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Huang M, Chen Y, Zhou W, Wei F. Assessing the response of marine fish communities to climate change and fishing. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14291. [PMID: 38745485 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Globally, marine fish communities are being altered by climate change and human disturbances. We examined data on global marine fish communities to assess changes in community-weighted mean temperature affinity (i.e., mean temperatures within geographic ranges), maximum length, and trophic levels, which, respectively, represent the physiological, morphological, and trophic characteristics of marine fish communities. Then, we explored the influence of climate change and fishing on these characteristics because of their long-term role in shaping fish communities, especially their interactive effects. We employed spatial linear mixed models to investigate their impacts on community-weighted mean trait values and on abundance of different fish lengths and trophic groups. Globally, we observed an initial increasing trend in the temperature affinity of marine fish communities, whereas the weighted mean length and trophic levels of fish communities showed a declining trend. However, these shift trends were not significant, likely due to the large variation in midlatitude communities. Fishing pressure increased fish communities' temperature affinity in regions experiencing climate warming. Furthermore, climate warming was associated with an increase in weighted mean length and trophic levels of fish communities. Low climate baseline temperature appeared to mitigate the effect of climate warming on temperature affinity and trophic levels. The effect of climate warming on the relative abundance of different trophic classes and size classes both exhibited a nonlinear pattern. The small and relatively large fish species may benefit from climate warming, whereas the medium and largest size groups may be disadvantaged. Our results highlight the urgency of establishing stepping-stone marine protected areas to facilitate the migration of fishes to habitats in a warming ocean. Moreover, reducing human disturbance is crucial to mitigate rapid tropicalization, particularly in vulnerable temperate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingpan Huang
- Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Chen
- Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
- Department of Ocean Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenliang Zhou
- Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuwen Wei
- Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
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2
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Campbell JE, Kennedy Rhoades O, Munson CJ, Altieri AH, Douglass JG, Heck KL, Paul VJ, Armitage AR, Barry SC, Bethel E, Christ L, Christianen MJA, Dodillet G, Dutton K, Fourqurean JW, Frazer TK, Gaffey BM, Glazner R, Goeke JA, Grana-Valdes R, Jenkins VJ, Kramer OAA, Linhardt ST, Martin CW, Martinez Lopez IG, McDonald AM, Main VA, Manuel SA, Marco-Méndez C, O'Brien DA, O'Shea OR, Patrick CJ, Peabody C, Reynolds LK, Rodriguez A, Rodriguez Bravo LM, Sang A, Sawall Y, Smith K, Smulders FOH, Sun U, Thompson JE, van Tussenbroek B, Wied WL. Herbivore effects increase with latitude across the extent of a foundational seagrass. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:663-675. [PMID: 38366132 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02336-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is altering the functioning of foundational ecosystems. While the direct effects of warming are expected to influence individual species, the indirect effects of warming on species interactions remain poorly understood. In marine systems, as tropical herbivores undergo poleward range expansion, they may change food web structure and alter the functioning of key habitats. While this process ('tropicalization') has been documented within declining kelp forests, we have a limited understanding of how this process might unfold across other systems. Here we use a network of sites spanning 23° of latitude to explore the effects of increased herbivory (simulated via leaf clipping) on the structure of a foundational marine plant (turtlegrass). By working across its geographic range, we also show how gradients in light, temperature and nutrients modified plant responses. We found that turtlegrass near its northern boundary was increasingly affected (reduced productivity) by herbivory and that this response was driven by latitudinal gradients in light (low insolation at high latitudes). By contrast, low-latitude meadows tolerated herbivory due to high insolation which enhanced plant carbohydrates. We show that as herbivores undergo range expansion, turtlegrass meadows at their northern limit display reduced resilience and may be under threat of ecological collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E Campbell
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA.
