Article
Biology
G. A. Soler, G. J. Edgar, N. S. Barrett, R. D. Stuart-Smith, E. Oh, A. Cooper, K. R. Ridgway, S. D. Ling
Summary: This study examines the changes in reef communities in the Tasmanian ocean-warming hotspot over the past 27 years. The results show an increase in fish biomass, a decrease in macroinvertebrate species richness and abundance, and a decrease in macroalgal cover. The warming trends in recent decades have led to increases in warm affinity fishes and invertebrates, but the impacts on reef communities vary across different regions. Coastal warming has a significant effect on fish biomass in fished zones, but marine reserves can mitigate the impacts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tanika C. Shalders, Curtis Champion, Kirsten Benkendorff, Tom Davis, Thomas Wernberg, Stephen Morris, Melinda A. Coleman
Summary: Ocean warming and extreme events have limited effects on the nutritional quality of seaweeds, but there are significant variations in nutritional quality between different species, which may have implications for energy transfer in food webs.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
L. Marquez, E. Fragkopoulou, K. C. Cavanaugh, H. F. Houskeeper, J. Assis
Summary: Climate change affects the distribution and abundance of marine species, including kelp forests. This study proposes the use of a convolutional neural network to automatically detect kelp forest canopy cover from satellite imagery. The model performed well and allowed for the reconstruction of a 32-year time series in Baja California, Mexico. This cost-efficient tool contributes to long-term marine ecological monitoring and informed decision making.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Baskaran Abirami, Manikkam Radhakrishnan, Subramanian Kumaran, Aruni Wilson
Summary: Global warming has various effects on ocean ecosystems, including temperature, acidification, oxygen content, circulation, stratification, and nutrient inputs, posing a serious threat to the metabolism and distribution of marine microbes and affecting the overall ecosystem functioning.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Qiyao Han, Greg Keeffe, Sean Cullen
Summary: Forest connectivity is crucial for range shifts of forest-dependent species in the context of climate change. The study found that about 36% of Europe's total forested area has achieved successful climate connectivity under moderate emission scenario, while only 12% has done so under the highest emission scenario. The research identified sites of high conservation value for improving and sustaining forest connectivity in order to facilitate climate-driven range shifts in European forests.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Trine Bekkby, Ragnhild Ryther Grimm Torstensen, Lars Andreas Holm Grunfeld, Hege Gundersen, Stein Fredriksen, Eli Rinde, Hartvig Christie, Mats Walday, Guri Sogn Andersen, Marijana S. Brkljacic, Luiza Neves, Kasper Hancke
Summary: The growing demand for food has sparked increased interest in seaweed farming worldwide. This study aimed to compare the communities hosted by a kelp farm and wild kelp forests. The results showed that the kelp farm had lower taxa abundance and richness, as well as a lower biodiversity, compared to the wild kelp forests.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Angus Mitchell, David J. Booth, Ivan Nagelkerken
Summary: The study found that ocean acidification reduced shoal cohesion, with mixed-species shoals showing lower cohesion than temperate-only shoals under climate stressors. Tropical fish became bolder under ocean acidification, while temperate fish became bolder with increasing temperature, but ocean acidification dampened the boldness of temperate fish.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dai Koide, Tetsuro Yoshikawa, Fumiko Ishihama, Taku Kadoya
Summary: The study found that juvenile tree species prefer cooler sites with high variation, partially explained by differences in seed mass. Complex range shifts at functional trait (FT) level have implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
B. B. Cael, Stephanie Dutkiewicz, Stephanie Henson
Summary: Marine microbial communities play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems and global elemental cycles. Climate-induced shifts in these communities can be abrupt, large in amplitude, and unpredictable, particularly impacting fast-growing phytoplankton species like diatoms. These abrupt changes are concentrated in the Atlantic and Pacific subtropics, with environmental variables like temperature and nutrients showing little indication of impending ecosystem shifts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Barrientos, Cristina Pineiro-Corbeira, Rodolfo Barreiro
Summary: Kelp forests around the world have been declining, mainly due to climate change. This study reveals that excessive herbivory by fish has caused the degradation of golden kelp forests in NW Spain.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guodong Liu, Jinfang Sun, Peng Xie, Chao Guo, Meiqi Li, Kun Tian
Summary: Plant litter decomposition is an important process in ecosystems, but little is known about the bacterial communities' role in regulating this process in temperate wetlands under climate warming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of temperature on litter decomposition and the related bacterial mechanism. The results showed that decomposition rate was positively correlated with temperature, with non-additive effects observed in certain mixtures of plant species. Different types of litter also exhibited varying degrees of temperature sensitivity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
