Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Teichert S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4225531 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Scientific reports 20141110
Rhodoliths are coralline red algal assemblages that commonly occur in marine habitats from the tropics to polar latitudes. They form rigid structures of high-magnesium calcite and have a good fossil record. Here I show that rhodoliths are ecosystem engineers in a high Arctic environment that increase local biodiversity by providing habitat. Gouged by boring mussels, originally solid rhodoliths become hollow ecospheres intensely colonised by benthic organisms. In the examined shelf areas, biodive ...[more]