| | - O Kennedy Rhoades
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Calvin J Munson
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - James G Douglass
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Kenneth L Heck
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | | | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Savanna C Barry
- UF|IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, USA
| | - Enrique Bethel
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Lindsey Christ
- International Field Studies, Inc., Forfar Field Station, Blanket Sound, Bahamas
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grace Dodillet
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., Stuart, FL, USA
| | | | - James W Fourqurean
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Thomas K Frazer
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Bethany M Gaffey
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rachael Glazner
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Janelle A Goeke
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rancel Grana-Valdes
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Victoria J Jenkins
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | | | - Samantha T Linhardt
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | - Charles W Martin
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | - Isis G Martinez Lopez
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ashley M McDonald
- UF|IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, USA
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Vivienne A Main
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sarah A Manuel
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, 'Shorelands', Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Candela Marco-Méndez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
- CEAB (CSIC), Girona, Spain
| | - Duncan A O'Brien
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Owen R O'Shea
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Christopher J Patrick
- Coastal and Ocean Processes Section, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, USA
| | - Clare Peabody
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Laura K Reynolds
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alex Rodriguez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | | | - Amanda Sang
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Yvonne Sawall
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), St. George's, Bermuda
| | - Khalil Smith
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, 'Shorelands', Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Fee O H Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Uriah Sun
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Jamie E Thompson
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Brigitta van Tussenbroek
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - William L Wied
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
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3
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Chust G, Villarino E, McLean M, Mieszkowska N, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bulleri F, Ravaglioli C, Borja A, Muxika I, Fernandes-Salvador JA, Ibaibarriaga L, Uriarte A, Revilla M, Villate F, Iriarte A, Uriarte I, Zervoudaki S, Carstensen J, Somerfield PJ, Queirós AM, McEvoy AJ, Auber A, Hidalgo M, Coll M, Garrabou J, Gómez-Gras D, Linares C, Ramírez F, Margarit N, Lepage M, Dambrine C, Lobry J, Peck MA, de la Barra P, van Leeuwen A, Rilov G, Yeruham E, Brind'Amour A, Lindegren M. Cross-basin and cross-taxa patterns of marine community tropicalization and deborealization in warming European seas. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2126. [PMID: 38459105 PMCID: PMC10923825 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46526-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocean warming and acidification, decreases in dissolved oxygen concentrations, and changes in primary production are causing an unprecedented global redistribution of marine life. The identification of underlying ecological processes underpinning marine species turnover, particularly the prevalence of increases of warm-water species or declines of cold-water species, has been recently debated in the context of ocean warming. Here, we track changes in the mean thermal affinity of marine communities across European seas by calculating the Community Temperature Index for 65 biodiversity time series collected over four decades and containing 1,817 species from different communities (zooplankton, coastal benthos, pelagic and demersal invertebrates and fish). We show that most communities and sites have clearly responded to ongoing ocean warming via abundance increases of warm-water species (tropicalization, 54%) and decreases of cold-water species (deborealization, 18%). Tropicalization dominated Atlantic sites compared to semi-enclosed basins such as the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, probably due to physical barrier constraints to connectivity and species colonization. Semi-enclosed basins appeared to be particularly vulnerable to ocean warming, experiencing the fastest rates of warming and biodiversity loss through deborealization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillem Chust
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain.
