ISSN:
1573-5133
Keywords:
Arctic
;
Boreal
;
Coral reefs
;
Diel patterns
;
Ecology
;
Diversity
;
Lakes
;
Seasonal differences
;
Stability
;
Tropics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Synopsis Freshwater and marine fish communities are described and compared for arctic, boreal and tropical latitudes. Details of habitat characteristics, species numbers, and diel and seasonal differences in distribution are given for each community type. The order of increasing richness of fish species in these environments is (1) arctic lakes, (2) arctic marine, (3) boreal lakes, (4) tropical lakes, (5) boreal marine and (6) tropical marine. The richness of numbers of species can be related to a series of factors, each of which may function at some threshold value. These factors include climatic perturbation, solar radiation, spatial heterogeneity, available nutrient supply, availability of cover, and geological time. Discontinuities in the availability of some factors can be partially compensated for by torpor or aestivation; this effectively removes the fish from the community for a period of time. Increased diversity may also be effected through the diurnal/nocturnal shift in activity in some fish communities. The development of an organic matrix, notably macrophyte beds or coral reefs, may contribute significantly to an increase in diversity within fish communities. This matrix operates by an increase in spatial heterogeneity and in biological interactions. The apparent lack of resilience of high diversity fish communities can be related to the characteristics of the underlying organic matrix. A change in the matrix will cause a change in the level of fish diversity that can be maintained in the system.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00006307
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