Near-island biological hotspots in barren ocean basins

Jamison M. Gove; Margaret A. McManus; Anna B. Neuheimer; Jeffrey J. Polovina; Jeffrey C. Drazen; Craig R. Smith; Mark A. Merrifield; Alan M. Friedlander; Julia S. Ehses; Charles W. Young; Amanda K. Dillon; Gareth J. Williams

doi:10.1038/ncomms10581

Nature Communications (Feb 2016)

Near-island biological hotspots in barren ocean basins

Jamison M. Gove,
Margaret A. McManus,
Anna B. Neuheimer,
Jeffrey J. Polovina,
Jeffrey C. Drazen,
Craig R. Smith,
Mark A. Merrifield,
Alan M. Friedlander,
Julia S. Ehses,
Charles W. Young,
Amanda K. Dillon,
Gareth J. Williams

Affiliations

Jamison M. Gove: Ecosystems and Oceanography Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Margaret A. McManus: Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Anna B. Neuheimer: Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Jeffrey J. Polovina: Ecosystems and Oceanography Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Jeffrey C. Drazen: Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Craig R. Smith: Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Mark A. Merrifield: Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Alan M. Friedlander: Department of Biology, Fisheries Ecology Research Laboratory, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Julia S. Ehses: Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Charles W. Young: Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Amanda K. Dillon: Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Gareth J. Williams: Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10581
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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The Island Mass Effect (IME), where island proximity enhances phytoplankton biomass, remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Here, the authors show the IME is a common feature among Pacific reefs, driving increased production that creates biological hotspots in otherwise barren ocean basins.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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