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Coastal Upwelling Drives Intertidal Assemblage Structure and Trophic Ecology
Carl J Reddin1, Felipe Docmac2, Nessa E O'Connor3
1School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|July 28, 2015
Summary
Coastal upwelling significantly shapes intertidal ecosystems, influencing macroalgal and benthic communities. Stable isotopes in mussels effectively track upwelling, offering an in situ alternative to offshore measurements.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Oceanography
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Environmental factors can create similarities in distant ecosystems.
- Coastal oceanic upwelling is linked to increased biomass and specific functional groups like macroalgae.
- Understanding upwelling's impact on intertidal zones is crucial for marine ecosystem management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of coastal upwelling on intertidal macrobenthic composition, structure, and trophic ecology in Northern Chile.
- To assess the effectiveness of stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) in tracking upwelling effects on intertidal communities.
- To evaluate the utility of mussel muscle δ15N as a proxy for upwelling influence.
Main Methods:
- Studied 18 shores across spatial scales (>1 and >10 km) relative to upwelling centers.
- Analyzed stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) in consumers and their resources (POM, biofilm, macroalgae).
- Utilized satellite data and corrections for environmental variables to validate findings.
Main Results:
- Stable isotope values confirmed the influence of coastal upwelling on consumer trophic ecology.
- Macroalgal and benthic consumer assemblages varied significantly with upwelling influence and coastal topography.
- Coastal topography influenced consumer resource use, with upwelling driving phytoplankton advection and cooling.
Conclusions:
- Coastal upwelling is a significant driver of intertidal community structure and trophic dynamics.
- Stable isotopes of benthic organisms, particularly suspension feeders like Perumytilus purpuratus, serve as reliable in situ indicators of upwelling.
- This study provides a valuable alternative to traditional offshore upwelling measurements.
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