Bc. Maughan et Dka. Barnes, A 'minimum stress inflexion' in relation to environmental and biotic influences on the dynamics of subtidal encrusting communities?, HYDROBIOL, 440(1-3), 2000, pp. 101-109
The sedentary fauna of sublittoral boulders was studied at five sites with
very different environmental conditions within Lough Hyne Marine Nature Res
erve (51 degrees 30' N, 9 degrees 18' W). The degree of competition was ass
essed through the construction of competitive hierarchies built up from the
results of nearly 3000 interactions between organisms. Communities at all
sites were predominantly hierarchically organised with few stand-offs recor
ded. Density of interactions was correlated with total space occupation. Fl
ow speed at all sites was logged over 24 h and this factor also correlated
with space occupation. Degree of disturbance was assessed through the use o
f marked boulders at each site. Species diversity peaked where all factors
were 'moderate' and was lowest at 'extreme` sites. The effects of these env
ironmental variables and biotic factors in determining community compositio
n are discussed. and a working model detailing a 'Minimum Stress Inflexion
is described. This represents an extension of the intermediate disturbance
hypothesis in that it is proposed that disturbance in this system may serve
to reduce sediment load as opposed to preventing space monopolisation in t
he classical model.