The intertidal zone of the north-east Atlantic region: pattern and process

Hawkins, Stephen J., Notman, Gill ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7531-2709 and et, al. (2019) The intertidal zone of the north-east Atlantic region: pattern and process. In: Hawkins, Steven J., Bohn, Katrin, Firth, Louise B. and Williams, Gray A., (eds.) Interactions in the marine benthos: global patterns and processes. Systematics Association Special Volumes Series, 87 . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 7-46. Full text not available from this repository.

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Abstract

The rocky shores of the north-east Atlantic have been long studied. Our focus is from Gibraltar to Norway plus the Azores and Iceland. Phylogeographic processes shape biogeographic patterns of biodiversity. Long-term and broadscale studies have shown the responses of biota to past climate fluctuations and more recent anthropogenic climate change. Inter- and intra-specific species interactions along sharp local environmental gradients shape distributions and community structure and hence ecosystem functioning. Shifts in domination by fucoids in shelter to barnacles/mussels in exposure are mediated by grazing by patellid limpets. Further south fucoids become increasingly rare, with species disappearing or restricted to estuarine refuges, caused by greater desiccation and grazing pressure. Mesoscale processes influence bottom-up nutrient forcing and larval supply, hence affecting species abundance and distribution, and can be proximate factors setting range edges (e.g., the English Channel, the Iberian Peninsula). Impacts of invasive non-native species are reviewed. Knowledge gaps such as the work on rockpools and host–parasite dynamics are also outlined.

Item Type:	Book Section
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISBN:	9781108416085
Departments:	Institute of Science and Environment > STEM
Additional Information:	Chapter 2 within book.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2019 15:00
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2024 15:03
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/5067