 |
Whitehead H, O'Brien K, Worm B
Diversity of deep-water cetaceans and primary productivity
Using a database of sightings of deep-water cetaceans in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, along with in situ sea surface temperature (SST) measurements, satellite-derived productivity measures and other factors, Whitehead and co-workers tested the hypotheses that large-scale patterns of marine mammal diversity are linked to primary productivity, sea surface temperature, or a combination of both. They show that cetacean genus richness peaks in regions of high primary productivity, but that most of this effect is captured by optimal sea surface temperature in those same regions. Marine mammal richness globally peaks around 40° N and S, and may result more directly from optimal SST at these latitudes rather than from high productivity.
Inter-Research Science Publisher is pleased to make this Feature Article openly available for viewing by our readers.
