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| Recent Talks |
Kinlan* and Koch, et al. 2010 (Contributed Talk)
ASLO/AGU/TOS Ocean Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR, 22-26 Feb 2010
EMPIRICAL ESTIMATION OF LARVAL CONNECTIVITY ACROSS A SPECIES RANGE FROM MULTIVARIATE NATURAL TAG-RECAPTURE DATA
Kinlan, B.P.; Koch, S.E.; Zacherl, D.C.; Warner, R.R.
Predictive understanding of marine population dynamics at regional to
global scales requires quantitative estimates of connectivity across
species' ranges. Yet, the difficulty of tracing individual settling
larvae back to their natal populations has stymied efforts to directly
estimate connectivity. The few successes in this endeavor are
limited to cases of small numbers of distinct potential source
populations (e.g., estuarine or island species) with unique natural
geochemical or genetic signatures. The problem is much more difficult
for open coast marine species, where unsampled potential source
populations inevitably outnumber the locations sampled to develop a
source atlas. Here, we present a novel statistical approach that
couples recruit-to-source assignment with a multivariate model of
spatial correlation in natural signatures to account for the
contribution of unsampled sources. Applying this technique to
geochemical data for a marine gastropod, Kelletia kelletii, we produce
high-resolution (10km) alongcoast probability profiles of larval
origins, estimate dispersal kernels between pairs of sites, and build
an empirical connectivity matrix for the entire species' range. This
new assignment method outperforms discriminant function analysis and
existing Bayesian assignment techniques, provides full measures of
uncertainty, and produces outputs that directly translate into
parameters of spatial population models. It can also incorporate
available information on the relative reproductive output of potential
sources (e.g., from combining adult density, fecundity, and habitat
distribution), and evaluate competing hypotheses about dispersal
processes via model selection. The result is a direct link
between theoretical and empirical studies of spatial marine population
dynamics.
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| Talk Abstract Archive |
Kinlan* and Koch 2009 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 90th Annual Meeting,
Seaside, CA, 12-15 Nov 2009
A NOVEL STATISTICAL METHOD TO PINPOINT LARVAL ORIGINS AND ESTIMATE RANGE-WIDE CONNECTIVITY IN OPEN COAST MARINE POPULATIONS
Kinlan, B.P.; Koch, S.E.
Predictive understanding of marine population dynamics at regional to
global scales requires quantitative estimates of connectivity across
species' ranges. Yet, the difficulty of tracing individual settling
larvae back to their natal populations has stymied efforts to directly
estimate connectivity. The few successes in this endeavor are limited
to cases of small numbers of distinct potential source populations
(e.g., estuarine or island species) with unique natural geochemical or
genetic signatures. The problem is much more difficult for open coast
marine species, where unsampled potential source populations inevitably
outnumber the locations sampled to develop a source atlas. Here, we
present a novel statistical approach that couples recruit-to-source
assignment with a multivariate model of spatial correlation in natural
signatures to account for the contribution of unsampled sources.
Applying this technique to geochemical data for a marine gastropod, Kelletia kelletii,
we produce high-resolution (10km) alongcoast probability profiles of
larval origins, estimate dispersal kernels between pairs of sites, and
build an empirical connectivity matrix for the entire species' range.
This new assignment method outperforms discriminant function analysis
and existing Bayesian assignment techniques, provides full measures of
uncertainty, and produces outputs that directly translate into
parameters of spatial population models. It can also incorporate
available information on the relative reproductive output of potential
sources (e.g., from combining adult density, fecundity, and habitat
distribution), and evaluate competing hypotheses about dispersal
processes via model selection. The result is a direct link between
theoretical and empirical studies of spatial marine population
dynamics.
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Kinlan* 2008 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 89th Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6-9 Nov 2008
QUANTIFYING THE LOCAL INFLUENCE OF UPWELLING ALONG COASTLINES
Kinlan, B.P.
Coastal upwelling drives fluxes of heat, nutrients, larvae,
phytoplankton, and other dissolved and suspended matter to intertidal
and shallow subtidal ecosystems on eastern boundaries of ocean basins
worldwide. Ecologists working in these systems often wish to
characterize upwelling variability at local spatial scales relevant to
ecological field sites (<1km). The definition of a local
upwelling index is problematic, however, because fundamental physical
drivers of coastal upwelling (wind, flow, and planetary motion) operate
over scales much larger than the site (10's to 1000's of km).
Upwelling-related responses observed at coastal sites are actually the
local manifestation of offshore meso- to regional-scale processes,
modulated by smaller-scale circulation and biophysical processes often
associated with topographic and bathymetric features near the
coast. The local expression of upwelling can be damped or
amplified and exhibit spatial and temporal lags compared to the
offshore phenomenon. To quantify the local influence of
upwelling, I combined global 50-km satellite/model blended wind data
(QuikScat/NCEP 6-hour wind velocity and wind-stress curl, 1999-2008)
with digital coastlines to estimate offshore upwelling transport in the
vicinity of coastal sites in Western North America. Then, I
computed lagged spatiotemporal correlations between upwelling and
site-specific biophysical time series (temperature, nutrients,
chlorophyll, and settlement). This approach resulted in
site-specific coefficients relating each of the local responses to
upwelling with the offshore wind forcing. I show that the
topographic and bathymetric structure of the coastline can be used to
estimate these coefficients, leading to a predictive framework for
alongshore variability in the influence of upwelling.
