Skip to main content
Log in

Zonation in the deep benthic megafauna

Application of a general test

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A test based on Maxwell-Boltzman statistics, instead of the formerly suggested but inappropriate Bose-Einstein statistics (Pielou and Routledge, 1976), examines the distribution of the boundaries of species' ranges distributed along a gradient, and indicates whether they are random or clustered (zoned). The test is most useful as a preliminary to the application of more instructive but less statistically rigorous methods such as cluster analysis. The test indicates zonation is marked in the deep benthic megafauna living between 200 and 3000 m, but below 3000 m little zonation may be found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Day, J.H., Field, J.G., Montgomery, M.P.: The use of numerical methods to determine the distribution of the benthic fauna across the Continental Shelf of North Carolina. J. Anim. Ecol. 40, 93–125 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Feller, W.P.: An introduction to probability theory and its applications, Vol. I, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley 1958

    Google Scholar 

  • Grassle, J.F., Smith, W.: A similarity measure sensitive to the contribution of rare species and its use in investigation of variation in marine benthic communities. Oecologia (Berl.) 25, 13–22 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haedrich, R.L., Rowe, G.T., Polloni, P.T.: Zonation and faunal composition of epibenthic populations on the continental slope south of New England. J. Mar. Res. 33, 191–212 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielou, E.C., Routledge, R.D.: Salt marsh vegetation: latitudinal gradients in the zonation patterns. Oecologia (Berl.) 24, 311–321 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gardiner, F.P., Haedrich, R.L. Zonation in the deep benthic megafauna. Oecologia 31, 311–317 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346250

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346250

Keywords

Navigation