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Artana C, Capitani L, Santos Garcia G, Angelini R, Coll M. Food web trophic control modulates tropical Atlantic reef ecosystems response to marine heat wave intensity and duration. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 38790092 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are episodes of anomalous warming in the ocean that can last from a few days to years. MHWs have different characteristics in terms of intensity, duration and frequency and generate thermal stress in marine ecosystems. In reef ecosystems, they are one of the main causes of the decreased presence and abundance of corals, invertebrates and fish. The deleterious capacity of thermal stress often depends on biotic factors, such as the trophic control of predators on prey. Despite the evidence of thermal stress and biotic factors affecting individual species, the combined effects of both stressors on entire reef ecosystems are much less studied. Here, using a food web modelling approach, we estimated the rate of change in species' biomass due to different MHW characteristics. Specifically, we modelled the mechanistic link between species' consumption rate and seawater temperature (thermal stressor), simulating species' biomass dynamics for different MHW characteristics under different trophic control assumptions (top-down, mixed trophic control and bottom-up). We find that total reef ecosystem biomass declined by 10% ± 5% under MHWs with severe intensity and a top-down control assumption. The bottom-up control assumption moderates the total ecosystem biomass reduction by 5% ± 5%. Irrespective of the MHW characteristics and the trophic control assumption, the most substantial biomass changes occur among top, mesopredators and corals (5% to 20% ± 10%). We show that reef ecosystems where predators exert top-down control on prey are prone to suffer species abundance declines under strong MHW events. We identify food web trophic control as a crucial driver that modulates the impacts of MHWs. Overall, our results provide a unified understanding of the interplay between abiotic stressors and biotic factors in reef ecosystems under extreme thermal events, offering insights into present baselines and future ecological states for reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Artana
- Institute of Marine Science (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Laboratoire LOCEAN-IPSL, Sorbonne Université (UPMC, Université Paris 6), CNRS, IRD, MNHN, Paris, France
| | - Leonardo Capitani
- Post-Graduate Program in Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Santos Garcia
- Post-Graduate Program in Ecology, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Angelini
- Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil
| | - Marta Coll
- Institute of Marine Science (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Ecopath International Initiative (EII), Barcelona, Spain
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Murray M, Wright J, Araya-Ajoy YG. Evolutionary rescue from climate change: male indirect genetic effects on lay-dates and their consequences for population persistence. Evol Lett 2024; 8:137-148. [PMID: 38487362 PMCID: PMC10939382 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in avian breeding phenology are among the most apparent responses to climate change in free-ranging populations. A key question is whether populations will be able to keep up with the expected rates of environmental change. There is a large body of research on the mechanisms by which avian lay-dates track temperature change and the consequences of (mal)adaptation on population persistence. Often overlooked is the role of males, which can influence the lay-date of their mate through their effect on the prelaying environment. We explore how social plasticity causing male indirect genetic effects can help or hinder population persistence when female genes underpinning lay-date and male genes influencing female's timing of reproduction both respond to climate-mediated selection. We extend quantitative genetic moving optimum models to predict the consequences of social plasticity on the maximum sustainable rate of temperature change, and evaluate our model using a combination of simulated data and empirical estimates from the literature. Our results suggest that predictions for population persistence may be biased if indirect genetic effects and cross-sex genetic correlations are not considered and that the extent of this bias depends on sex differences in how environmental change affects the optimal timing of reproduction. Our model highlights that more empirical work is needed to understand sex-specific effects of environmental change on phenology and the fitness consequences for population dynamics. While we discuss our results exclusively in the context of avian breeding phenology, the approach we take here can be generalized to many different contexts and types of social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myranda Murray
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jonathan Wright
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Yimen G Araya-Ajoy
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
