Large-scale ocean connectivity and planktonic body size.

Area of Science:

• Marine ecology
• Oceanography
• Biodiversity science

Background:

• Global planktonic diversity is primarily shaped by ocean current dispersal.
• The influence of organism abundance and body size on spatial diversity patterns is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between beta-diversity, dispersal, and organism traits (abundance, body size) in marine ecosystems.
• To determine the relative importance of dispersal versus environmental factors in structuring marine communities.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of beta-diversity for planktonic and nektonic organisms across various size ranges.
• Comparison of observed beta-diversity with surface ocean transit times from a global circulation model.
• Correlation of dispersal scales with organism body size and local abundance.

Main Results:

• A significant negative relationship was found between beta-diversity and ocean transit times, stronger than environmental influences.
• Dispersal scales showed a negative correlation with body size.
• Larger, less abundant organisms exhibited shorter dispersal scales and higher spatial turnover rates than smaller, more abundant plankton.

Conclusions:

• Local abundance, influenced by body size, is a primary determinant of dispersal scale for planktonic and micro-nektonic organisms.
• These factors collectively shape global spatial patterns of marine biodiversity.