Abstract
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 344:95-106 (2007) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps06924 Temperature explains settlement patterns of the introduced bryozoan Membranipora membranacea in Nova Scotia, Canada Megan Saunders*, Anna Metaxas Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada *Email: msaunders@dal.ca ABSTRACT: Settlement is a critical life-history stage for benthic invertebrates with a planktonic larval form, and is important for understanding mechanisms of larval supply and population dynamics. We examined spatial (metre to kilometre scales) and temporal (weekly to yearly scales) patterns in abundance of settlers of the introduced bryozoan Membranipora membranacea on the numerically dominant kelp Saccharina longicruris, at 2 sites in St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. Relationships between patterns in settlement and indices of the temperature regime, such as average weekly temperature, temperature fluctuations, water column stratification and thermal history (growing degree-day) were determined using multiple linear regressions. Although settler abundance varied interannually, it was highest in early autumn, and was generally higher at depth (12 and 8 m) than in the shallows (4 m). Abundance was an order of magnitude greater after a significantly warmer winter. Growing degree-day accounted for up to 81% of the variability in settler abundance, whereas average temperature, temperature fluctuations and stratification were less important. The strong positive relationship between thermal history and settlement of this ecologically important species suggests that abundance of established introduced marine species may increase with the increased temperatures predicted to result from climate change. KEY WORDS: Larval settlement · Temperature · Thermal history · Stratification · Bathymetric patterns · Benthic invertebrates · Introduced species · Climate change Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Saunders M, Metaxas A (2007) Temperature explains settlement patterns of the introduced bryozoan Membranipora membranacea in Nova Scotia, Canada. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 344:95-106. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps06924 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 344. Online publication date: August 23, 2007 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2007 Inter-Research.
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