Maximum Depth Of Occurrence Research Articles

Predicting time‐at‐depth weighted biodiversity patterns for sharks of the North Pacific

Depth is a fundamental and universal driver of ocean biogeography but it is unclear how the biodiversity patterns of larger, more mobile organisms change as a function of depth. Here, we developed a predictive biogeography model to explore how information of mobile species' depth preferences influence biodiversity patterns. We employed a literature review to collate shark biotelemetry studies and used open‐access tools to extract 283 total records from 119 studies of 1133 sharks from 35 species. We then matched field guide reported depth ranges and IUCN habitat associations for each shark species to use as covariates in a hurdle variant of ensemble random forests. We successfully fit this model (R2 = 0.63) to the noisy time‐at‐depth observations and used it to predict the time budgets of the northeast Pacific shark regional pool (n = 52). We then assessed how occurrence diversity patterns, informed by minimum and maximum depth of occurrence, compared to time‐at‐depth weighted diversity patterns. Time‐at‐depth weighted richness was highest between 0 and 25 m and at the upper part of the mesopelagic zone, 250–300 m; resulting in little similarity to common depth or elevational biodiversity patterns while the occurrence‐weighted richness pattern was similar to the ‘low‐plateau' pattern. In the phylogenetic and functional dimensions of biodiversity and over three different distance metrics, we found strong but haphazard differences between the occurrence‐ and time‐at‐depth weighted biodiversity patterns. The strong influence of time budgets on biodiversity led us to conclude that occurrence data alone are likely insufficient or even misleading in terms of the depth‐driven biogeographic patterns in the open ocean. Utilizing the increasing amount of time‐at‐depth information from biotelemetry studies in predictive biogeographic models may be critical for capturing the preferences of pelagic, mobile species occupying the largest biome on the planet.

Features of the processes of convection and water intrusion at the boundary of the hydrogen sulfide contamination layer in the Black Sea in the climatic period 1991—2020

The comparison of modern hydrophysical conditions in the Black Sea with the previously analyzed period of 1903—1982 was carried out based on the materials of the recently created (1991—2020) climate array of average monthly thermohaline characteristics of waters. The dynamic of processes in the upper 150-meter layer (halocline) of the Black Sea was evaluated based on the analysis of climatic materials on the vertical distribution of the depth of the maximum water salinity gradient, which is interpreted as the upper boundary of the hydrogen sulfide layer in the Black Sea. The comparison of state and seasonal fluctuations of this characteristic during the analysis of average monthly maps was carried out by their averaging. According to modern data(1991—2020), in the open part of the sea, a more intense intrusion of these waters up to a horizon of 40 m was found, as well as single cases of natural release of hydrogen sulfide from the depth to the surface. There is a clearly pronounced semi-annual cyclicity in temporal variability; however, in the modern period, the shift was for the whole season: in 1903—1982, the convection (the downwelling of these waters) occurred during autumn-winter, and intrusion (upwelling) — during spring-summer; in 1991—2020 according to the same climatic data, convection occurs during winter-spring, and intrusion occurs during summer-autumn, with the maximum depth of occurrence during the period of winter-spring convection and the minimum during the period of summer-autumn water intrusion. The axes of the northern and southern convergence zones laying near the corresponding coasts of the sea, and the axis of the zone of central divergence is close to open areas in its middle part. By these axes, the differences in the depth of occurrence between the period of convection and intrusion in the northern and southern convergence zones were 21.5 and 17.5 m, respectively; for the central divergence zone, it was 7.5 m.

Near-equal compressibility of liver oil and seawater minimises buoyancy changes in deep-sea sharks and chimaeras.

