ABSTRACT: Foundation species elevate local biodiversity and underpin critical ecological processes and functions. Kelp species are distributed along ~25% of the world’s coastlines, where they serve as foundation species in intertidal and subtidal habitats. As well as ameliorating environmental conditions and producing organic matter, they provide biogenic habitat for a vast array of associated organisms. Here, we investigated patterns of diversity and structure in assemblages associated with the stipe of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the NE Atlantic. Stipes were sampled at 4 study regions (with 3 sites nested within each region) in the UK, spanning ~9° of latitude. Stipe-associated communities were highly diverse (134 species) and abundant (16-4532 ind. stipe^-1), with no obvious sequential shift in diversity or overall trends in abundance/biomass of assemblages with latitude. However, we observed high degrees of variability between sites from the same region and individuals within sites, indicating that processes working across smaller spatial scales were more important than those at regional scales. While we observed high between-site variability in assemblage structure, regional differences were also evident. Most notably, sites within our southernmost region (southern England) were largely devoid of amphipods that dominated all other regions. This study highlights the important role of L. hyperborea in elevating biodiversity at local to regional scales through a facilitative interaction. Moreover, given that L. hyperborea forests may be increasingly impacted by ocean warming, changes in coastal water quality and proposed exploitation, our study serves as an important benchmark against which to detect future changes.

中文翻译：

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与大西洋东北部海带海带叶柄相关的表生群落结构的多尺度空间变异性

摘要：基础物种提升了当地的生物多样性，并支撑着关键的生态过程和功能。海带物种分布在全球约 25% 的海岸线上，是潮间带和潮下带栖息地的基础物种。除了改善环境条件和产生有机物质外，它们还为大量相关生物提供了生物栖息地。在这里，我们研究了与东北大西洋海带海带叶柄相关的组合的多样性和结构模式。在英国的 4 个研究区域（每个区域嵌套 3 个站点）对菌柄进行采样，跨越约 9° 的纬度。与菌柄相关的群落高度多样化（134 种）且丰富（16-4532 ind. stipe ^-1)，在多样性或组合的丰度/生物量随纬度的总体趋势方面没有明显的连续变化。然而，我们观察到来自同一地区的站点和站点内的个体之间的高度可变性，表明在较小空间尺度上工作的过程比区域尺度上的过程更重要。虽然我们观察到组合结构的高位点间变异性，但区域差异也很明显。最值得注意的是，我们最南端地区（英格兰南部）内的遗址基本上没有主导所有其他地区的片脚类动物。本研究强调了L. hyperborea在通过促进性互动在地方到区域范围内提升生物多样性方面的重要作用。此外，鉴于L. hyperborea 森林可能越来越多地受到海洋变暖、沿海水质变化和拟议开发的影响，我们的研究可作为检测未来变化的重要基准。