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Kinlan* et al. 2007 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 88th Annual Meeting, Ventura, CA, 8-11 Nov 2007
POPULATION DYNAMIC RESPONSES OF THE CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER
(PANULIRUS INTERRUPTUS) TO 120 YEARS OF VARIABLE OCEAN CLIMATE,
RECRUITMENT, AND FISHING PRESSURE
Kinlan, B.P.; McArdle, D.; Emery, K.; S.D. Gaines
Long historical data sets that encompass wide variation in abundance,
fishing pressure and ocean conditions are rare, but invaluable for
understanding population dynamic responses of exploited species to past
and future changes in climate and fishing. We used catch and
effort records from the beginning of the California spiny lobster
(Panulirus interruptus) fishery to the present (1888-2006), to
reconstruct likely changes in abundance, size structure, growth,
recruitment, and mortality of P. interruptus since the fishery’s
inception. Information from process-oriented field and laboratory
studies of lobster growth, mortality, and recruitment was synthesized
with historical information on lobster fishing in an hierarchical
Bayesian statistical framework, which was used to estimate a
size-structured state-space population model. The results reveal
a complex interplay between inter-annual and decadal fluctuations in
ocean climate (ENSO and PDO), changes in fishing effort (new
technologies, closures and reductions of effort during wartime), and
density-dependent population dynamics, and highlight historical changes
in lobster abundance and biomass that span several orders of
magnitude. We conclude by exploring the possibility of long-term
feedbacks between lobster abundance and lobster habitat quality via
their trophic role in the kelp forest, with implications for
ecosystem-based fishery management in the Southern California Bight.
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Kinlan* et al. 2006 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 87th Annual Meeting, Redmond, WA, 9-12 Nov 2006
Do observed self-recruitment rates require special behavioral and oceanographic features?
Kinlan, Brian P.; Gaines, Steven D.; Siegel, David A.
Marine life histories and fluid characteristics create the possibility
for long-distance dispersal, but larval behaviors and persistent
oceanographic features may reduce dispersal and enhance local
recruitment. Lack of quantitative dispersal data has fueled
debate about the fraction of marine larvae that return to their natal
population (self-recruitment), or emigrate to another population
(export). Decoupling of local population processes from local
production has been used to argue that marine systems are open and
connected at large scales. Other recent studies have highlighted
evidence of behaviors and circulation patterns that restrict dispersal
and question the degree to which marine populations fulfill their
potential for open demography. Synthesis of these perspectives has been
hindered by the lack of an appropriate null hypothesis that makes
quantitative predictions about expected rates of self-recruitment in
the absence of special behaviors and oceanographic features. We
review recent estimates of self-recruitment rates and compare them with
predictions from a null model incorporating only larval duration,
competency period, and passive transport by turbulent ocean currents.
We find that in many instances passive transport alone can explain
relatively high rates of self-recruitment (5-50%) at relevant spatial
scales (5-100 km), implying that rates of self-recruitment previously
viewed as “surprising” are in fact indistinguishable from those
expected under a null passive model.
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Kinlan* and Broitman 2006 (Contributed talk)
7th International Temperate Reef Symposium (7ITRS), Santa Barbara, CA, 26 June-1 July 2006
Predictability in Intertidal Ecosystems: Scale-Dependent Coupling of
Coastal Geomorphology, Oceanography, and Benthic Community Structure
Kinlan, B.P.* and Broitman, B.R.
A predictive approach to coastal ecology requires quantitative
description of biophysical coupling over a continuous range of scales
from meters to thousands of kilometers. Here, we introduce a new
approach for examining the strength and scale of coupling between
biological patterns and coastline topography, and apply this method to
develop a quantitative model of spatial variation of rocky intertidal
community structure in three eastern boundary current ecosystems:
western North America, Chile, and South Africa. Using data from
intertidal field surveys conducted over multiple years with similar
methods on three continents, we found significant correlations between
topographic features and community structure at several distinct
spatial scales. The scale-dependence of these relationships was
consistent with the operation of distinct biophysical processes at
different scales (e.g., upwelling, wave exposure). When combined
in a multi-scale model, simple indices of coastline morphology
explained a significant fraction of the variance in intertidal
diversity and abundance of functional groups. The degree of
predictability (maximum percentage of variance explained by topography)
varied among continents and regions within continents.
Preliminary evidence suggests that predictive power is maximized when
the length-scales of coastal features closely match the characteristic
scales of nearshore physical processes. Thus, the geological
history of coastal regions may interact with dominant physical forcing
processes to determine the predictability of ecological patterns at
large scales.
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Cavanaugh* and Kinlan, et al. 2006 (Contributed Poster, presented by co-author)
ASLO/AGU/TOS Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI, 20-24 Feb 2006
REMOTE SENSING OF KELP FOREST DISTRIBUTION AND DYNAMICS IN THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL USING SPOT IMAGERY
Cavanaugh, K.; Kinlan, B.P.; Reed, D.; Siegel, D.A.
