HR: 08:00h
AN: NB11A-01 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: NABS Plenary: Linking the Abiotic Environment to Biodiversity in Running Waters
AU: * Strayer, D L
EM: strayerd@ecostudies.org
AF: Institute of Ecosystem Studies, P.O. Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545 United States
AU: Lowe, W H
EM: lowew@ecostudies.org
AF: Institute of Ecosystem Studies, P.O. Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545 United States
AB: The importance of abiotic factors to the distribution and abundance of species is well known to laypeople, and forms one of the most ancient branches of ecology. Despite the long history of studies on abiotic effects on biodiversity in running waters, there has been much recent activity in the field, and significant challenges remain. We will review recent progress in areas such as collecting data at very large and very small scales of time and space; quantifying and applying abiotic information in models to manage aquatic resources; and mechanistic studies linking the abiotic environment with the biota. We will highlight three great challenges for the future: collaborating with the technologists whose instruments will capture and process detailed information about the abiotic environment; developing statistical and conceptual tools to analyze the large data sets that we will be able to collect; and learning how to apply knowledge of the abiotic environment and the influence of abiotic factors on biotic interactions towards an integrative theory of biodiversity that includes multiple abiotic and biotic variables working at different scales.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly