Interactions between disturbance and dispersal reduce persistence thresholds in a benthic community

Lundquist, Carolyn J.; Thrush, Simon F.; Coco, Giovanni; Hewitt, Judi E.

doi:10.3354/meps08578

Cited by 39 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(108 reference statements)

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“…However, heterogeneity and connectivity within an estuary also depends on natural factors, such as currents and dispersion barriers [7], [32], [49], and the nine estuaries also differed in their morphological and hydrodynamic characteristics. The dissimilarity in communities between estuaries we observed was related to their morphology, hydrodynamics and land-use and not to spatial distance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a naturally heterogeneous estuarine system we would expect local connectivity patterns (connecting patches on the 10–100 m scale) to be strongly influenced by micro-scale environmental variability, while at larger scales we would expect estuarine morphology and hydrodynamics to increase in importance, although these different scales will interact [2], [6], [31], [32]. Diffuse sources of stress in these estuaries are mainly caused by land-based environmental stressors that include runoff from agricultural, industrial and urban land-use [10], [33], [34] modified by the size and topography of the catchment as well as by climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Counting on β-Diversity to Safeguard the Resilience of Estuaries

2013

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Coastal ecosystems are often stressed by non-point source and cumulative effects that can lead to local-scale community homogenisation and a concomitant loss of large-scale ecological connectivity. Here we investigate the use of β-diversity as a measure of both community heterogeneity and ecological connectivity. To understand the consequences of different environmental scenarios on heterogeneity and connectivity, it is necessary to understand the scale at which different environmental factors affect β-diversity. We sampled macrofauna from intertidal sites in nine estuaries from New Zealand’s North Island that represented different degrees of stress derived from land-use. We used multiple regression models to identify relationships between β-diversity and local sediment variables, factors related to the estuarine and catchment hydrodynamics and morphology and land-based stressors. At local scales, we found higher β-diversity at sites with a relatively high total richness. At larger scales, β-diversity was positively related to γ-diversity, suggesting that a large regional species pool was linked with large-scale heterogeneity in these systems. Local environmental heterogeneity influenced β-diversity at both local and regional scales, although variables at the estuarine and catchment scales were both needed to explain large scale connectivity. The estuaries expected a priori to be the most stressed exhibited higher variance in community dissimilarity between sites and connectivity to the estuary species pool. This suggests that connectivity and heterogeneity metrics could be used to generate early warning signals of cumulative stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Counting on β-Diversity to Safeguard the Resilience of Estuaries

2013

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“…Species vary in their inclination to use specific refuge types, their ability to persist in refuges during disturbance conditions, and the time scale and likelihood to recover their former abundance following disturbances. In systems where organisms have more restricted dispersal capabilities than the fish in our study, disruption of community structure may occur at relatively small increases in disturbance frequency (Lundquist et al 2010). Anthropogenic changes to natural landscapes may both provide and reduce habitats that can serve as refuge during extreme environmental conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Disturbance regime and limits on benefits of refuge use for fishes in a fluctuating hydroscape

Parkos¹,

Ruetz²,

Trexler³

2011

Oikos

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Refuge habitats increase survival rate and recovery time of populations experiencing environmental disturbance, but limits on the ability of refuges to buffer communities are poorly understood. We hypothesized that importance of refuges in preventing population declines and alteration in community structure has a non‐linear relationship with severity of disturbance. In the Florida Everglades, alligator ponds are used as refuge habitat by fishes during seasonal drying of marsh habitats. Using an 11‐year record of hydrological conditions and fish abundance in 10 marshes and 34 alligator ponds from two regions of the Everglades, we sought to characterize patterns of refuge use and temporal dynamics of fish abundance and community structure across changing intensity, duration, and frequency of drought disturbance. Abundance in alligator ponds was positively related to refuge size, distance from alternative refugia (e.g. canals), and abundance in surrounding marsh prior to hydrologic disturbance. Variables negatively related to abundance in alligator ponds included water level in surrounding marsh and abundance of disturbance‐tolerant species. Refuge community structure did not differ between regions because the same subset of species in both regions used alligator ponds during droughts. When time between disturbances was short, fish abundance declined in marshes, and in the region with the most spatially extensive pattern of disturbance, community structure was altered in both marshes and alligator ponds because of an increased proportion of species more resistant to disturbance. These changes in community structure were associated with increases in both duration and frequency of hydrologic disturbance. Use of refuge habitat had a modal relationship with severity of disturbance regime. Spatial patterns of response suggest that decline in refuge use was because of decreased effectiveness of refuge habitat in reducing mortality and providing sufficient time for recovery for fish communities experiencing reduced time between disturbance events.

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“…Understanding the precise nature of anthropogenic stressors has high uncertainty in complex ecological systems with cumulative effects, thresholds and multiple interactions at different levels of system organisation (Hinz et al 2009, Lundquist et al 2010). However, the EPA can be used to list the general effects of stressors to link existing ecosystem principles to goods and services.…”

Section: Using the Epa To Trace The Impact Of Disturbances On Ecosystmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simplifying the complex: an ‘Ecosystem Principles Approach’ to goods and services management in marine coastal ecosystems

Townsend¹,

Thrush²,

Carbines³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

Self Cite

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The ability to manage complex systems effectively must stem from simplifications of ecological knowledge. We present a technique called the 'Ecosystem Principles Approach' (EPA) as a progressive way of incorporating ecology into goods and services assessments. The EPA moves away from the complexity of ecosystem functions and focuses on general ecological principles. These principles more explicitly define key elements of system functioning, are not spatially or temporally confined, and can be utilised in assessment and decision-making processes. When applied to a coastal system in New Zealand, the EPA highlighted that services were primarily dependent on connectivity and that the maintenance of healthy intertidal areas was highly important for system functioning. The approach also demonstrated a separation between locations where ecosystem functions were generated and where services were valued. A high level of multi-functionality and connectivity between goods and services in marine coastal systems suggests services should be managed collectively rather than individually. The strength of the EPA is that it aligns to the principles of 'EcosystemBased Management'. This approach demonstrates how ecological information can be simplified into a format that can advise policy and better integrate with management. It highlights the need for greater trans-disciplinary integration of ecology and social science to better understand how human interactions result in critical community shifts and loss of resilience.

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Interactions between disturbance and dispersal reduce persistence thresholds in a benthic community

Cited by 39 publications

References 82 publications

Counting on β-Diversity to Safeguard the Resilience of Estuaries

Counting on β-Diversity to Safeguard the Resilience of Estuaries

Disturbance regime and limits on benefits of refuge use for fishes in a fluctuating hydroscape

Simplifying the complex: an ‘Ecosystem Principles Approach’ to goods and services management in marine coastal ecosystems

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