A method for the remote assessment giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)
canopy cover is presented for the kelp beds of the Santa Barbara
Channel, California for use with multispectral data from the SPOT 5
satellite. The algorithm identifies kelp-covered pixels by the
near-infrared to green band ratio after atmospheric correction by the
dark pixel method. High values of this ratio identify pixels with
a surface canopy of giant kelp. The SPOT satellite kelp coverage
determinations are validated on both pixel and bed scales using data
sets that include monthly aerial estimates of biomass, available
photographic surveys of kelp cover, and diver mapping of kelp bed
extent. Estimates of kelp canopy area are combined with field estimates
of per-unit-area kelp net primary production (NPP) to enable assessment
of temporal changes in regional kelp NPP. This method is being
used to create kelp cover maps on a monthly basis in order to observe
intraseasonal to interannual changes in kelp cover and to determine
spatial variation in persistence. The derived coverage will be
used to observe dynamics of kelp canopies in relation to changes in sea
surface temperature, wave action, terrestrial runoff, and ambient
chlorophyll concentrations on monthly time scales. Future work
will include investigating relationships between other aspects of kelp
bed health (e.g., canopy senescence) and reflectance.
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Kinlan* et al. 2005 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 86th Annual Meeting, Seaside, CA, 17-20 Nov 2005
PREDICTABILITY IN INTERTIDAL ECOSYSTEMS: SCALE-DEPENDENT COUPLING OF
COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY, OCEANOGRAPHY, AND BENTHIC COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
Kinlan, B.P.; B.R. Broitman; S.D. Gaines; C.A. Blanchette; E. Wieters; S.E. Lester; P.T. Raimondi
Much recent ecological research has focused on generalizing results
from small-scale observations to predict large-scale patterns of
distribution and abundance. In coastal ecosystems, nearshore
physical processes such as upwelling, circulation, sediment transport,
and wave propagation interact with topographic features of the
coastline at a range of spatial and temporal scales. These
physical processes, in turn, exert a strong influence on the structure
of nearshore biological communities. A predictive approach to
large-scale coastal ecology requires a quantitative description of
biophysical coupling over a continuous range of scales from tens to
thousands of kilometers. Here, we introduce a new approach for
examining the strength and scale of coupling between biological
patterns and coastline topography, and apply this method to develop a
quantitative model of spatial variation in intertidal community
structure in three eastern boundary current ecosystems: western North
America, Chile, and South Africa. Using data from intertidal
field surveys conducted over multiple years with similar methods on
three continents, we found significant relationships between
topographic features and community structure at several distinct
spatial scales. When combined in a multi-scale model, simple
indices of coastline morphology explained up to 80% of the variance in
intertidal diversity and abundance of functional groups.
Moreover, the distinct spatial scales of coupling could be traced to
distinct physical mechanisms (e.g., upwelling vs. wave exposure), via a
combination of theoretical and numerical models and remote-sensing
data. The degree of predictability (maximum percentage of
variance explained by topography) varied among continents and regions
within continents. Preliminary evidence suggests that predictive
power is maximized when the length-scales of coastal features closely
match the characteristic scales of nearshore physical processes.
Thus, the geological history of coastal regions may interact with
dominant physical forcing processes to determine the predictability of
ecological patterns at large scales.
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Kinlan* et al. 2005 (Contributed Talk)
2005 TOS International Ocean Research Conference, Special Session on
Connectivity in Marine Populations, UNESCO, Paris, France, 5-9 June 2005
DO OBSERVED SELF-RECRUITMENT RATES REQUIRE SPECIAL BEHAVIOURAL AND
OCEANOGRAPHIC FEATURES? USING NULL MODELS TO EVALUATE THE
EVIDENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES
Kinlan, Brian P.; Gaines, Steven D.; Siegel, David A.
Life histories and fluid characteristics in the ocean create the
possibility for very long distance dispersal. At the same time,
larval behaviours, life history strategies, and persistent
oceanographic features provide opportunities for shorter dispersal and
site-fidelity. The wide range of possible dispersal distances and
scarcity of quantitative dispersal data in the marine environment have
led to a debate on the degree to which marine larvae produced in a
local population are likely to return to that population
(self-recruitment) or emigrate to another population
(export). Two opposing perspectives have emerged in this
debate. On one side, evidence of decoupling of local population
processes from local production has been used to argue that marine
systems are open and connected at large geographic scales. On the
other hand, recent studies have highlighted evidence of restricted
dispersal and question the degree to which marine populations fulfill
their perceived potential for open demography. Often, restricted
dispersal is attributed to particular behavioural or oceanographic
features. Synthesis of these perspectives on connectivity has
been hindered by ambiguity over expected rates of self-recruitment in
the absence of special behaviours and oceanographic features.
Here, we describe a simple Lagrangian model, incorporating only larval
duration, competency period, and passive transport by turbulent ocean
currents along an idealized coastline, that can be used to generate a
quantitative “null hypothesis” for rates of self-recruitment at a
particular spatial scale. Parameterizing the model with current
velocity statistics and spatial scales corresponding to empirical
studies, we review recent estimates of self-recruitment rates and
compare them with the null model of passive transport. We find
that passive transport alone can explain relatively high rates of
self-recruitment (5-50%) at relevant spatial scales (5-100 km) in many
species. Self-recruitment rates higher than expected from a
simple passive model are found in some, but not all, of the empirical
studies. Our results highlight the utility of quantitative null
models in examining the weight of the evidence for more complex
alternatives.