| | - Ernesto Villarino
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
- Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Corvallis, USA
| | - Matthew McLean
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Nova Mieszkowska
- Marine Biological Association, Citadel hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Ravaglioli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angel Borja
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
| | - Iñigo Muxika
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
| | - José A Fernandes-Salvador
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
| | - Leire Ibaibarriaga
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
| | - Ainhize Uriarte
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
| | - Marta Revilla
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Spain
| | - Fernando Villate
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), PO Box 644, E-48080, Bilbao, Spain
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology Plentzia Marine Station PiE-UPV/EHU, Areatza Pasalekua z/g, E-48620, Plentzia, Spain
| | - Arantza Iriarte
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology Plentzia Marine Station PiE-UPV/EHU, Areatza Pasalekua z/g, E-48620, Plentzia, Spain
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, E-01006, Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Ibon Uriarte
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology Plentzia Marine Station PiE-UPV/EHU, Areatza Pasalekua z/g, E-48620, Plentzia, Spain
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, E-01006, Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Soultana Zervoudaki
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Athens, Greece
| | - Jacob Carstensen
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Paul J Somerfield
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
- University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Ana M Queirós
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
- University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Arnaud Auber
- IFREMER, Unité Halieutique Manche Mer du Nord, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, 150 quai Gambetta, BP699, 62321, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC), Balearic Oceanographic Center (COB), Ecosystem Oceanography Group (GRECO), Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015, Palma, Spain
| | - Marta Coll
- Institute of Marine Science (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, n° 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Institute of Marine Science (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, n° 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Gómez-Gras
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Ramírez
- Institute of Marine Science (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, n° 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Margarit
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Lepage
- INRAE, EABX Unit, Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Changes, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612, Cestas, Cedex, France
| | - Chloé Dambrine
- INRAE, EABX Unit, Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Changes, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612, Cestas, Cedex, France
| | - Jérémy Lobry
- INRAE, EABX Unit, Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Changes, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612, Cestas, Cedex, France
| | - Myron A Peck
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg (Texel), the Netherlands
| | - Paula de la Barra
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg (Texel), the Netherlands
| | - Anieke van Leeuwen
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg (Texel), the Netherlands
| | - Gil Rilov
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR), Haifa, Israel
| | - Erez Yeruham
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR), Haifa, Israel
| | - Anik Brind'Amour
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Sustainability (UMR DECOD), IFREMER, Institut Agro, INRAE, Rue de l'Ile d'Yeu, Nantes, France
| | - Martin Lindegren
- Centre for Ocean Life, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
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Zarzyczny KM, Rius M, Williams ST, Fenberg PB. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of tropicalisation. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:267-279. [PMID: 38030539 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Tropicalisation is a marine phenomenon arising from contemporary climate change, and is characterised by the range expansion of tropical/subtropical species and the retraction of temperate species. Tropicalisation occurs globally and can be detected in both tropical/temperate transition zones and temperate regions. The ecological consequences of tropicalisation range from single-species impacts (e.g., altered behaviour) to whole ecosystem changes (e.g., phase shifts in intertidal and subtidal habitats). Our understanding of the evolutionary consequences of tropicalisation is limited, but emerging evidence suggests that tropicalisation could induce phenotypic change as well as shifts in the genotypic composition of both expanding and retracting species. Given the rapid rate of contemporary climate change, research on tropicalisation focusing on shifts in ecosystem functioning, biodiversity change, and socioeconomic impacts is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina M Zarzyczny
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
| | - Marc Rius
- Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Accés a la Cala Sant Francesc 14, Blanes 17300, Spain; Department of Zoology, Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Phillip B Fenberg
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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5
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Dimitriadis C, Marampouti C, Calò A, Di Franco A, Giakoumi S, Di Franco E, Di Lorenzo M, Gerovasileiou V, Guidetti P, Pey A, Sini M, Sourbès L. Evaluating the long term effectiveness of a Mediterranean marine protected area to tackle the effects of invasive and range expanding herbivorous fish on rocky reefs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106293. [PMID: 38103302 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106293] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Here we provide evidence, along an 8-year period time-series based on multifaceted data from a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA), whether protection can tackle invasive and range expanding herbivore fishes, and their effects on the algal resource availability, taking into account the population trends of predatory fishes, fisheries catches of herbivore fishes and sea surface temperature (SST) through time. Our findings pointed out that an ineffective in restoring top-down control process MPA may facilitate, rather than alleviate, the sudden and enduring population burst of invasive and range-expanding herbivorous fishes at tipping points of abrupt change. This subsequently results in the deterioration of rocky reef habitats and the depletion of algal resources, with the tipping points of abrupt change for algal and herbivore fish species not overlapping chronologically. As sea temperature increases, ineffective or recently established MPAs may inadvertently facilitate the proliferation of invasive and range-expanding species, posing a significant challenge to management effectiveness and conservation objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Dimitriadis
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece.
