Currents connecting communities: nearshore community similarity and ocean circulation

• DOI: 10.1890/10-1436.1
• Publication Date: 2011-02-04T21:49:51Z
• Authors: J. R. Watson; C. G. Hays; P. T. Raimondi; S. Mitarai; C. Dong; J. C. McWilliams; C. A. Blanchette; J. E. Caselle; D. A. Siegel
• Keywords: Seascape

Understanding the mechanisms that create spatial heterogeneity in species distributions is fundamental to ecology. For nearshore marine systems, most have a pelagic larval stage where dispersal strongly influenced by patterns of ocean circulation. Concomitantly, habitats and local environment are also Because shared dependence on seascape, distinguishing relative importance from regional for community structure remains challenge. Here, we quantify "oceanographic distance" asymmetry" between sites using circulation modeling results. These novel metrics separation based realistic circulation, explore their explanatory power intertidal subtidal similarity Southern California Bight. We find these show significant correspondence with combined exceeds thermal domain. Our approach identifies unique influence provides evidence oceanographically mediated limitation communities.