Trophic complexity in marine sediments: new evidence ...
Description
Citation
| Title | Trophic complexity in marine sediments: new evidence from the Gulf of St. Lawrence |
| Author(s) | P. Quijon, P. Snelgrove |
| Journal | Marine Ecology Progress Series |
| Date | 2008 |
| Volume | 371 |
| Issue | |
| Start page | 85 |
| End page | 89 |
| Abstract | The potential for predatory infaunal species to increase trophic complexity in marine sedimentary habitats has been debated in the past; however, the status of predatory infauna as a distinct trophic level remains controversial. Specifically, it is unclear whether these assemblages can be accurately depicted by a 3-level trophic model in which predatory infauna constitutes a critical intermediate trophic link between epibenthic predators and other infauna. Here, we specifically address whether the key requirement for recognition of a 3-level trophic structure (namely that 'epibenthic predators must selectively prey on predatory infauna') is supported by new experimental evidence from 2 contrasting habitats in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Our results unambiguously support a 3-trophic level model and raise a series of questions on the current understanding of the trophic structure of marine sedimentary habitats. |
| Use/Reproduction | Contact Publisher |
| Text | http://www.islandscholar.ca/download_ds/ir:192/PDF |
Using APA 6th Edition citation style.
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