling the SAR
of lower trophic levels: prey and mesopredator SAR slopes increased following the collapse of largebodied
predatory groundfish populations due to overfishing. In Chapter 3, I tested for a positive SAR
across the macroinvertebrate assemblages of the banks. I found a significant SAR slope only for the least
dispersive taxon, supporting early predictions of a negative relation between dispersal capacity and SAR
slope. I also found that oceanographic processes play an important role in connecting these assemblages,
most-so for highly dispersive taxa. In Chapter 4, across the fish assemblages of the banks, I found support
for the original predictions of TIB that, on average over the long-term, bank-specific colonization and
extinction events are at equilibrium. However, I also found a dramatic increase in interannual turnover of
prey fish species following predator collapse, particularly on the coldest, largest banks, suggesting an
extension of the Trophic TIB linking increased SAR slopes to reduced temporal stability may be
warranted. My research supports the continued application of TIB and its modern derivatives in large
marine ecosystems to elucidate variation of insularity and temporal stability among species assemblages
under different disturbance regimes.
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ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution 3.0 United States