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Role of the Arctic Ocean as a Bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: Fact and Hypothesis

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Evolutionary Biogeography of the Marine Algae of the North Atlantic

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 22))

Abstract

The Arctic Ocean is recognized as a ‘bridge’ for marine biota between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The present-day Arctic Ocean marine flora is essentially a depauperate extension of the N Atlantic flora, with few endemic species. It is ‘stamped’ by the environment in its adaptations to cold temperatures and low light conditions. Characteristics and geographic limits of the Arctic biome are discussed, as well as previous misconceptions of this biome. This flora contains five floristic groups: N Pacific, N Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, cosmopolitan and endemic species; these groups are based on phylogenetic relationships, distribution tracks, and presumed origins. The recognition of these origins is also based on assumptions of genome antiquity, and morphological and reproductive stasis, i.e., continuity of species traits from a pre-Cretaeeous, possibly early Mesozoic, ancestry.

Trans-migration of the N Atlantic-N Pacific biota via the Arctic Ocean occurred periodically during the Tertiary, and was dependent primarily upon massive plate movements. During its evolution, periodic marine incursions, with accompanying biota, occurred from four ocean areas: N Pacific, present Caribbean via Cannonball Seaway, present Mediterranean via Turgai Strait, and the N Atlantic. Post-Pleistocene algal exchange between the N Pacific and N Atlantic is not evident. Post-Pleistocene species migration between the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean is on-going and dependent only on temperature adaptation.

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  1. Department of Botany, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA

    Robert T. Wilce

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  1. Robert T. Wilce
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  1. Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 1C0, Canada

    David J. Garbary

  2. Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, EOG 2X0, Canada

    G. Robin South

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Wilce, R.T. (1990). Role of the Arctic Ocean as a Bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: Fact and Hypothesis. In: Garbary, D.J., South, G.R. (eds) Evolutionary Biogeography of the Marine Algae of the North Atlantic. NATO ASI Series, vol 22. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75115-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75115-8_16

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