anmarine evolutionary perspective ecology ^ » EDITORIAL Mar'ne Ecology-ISSN °173-9565 Marine biology in time and space Indeed for the study of long-lived organisms such as Introduction cetaceans, long-term and extensive data sets are necessary This volume comprises a number of the papers presented to derive even the most fundamental life-history traits at the 44th European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS) (A rrigoni et al. 2011). hosted by the University of Liverpool in September 2009. It is clear that marine systems may be influenced by The theme of the science programme was ‘Marine Biology large scale environmental phenomena such as climatic in Time and Space’. The papers focused on describing pat­ variations and human activities, especially in heavily terns across a variety of spatial and temporal scales but exploited areas such as the Mediterranean Sea (Ligas et al. with the emphasis on seeking understanding and explana­ 2011). It is also becoming increasingly clear that while we tions for those patterns. Time and space define the four strive to understand the mechanisms controlling the dimensions in which scientific observations are grounded. dynamics of marine communities, the communities them­ Indeed Vito Volterra’s first model of coupled temporal selves, such as those around the UK are changing over interactions was developed by Umberto D’Ancona to time (Spencer et al. 2011). In contrast, surveys of the rel­ study the interaction between fishery stocks and fishing atively unmodified White Sea indicate an absence of sub­ effort, a moment considered by some to be the starting stantial change in the structure of benthic communities point for modern ecology (Boero 2009; Gatto 2009). during the past 50 years (Solyanko et al. 2011). It is prob­ In the 21st century, new observational techniques, from ably most important to assess the impacts of long-term DNA genetic profiling to data storage tags and remote change on species composition (Spencer et al. 2011) or sensing, have been developed to document these patterns, ecosystem functioning (Neumann & Kröncke 2011). while experimental and modelling approaches are being However, at a finer scale, species-specific studies indicated applied to develop understanding of the factors responsi­ differential variability to different sources of anthropenic- ble for them. The 44th EMBS therefore took as its theme induced change (Ligas et al. 2011), an important consid­ ‘Marine Biology in Time and Space’ with the aim of con­ eration in the management of commercially important sidering recent advances in our understanding of the driv­ species. Assessment of ecosystem functioning is an ers of long term change in marine organism communities increasingly important tool for a number of management and ecosystems, the causes of spatial patterns in ecology purposes but, for benthic systems at least, it is essential and the consequences of catastrophic phenomena in mar­ that methodologies be consistent and consider biological ine systems. Papers were presented under these three main traits as well as simple count and biomass metrics themes, though in reflection of the naturally inter-disci­ (Aarnio et al. 2011). plinary nature of marine biology, many of them contained elements from more than one theme. Theme 2: Spatial Patterns An understanding of patterns of species distribution and Theme 1: Long-Term Dynamics community composition can also be gained by studies of The University of Liverpool had previously hosted the spatial variability, and the presented papers also high­ European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS13) in 1978. lighted the importance of considering a range of scales. At that meeting the theme was ‘Cyclic Phenomena in Designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to effec­ Marine Plants and Animals’ (Naylor & Hartnoll 1979) tively protect vulnerable habitats from exploitative activi­ and temporal dynamics reappeared as one of the themes ties and preserve biodiversity should be based on for the 44th meeting. Temporal change in marine systems knowledge of spatial factors such as distribution and dis­ occurs on long, multi-decadal, time scales. The impor­ persal (Kinlan & Gaines 2003). However MPAs will not tance of collecting and maintaining long-term data sets of be able to provide protection from extreme climatic the marine environment is well recognised (Ducklow events (Huete-Stauffer et al. 2011). et al. 2009), and several of the presented papers high­ At a regional scale, such as in the English Channel, the lighted this (e.g. Ligas et al. 2011; Spencer et al. 2011). trophic structure of benthic ecosystems appears to be Marine Ecology 32 (Suppl. 