IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page
A hypothesis concerning the influence of competition and stress on the structure of marine benthic communities
Hughes, R.G. (1985). A hypothesis concerning the influence of competition and stress on the structure of marine benthic communities, in: Gibbs, P.E. (Ed.) Proceedings of the 19th European Marine Biology Symposium, Plymouth, Devon, UK, 16-21 September 1984. pp. 391-400
In: Gibbs, P.E. (Ed.) (1985). Proceedings of the Nineteenth European Marine Biology Symposium, Plymouth, Devon, UK, 16-21 September 1984. European Marine Biology Symposia, 19. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. ISBN 0-521-30294-3. 541 pp., more
In: European Marine Biology Symposia., more
Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author  Top 
  • Hughes, R.G.
Abstract
    A theoretical model of marine benthic community dynamics has previously been used, as an alternative to the log-normal and log-series models, to provide an explanation for observed patterns of species abundance. This model is used to investigate how interspecific competition and stress (both intermittent and continual high mortality) may influence species abundance patterns. It is suggested that in stable communities a few species become dominant and through interspecific competition cause a large proportion of the remaining species to become rare. Communities recovering from a disturbance may have a relatively low proportion of rare species and conform to a truncated log-normal distribution as a result of relatively unrestricted population growth. These conclusions differ from the prevailing view in the ecological literature that a log-normal is characteristic of stable, equilibrium communities. Communities under more permanent or severe stress may resemble a log-series distribution.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Author