Rocky shores as tractable test systems for experimental ecology

Abstract

Rocky shore ecology has been studied for a long time, starting with qualitative descriptions and becoming more quantitative and experimental over time. Some of the earliest manipulative experimental ecological studies were undertaken on rocky shores. Many, over time, have made considerable contributions to ecological theory, especially highlighting the importance of biological interactions at the community level. The suitability of rocky shores as convenient test systems for ecological experimentation is outlined. Here we consider contributions from rocky shores to the emerging concepts of supply-side ecology, the roles of competition, predation and grazing, disturbance and succession and positive interactions in structuring communities along environmental gradients. We then address alternative stable states, relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and bottom-up and top-down control of ecosystems. We briefly consider the feedback and synergies between ecological concepts and experimental work on rocky shores, whilst still emphasizing the traditional values of marine natural history upheld in JMBA since its first publication. The importance of rigorous experimental designs championed by Underwood and co-workers is emphasized. Recent progress taking advantage of new technologies and emerging approaches is considered. We illustrate how experimental studies have shown the importance of biological interactions in modulating species and assemblage-level responses to climate change and informed conservation and management of coastal ecosystems.

Research for Ocean Sustainability

“…As part of our celebration of our 100 th volume we have published a series of reviews (Dando & Southward, 2020, Rainbow, 2020, Raven & Beardall, 2020, Langstone, 2020, Hawkins et al, 2020) reflecting on subjects typical of the Journal for more than one hundred years. We encourage authors to submit review articles and will continue to welcome such reviews and the insights they provide in the future.…”

Ecological experiments: between a rock and a hard place

“…It is, perhaps, therefore surprising that marine rocky shores have been a major site for ecological experiments that have been fundamental to our understanding of the ecological workings of the world and underpin a significant amount of ecological theory. Hawkins et al (2020) describes the evolution of our knowledge of rocky shore ecology and in particular how experimental studies on rocky shores have been used to develop theoretical frameworks and to test ecological hypotheses.…”

“…Recent advances in technologies ranging from satellite-based remote sensing to molecular biological techniques are finding applications in rocky shore experimental studies while new techniques, including better experimental designs, advanced materials and statistical approaches are increasing the range and nature of the questions that can be addressed. However, as Hawkins et al (2020) and others have noted, while these technical advances are exciting and enabling, making ecological advances remains rooted in, and bounded by, our knowledge of the identity and natural history of the organisms. So, contemporary experimental rocky shore ecology continues to be dependent on the natural history of these attractive and accessible environments, while employing a diverse and technologically advanced range of approaches to deliver new fundamental understandings.…”

“…However, perhaps the greatest contributions have come from the application of well-designed manipulative experimental approaches. Studies on rocky shores have, amongst others, contributed to ecology such fundamental concepts as keystone species, physiological harshness–species diversity relationships, intermediate disturbance theory, succession, supply side control as well as shedding light on top down vs bottom up control of system dynamics (see Hawkins et al ., 2020). The scale of these contributions prompted Berlow (1997) to compare the contribution of the marine intertidal to ecology, to the importance of the ‘fruit-fly’ to genetics.…”

“…However, as Hawkins et al . (2020) and others have noted, while these technical advances are exciting and enabling, making ecological advances remains rooted in, and bounded by, our knowledge of the identity and natural history of the organisms. So, contemporary experimental rocky shore ecology continues to be dependent on the natural history of these attractive and accessible environments, while employing a diverse and technologically advanced range of approaches to deliver new fundamental understandings.…”