Whereas upper ocean pelagic sharks are negatively buoyant and must swim continuously to generate lift from their fins, deep-sea sharks float or swim slowly buoyed up by large volumes of low-density oils in their livers. Investigation of the pressure, volume, temperature (PVT) relationships for liver oils of 10 species of deep-sea Chondrichthyes shows that the density difference between oil and seawater, Δρ, remains almost constant with pressure down to full ocean depth (11 km, 1100 bar), theoretically providing buoyancy far beyond the maximum depth of occurrence (3700 m) of sharks. However, Δρ does change significantly with temperature and we show that the combined effects of pressure and temperature can decrease buoyancy of oil by up to 10% between the surface and 3500 m depth across interfaces between warm southern and cold polar waters in the Rockall Trough in the NE Atlantic. This increases drag more than 10-fold compared with neutral buoyancy during horizontal slow swimming (0.1 m s-1), but the effect becomes negligible at high speeds. Chondrichthyes generally experience positive buoyancy change during ascent and negative buoyancy change during descent, but contrary effects can occur at interfaces between waters of different densities. During normal vertical migrations buoyancy changes are small, increasing slow-speed drag no more than 2- to 3-fold. Equations and tables of density, pressure and temperature are provided for squalene and liver oils of Chimaeriformes (Harriotta raleighana, Chimaera monstrosa, Hydrolagus affinis), Squaliformes (Centrophorus squamosus, Deania calcea, Centroscymnus coelolepis, Centroscyllium fabricii, Etmopterus spinax) and Carcharhiniformes (Apristurus laurussonii, Galeus murinus).

The colonization success of an exotic Poaceae is related to native macrophyte richness, wind disturbance and riparian vegetation

Biotic and abiotic factors are filters that prevent invasions in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In this investigation we tested the hypothesis that the success of a non-native Poaceae (Urochloa subquadripara) is positively correlated with the richness of native macrophytes and negatively correlated with wind disturbance (fetch) and presence of riparian vegetation on coarse spatial scales. Our samplings were carried out in a tropical reservoir (Rosana Reservoir, Brazil). We first compared competing models using the Akaike criterion to find the main combinations of explanatory variables (native macrophyte richness, fetch, and presence of riparian vegetation) associated with the success of U. subquadripara. Then, we applied multiple regressions to assess the coefficient of determination of the best models selected according to the Akaike criterion. The probability of occurrence of U. subquadripara increased significantly with increases in the number of native macrophyte species, but decreased with fetch and the presence of riparian vegetation. Stand width and maximum depth of occurrence (indicators of the success of this Poaceae) were also positively related with native richness and negatively with fetch and riparian vegetation. Our results supported our expectation that wave disturbance is an important variable explaining U. subquadripara success. Because the less exposed sites are also more favorable for colonization by natives, positive relationships between the success of non-native species and native diversity emerge at the coarse scale. Taken together, our results support the theory of “biotic acceptance”; that is, favorable sites are more prone to colonization by both native and non-native species.

Phylogenetic analysis of high‐frequency hearing in teleost fishes.

The evolutionary drivers responsible for the selection of high‐frequency hearing in teleosts remain unclear. It is generally accepted that low‐frequency hearing is the basal (plesiomorphic) condition, with specializations evolving to allow expansion of hearing bandwidth. While selective forces, usually habitat‐based, have been proposed to explain the evolution of high‐frequency hearing, phylogenetic analysis is currently lacking. The current study examines all available teleost hearing abilities in relation to habitat parameters, salinity, and maximum depth of occurrence of each species. There was no statistical correlation between any of these parameters and maximum frequency of detection and only a weak relationship to best frequency. Phylogenetic position, at the subdivision/superorder level, did significantly predict both maximum and best frequency of detection, but there was no consistent pattern of high‐frequency hearing within the Teleostei, suggesting independent evolution of this ability. These t...

Bivalves in surface deposits of the southern Baltic

Maximum depth of occurrence and preferred substrata have been determined, and distribution maps prepared for four bivalve species of the S Baltic: Cerastoderma glaucum (Poiret) (30–35 m, sandy bottom), Macoma balthica (L.) (55–80 m, muddy bottom), Mya arenaria L. (30–35 m, sandy bottom) and Mytilus edulis L. (40–50 m, stony bottom); four bivalve communities have been distinguished and mapped.

