Title: THE GENERALITY OF FIELD EXPERIMENTS: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN LOCAL AND BROAD-SCALE PROCESSES
Abstract: EcologyVolume 81, Issue 2 p. 399-415 Article THE GENERALITY OF FIELD EXPERIMENTS: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN LOCAL AND BROAD-SCALE PROCESSES Simon F. Thrush, Simon F. Thrush National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] for more papers by this authorJudi E. Hewitt, Judi E. Hewitt National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorVonda J. Cummings, Vonda J. Cummings National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorMalcolm O. Green, Malcolm O. Green National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorGreig A. Funnell, Greig A. Funnell National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorMichelle R. Wilkinson, Michelle R. Wilkinson National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 109-695, Newmarket, Auckland, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this author Simon F. Thrush, Simon F. Thrush National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] for more papers by this authorJudi E. Hewitt, Judi E. Hewitt National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorVonda J. Cummings, Vonda J. Cummings National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorMalcolm O. Green, Malcolm O. Green National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorGreig A. Funnell, Greig A. Funnell National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorMichelle R. Wilkinson, Michelle R. Wilkinson National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 109-695, Newmarket, Auckland, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 February 2000 https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[0399:TGOFEI]2.0.CO;2Citations: 73 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Linking the results of localized field experiments to generalities about the role of specific processes is essential in ecology. Comparative studies conducted at multiple locations enable the general importance of processes to be assessed. However, spatial or temporal variation in the strength of local ecological relationships frequently makes it difficult to draw general conclusions, as increasing the extent of a study is likely to increase the physical and biological heterogeneity. To unravel the influence of differences in wave climate on local ecological interactions among adult and juvenile sandflat bivalves, an experiment was conducted at three sites in each of three harbors in the North Island of New Zealand. The selected sites covered a range of wind–wave exposures but were all mid-intertidal sandflats with macrobenthic communities dominated by bivalves. Four treatments were used: additions of 0, 15, 45, and 110 adults of the tellinid bivalve Macomona liliana. At each site a DOBIE wave gauge was used to provide time-series data on wave orbital speed at the seabed over the 35-d duration of the experiment. Significant experiment × location interactions indicated site-dependent variation in the strength and direction of treatment effects. However, multiple regression models based on site environmental characteristics were very successful in explaining differences between sites in the strength of experimental treatment effects (66–99% of the variance explained). We used the cube of the orbital wave velocity at the seabed (U3b) as an index of energy dissipation by waves. Both the site average and maximum U3b were important variables explaining location-dependent treatment effects. Average U3b increased the strength of the negative effects of experimental additions of adult Macomona on juvenile bivalves, presumably by increasing the opportunity for juvenile bivalves to be resuspended by small waves and transported away from areas with high adult densities. Maximum U3b decreased the strength of the experimental effects, probably by increasing the purely passive transport of juveniles with sediment bedload and thus obliterating patterns in the distribution of juvenile bivalves relative to adult Macomona. Hence, different aspects of the wave climate influenced adult–juvenile interactions in different ways. Ambient density of adult Macomona around the experimental sites was also an important factor. This multisite experiment confirmed the importance of local adult–juvenile interactions and suggested ways in which these interactions are influenced by local environmental characteristics. Where the influence of such broad-scale variables can be identified, linking broad-scale information to small-scale studies that identify mechanisms can increase the generality of ecological experiments. Citing Literature Volume81, Issue2February 2000Pages 399-415 RelatedInformation
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 102
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