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Biogeography of dinoflagellate cysts in northwest Atlantic estuaries
- Source :
- Ecology and Evolution
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Few biogeographic studies of dinoflagellate cysts include the near‐shore estuarine environment. We determine the effect of estuary type, biogeography, and water quality on the spatial distribution of organic‐walled dinoflagellate cysts from the Northeast USA (Maine to Delaware) and Canada (Prince Edward Island). A total of 69 surface sediment samples were collected from 27 estuaries, from sites with surface salinities >20. Dinoflagellate cysts were examined microscopically and compared to environmental parameters using multivariate ordination techniques. The spatial distribution of cyst taxa reflects biogeographic provinces established by other marine organisms, with Cape Cod separating the northern Acadian Province from the southern Virginian Province. Species such as Lingulodinium machaerophorum and Polysphaeridinium zoharyi were found almost exclusively in the Virginian Province, while others such as Dubridinium spp. and Islandinium? cezare were more abundant in the Acadian Province. Tidal range, sea surface temperature (SST), and sea surface salinity (SSS) are statistically significant parameters influencing cyst assemblages. Samples from the same type of estuary cluster together in canonical correspondence analysis when the estuaries are within the same biogeographic province. The large geographic extent of this study, encompassing four main estuary types (riverine, lagoon, coastal embayment, and fjord), allowed us to determine that the type of estuary has an important influence on cyst assemblages. Due to greater seasonal variations in SSTs and SSSs in estuaries compared to the open ocean, cyst assemblages show distinct latitudinal trends. The estuarine context is important for understanding present‐day species distribution, the factors controlling them, and to better predict how they may change in the future.
- Subjects :
- 010506 paleontology
Tidal range
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Biogeography
Species distribution
01 natural sciences
water quality
Canonical correspondence analysis
estuary type
Phytoplankton
14. Life underwater
northeast USA
palynology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Original Research
Palynology
geography.geographical_feature_category
Ecology
biology
Dinoflagellate
Estuary
biology.organism_classification
Prince Edward Island
Geography
13. Climate action
Coastal waters
phytoplankton
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 20457758
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 16
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Ecology and evolution
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....43abec33c8089aea8221eb10f770889c