| | - C Marampouti
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece
| | - A Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy
| | - A Di Franco
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn" sede interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - S Giakoumi
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn" sede interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - E Di Franco
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Parc Valrose 28, Avenue Valrose, 06108, Nice, France
| | - M Di Lorenzo
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - V Gerovasileiou
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Ionian University, Zakynthos, Greece; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Thalassocosmos, Gournes, Crete, Greece
| | - P Guidetti
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), National Research Council, Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, 16126, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Pey
- Thalassa - Marine Research & Environmental Awareness, 17 Rue Gutenberg, 06000, Nice, France
| | - M Sini
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Mytilene, Greece
| | - L Sourbès
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece
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6
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Pessarrodona A, Filbee-Dexter K, Wernberg T. Recovery of algal turfs following removal. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 192:106185. [PMID: 37797426 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106185] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
As a consequence of the increasing human footprint on the environment, marine ecosystems are rapidly transforming into new configurations dominated by early-successional and weedy life forms. Algal turfs, in particular, are emerging as a common and widespread configuration of shallow temperate and tropical reefs, and are predicted to transform reef dynamics and ecosystem services. Restoration is an increasingly used approach to mitigate these transformations, with turf removal being proposed as a tool to shift back the competitive balance and facilitate the recovery of initial species, such as forest-forming seaweeds. Yet, our practical understanding of turf recovery trajectories following removal is limited, and removal success may be hindered by strong feedback mechanisms that reinforce turf dominance once turfs are established. Here we investigate the recovery of algal turfs and their properties (mean height, turf biomass and sediment load) to experimental clearance across six turf-dominated reefs at ca. 9 m in subtropical western Australia. Turf cover, mean height, and sediment loads exhibited a rapid recovery following experimental clearing, with all experimental sites reaching pre-clearing turf conditions between 28 and 46 days. This response was mostly driven by the growth of filamentous turf species, whose cover exhibited a positive relationship with sediment load, and are well-known to rapidly recover after disturbance. Turf abundance and turf properties remained relatively constant for the remaining experimental period. Our results suggest that clearing turfs creates only a small time window for recovery of seaweed forests, which limits the effectiveness of turf clearing as a restoration tool. System-specific quantitative evidence on the recovery capacity of turfs may thus be necessary to guide restoration initiatives and develop decision support systems that account for the risks, feasibility, and costs and benefits of restoring turf-dominated systems to previous configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Pessarrodona
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Dr., Suite 600, Arlington, VA, USA; International Blue Carbon Institute, 42B Boat Quay, 049831, Singapore.
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway
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Bosch NE, Espino F, Tuya F, Haroun R, Bramanti L, Otero-Ferrer F. Black coral forests enhance taxonomic and functional distinctiveness of mesophotic fishes in an oceanic island: implications for biodiversity conservation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4963. [PMID: 36973395 PMCID: PMC10043018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The degradation of shallow ecosystems has called for efforts to understand the biodiversity and functioning of Mesophotic Ecosystems. However, most empirical studies have been restricted to tropical regions and have majorly focused on taxonomic entities (i.e., species), neglecting important dimensions of biodiversity that influence community assembly and ecosystem functioning. Here, using a subtropical oceanic island in the eastern Atlantic Ocean (Lanzarote, Canary Islands), we investigated variation in (a) alpha and (b) beta functional (i.e., trait) diversity across a depth gradient (0-70 m), as a function of the presence of black coral forests (BCFs, order Antipatharian) in the mesophotic strata, a vulnerable but often overlooked 'ecosystem engineer' in regional biodiversity. Despite occupying a similar volume of the functional space (i.e., functional richness) than shallow (< 30 m) reefs, mesophotic fish assemblages inhabiting BCFs differed in their functional structure when accounting for species abundances, with lower evenness and divergence. Similarly, although mesophotic BCFs shared, on average, 90% of the functional entities with shallow reefs, the identity of common and dominant taxonomic and functional entities shifted. Our results suggest BCFs promoted the specialization of reef fishes, likely linked to convergence towards optimal traits to maximize the use of resources and space. Regional biodiversity planning should thus focus on developing specific management and conservation strategies for preserving the unique biodiversity and functionality of mesophotic BCFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor E Bosch
- Asociación Biodiversidad Atlántica y Sostenibilidad (ABAS), 35214, Telde, Spain.