Depth zonation and latitudinal distribution of deep-sea scavenging demersal fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 42 to 53°N

Scavenging fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) were investigated using a baited autonomous lander equipped with a time-lapse camera between 924 and 3420 m water depth along 3 east-west transects at 42, 51 and 53° N across the MAR. We photographed 22 taxa at bait. Community structure analysis revealed 3 main assemblages, shallow (924 to 1198 m), intermediate (1569 to 2355 m) and deep (2869 to 3420 m), dominated by 3 species, Synaphobranchus kaupii, Antimora rostrata and Coryphaenoides (Nematonurus) armatus, respectively. Abyssal species in the axial valley region were C. armatus, Histiobranchus bathybius and Spectrunculus sp. Compared with continental margin regions A. rostrata were abundant and grew to a large size in the 2 northern transects, whereas S. kaupii were reduced in abundance and maximum depth of occurrence. The size, abundance and depth distribution of C. armatus was consistent with the hypothesis that these fish are part of a population mixing freely across the deep North Atlantic Basin. Temperature and latitude influenced distribution. (1) Five taxa were found only in the southern transect: Pseudotriakis microdon, Centroscymnus coelolepis, Simenchelys parasitica, Anguilliformes sp. and Lepidion 1 sp. (guentheri?). (2) Eight taxa were confined to the 2 northern transects: Bathyraja sp., Coryphaenoides 1 sp. (leptolepis?/mediterraneus?), Coryphaenoides 2 sp. (leptolepis?/mediterraneus?), Macrourus berglax, young macrourids, Lepidion 2 spp. (schmidti?), Anarhichas denticulatus and an unidentified zoarcid (Lycodonus n. sp.?/Lycenchelys alba?). (3) Eight species were ubiquitous across all 3 transects: Etmopterus princeps, Hydrolagus affinis, H. bathybius, S. kaupii, C. armatus, A. rostrata, Lepidion eques and Spectrunculus 1 sp..

Species range size distributions for some marine taxa in the Atlantic Ocean. Effect of latitude and depth

The range size distributions of 6643 species in ten different fish and invertebrate taxa dwelling in pelagic (latitudinal range sizes) and benthic (latitudinal and depth range sizes) habitats on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (80 ∞ N - 70 ∞ S) were studied. The objectives were to analyse: (1) the range size distribution patterns for the various taxa and whether they have right/left skewed or lognormal distributions; (2) the geographical species distributions, to ascertain whether the distribution ranges change with latitude (Rapoport’s rule); and (3) the relationship between the depth ranges of benthic species and their maximum depth of occurrence and how depth range size distributions change with latitude. The pelagic taxa exhibited larger range sizes than did the benthic taxa, continental slope/rise species excepted. On the other hand, the boundaries between geographical provinces for both benthic taxa and pelagic taxa tended to occur in association with major oceanographic processes. The shape of the latitudinal range frequency distributions (LRFDs) of the pelagic organisms were distinctly left-skewed, and the LRFDs for most taxa were significantly different from lognormal. There was no common pattern for the distributions of the benthic organisms, which were lognormal in Cephalopoda, Stomatopoda, and Crustacea Decapoda and tended to be left-skewed and significantly different from lognormal in Pisces. The applicability of Rapoport’s rule was not clearly inferable from the results, and the rule appears to be conditioned by the location of biogeographical boundaries and the endemism rate in the different biogeographical provinces. A clear increase in depth range size with maximum depth range was observable for benthic species, confirming previous studies. Species’ depth range distributions displayed a discernible latitudinal pattern, right-skewed at high latitudes and left-skewed at low latitudes. The location of biogeographical boundaries, and endemism rate by biogeographical province were considered to be the factors most useful in explaining species’ distribution patterns and their conformity or nonconformity to Rapoport’s rule. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 80 , 437‐455.

