Biogeographic impact of the Leeuwin Current in southern Australia since the late middle Eocene

McGowran, Brian; Li, Qianyu; Cann, J. H.; Padley, Dianne; McKirdy, David M.; Shafik, Samir

doi:10.1016/s0031-0182(97)00073-4

Cited by 133 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Calcareous microfossil studies in the region indicate similar temperatures, indicating a long-term influence of a proto-Leeuwin Current (e.g., McGowran et al, 1997;Li et al, 2000Li et al, , 2003Nelson and Cooke, 2001). Li et al (2003), studying foraminifers from ODP Leg 182 drill sites, specifically state (p. 1) "…The southern temperate assemblage hosted several subtropical species in the middle-late Eocene and Oligocene as immigrants probably transported by a warm-water system similar to the present-day Leeuwin Current..."…”

Section: Paleoenvironmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Late Eocene–Quaternary Dinoflagellate Cysts from ODP Site 1168, off Western Tasmania

Brinkhuis¹,

Munsterman²,

Sengers³

et al. 2003

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, 189 Scientific Results

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Palynomorphs were studied in samples from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 189, Hole 1168A (slope of the western margin of Tasmania; 2463 m water depth). Besides organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts), broad categories of other palynomorphs were quantified in terms of relative abundance. In this contribution, we provide an overview of the early late Eocene-Quaternary dinocyst distribution and illustrate main trends in palynomorph distribution.Dinocyst species throughout Hole 1168A are largely cosmopolitan with important contributions of typical low-latitude taxa and virtual absence of endemic Antarctic taxa. Dinocyst stratigraphic distribution broadly matches that known from the Northern Hemisphere and equatorial regions, although significant differences are noted. Selected potentially biochronostratigraphically useful events are summarized. The distribution of dinocysts in the middle-upper Miocene interval is rather patchy, probably due to prolonged exposure to oxygen. An important general aspect in the dinocyst assemblages is the near absence of Antarctic endemic species and the apparent influence of relatively warm waters throughout the succession at Site 1168. General palynomorph distribution indicates continued deepening from an initial shallow, even restricted, marine setting from late Eocene-Quaternary times. A curious massive influx of small skolochorate acritarchs is recorded throughout the late early-early middle Miocene; the significance of this

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Section: Paleoenvironmental Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Late Eocene–Quaternary Dinoflagellate Cysts from ODP Site 1168, off Western Tasmania

Brinkhuis¹,

Munsterman²,

Sengers³

et al. 2003

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, 189 Scientific Results

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“…The Leeuwin Current flows southwards down the west coast and wraps along the southern coastline of the continent, whereas the East Australian Current extends down the east coast and penetrates along the east coast of Tasmania during summer (Condie and Dunn 2006). These currents play an important role in the connectivity of larvae and propagules throughout the GSR (Condie et al 2005;Coleman et al 2011) and maintain relatively stable climatic conditions over seasonal and evolutionary time scales (McGowran et al 1997;Condie and Dunn 2006). Interestingly, however, although many species are shared between the eastern and western GSR, such as the dominant habitat-forming kelp Ecklonia radiata (Connell and Irving 2008;Marzinelli et al 2015), these regions have been connected through the Bass Strait for only ,10 000 years (Waters 2008) and still have low genetic connectivity (Waters 2008;Coleman et al 2013) and distinct biogeographical affinities (Waters et al 2010).…”

Section: The Ecological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The 'Great Southern Reef': social, ecological and economic value of Australia's neglected kelp forests

Bennett¹,

Wernberg²,

Connell³

et al. 2016

Mar. Freshwater Res.

322

229

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Abstract. Kelp forests define .8000 km of temperate coastline across southern Australia, where ,70% of Australians live, work and recreate. Despite this, public and political awareness of the scale and significance of this marine ecosystem is low, and research investment miniscule (,10%), relative to comparable ecosystems. The absence of an identity for Australia's temperate reefs as an entity has probably contributed to the current lack of appreciation of this system, which is at odds with its profound ecological, social and economic importance. We define the 'Great Southern Reef' (GSR) as Australia's spatially connected temperate reef system. The GSR covers ,71 000 km 2 and represents a global biodiversity hotspot across at least nine phyla. GSR-related fishing and tourism generates at least AU$10 billion year À1, and in this context the GSR is a significant natural asset for Australia and globally. Maintaining the health and ecological functioning of the GSR is critical to the continued sustainability of human livelihoods and wellbeing derived from it. By recognising the GSR as an entity we seek to boost awareness, and take steps towards negotiating the difficult challenges the GSR faces in a future of unprecedented coastal population growth and global change.

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“…Crucially, the LC originated ~40 Mya following the separation of Australia and Antarctica, and has had a major influence in shaping the marine flora of the region since its formation (McGowran, Li, Cann, Padley, McKirdy, Shafik, 1997). Thus, the flora has evolved largely in isolation, remained free from glaciation, and experienced stable warm waters and poleward winter flow for millions of years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assemblage turnover and taxonomic sufficiency of subtidal macroalgae at multiple spatial scales

Smale

Kendrick

Wernberg

2010

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Spatial variability in the structure of subtidal macroalgal assemblages in southwest Australia was examined at multiple spatial scales using a three-factor hierarchal design. Spatial extents ranged from metres (between quadrats) to many hundreds of kilometres (between regions), and the study encompassed >2000 km of temperate coastline. In addition, the influence of taxonomic resolution, from species level data through to class level, on spatial patterns was investigated to assess the potential evolutionary timescales of the pattern and for developing cost effective regionally applicable surrogates for biodiversity monitoring. Almost 300 species were identified from 14 sites, representing considerable biodiversity and a significant subset of the total benthic macroalgal diversity in the region (~1000 species). Multivariate variability was significant at all spatial scales examined, but most prominent at smallest spatial scales, regardless of taxonomic resolution. Assemblage and species turnover was pronounced at scales of metres to hundreds of metres. Generally, small scale patchiness was a ubiquitous pattern for all individual taxa examined, regardless of taxonomic resolution, while variability at the scale of 10s km was less important. Even so, differences in spatial variability between taxa were observed, and ecological and historical reasons for such differences are proposed. Taxonomic aggregation to family level had minimal effect on spatial patterns, but aggregation to order level led to changes in some aspects of patterns of assemblage structure. The unique and speciose macroalgal assemblages on subtidal reefs in southwest Australia are shaped by a complex array of historical and contemporary processes that act at multiple spatial (and temporal) scales. Understanding the relative importance of these processes requires that further manipulative and correlative work is conducted across a range of ecologically-important spatial scales.

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Biogeographic impact of the Leeuwin Current in southern Australia since the late middle Eocene

Cited by 133 publications

References 43 publications

Late Eocene–Quaternary Dinoflagellate Cysts from ODP Site 1168, off Western Tasmania

Late Eocene–Quaternary Dinoflagellate Cysts from ODP Site 1168, off Western Tasmania

The 'Great Southern Reef': social, ecological and economic value of Australia's neglected kelp forests

Assemblage turnover and taxonomic sufficiency of subtidal macroalgae at multiple spatial scales

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