Journal article
Edge patterns in aquatic invertebrates explained by predictive models
PI MacReadie, RM Connolly, GP Jenkins, JS Hindell, MJ Keough
Marine and Freshwater Research | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2010
DOI: 10.1071/MF09072
Abstract
Predictive frameworks for understanding and describing how animals respond to habitat fragmentation, particularly across edges, have been largely restricted to terrestrial systems. Abundances of zooplankton and meiofauna were measured across seagrasssand edges and the patterns compared with predictive models of edge effects. Artificial seagrass patches were placed on bare sand, and zooplankton and meiofauna were sampled with tube traps at five positions (from patch edges: 12, 60 and 130 cm into seagrass; and 12 and 60 cm onto sand). Position effects consisted of the following three general patterns: (1) increases in abundance around the seagrasssand edge (total abundance and cumaceans); (2) ..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We thank T. Smith, R. Watson and M. Reardon for field assistance, J. Smith and M. Palmer for laboratory assistance, the people of Roytal Enterprises for constructing ASUs and the referees for their insightful comments on the manuscript. Funding was provided through grants from the Australian Research Council (R. C., J. H., G. J.), CSIRO (P. M. with D. Smith), Holsworth Wildlife Foundation (P. M.), and a Nancy Millis Research Award (P. M.). Research was done under University of Melbourne Animal Ethics and Department of Primary Industries Fisheries permits, using the facilities of the Victorian Marine Science Consortium.