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Pereñíguez JM, Alós J, Aspillaga E, Rojo I, Calò A, Hackradt C, Hernández-Andreu R, Mourre B, García-Charton JA. Intense scuba diving does not alter activity patterns of predatory reef fish: Evidence from a protected tourism hotspot. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 344:118491. [PMID: 37390579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The rise of nature-based tourism has provided a new avenue for disturbing animal behaviour, especially in protected areas. One of the most important tourism sectors in aquatic environments is scuba diving, an activity considered sustainable given its non-extractive nature and capability of bringing relevant socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, knowledge about its impact on the activity patterns of aquatic animals is still scarce. Here, we used biotelemetry techniques to assess the importance of scuba diving in modulating the activity patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe, 1834), a marine predatory fish of high interest for fishing and tourism. We implemented Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) on high-resolution acceleration data using a temporal and spatial control while controlling for a set of environmental variables (i.e. photoperiod, time-of-day, moon phase, temperature, wave height, and intensity and direction of marine currents) within a multiple-use marine protected area, and diving tourism hot-spot, of the western Mediterranean Sea. Our results underlined the more decisive influence of environmental-related stressors on the activity patterns of the dusky grouper compared to the impact of scuba diving. A high heterogeneity existed in the response against most of the stressors, including the presence of scuba divers. Overall, the activity of dusky grouper was higher at night than at day, showing a positive relationship with wave height, water temperature, and current intensity and a negative one with the moon phase. Remarkably, our findings, based on novel biotelemetry tools, differed substantially from the common wisdom accepted for this species. In conclusion, there is no clear evidence of scuba divers influence on the general activity patterns of the dusky grouper. Beyond their relevance from an ecological perspective, these results provide useful insights for the sustainable management of coastal resources, suggesting that scuba diving, when properly carried out, can represent an important sector to foster for the blue growth of coastal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pereñíguez
- Department of Ecology and Hidrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - J Alós
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - E Aspillaga
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - I Rojo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - C Hackradt
- Ecology and Marine Conservation Laboratory (LECoMAR). Universidade Federal Do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, 45810-000, Porto Seguro, Brazil
| | - R Hernández-Andreu
- Ecology and Marine Conservation Laboratory (LECoMAR). Universidade Federal Do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, 45810-000, Porto Seguro, Brazil
| | - B Mourre
- SOCIB, Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
| | - J A García-Charton
- Department of Ecology and Hidrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Morales-Mata JI, Potti J, Camacho C, Martínez-Padilla J, Canal D. Phenotypic selection on an ornamental trait is not modulated by breeding density in a pied flycatcher population. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:610-620. [PMID: 35293060 PMCID: PMC9311403 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most studies of phenotypic selection in the wild have focussed on morphological and life‐history traits and looked at abiotic (climatic) variation as the main driver of selection. Consequently, our knowledge of the effects of biotic environmental variation on phenotypic selection on sexual traits is scarce. Population density can be considered a proxy for the intensity of intrasexual and intersexual competition and could therefore be a key factor influencing the covariation between individual fitness and the expression of sexual traits. Here, we used an individual‐based data set from a population of pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) monitored over 24 years to analyze the effect of breeding density on phenotypic selection on dorsal plumage colouration, a heritable and sexually selected ornament in males of this species. Using the number of recruits as a fitness proxy, our results showed overall stabilizing selection on male dorsal colouration, with intermediate phenotypes being favoured over extremely dark and dull individuals. However, our results did not support the hypothesis that breeding density mediates phenotypic selection on this sexual trait. We discuss the possible role of other biotic factors influencing selection on ornamental plumage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaime Potti
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Carlos Camacho
- Department of Biological Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Jaca, Spain
| | - Jesús Martínez-Padilla
- Department of Biological Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Jaca, Spain
| | - David Canal
- Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary
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Ferchaud AL, Laporte M, Wellenreuther M. From the woods to the halls of science: Louis Bernatchez's contributions to science, wildlife conservation and people. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1105-1116. [PMID: 32684949 PMCID: PMC7359837 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Ferchaud
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Martin Laporte
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS) Université Laval Québec QC Canada
| | - Maren Wellenreuther
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd Nelson New Zealand
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