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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2006. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-192). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Understanding how large-scale processes (>100 kms) influence ecological communities is currently a major focus in ecology. In marine systems, coastal upwelling, a large-scale oceanographic process in which surface water pushed offshore by winds is replaced by cold, nutrient-rich water from depth, appears to cause variation in rocky intertidal communities. Along the central Oregon coast upwelling occurs intermittently during the summer while on the southern coast it begins earlier in the spring and is less variable throughout the summer. Coastal upwelling can affect rocky intertidal communities by altering the delivery of nutrients, larvae, and phytoplankton. I conducted three studies on both the southern and central Oregon coast to understand how differences in upwelling affect rocky intertidal community structure and dynamics. In the first study, I examined the recruitment and growth rates of sessile invertebrates (mussels and barnacles). Recruitment of both mussels and barnacles, and growth of mussels were consistently higher on the central Oregon coast than the southern coast. Upwelled water is nutrient-rich, so differences in upwelling are likely to affect growth rates of macroalgae. In the second study, I tested this hypothesis by monitoring the growth of two species of intertidal kelp at both central and southern coast sites. During El Ni��o years, when upwelling is sharply reduced on the central Oregon coast, algae may fare better at sites on the southern coast where upwelling is less affected. However, during years when upwelling is strong all along the coast, nutrient limitation does not appear to differentially affect macroalgal growth rates. Finally, in the third study, I examined the influence of upwelling on the interactions between microalgal primary producers and herbivorous limpets. I conclude that this interaction is complex and varies both within and between upwelling regions. My research suggests that a transition in upwelling from weak and sporadic on the central Oregon coast to stronger and more persistent on the southern Oregon coast drives the striking differences in rocky intertidal community structure and dynamics between these areas. / Graduation date: 2003

Gradients of physical disturbance are central to theories of community organization yet rarely are studies performed in which physical factors are experimentally manipulated. Pothole tidepool algal communities exhibit distinct zonation patterns from top to bottom that result from scouring by rocks and other debris in the pools. Scouring is easily manipulated by removing or adding rocks to tidepools. Thus, the gradient of physical disturbance potentially causing community patterns can be manipulated to test theories of community organization. I documented the distribution pattern of algae inhabiting pothole tidepools and measured a number of physical factors which were hypothesized to be responsible for the observed zonation patterns. Then, I experimentally evaluated the roles of physical disturbance, herbivory, and competition in these tidepool communities. I found that scouring by rocks was primarily responsible for the observed zonation patterns in pothole tidepools. However, not all pools are potholes. Evaluation of the physical properties effecting the cobble-retaining ability of tidepools enabled prediction over a broad geographic range of pools likely to have cobbles and thus show typical pothole algal zonation patterns. Coralline algae (Rhodophyta, Corallinaceae) are a dominant feature of tidepools as well as many low intertidal and subtidal habitats. I evaluated the relative resistance of coralline algae (both articulated and crustose forms) and other common tidepool algae to scouring by rocks. Coralline crusts were highly resistant to scouring while articulated coralline algae are very susceptible to scouring. Erect fleshy algal species showed intermediate resistance to scouring. This corresponds well to observed algal zonation patterns in intertidal potholes. Based on this information, I proposed that wave-induced scouring may have been the selective force for the initial incorporation of calcium carbonate into algal thalli. / Graduation date: 1992

Thesis (M.S.) in Marine Policy--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-181).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-94). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : 39-42).

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

In marine environments, the open system (OS) theory, whereby populations are assumed to be well connected through large-scale dispersal, is currently being challenged by studies demonstrating limited dispersal. Using a novel metapopulation framework featuring nonequilibrium within-site disturbance cycles and limited dispersal, I investigate the large-scale response of marine mussel populations to changes in oceanographic productivity. By altering the fecundity parameter, I am able to shift from open to dynamically-coupled systems (DCS), thereby generating predictions that can be used to test the connectivity of marine populations. Within-site disturbance cycles scale-up and drive regional dynamics in both OS and DCS. Fast disturbance cycles induce synchronized oscillations that promote regional extinction risk in response to changes in oceanographic productivity for DCS but not OS. Slow disturbance cycles maintain spatial variability and temporal stability in both OS and DCS. These predictions can be used to test the applicability of OS theories to natural coastal ecosystems.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Zoology & Entomology)) - Rhodes University, 2009.