Data from: Sea level change and the area of shallow-marine habitat: implications for marine biodiversity

Analysis of a global elevation database to measure changes in shallow-marine habitat area as a function of sea-level reveals an unexpectedly complicated relationship. In contrast to prevailing views, sea-level rise does not consistently generate an increase in shelf area, nor does sea-level fall consistently reduce shelf area. Different depth-defined habitats on the same margin will experience different changes in area for the same sea-level change, and different margins will likewise experience different changes in area for the same sea-level change. Simple forward models incorporating a species-area relationship suggest that the diversity response to sea-level change will be largely idiosyncratic. The change in habitat area is highly dependent on the starting position of sea level, the amount and direction of sea-level change, and the habitat and region in question. Such an idiosyncratic relationship between diversity and sea-level reconciles the widespread evidence from the fossil record for a link between diversity and sea-level change with the lack of quantitative support for such a relationship throughout the Phanerozoic.

本研究通过分析全球高程数据库（global elevation database），探究以海平面变化为驱动变量的浅海生境（shallow-marine habitat）面积变化规律，结果揭示出远超预期的复杂关联关系。与当前学界主流认知相悖的是，海平面上升并不会持续导致大陆架面积（shelf area）扩张，海平面下降也不会一贯地缩减大陆架面积。同一大陆边缘（margin）上，按深度界定的不同生境在相同海平面变化下会呈现各异的面积变化；而不同大陆边缘，即便遭遇相同的海平面变化，其生境面积变化也不尽相同。纳入种-面积关系（species-area relationship）的简单正演模型（forward models）表明，生物多样性对海平面变化的响应模式整体上具有高度特异性。生境面积的变化高度依赖于海平面初始位置、海平面变化的幅度与方向，以及所研究的生境类型与区域。这种生物多样性与海平面变化间的特异性关联，能够调和两方面的矛盾：一方面化石记录中广泛存在生物多样性与海平面变化存在关联的证据，另一方面整个显生宙（Phanerozoic）时期却缺乏支持该关联的定量研究结果。