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Can limited dispersal or biotic interaction explain the declining abundance of the whelk, Morula marginalba, at the edge of its range?
Coulson, L.A.; Perrin, C.; Roberts, D.G.; Minchinton, T.E.; Ayre, D.J. (2011). Can limited dispersal or biotic interaction explain the declining abundance of the whelk, Morula marginalba, at the edge of its range? Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 103(4): 849-862. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01676.x
In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0024-4066; e-ISSN 1095-8312, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    biogeographical barrier; competition; East Australian Current; gene flow; genetic diversity; range limit; recruitment

Authors  Top 
  • Coulson, L.A.
  • Perrin, C.
  • Roberts, D.G.
  • Minchinton, T.E.
  • Ayre, D.J.

Abstract
    The southern range limit of the planktotrophic, intertidal whelk, Morula marginalba, occurs immediately to the north of the south-east Australian biogeographical barrier and we predict that its range may be limited by dispersal and biotic interactions. The barrier includes several hundred kilometers without suitable habitat and is the convergence zone of major ocean currents. Within the barrier region, along-shore larval transport is expected to be erratic, with water moving offshore to form long-lived eddies. Through comparison of central and range edge populations, we test for evidence of recruitment limitation and interspecific competition with the whelk, Haustrum vinosum, which occurs sympatrically at the range edge. We found similar levels of recruitment and allozyme genetic variation within centre and edge populations where H. vinosum was absent, implying that populations are strongly interconnected. Nevertheless, recruitment and abundance of M. marginalba were lower at its extreme range limit, where it occurs with H. vinosum. Indeed, we detected significant inverse correlations between the abundance of these species, although their habitat use was similar and they consumed similar prey. These lines of evidence suggest a restricted recruitment across the barrier limits the range of M. marginalba but emphasize that multiple factors may act to set species range limits.

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