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación (IU-ECOAQUA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214, Telde, Spain.
| | - Fernando Espino
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación (IU-ECOAQUA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214, Telde, Spain
| | - Fernando Tuya
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación (IU-ECOAQUA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214, Telde, Spain
| | - Ricardo Haroun
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación (IU-ECOAQUA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214, Telde, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Bramanti
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, 66500, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Francisco Otero-Ferrer
- Asociación Biodiversidad Atlántica y Sostenibilidad (ABAS), 35214, Telde, Spain
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación (IU-ECOAQUA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35214, Telde, Spain
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Bosch NE, Pessarrodona A, Filbee-Dexter K, Tuya F, Mulders Y, Bell S, Langlois T, Wernberg T. Habitat configurations shape the trophic and energetic dynamics of reef fishes in a tropical-temperate transition zone: implications under a warming future. Oecologia 2022; 200:455-470. [PMID: 36344837 PMCID: PMC9675646 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05278-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the extent to which species' traits mediate patterns of community assembly is key to predict the effect of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem functioning. Here, we apply a trait-based community assembly framework to understand how four different habitat configurations (kelp forests, Sargassum spp. beds, hard corals, and turfs) shape the trophic and energetic dynamics of reef fish assemblages in a tropical-temperate transition zone. Specifically, we tested (i) the degree of trait divergence and convergence in each habitat, (ii) which traits explained variation in species' abundances, and (iii) differences in standing biomass (kg ha-1), secondary productivity (kg ha-1 day-1) and turnover (% day-1). Fish assemblages in coral and kelp habitats displayed greater evidence of trait convergence, while turf and Sargassum spp. habitats displayed a higher degree of trait divergence, a pattern that was mostly driven by traits related to resource use and thermal affinity. This filtering effect had an imprint on the trophic and energetic dynamics of reef fishes, with turf habitats supporting higher fish biomass and productivity. However, these gains were strongly dependent on trophic guild, with herbivores/detritivores disproportionately contributing to among-habitat differences. Despite these perceived overall gains, turnover was decoupled for fishes that act as conduit of energy to higher trophic levels (i.e. microinvertivores), with coral habitats displaying higher rates of fish biomass replenishment than turf despite their lower productivity. This has important implications for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, questioning the long-term sustainability of ecological processes and fisheries yields in increasingly altered marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor E Bosch
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway
| | - Fernando Tuya
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte S/N, 35214, Telde, Spain
| | - Yannick Mulders
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Sahira Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Tim Langlois
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
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Sørdalen TK, Halvorsen KT, Olsen EM. Protection from fishing improves body growth of an exploited species. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221718. [DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hunting and fishing are often size-selective, which favours slow body growth. In addition, fast growth rate has been shown to be positively correlated with behavioural traits that increase encounter rates and catchability in passive fishing gears such as baited traps. This harvest-induced selection should be effectively eliminated in no-take marine-protected areas (MPAs) unless strong density dependence results in reduced growth rates. We compared body growth of European lobster (
Homarus gammarus
) between three MPAs and three fished areas. After 14 years of protection from intensive, size-selective lobster fisheries, the densities in MPAs have increased considerably, and we demonstrate that females moult more frequently and grow more during each moult in the MPAs. A similar, but weaker pattern was evident for males. This study suggests that MPAs can shield a wild population from slow-growth selection, which can explain the rapid recovery of size structure following implementation. If slow-growth selection is a widespread phenomenon in fisheries, the effectiveness of MPAs as a management tool can be higher than currently anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonje Knutsen Sørdalen
- Centre for Coastal Research, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, N-4604 Kristiansand, Norway
- Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen, Nye Flødevigvei 20, N-4817 His, Norway
| | | | - Esben Moland Olsen
- Centre for Coastal Research, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, N-4604 Kristiansand, Norway
- Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen, Nye Flødevigvei 20, N-4817 His, Norway
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