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Kinlan* 2005 (Invited Poster)
Hertz Foundation Research Symposium: Catalyzing the Future, San Jose, CA, 18-20 March 2005
Scaling and forecasting the spatio-temporal dynamics of coastal ecosystems
Brian P. Kinlan
(I) Biophysical coupling. Over
the past five years, I have employed a combination of satellite and
aerial remote sensing, field surveys, drifters, and moored instruments
(depicted at left) to characterize the spatio-temporal stucture of the
northeast Pacific coastal ecosystem. The dominant energy inputs to this
system are derived from photosynthesis of phytoplankton and large
macroalgae (kelps) in the shallow euphotic zone. Primary production, in
turn, is strongly coupled to the process of coastal upwelling, which
varies in space and time in response to atmospheric forcing at scales
ranging from
10’s to 1000’s of km and days to decades. Below, I summarize some of
the approaches I have taken to examine biophysical coupling in this
region, resulting in a statistical model of ecosystem structure and
dynamics.
(II) Larval transport in turbulent coastal flows. The coastal ocean is a turbulent environment where larvae are advected by ambient currents while
they develop competency for their next life stage. Among the vast
number of released larvae, very few successfully settle upon suitable
habitat and recruit to adult life stages. Key to the predictive
understanding of nearshore marine ecosystem is this source/settlement
relationship for larval transport. I investigated the coupling of
turbulent flows to organism biology using two approaches: a highly
idealized 2D random-flight model, and a three-dimensional idealized
circulation model (based upon the Regional Ocean Model System) for a
coastal domain in which many Lagrangian particles are tracked as models
of planktonic larvae.
(III) Ecological forecasting.
The ultimate goal of this research is to enable statistical prediction
of ecosystem responses to climate oscillations and global climate
change in the northeast Pacific basin. This stage of my research is a
work in progress. Below I describe approaches I have taken to model the
effects of three types of predicted climate change: changes in ENSO
frequency, sea level rise, and changes in larval connectivity due to
shifts in sea surface temperature & upwelling.
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Kinlan* et al. 2004 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 85th Annual Meeting, Rohnert Park, CA, 11-14 Nov 2004
THE METAPOPULATION ECOLOGY OF GIANT KELP IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Kinlan, B.P.; D.C. Reed; P.T. Raimondi; L. Washburn; B.
Gaylord; P.T. Drake
Although the potential importance of the metapopulation
concept to marine ecology has long been recognized, detailed examples of
metapopulation dynamics in the marine environment are rare. This is due in part to the large geographic
scale at which marine population dynamics often operate, and the difficulty of
characterizing rates of migration in the marine environment. Here, we combine long-term monitoring data,
oceanographic modeling, and field experiments to show that the giant kelp,
Macrocystis pyrifera, exhibits structured metapopulation dynamics along a
continuous 500 km stretch of coastline in southern California, and estimate
extinction and colonization rate parameters as a function of oceanographic
conditions, patch size, and connectivity.
A 34-year time series of monthly aerial surveys showed that patches in
this region underwent frequent extinctions and recolonizations that occurred
over time scales ranging from several months to as much as 13 years. Extinction probabilities were negatively
correlated with patch size, and positively correlated with degree of isolation
from surrounding patches. In contrast,
recolonization probabilities were positively correlated with patch size and
negatively correlated with isolation.
The vast majority of patches remained extinct for less than two years
before being recolonized. Empirical and
modeled estimates of spore dispersal resembled a negative power function, with
the bulk of spores landing near parent patches and the tails of dispersal
extending from tens of meters to several kilometers depending on oceanographic
currents and waves. Results of analyses
overlaying modeled estimates of dispersal with inter-patch distances revealed
that an average patch may be completely isolated or be connected to up to five
neighboring patches, depending on the oceanographic setting and the size, spore
output, and spacing of patches.
Implications of the metapopulation framework for the regional population
dynamics, persistence, and genetic structure of giant kelp are discussed.
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Kinlan* and Siegel, et al. 2004 (Contributed Talk)
ASLO/AGU/TOS Ocean Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR, 26-30 Jan 2004
Marine Larval Dispersion and Prediction in Coastal Fisheries Science
Kinlan, B.P.; Siegel, D.A.; Gaylord, B.; Gaines, S.D.
Many coastal marine organisms are sedentary as adults and are
redistributed between generations by oceanic transport of planktonic
larvae. We introduce a Lagrangian description of larval transport to
assess larval dispersal kernels (settlement probability distributions)
for a range of ocean flows and larval settlement
pre-competency/competency periods. Paths of individual planktonic
larval releases are modeled statistically and, by averaging over many
individuals, estimates of the larval dispersal kernel are derived.