1) (2011) v-vii © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH V Editorial Green, Paramor, Robinson, Spencer, W atts & Frid determined by sedimentary conditions, whatever the geo­ J. A. Green1, O. A. L. Paramor1’3, L. A. Robinson1, graphic area (Garcia et al. 2011), showing the importance M. Spencer1, P. C. Watts2 & C. L. J. Frid1 of abiotic factors. It is possible to consider how species 1 School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, distributions are controlled by spatial factors at micro to Liverpool L69 3GP, UK; 2Institute of Integrative Biology, regional scales, and their interactions, within single stud­ Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 ies. For example, both specific frond segments and envi­ 7BX, UK; 3University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, ronmental factors of salinity and wave exposure are Environmental Sciences, 199 Taikang East Road, important in determining the composition of epiphyte Ningbo 315100, Zhejiang, P.R. China and mobile fauna communities on habitat forming macro algae (Kersen et al. 2011). At local scales such as estuarine R eferences habitats, the coexistence of sympatric and seemingly com­ petitor species can be explained by partitioning of Aarnio K., Mattila J., Tornroos A., Bonsdorff E. (2011) resources. In the case of juvenile plaice and flounder, both Zoobenthos as an environmental quality element: the flexibility and heterogeneity of diets appears to reduce ecological significance of sampling design and functional niche overlap and bring order to an apparently chaotic traits. Marine Ecology, 32(Suppl. 1), 58-71. habitat (Mariani et a í 2011). Finally, a key requirement in Arrigoni M., Manfredi P., Panigada S., Bramanti L., examining spatial effects is the establishment of discrete Santangelo G. (2011) Life-history tables of the Mediterranean populations, a process which is rapidly being facilitated by fin whale from stranding data. Marine Ecology, 32(Suppl. 1), molecular techniques (Luis et a í 2011). 1-9. Boero F. (2009) Recent innovations in marine biology. Marine Ecology, 30, 1-12. Theme 3: Consequences of Catastrophic Events Cerrano C., Bavestrello G. (2009) Mass mortalities and extinc­ tions. In: Wahl M. (Ed.), Marine Hard Bottom Communities. Finally, both temporal and spatial factors collide when Springer, Berlin: 295-307. considering the impacts and influence of catastrophic Ducklow H.W., Doney S.C., Steinberg D.K. (2009) Contribu­ events. This will become increasing important if the inci­ tions of long-term research and time-series observations to dence of these events continues to increase in frequency marine ecology and biogeochemistry. Annual Review of Mar­ and/or magnitude (Cerrano & Bavestrello 2009). Mass ine Science, 1(1), 279-302. mortality events can lead to change in ecosystem structure Garcia C., Chardy P., Dewarumez J.M., Dauvin J.C. (2011) As- and function, particularly if the subjects affected are eco­ sessement of benthic ecosystem functioning through trophic system engineers (Huete-Stauffer et a í 2011). In the case web modelling: the example of the eastern basin of the Eng­ of Mediterranean corals, high temperature appeared to lish Channel and the Southern Bight of the North Sea. Mar­ precipitate a mass-extinction event which was exacerbated ine Ecology, 32(Suppl. 1), 72-86. by opportunistic bacterial infection (Huete-Stauffer et a í Gatto M. (2009) On Volterra 8c D’Ancona’s footsteps: the tem­ 2011). Catastrophic events may of course also be predict­ poral and spatial complexity of ecological interactions and able and avoidable. On tidal mudflats, commercial dredg­ networks. Italian Journal of Zoology, 76(1), 3-15. ing for cockles can cause disruption of benthic Huete-Stauffer C., Vielmini I., Palma M., Navone A., Panzalis communities. However these systems can recover to their P., Vezulli L., Misic C., Cerrano C. (2011) Paramuricea clav­ original state if dredging occurs at an appropriate inten­ ata (Anthozoa, Octoralia) loss in the Marine Protected Area sity and frequency (Wijnhoven et al. 2011). of Tavolara (Sardinia, Italy) due to a mass mortality event. Marine Ecology, 32(Suppl. 1), 107-116. Kersen P., Kotta J., Martynas B., Kolesova N., Dekere Z. Perspectives (2011) Epiphytes and associated fauna on the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus in the Baltic and the North Seas in relation As ever in the study of biology, it is worth considering the to different abiotic and biotic variables. Marine Ecology, work of Charles Darwin. As well as his more widely-publi­ 32(Suppl. 1), 87-95. cised work, Darwin’s studies of barnacles remain authorita­ Kinlan B.P., Gaines S.D. (2003) Propagule dispersal in marine tive (Rainbow 2011). In the bicentennial of his birth, a and terrestrial environments: a community perspective. Ecol­ consideration of the influence of marine biology on the ogy, 84(8), 2007-2020. work of Darwin reveals the importance of detailed observa­ Ligas A.,