The Red Sea: Environmental Gradients Shape a Natural Laboratory in a Nascent Ocean

by Michael L.Berumen, Christian R. Voolstra, DanieleDaffonchio, Susana Agusti, Manuel Aranda, XabierIrigoien, Burt H Johns, Carlos M. Duarte
Book chapter Year: 2019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05802-9_1

Bibliography

Berumen, M. L., Voolstra, C. R., Daffonchio, D., Agusti, S., Aranda, M., Irigoien, X., ... & Duarte, C. M. (2019). The Red Sea: environmental gradients shape a natural laboratory in a Nascent Ocean. In Coral reefs of the Red Sea (pp. 1-10). Springer, Cham.

Abstract

This chapter introduces the environmental gradients that characterize the broader Red Sea habitat. The Red Sea is formed by an actively spreading rift and notably has only one natural connection to the Indian Ocean – a narrow, shallow opening known as the Strait of Bab al Mandab. The resultant isolation undoubtedly plays a key role in shaping the environmental gradients, species endemism, and distinct evolutionary trajectory observed within the Red Sea. While this young ocean is known to be among the saltiest and warmest seas on Earth, there are important spatial and temporal gradients that likely influence the biological communities residing in its waters.

Keywords

Red Sea Physical environment Ecosystems Environmental gradients Coral reefs Brine pools Seagrass meadows Biogeography