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SSStttooonnnyyy BBBrrrooooookkk UUUnnniiivvveeerrrsssiiitttyyy The official electronic file of this thesis or dissertation is maintained by the University Libraries on behalf of The Graduate School at Stony Brook University. ©©© AAAllllll RRRiiiggghhhtttsss RRReeessseeerrrvvveeeddd bbbyyy AAAuuuttthhhooorrr... Diversity of Skates (Batoidea: Rajoidei) and the Spatial Structure of NW Atlantic Communities A Dissertation Presented by Christopher Michael Martinez to The Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University August 2014 Stony Brook University The Graduate School Christopher Michael Martinez We, the dissertation committee for the above candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, hereby recommend acceptance of this dissertation. Michael G. Frisk – Dissertation Advisor Associate Professor School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Jeffrey S. Levinton - Chairperson of Defense Distinguished Professor School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (Joint Faculty) Demian D. Chapman Assistant Professor School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences F. James Rohlf Distinguished Professor, Emeritus Ecology and Evolution Daniel E. Duplisea Research Scientist Fisheries and Oceans, Canada This dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School Charles Taber Dean of the Graduate School ii Abstract of the Dissertation Diversity of Skates (Batoidea: Rajoidei) and the Spatial Structure of NW Atlantic Communities by Christopher Michael Martinez Doctor of Philosophy in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University 2014 Trait diversity often underlies complexity observed in biological systems. Whether it is behavior, life history, form or function, variation imparts differential performance on the organism, which may influence processes at higher levels of organization. Using two approaches, my dissertation research concerns the appraisal of diversity in fishes and its consequences for their ecology and evolution. The first two chapters focus on variety of spatial behaviors in northwest Atlantic marine communities. Temporal changes in community habitat utilization, as quantified by the interspecific abundance- occupancy (A-O) relationship, were the focus of chapter one. Trends in the A-O relationship indicated large-scale reorganization in some communities, with assemblage structure shifting towards organisms with shorter life histories and rapid colonization potential. For chapter two, I developed a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the role of spatial distribution in the realization of temporal A-O trends. This work showed that the empirical results obtained in chapter one may be recreated from a collection of negative binomial-distributed catches derived from natural communities. Changes in spatial behaviors of species were implicated in a notable example of rapid community change in the Gulf of Maine. The second half of my dissertation examines the morphological diversity of Batoid fishes (skates, rays and allies) and its relation to factors associated with ecology and life history. In chapter three, I used geometric morphometrics to provide an initial assessment of pectoral fin diversity among many of the existing Batoid families. A majority of shape variation corresponded with taxa having rounded versus triangular fins. This was highly correlated with aspect ratio, a characteristic related to swimming mode and lifestyle. In my final chapter, I examined developmental shape trajectories in three species of northwest Atlantic skate. Divergence of body shapes in these fishes appears to be related to the development of sexual organs at maturity. Patterns of variation between the species are discussed relative to the evolution of disparate reproductive strategies and life histories. iii Dedication Page This dissertation is dedicated to my family, who worked hard with little recognition so that I may follow my passions and dreams. iv Table of Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. vii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ ix List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. xiv Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... xv Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Patterns and trends of community habitat occupation in the northwest Atlantic coastal shelf ecosystem ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3 Methods.......................................................................................................................... 6 Results ............................................................................................................................ 12 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 18 Tables ............................................................................................................................. 26 Figures............................................................................................................................ 31 Chapter 2: Exploration of Interspecific Abundance-Occupancy Relationships using Empirically Derived Pseudo-Communities ............................................................................................................ 37 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 37 Methods.......................................................................................................................... 41 Results ............................................................................................................................ 44 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 48 Tables ............................................................................................................................. 53 Figures............................................................................................................................ 58 Chapter 3: Reassessment of morphological diversity of the batoid pectoral fin, with an emphasis on skates (Suborder Rajoidei) ............................................................................................................. 64 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 64 Methods.......................................................................................................................... 66 Results ............................................................................................................................ 72 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 75 Tables ............................................................................................................................. 82 Figures............................................................................................................................ 89 Chapter 4: Pectoral fin dimorphism in sister species of skate, Leucoraja erinacea and Leucoraja ocellata, and its potential relationship to reproductive strategies .............................................. 101 v Introduction .................................................................................................................... 101 Methods.......................................................................................................................... 104 Results ............................................................................................................................ 108 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 110 Tables ............................................................................................................................. 114 Figures............................................................................................................................ 118 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 131 References Cited ........................................................................................................................ 133 vi List of Tables Chapter 1: Patterns and trends of community habitat occupation in the northwest Atlantic coastal shelf ecosystem Table 1.1. List of common and scientific names of species composing regional communities. Bold letters represent inclusion of species into one of thtree groups (P = predators & competitors, S = schoolers & colonizers and O = others) .............................................................................