title: Large-scale spatial distribution patterns of gastropod assemblages in rocky shores.
abstract: Gastropod assemblages from nearshore rocky habitats were studied over large spatial scales to (1) describe broad-scale patterns in assemblage composition, including patterns by feeding modes, (2) identify latitudinal pattern of biodiversity, i.e., richness and abundance of gastropods and/or regional hotspots, and (3) identify potential environmental and anthropogenic drivers of these assemblages. Gastropods were sampled from 45 sites distributed within 12 Large Marine Ecosystem regions (LME) following the NaGISA (Natural Geography in Shore Areas) standard protocol (www.nagisa.coml.org). A total of 393 gastropod taxa from 87 families were collected. Eight of these families (9.2%) appeared in four or more different LMEs. Among these, the Littorinidae was the most widely distributed (8 LMEs) followed by the Trochidae and the Columbellidae (6 LMEs). In all regions, assemblages were dominated by few species, the most diverse and abundant of which were herbivores. No latitudinal gradients were evident in relation to species richness or densities among sampling sites. Highest diversity was found in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Alaska, while highest densities were found at different latitudes and represented by few species within one genus (e.g. Afrolittorina in the Agulhas Current, Littorina in the Scotian Shelf, and Lacuna in the Gulf of Alaska). No significant correlation was found between species composition and environmental variables (r≤0.355, p>0.05). Contributing variables to this low correlation included invasive species, inorganic pollution, SST anomalies, and chlorophyll-a anomalies. Despite data limitations in this study which restrict conclusions in a global context, this work represents the first effort to sample gastropod biodiversity on rocky shores using a standardized protocol across a wide scale. Our results will generate more work to build global databases allowing for large-scale diversity comparisons of rocky intertidal assemblages.
authors: Departamento de Estudios Ambientales and Centro de Biodiversidad Marina, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Miranda, Venezuela. pmilos@usb.ve
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Miloslavich
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: Cruz-Motta
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Klein
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Iken
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Weinberger
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Konar
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Trott
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Pohle
authors: Gregorio
authors: G
authors: Bigatti
authors: Lisandro
authors: L
authors: Benedetti-Cecchi
authors: Yoshihisa
authors: Y
authors: Shirayama
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Mead
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Palomo
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Ortiz
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Gobin
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Sardi
authors: Juan Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Díaz
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Knowlton
authors: Melisa
authors: M
authors: Wong
authors: Ana C
authors: AC
authors: Peralta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D049851:Gastropoda; D009791:Oceanography; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D062206:Spatial Analysis
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