Collection

Seamounts and oceanic archipelagos and their role for the biodiversity, biogeography, and dispersal of marine organisms

Submission status
Closed
In the past decades, seamounts and oceanic archipelagos have become increasingly of interest for biogeographic and biodiversity research of marine organisms. As submerged or emerged volcanic islands they provide numerous sporadic shallow-water habitats within the abyssal blue deserts of the world’s oceans, which is considered of eminent significance for several biological aspects. Seamounts and oceanic archipelagos may constitute highly productive “hot spots” of biodiversity for many benthic and pelagic communities; they may enhance dispersal possibilities even of the shallow-water benthos, acting as “stepping stones”; contrariwise they may – due to their isolated topography combined with special hydrographical conditions – form downright “trapping stones” for organisms inhabiting their summits, which on its part may lead to an increased endemism due to the evolution of exclusive species. A further aspect deals with the role of seamounts/oceanic archipelagos as so-called “staging posts”, as they may retain a continuous gene flow between distant marine areas, establishing and maintaining large meta populations of species. Furthermore, the formation of biogenic sediments on seamounts and the shores of oceanic archipelagos are closely linked with biological activity of the persisting communities, reflecting both the pelagic and the benthic signal depending on their interaction between topography and physical features. Many processes and theories are, however, not yet fully understood. Thus, the focus of this topical collection “Seamounts and oceanic archipelagos and their role for the biodiversity, biogeography, and dispersal of marine organisms” is the advanced understanding on some seamount and island hypotheses (e.g., endemism, island theory, island mass effect, stepping stones, regional/local refugia). Submissions on any topic related to seamount and archipelago biodiversity (including biogenic sedimentology, biological oceanography, occurrence and species interactions of any marine organism, modelling, conservation and policy) are welcome.

Editors

  • Hartmut Arndt Hartmut Arndt , 

    Hartmut Arndt

    University of Cologne Biozentrum, Institut für Zoologie, Allgemeine Ökologie Zülpicher Straße 47b 50674 Köln, Germany

  • Kai Horst George Kai Horst George , 

    Kai Horst George

    Senckenberg am Meer Wilhelmshaven German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB) Südstrand 44 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany

  • Manfred Kaufmann Manfred Kaufmann  &

    Manfred Kaufmann

    Marine Biology Station of Funchal Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Madeira 9000-107 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

  • Achim Wehrmann Achim Wehrmann

    Achim Wehrmann

    Senckenberg am Meer Wilhelmshaven Marine Research Department Südstrand 40 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Articles (6 in this collection)