Typical dispersal scales vary from a few km to $>$400 km. Modeled
dispersal kernels are well explained using only a few readily available
biological and oceanographic parameters and derived scales agree well
with population genetic estimates. Importantly, we note that settlement
patterns resulting from larval releases made over short times (days to
months) should be comprised of a small number of discrete samples taken
from the long-term averaged dispersal kernel. The resulting larval
dispersal patterns are quasi-random in both space and time, which has
important implications for interpretation of settlement time series and
management of coastal fisheries.
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Kinlan* and Broitman 2004 (Contributed Talk)
ASLO/AGU/TOS Ocean Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR, 26-30 Jan 2004
A COUPLED SPATIAL PATTERN OF BENTHIC AND PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE IN COASTAL UPWELLING REGIONS
Kinlan, B.P.; Broitman, B.R.
A growing body of research in the benthic environment has revealed that
coastal oceanographic processes largely determine the structure of
ecological communities in the nearshore. Knowledge of the spatial
pattern of coupled benthic-pelagic processes is of critical importance
to coastal management issues and to our understanding of nearshore
ecological systems. Yet, rigorous characterization of the spatial
scales of benthic-pelagic coupling has remained elusive. We
studied patch scales of benthic and pelagic primary productivity over a
large region on the west coast of North America, between Baja
California del Sur, Mexico (27°N) and Oregon, USA (42°N). Benthic patch
scales were determined using the alongshore distribution of shallow
subtidal kelp stands from aerial photography. Nearshore pelagic
patch scales were examined through chlorophyll-a concentration from
SeaWiFS. The spatial analysis showed a striking match between the
patch scales of kelp stands and chlorophyll-a concentration. Across
this large extent of coastline (~3000 km) coastal patch scales are
characterized by small-scale spatial cycles of 30-60 km embedded in
large 150-250 km regions. A spatial analysis of meridional
anomalies in coastline orientation across the region shows that patch
scales in the benthic and pelagic patterns closely follow the spatial
pattern of coastline orientation. Our results suggest the existence of
nested spatial scales of variation in nearshore ocean climate with
strong, predictable effects on benthic and pelagic ecosystems.
The correlated spatial patterns provide strong support for topographic
forcing of nearshore oceanography as the dominant process structuring
coastal ecosystems in this upwelling region. Moreover, the
existence of well-defined spatial scales and a mechanistic linkage to
physical forcing provides a powerful tool for current coastal
management initiatives.
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Kinlan* and Broitman 2003 (Contributed Talk)
WSN 84th Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA, 9-11 Nov 2003
A COUPLED SPATIAL PATTERN OF BENTHIC AND PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE IN COASTAL UPWELLING REGIONS
Kinlan, B.P.; Broitman, B.R.
A growing body of research in the benthic environment has revealed that
coastal oceanographic processes largely determine the structure of
ecological communities in the nearshore. Knowledge of the spatial
pattern of coupled benthic-pelagic processes is of critical importance
to coastal management issues and to our understanding of nearshore
ecological systems. Yet, rigorous characterization of the spatial
scales of benthic-pelagic coupling has remained elusive. We
studied patch scales of benthic and pelagic primary productivity over a
large region on the west coast of North America, between Baja
California del Sur, Mexico (27ºN) and Oregon, USA (42ºN). Benthic patch
scales were determined using the alongshore distribution of shallow
subtidal kelp stands from aerial photography. Nearshore pelagic
patch scales were examined through chlorophyll-a concentration from
SeaWiFS. The spatial analysis showed a striking match between the
patch scales of kelp stands and chlorophyll-a concentration. Across
this large extent of coastline (~3000 km) coastal patch scales are
characterized by small-scale spatial cycles of 30-60 km embedded in
large 150-250 km regions. A spatial analysis of meridional
anomalies in coastline orientation across the region shows that patch
scales in the benthic and pelagic patterns closely follow the spatial
pattern of coastline orientation. Our results suggest the existence of
nested spatial scales of variation in nearshore ocean climate with
strong, predictable effects on benthic and pelagic ecosystems.
The correlated spatial patterns provide strong support for topographic
forcing of nearshore oceanography as the dominant process structuring
coastal ecosystems in this upwelling region. Moreover, the
existence of well-defined spatial scales and a mechanistic linkage to
physical forcing provides a powerful tool for current coastal
management initiatives.
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Kinlan* and Gaines 2003 (Contributed Talk)
Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference (EPOC), Catalina, CA, 27-30 Sept 2003
CONSEQUENCES OF LIFE HISTORY AND LARVAL DURATION FOR THE SCALE OF LARVAL TRANSPORT
B. P. Kinlan and S. D. Gaines
Larval transport underlies the scale and pattern of connectivity in
marine benthic communities. Because dispersal distances of marine
organisms are difficult to measure directly, a predictive understanding
of marine community connectivity requires knowledge of basic
relationships between life history characteristics and the scale of
larval transport. We estimated average dispersal distances for
~100 marine animals and plants from genetic isolation-by-distance
relationships, and used this database to examine effects of life
history variation on the scale of larval dispersal. The most
important factor influencing dispersal scale was planktonic larval
duration. To a first approximation, dispersal scale estimates
were concordant with a null model incorporating only physical processes
and time in the plankton. Variation in dispersal distance among
invertebrates with different developmental modes could be accounted for
by variation in larval duration. Spawning mode of fishes,
however, had an effect on dispersal scale that could not be explained
by larval duration alone: planktonic-spawning fishes dispersed further
per day than benthic spawners, suggesting a role of behavior in
limiting dispersal of advanced-stage larvae. Adult movement
(whether active or passive) swamped the effect of juvenile dispersal
for many organisms with larval durations < 1-3 days.
