Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 3 of 3
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Why Biodiversity Is Important To The Functioning Of Real-World Ecosystems, Je Duffy
Why Biodiversity Is Important To The Functioning Of Real-World Ecosystems, Je Duffy
VIMS Articles
Controlled experiments have substantially advanced our understanding of the links between changing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) in recent years. However, controversy continues regarding the relevance of BEF experiments to the complex ecosystems and large spatial and temporal scales of interest in conservation and management. Here, I address some of the persistent criticisms regarding experimental BEF research and argue that these have been overstated. Contrary to some suggestions, many putative artifacts attributed to experiments render their conclusions about BEF links stronger, rather than weaker. Like other broad ecological concepts, BEF focuses on general patterns, rather than looking at species-level, applied …
Bacterial Vs. Zooplankton Control Of Sinking Particle Flux In The Ocean's Twilight Zone, Deborah K. Steinberg, Benjamin A.S. Van Mooy, Ken O. Buesseler, Philip W. Boyd, Toru Kobari, David M. Karl
Bacterial Vs. Zooplankton Control Of Sinking Particle Flux In The Ocean's Twilight Zone, Deborah K. Steinberg, Benjamin A.S. Van Mooy, Ken O. Buesseler, Philip W. Boyd, Toru Kobari, David M. Karl
VIMS Articles
The downward flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) decreases significantly in the oceanÂs mesopelagic or ‘twilight’ zone due both to abiotic processes and metabolism by resident biota. Bacteria and zooplankton solubilize and consume POC to support their metabolism, but the relative importance of bacteria vs. zooplankton in the consumption of sinking particles in the twilight zone is unknown. We compared losses of sinking POC, using differences in export flux measured by neutrally buoyant sediment traps at a range of depths, with bacteria and zooplankton metabolic requirements at the Hawaii Ocean Time‐series station ALOHA in the subtropical Pacific and the Japanese …
The Charisma Of Coastal Ecosystems: Addressing The Imbalance, Carlos M. Duarte, Wc Dennison, Robert J. Orth, Tim J. Carruthers
The Charisma Of Coastal Ecosystems: Addressing The Imbalance, Carlos M. Duarte, Wc Dennison, Robert J. Orth, Tim J. Carruthers
VIMS Articles
Coastal ecosystems including coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes are being lost at alarming rates, and increased scientific understanding of causes has failed to stem these losses. Coastal habitats receive contrasting research effort, with 60% of all of the published research carried out on coral reefs, compared to 11–14% of the records for each of salt marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. In addition, these highly connected and interdependent coastal ecosystems receive widely contrasting media attention that is disproportional to their scientific attention. Seagrass ecosystems receive the least attention in the media (1.3% of the media reports) …