Influence of swimming form on otolith δ13C in marine fish

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 258:283-289 (2003) - doi:10.3354/meps258283 Influence of swimming form on otolith δ13C in marine fish Graham D. Sherwood*, George A. Rose Fisheries Conservation Chair, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, PO Box 4920, St. John¹s, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 5R3, Canada *Email: grahamsherwood@hotmail.com ABSTRACT: While temperature records are available from otolith δ18O profiles in fish, interpreting changes in otolith δ13C remains ambiguous. We compiled a global database of published otolith δ13C values for 60 species representing 30 families of marine fishes. Species¹ mean otolith δ13C ranged from +0.5 to -8.6 ‰. Among-family variance in otoli δ13C was uniquely explained by a morphometric index for aerobic swimming activity (caudal aspect ratio, r2 = 0.61). The models that consistently explained the maximum among-species variance in otolith &symbol;13C included caudal aspect ratio and maximum depth of occurrence. Our analysis supports the use of otolith carbon-isotope ratios to indicate metabolism (primarily active) in marine fish. This information may be applied to studies of fish feeding and related food-web structure, both past and present. KEY WORDS: Otolith · Stable isotopes · δ13C · Marine fish · Metabolism · Swimming activity · Caudal aspect ratio · Morphometrics Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 258. Online publication date: August 29, 2003 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2003 Inter-Research.

Age determination and validation studies of marine fishes: do deep-dwellers live longer?

Age determination and validation studies on deep-water marine fishes indicate they are difficult to age and often long-lived. Techniques for the determination of age in individual fish includes growth-zone analysis of vertebral centra, fin rays and spines, other skeletal structures, and otoliths (there are three sets of otoliths in most bony fish semicircular canals, each of which is made of calcium carbonate). Most have regular increments deposited as the fish (and its semicircular canals) grows. The most commonly used otolith for age determination is the largest one called the sagitta. Age validation techniques include: (1) tag-recapture, often combined with oxytetracycline injection and analysis in growth-zones of bone upon recapture; (2) analysis of growth-zones over time; and (3) radiometric approaches utilizing a known radioactive decay series as an independent chronometer in otoliths from bony fishes. We briefly summarize previous studies using these three validation approaches and present results from several of our radiometric studies on deep-water, bony fishes recently subjected to expanding fisheries. Radiometric age validation results are presented for four species of scorpaenid fishes (the bank, Sebastes rufus, and bocaccio, S. paucispinis, rockfishes, and two thornyhead species, Sebastolobus altivelis and S. alascanus). In addition, our analysis of scorpaenids indicates that longevity increases exponentially with maximum depth of occurrence. The reason that the deep-water forms of scorpaenid fishes are long-lived is uncertain. Their longevity, however, may be related to altered physiological processes relative to environmental parameters like low temperature, high pressures, low light levels, low oxygen, and poor food resources.

Bathymetric Distribution of Sea Stars (Asteroidea) off the Northern Oregon Coast

During U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries' Atomic Energy Commission trawling investigations in waters adjacent to the mouth of the Columbia River, a total of 54 species and one subspecies of sea stars was collected from bottom depths of 50–1050 fath. The sea stars in the area of study can be divided into four faunal assemblages by benthic zones: (1) an outer sublittoral fauna (50–108 fath) consisting of several shallow-water species, some of which have their apparent maximum depth of occurrence in this zone. The number of species and the availability of sea stars per hour of trawling is much lower in this zone compared to the other benthic zones in the study area; (2) an upper bathyal fauna (122–258 fath) consisting of several species having either a continuous or discontinuous circumboreal distribution; (3) a lower bathyal fauna (275–500 fath) characterized by a large number of species and a high availability of sea stars in terms of numbers and weight per hour of trawling. Several of the more frequently occurring and abundant species in this zone belong to genera endemic to the northeastern Pacific; and (4) an abyssal fauna (900–1050 fath) consisting almost entirely of species belonging to cosmopolitan genera.The bathyal-abyssal zone (585–850 fath) is considered a zone of transition because of the intrusion into this zone of elements of the sea star fauna from both the lower bathyal and the abyssal.