When spread rates of invasive species were examined as an index of
long-distance dispersal potential, we found evidence that rare
long-distance dispersal events are critical to the ecology of otherwise
short-dispersing benthic organisms. Our results suggest an
interplay between community life history patterns and spatial dynamics,
with important implications for the management of multi-species marine
assemblages.
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Broitman* and Kinlan 2003 (Contributed Talk, presented by co-author)
Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference (EPOC), Catalina, CA, 27-30 Sept 2003
A COUPLED SPATIAL PATTERN OF BENTHIC AND PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE IN COASTAL UPWELLING REGIONS
Broitman, B.R.; Kinlan, B.P.
A growing body of research in the benthic environment has revealed that
coastal oceanographic processes largely determine the structure of
ecological communities in the nearshore. Knowledge of the spatial
pattern of coupled benthic-pelagic processes is of critical importance
to coastal management issues and to our understanding of nearshore
ecological systems. Yet, rigorous characterization of the spatial
scales of benthic-pelagic coupling has remained elusive. We
studied patch scales of benthic and pelagic primary productivity over a
large region on the west coast of North America, between Baja
California del Sur, Mexico (27ºN) and Oregon, USA (42ºN). Benthic patch
scales were determined using the alongshore distribution of shallow
subtidal kelp stands from aerial photography. Nearshore pelagic
patch scales were examined through chlorophyll-a concentration from
SeaWiFS. The spatial analysis showed a striking match between the
patch scales of kelp stands and chlorophyll-a concentration. Across
this large extent of coastline (~3000 km) coastal patch scales are
characterized by small-scale spatial cycles of 30-40 km embedded in
large 150-200 km regions. A spatial analysis of meridional
anomalies in coastline orientation across the region shows that patch
scales in the benthic and pelagic patterns closely follow the spatial
pattern of coastline orientation. Our results suggest the existence of
nested spatial scales of variation in nearshore ocean climate with
strong, predictable effects on benthic and pelagic ecosystems.
The correlated spatial patterns provide strong support for topographic
forcing of nearshore oceanography as the dominant process structuring
coastal ecosystems in this upwelling region. Moreover, the
existence of well-defined spatial scales and a mechanistic linkage to
physical forcing provides a powerful tool for current coastal
management initiatives.
|
Kinlan* 2003 (Contributed Poster)
Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference (EPOC), Catalina, CA, 27-30 Sept 2003
PHYSICAL FORCING OF KELP FOREST COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IN THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC
B. P. Kinlan
The giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, provides food and habitat
structure for a diverse array of organisms on shallow subtidal reefs
(~3-30 m) along the west coast of North America.
Regional and meso-scale physical processes exert a strong influence on
the structure and dynamics of kelp forest habitats in this region,
generating variation at distinct, nested spatial and temporal
scales. Organisms that live in kelp forests typically disperse,
reproduce, grow, and die at different temporal and spatial scales than
their biogenic habitat. As a result, variation in the
spatiotemporal dynamics of kelp forest patches may exert important
effects on benthic community structure and composition. I
quantified the spatial and temporal dynamics of giant kelp, using a
34-year monthly time series of kelp canopy biomass covering ~2000 km of
coastline (10º of latitude) and digital maps of annual maximum canopy
cover. Canopy biomass varied at well-defined dominant periods of
12-18 months, 3-7 y, 12-14 y and >20 y, and spatial scales ranging
from mesoscale (20-50 km, 100-150 km) to regional (300-500
km). Much of the spatial variability was attributable to
variation in coastal upwelling and sediment deposition forced by
coastline orientation and geomorphology. Temporal variation was
attributable to basin-scale climate forcing in the ENSO and PDO bands,
with regional variation in coherence with and response to these two
sources of variability. Changes in biomass were associated with
shifts in the spatial structure of the kelp habitat, as revealed by
high-resolution digital canopy maps. Long-term monitoring
data from areas with contrasting kelp forest structure and dynamics
suggest important impacts of meso- and large-scale physical forcing on
kelp forest community structure.
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Kinlan* 2003 (Contributed talk)
6th International Temperate Reef Symposium (6ITRS), Christchurch, New Zealand, 12-17 January 2003
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION OF KELP FOREST HABITAT STRUCTURE IN THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC
Kinlan, B.P.