V. H. W. Rudolf
Summary: Research has found that environmental conditions play a crucial role in shaping the effects of phenological shifts in predator-prey systems. The effects of phenological shifts are contingent on environmental conditions and differ across predator-prey systems. Consideration of temporal and spatial correlations of local environmental conditions and gape limitation is important when predicting the effects of phenological shifts and climate change on predator-prey systems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Reina J. Veenhof, Symon A. Dworjanyn, Curtis Champion, Melinda Ann Coleman
Summary: Kelp forests are declining globally and often replaced by algal turfs dominated by turfing algae. This study examines the effects of grazing pressure on kelp gametophytes by a gastropod micrograzer present in turf. The results show that grazing reduces gametophyte coverage and abundance, with no significant temperature effect on grazing rates. Despite surviving ingestion, gametophyte recovery is hindered at elevated temperatures. These findings highlight the complex interactions in the micro-habitat of kelp gametophytes, shedding light on the factors influencing transitions between kelp forests and algal turfs.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael J. Osland, Philip W. Stevens, Margaret M. Lamont, Richard C. Brusca, Kristen M. Hart, J. Hardin Waddle, Catherine A. Langtimm, Caroline M. Williams, Barry D. Keim, Adam J. Terando, Eric A. Reyier, Katie E. Marshall, Michael E. Loik, Ross E. Boucek, Amanda B. Lewis, Jeffrey A. Seminoff
Summary: Tropicalization refers to the transformation of temperate ecosystems by poleward-moving tropical organisms in response to warming temperatures. In North America, as extreme winter cold events decrease, many tropical species are expected to expand their range northward, potentially impacting temperate organisms. The effects of extreme cold events on tropical organisms are significant and understudied, with warming winters likely facilitating the poleward range expansion of tropical species.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shengwu Duan, Hong S. He, Martin A. Spetich, Wen J. Wang, Jacob S. Fraser, Frank R. Thompson
Summary: This study reveals that indirect effects of warming climates mediate direct effects on insect disturbance regimes by altering primary host tree demographic dynamics. Long-term predictions of insect disturbance should consider indirect effects as they may overestimate the impacts under warming climates.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jana Verdura, Jorge Santamaria, Enric Ballesteros, Dan A. Smale, Maria Elena Cefali, Raul Golo, Sonia de Caralt, Alba Verges, Emma Cebrian
Summary: Gradual climate change and discrete extreme climatic events have significant impacts on marine ecosystems, especially at the warm edges of species and large species. Local-scale climate variability may lead to local extinctions of habitat-forming seaweed populations, but also highlight the potential for local-scale climatic refugia.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ella McKnight, Rebecca Spake, Amanda Bates, Dan A. Smale, Marc Rius
Summary: Contemporary climate change and biological invasions are two main drivers of biodiversity redistribution. Studies suggest that non-native species tend to outperform native species under warming and freshening conditions. Ocean warming is expected to facilitate future spread and success of non-native species, while increased freshening may have negative impacts on both native and non-native species in coastal marine ecosystems.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Nestor E. Bosch, Thomas Wernberg, Tim J. Langlois, Dan A. Smale, Pippa J. Moore, Joao N. Franco, Pierre Thiriet, Eric Feunteun, Claudia Ribeiro, Pedro Neves, Rui Freitas, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Kjell Magnus Norderhaug, Alvaro Garcia, Francisco Otero-Ferrer, Fernando Espino, Ricardo Haroun, Natali Lazzari, Fernando Tuya
Summary: The study found that taxonomic diversity peaked around 15-20 degrees N and had a lower peak around 45 degrees N. Tropical regions had more overdispersed assemblages, while clustering was more evident in temperate regions. Environmental factors had a significant impact on phylogenetic and functional diversity, while demographic stochasticity played a crucial role in community assembly.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Dan A. Smale, Albert Pessarrodona, Nathan King, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Kelp forests are highly productive ecosystems, with high detritus release rates leading to over 98% export potential, which can potentially shape distant benthic communities and play a significant role in the coastal carbon cycle.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Kathryn E. Smith, Pippa J. Moore, Nathan G. King, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Foundation species play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The study found that depth gradients have a significant impact on the structure of kelp populations, influenced by decreasing light levels. Variability in regional relationships between light availability and kelp population structures may be influenced by other factors such as temperature.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nadia Frontier, Martina Mulas, Andrew Foggo, Dan A. Smale
