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Consequences of climate-driven biodiversity changes for ecosystem functioning of North European rocky shores
Citation
Hawkins, SJ and Sugden, HE and Mieszkowska, N and Moore, PJ and Poloczanska, E and Leaper, R and Herbert, RJH and Genner, MJ and Moschella, PS and Thompson, RC and Jenkins, SR and Southward, AJ and Burrows, MT, Consequences of climate-driven biodiversity changes for ecosystem functioning of North European rocky shores, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 396, (December) pp. 245-259. ISSN 0171-8630 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.
Official URL: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v396/p245-25...
Abstract
We review how intertidal biodiversity is responding to globally driven climate change,
focusing on long-term data from rocky shores in the British Isles. Physical evidence of warming
around the British Isles is presented and, whilst there has been considerable fluctuation, sea surface
temperatures are at the highest levels recorded, surpassing previous warm periods (i.e. late 1950s).
Examples are given of species that have been advancing or retreating polewards over the last 50 to
100 yr. On rocky shores, the extent of poleward movement is idiosyncratic and dependent upon life
history characteristics, dispersal capabilities and habitat requirements. More southern, warm water
species have been recorded advancing than northern, cold water species retreating. Models have
been developed to predict likely assemblage composition based on future environmental scenarios.
We present qualitative and quantitative forecasts to explore the functional consequences of changes
in the identity, abundance and species richness of gastropod grazers and foundation species such as
barnacles and canopy-forming algae. We forecast that the balance of primary producers and secondary
consumers is likely to change along wave exposure gradients matching changes occurring
with latitude, thereby shifting the balance between export and import of primary production.
Increases in grazer and sessile invertebrate diversity are likely to be accompanied by decreasing
primary production by large canopy-forming fucoids. The reasons for such changes are discussed in
the context of emerging theory on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Climate change · Intertidal · Range shifts · Biodiversity · Ecosystem functioning ·Northeast Atlantic |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Climate change impacts and adaptation |
Research Field: | Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Adaptation to climate change |
Objective Field: | Ecosystem adaptation to climate change |
UTAS Author: | Leaper, R (Dr Rebecca Leaper) |
ID Code: | 60777 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 196 |
Deposited By: | TAFI - Marine Research Laboratory |
Deposited On: | 2010-02-18 |
Last Modified: | 2012-03-05 |
Downloads: | 337 View Download Statistics |
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