Habitat-forming species such as kelps and corals often differ from
associated benthic species in resource requirements, sources of
disturbance, and dispersal ability. These differences in life
history can cause habitat to vary at spatial and temporal scales that
differ from the “optimal” scale that would promote maximum abundance of
any particular associate species. As a result, the spatiotemporal
dynamics of habitat can exert important effects on benthic community
structure and composition. To quantify the spatial and temporal
dynamics of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), a key habitat-former in
the NE Pacific, I analyzed a 32-year monthly time series of estimated
canopy biomass covering ~1500 km of coastline (7º of latitude) and
digital maps of annual maximum canopy cover. Canopy biomass
varied at dominant periods of 12 months, 3-7 y, 12-14 y and >20 y,
and spatial scales ranging from mesoscale (~50 km) to regional (~250
km). Digital canopy maps revealed that changes in biomass were
associated with shifts in the spatial structure of the kelp
habitat. Patch size and inter-patch distance distributions varied
with canopy biomass in a non-linear, but predictable relationship at
local (0.1-10 km), mesoscale (10-100 km), and regional (100-1000 km)
scales. The spatiotemporal dynamics of kelp habitat were
also related to geographic region (Central vs. Southern vs. Baja
California), and long-term mean size of kelp beds. Larger kelp
beds exhibited less short-term variation and greater patch coherence
than smaller beds. Long-term monitoring data suggest these
differences in habitat structure have important consequences for
community dynamics.
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Kinlan* and Gaines 2002 (Contributed Talk)
Larval Ecology Meetings, Vigo, Spain, 15-20 Sept 2002
CONSEQUENCES OF LIFE HISTORY AND LARVAL DURATION FOR THE SCALE OF LARVAL TRANSPORT
Kinlan, B.P.; Gaines, S.D.
Larval transport underlies the scale and pattern of connectivity in
marine benthic communities. Because dispersal distances of marine
organisms are difficult to measure directly, a predictive understanding
of marine community connectivity requires knowledge of basic
relationships between life history characteristics and the scale of
larval transport. We estimated average dispersal distances for
>100 marine animals and plants from genetic isolation-by-distance
relationships, and used this database to examine effects of life
history variation on scale of larval dispersal. The most
important factor influencing dispersal scale was planktonic larval
duration. Dispersal scale estimates were generally concordant
with a null model incorporating only physical processes and time in the
plankton. Larval duration in turn explained variation in
dispersal distance among invertebrates with different developmental
modes. Spawning mode of fishes, however, had an effect on
dispersal scale that could not be explained by larval duration alone:
planktonic-spawning fishes dispersed further per day than benthic
spawners, suggesting a role of behavior in limiting dispersal of
advanced-stage larvae. For organisms with planktonic durations
<1 day (e.g. direct-developing invertebrates and many macroalgae),
genetic dispersal scale was independent of time in the plankton and
strongly dependent on adult dispersal potential. While average
dispersal scale is a critical determinant of population connectivity,
landscape processes such as invasion and recolonization may be more
dependent on the tails of a dispersal distribution. To examine
the relationship between average dispersal distance and spread rates,
we compared invasion rates of marine organisms with short vs. long
average dispersal. For long-dispersers, invasion rate was
comparable to average dispersal distance. For short dispersers,
however, invasion rate was highly variable and frequently several
orders of magnitude larger than average dispersal distance. Thus
organisms with very different life histories and scales of average
larval transport may invade marine landscapes at similar speeds. Our
results suggest an interplay between community life history patterns
and spatial dynamics, with important implications for the management of
multi-species marine assemblages.
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Kinlan* and Gaines 2002 (Contributed Talk)
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ, 4-9 August 2002
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DISPERSAL SCALE IN MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS
Kinlan, B.P.; Gaines, S.D.
For organisms with limited adult movement (e.g. terrestrial plants,
benthic marine organisms), propagule dispersal determines the spatial
scale at which populations interact with their environment, spread
across landscapes, and adapt. Differences in dispersal
scale among co-occuring taxonomic or functional groups may have
important implications for community structure and dynamics. On
evolutionary time scales, differences in dispersal scale may be shaped
by the distribution of resources in space and time, costs and
availability of dispersal mechanisms, and indirect consequences of life
history trade-offs (e.g. propagule size vs. fecundity) or phylogenetic
history (e.g. complex life cycles involving a larval
stage). Because marine and terrestrial environments
differ in resource distribution, available dispersal mechanisms, and
life history/phylogeny of sessile species, dispersal patterns may vary
substantially across these systems. However, quantitative
comparisons of marine vs. terrestrial dispersal scales have been
hindered by the difficulty of tracking propagules in the ocean.
We use evidence from the increase in genetic differentiation with
geographic distance to derive estimates of average dispersal scale for
104 marine macroalgae, invertebrates, and fish, and compare these data
to existing dispersal estimates for 1) terrestrial plants and 2) a
functional group (herbivorous invertebrates) that is sedentary in the
ocean, but vagile on land. Marine algae and terrestrial plants
disperse over similar scales, but sessile invertebrates and demersal
fish can disperse at least 2 orders of magnitude further than the
longest-dispersing terrestrial plant. Genetic estimates suggest
that herbivores typically disperse much further than their plant
resources both on land and in the sea, though the ecological
consequences of this disparity may vary across systems.
Differences in dispersal scale may underlie important differences in
the dynamics of marine and terrestrial communities.
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Kinlan* and Gaines 2002 (Contributed Poster)
43rd Annual Symposium of the British Ecological Society, "Macroecology:
Concepts and Consequences", Birmingham, England, 17-19 April 2002
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DISPERSAL SCALE IN MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS
Kinlan, B.P.; Gaines, S.D.