Summary: This study found that the degradation rate of detrital material is influenced by light availability and temperature. Overall, degradation rates were faster under lower light conditions and at higher temperatures, although responses varied between plants and fragments.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dan A. Smale, Harry Teagle, Stephen J. Hawkins, Helen L. Jenkins, Nadia Frontier, Cat Wilding, Nathan King, Mathilde Jackson-Bue, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Climate change can have significant impacts on ecological communities by altering species distributions and the strength of species interactions. This study demonstrates that the warming-driven proliferation of a foundation species, warm-water kelp, leads to a breakdown of a habitat cascade and reduced biodiversity in temperate marine ecosystems. Furthermore, the warmer kelp forests had lower biomass of epiphytic algae and fewer mobile invertebrates, which could ultimately impact higher trophic levels.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nathan G. King, Pippa J. Moore, Jamie M. Thorpe, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Kelp species are important and diverse ecosystems, and the associated bacterial communities play a crucial role in supporting the host and wider ecosystem functioning. This study demonstrates the consistent features of kelp bacterial communities across different spatial scales and environmental gradients, providing an ecologically meaningful baseline for monitoring environmental change.
Review
Fisheries
Sophie Corrigan, Andrew Ross Brown, Ian G. C. Ashton, Dan A. Smale, Charles R. Tyler
Summary: Macroalgal cultivation plays a significant role in future food and energy security, sustainable livelihoods, ecosystem services, and habitat provisioning. However, there is limited research on assessing the contribution of colonizing species to healthy ecosystem functioning in macroalgal cultivation. This review evaluates techniques used to quantify habitat provisioning in and around macroalgal cultivation sites and highlights the need for standardized methods for comprehensive ecological valuation.
REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hannah S. Earp, Dan A. Smale, Alejandro Perez-Matus, Adam Gouraguine, Paul W. Shaw, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Marine forests are coastal marine habitats formed by dense stands of brown macroalgae, providing habitat to marine organisms and important ecosystem services. Restoration positively influences the abundance and morphology of marine forest species, but success is influenced by taxa and restoration techniques, with limited monitoring of environmental variables.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Dan A. Smale, Nathan G. King, Mathilde Jackson-Bue, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Targeted surveys were conducted at 12 subtidal reefs in the UK to assess the abundance of crustaceans within kelp forests using three complementary techniques. Commercially important species were recorded at all sites, with regional variations observed. These findings highlight the important nursery and foraging role of kelp forests for commercially and ecologically important crustaceans.
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alissa V. Bass, Kathryn E. Smith, Dan A. Smale
Summary: This study investigated the impact of marine heatwaves and decreased light availability on the ecophysiological responses of three kelp species. The results showed that under low-light conditions, summer heatwaves significantly reduced biomass, blade surface area, and photosynthetic efficiency of L. digitata and L. hyperborea, to varying degrees. However, all species were generally resistant to heatwaves under high-light conditions and in some cases, heatwaves even promoted kelp performance.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Abby R. Gilson, Lydia J. White, Michael T. Burrows, Dan A. Smale, Nessa E. O'Connor
Summary: This study investigated the density, primary productivity, and detritus production of two common intertidal kelp species in the NE Atlantic over a 22-month period. It found that the density of one species was higher but remained consistently low for the other. The productivity and erosion rates of both species were influenced by temperature and light.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sophie Corrigan, A. Ross Brown, Charles R. Tyler, Catherine Wilding, Carly Daniels, Ian G. C. Ashton, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Seaweed farming in Europe may have similar environmental benefits as natural kelp forests and shellfish farms, but there is still uncertainty about its biodiversity and long-term habitat provision. A study in southwest UK found that farmed kelps supported higher abundance of epibionts compared to wild kelps, but had lower taxonomic diversity. The presence of cultivated mussels also influenced the epibiont assemblages on farmed kelp.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Albert Pessarrodona, Jorge Assis, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Michael T. Burrows, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Carlos M. Duarte, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Pippa J. Moore, Dan A. Smale, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: This study provides global predictions of seaweed habitat productivity, using data from over 400 sites and finding a strong correlation between seaweed productivity and climatic variables. Seaweed forests exhibit exceptionally high per-area production rates, being more than 10 times higher than coastal phytoplankton.