 |
Telesh IV, Schubert H, Skarlato SO
Revisiting Remane’s concept: evidence for high plankton diversity and a protistan species maximum in the horohalinicum of the Baltic Sea
Brackish waters are thought to be species-poor, according to Remane’s Artenminimum concept, developed from data on macrozoobenthos and established since the mid-20th century as a major biodiversity rule. A study conducted over 2 decades in the Baltic Sea, which has a smooth salinity gradient over a large geographical scale, revealed a surprisingly high diversity in the plankton, dominated by protists. This leads to a critical reconsideration of Remane’s concept: Telesh and co-workers of the Ulrich Schiewer Laboratory for Experimental Aquatic Cytoecology (USE Laboratory) suggest a 'protistan species maximum concept', discriminating between salinity effects on the biodiversity of large sessile versus small motile aquatic species, as the latter drift with large water masses and thus experience less salinity stress.
Inter-Research Science Publisher is pleased to make this Feature Article openly available for viewing by our readers.