For organisms with limited adult movement (e.g. terrestrial plants,
benthic marine organisms), propagule dispersal determines the spatial
scale at which populations interact with their environment, spread
across landscapes, and adapt. Differences in dispersal scale among
co-occuring
taxonomic or functional groups may have important implications for
community structure and dynamics. We use evidence from the increase in
genetic differentiation with geographic distance to derive estimates of
average dispersal scale for 104 marine macroalgae, invertebrates, and
fish,
and compare these data to existing dispersal estimates for 1)
terrestrial plants and 2) a functional group (herbivorous
invertebrates) that is sedentary in the ocean, but vagile on land.
Average dispersal scales of marine algae and terrestrial plants are
similar, but sessile invertebrates and
demersal fish can disperse at least 2 orders of magnitude further than
the longest-dispersing terrestrial plant. Genetic estimates suggest
that herbivores typically disperse further than their plant resources
both on land and in the sea, though the behaviorally-mediated dispersal
of terrestrial
herbivores may have very different consequences from the more obligate
dispersal of marine propagules. Comparison of rates of invasive species
spread in marine and terrestrial systems suggests that long-distance
dispersal is more common among marine macroalgae than terrestrial
plants, despite the similarity in mean dispersal scales of these
groups. Systematic differences in the scale and pattern of dispersal
may underlie differences in community and landscape dynamics between
land and sea.
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Thornber* and Kinlan, et al. 2002 (Contributed Talk, presented by co-author)
Reproductive Ecology of the Invasive Japanese Kelp Undaria pinnatifida along the California Coast
Carol Thornber, Brian Kinlan, Michael Graham, Jay Stachowicz
The exotic kelp Undaria pinnatifida has recently
become established at several locations in California coastal
waters. Undaria is native to Japan, but in recent decades it has
spread via purposeful and accidental introductions to numerous
other coastal areas around the globe. The population biology of
Undaria varies greatly among geographic locations. For example,
although Undaria is an annual kelp, it may either have clearly defined
seasonal cycles of growth and senescence (Japan), or overlapping
generations in which individuals are present throughout the year (New
Zealand). Some invasions of Undaria (e.g. New Zealand) have
resulted in significant changes to the native flora and fauna; but it
is unknown what effects Undaria may haveon California’s marine
communities. This study represents the first attempt to document
the reproductive ecology and population biology of Undaria in
California. We tracked the timing and magnitude of Undaria
recruitment, growth, and subsequent reproductive onset in the Santa
Barbara, California harbor following the discovery of a dense,
reproductive population there in April 2001. From July to
September 2001, there was limited recruitment of new Undaria
sporophytes. Although these individuals did mature and reproduce,
they were much smaller than the spring 2001 cohort. A much larger
recruitment pulse was observed during January-February 2002, followed
by rapid growth of individuals. This recruitment pulse is
correlated with a drop in ocean temperature, and ongoing laboratory
culture experiments are exploring the effects of different water
temperatures on the growth of microscopic stages of Undaria. This
research provides insight into the potential for Undaria spread
and growth into previously unoccupied habitats along the California
coast, as well as information for the timing of subsequent eradication
efforts.
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Kinlan* 2001 (Contributed Talk)
PERSISTING IN AN UNPREDICTABLE WORLD: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT OF
MICROSCOPIC SPOROPHYTES AS A MECHANISM FOR DELAYED RECRUITMENT IN
MACROCYSTIS.
Kinlan, Brian P.
To persist in patchy and variable environments, kelps employ life
history strategies that extend recruitment in space and time.
Dispersal is crucial to colonization and patch dynamics, and can allow
persistence through short- and long-term episodes of unfavorable
conditions (e.g. winter storms, grazer outbreaks, ENSO). Yet, the
scale of environmental fluctuations often exceeds the scale of
propagule dispersal. As an alternative, many kelps survive
predictable environmental fluctuations by delayed recruitment of
microscopic stages regulated by endogenous clocks. Such
temporally rigid strategies, however, are not responsive to
unpredictable changes in environmental conditions. I
experimentally evaluated the potential for temporary reduction in key
limiting resources (light, nutrients) to directly delay recruitment of
giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) microscopic life history
stages. Laboratory cultures of gametophytes and embryonic
sporophytes were subjected to limiting conditions of light and
nutrients for one month, and then exposed to non-limiting conditions
for 10 days. Gametophytes in all treatments failed to recruit to
sporophytes after 2 weeks, suggesting they are not a source of delayed
recruitment in giant kelp. Sporophytes in light-stressed
treatments, however, survived and grew significantly slower than
non-light-stressed controls. When stimulated with light,
light-stressed sporophytes grew an average of 5-10 times faster than
unstimulated controls; speed of growth following light stimulation was
dependent upon nutrient availability. These results suggest that
limiting resources can delay recruitment of embryonic giant kelp
sporophytes for at least one month. Temporally rigid mechanisms
of delayed recruitment may be of limited utility to a continuously-
reproducing perennial such as giant kelp; instead, flexible timing of
recruitment from microscopic stages may enhance survival of episodic
environmental fluctuations.
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