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Biogeographical Patterns of Marine Benthic Invertebrates Along the Atlantic Coast of the Northeastern USA
Citation:
HALE, S. S. Biogeographical Patterns of Marine Benthic Invertebrates Along the Atlantic Coast of the Northeastern USA. Estuaries and Coasts. Estuarine Research Federation, Port Republic, MD, 33(5):1039-1053, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
Examine the biogeography of marine benthic invertebrates of the Atlantic coast of the northeastern USA, compare the results to historical biogeographic studies, define physical-chemical factors affecting species distributions, and provide biogeographic information needed to calibrate benthic indices of environmental condition.
Description:
Aim Examine the biogeography of marine benthic invertebrates of the Atlantic coast of the northeastern USA, compare the results to historical biogeographic studies, define physical-chemical factors affecting species distributions, and provide biogeographic information needed to calibrate benthic indices of environmental condition and that can also be used in future studies addressing broad-scale and long-term questions such as effects of global climate change. Location The Atlantic coast of the United States from Delaware Bay north to the Canadian border (38.5°N to 45.0°N), with particular attention to the Gulf of Maine. Methods Stations from the Acadian and Virginian Biogeographical Provinces, 2000-2005, of the National Coastal Assessment were grouped into half-degree bands of latitude. Polluted stations were removed, leaving 717 stations. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling were done on Bray-Curtis similarity matrices of species relative abundance to show spatial patterns. The ordination of benthic community data was compared with an ordination of abiotic data and a multivariate regression tree used to identify abiotic variables driving the observed biotic patterns. Results Latitude bands clustered in four major groups with faunal breaks at New York Bight, Cape Cod, and Cape Elizabeth. Latitude and temperature controlled broad distribution patterns; salinity and sediment grain size controlled local distributions. Percent endemism for clusters ranged from 2 to 27% and was higher for half-degree latitude bands in the middle of clusters. Abiotic patterns correlated with biotic patterns (R = 0.75, p < 0.0001). Main Conclusions For estuarine and coastal marine benthic invertebrates, Cape Cod is an important but leaky biogeographic boundary. The Virginian Province is a valid biogeographical province but there is evidence for an excursion of warm-temperate species north into Cape Cod Bay. In addition to providing biogeographic information for studies of environmental impacts such as chemical contamination, eutrophication, and hypoxia, these results can help address broad-scale and long-term issues such as global climate change, species invasions, conservation planning, and ecosystem-based management. Application of ecoinformatics will lead to new and more sophisticated ecogeographical analyses.