Marine heatwaves drive recurrent mass mortalities in the Mediterranean Sea

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(19), P. 5708 - 5725

Published: July 18, 2022

Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves (MHWs) mass mortality events (MMEs) organisms are one their main ecological impacts. Here, we show that during 2015-2019 period, Mediterranean Sea has experienced exceptional thermal conditions resulting onset five consecutive years widespread MMEs across basin. These affected thousands kilometers coastline from surface to 45 m, a range habitats taxa (50 8 phyla). Significant relationships were found between incidence heat exposure associated with MHWs observed both at depths. Our findings reveal experiencing acceleration impacts which poses unprecedented threat its ecosystems' health functioning. Overall, increasing resolution empirical observation critical enhancing our ability more effectively understand manage consequences climate change.

Language: Английский

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Climate change transforms the functional identity of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 24(5), P. 1038 - 1051

Published: March 16, 2021

Quantifying changes in functional community structure driven by disturbance is critical to anticipate potential shifts ecosystem functioning. However, how marine heatwaves (MHWs) affect the of temperate coral-dominated communities poorly understood. Here, we used five long-term (> 10 years) records Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages a multi-taxa, trait-based analysis investigate MHW-driven structure. We show that, despite stability richness (i.e. range species traits), MHW-impacted experienced directional identity their dominant trait values). Declining traits included large sizes, long lifespans, arborescent morphologies, filter-feeding strategies or calcified skeletons. These traits, which were mostly supported few sensitive and irreplaceable from single group (habitat-forming octocorals), disproportionally influence certain functions (e.g. 3D-habitat provision). Hence, MHWs are leading that deficient key with likely consequences for

Language: Английский

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When resilience is not enough: 2022 extreme marine heatwave threatens climatic refugia for a habitat‐forming Mediterranean octocoral

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 12, 2024

Abstract Climate change is impacting ecosystems worldwide, and the Mediterranean Sea no exception. Extreme climatic events, such as marine heat waves (MHWs), are increasing in frequency, extent intensity during last decades, which has been associated with an increase mass mortality events for multiple species. Coralligenous assemblages, where octocoral Paramuricea clavata lives, strongly affected by MHWs. The Medes Islands Marine Reserve (NW Mediterranean) was considered a climate refugia P. , their populations were showing some resilience to these changing conditions. In this study, we assessed impacts of MHWs that occurred between 2016 2022 seven shallow from Protected Area. years rates increased significantly ones strong MHWs, being one higher mortalities. 2022, 50 MHW days, proportion total colonies almost 70%, injured surface 40%, reaching levels never attained our study site since monitoring started. We also found spatial variability monitored populations. Whereas few them showed low mortality, others lost around 75% biomass. significant documented here raise concerns about future across Mediterranean, suggesting species may not be maintained sustain face ongoing warming trends.

Language: Английский

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Response diversity in Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages facing climate change: Insights from a multispecific thermotolerance experiment

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(7), P. 4168 - 4180

Published: March 12, 2019

Climate change threatens coastal benthic communities on a global scale. However, the potential effects of ongoing warming mesophotic temperate reefs at community level remain poorly understood. Investigating how different members these will respond to future expected environmental conditions is, therefore, key anticipating their trajectories and developing specific management conservation strategies. Here, we examined responses some main components highly diverse Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages thermal stress. We performed thermotolerance experiments with temperature treatments (from 26 29°C) 10 species from phyla (three anthozoans, six sponges one ascidian) structural roles. Overall, observed species-specific contrasting regardless or growth form. Moreover, ranged resistant sensitive were mostly in agreement previous field observations mass mortality events (MMEs) linked marine heat waves. Our results unravel diversity outcrops suggest presence winners losers face climate change. Finally, this study highlights importance accounting for vulnerabilities response when forecasting ocean.

Language: Английский

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Trait gradients inform predictions of seagrass meadows changes to future warming

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Sept. 13, 2021

Abstract Comparing populations across temperature gradients can inform how global warming will impact the structure and function of ecosystems. Shoot density, morphometry productivity seagrass Posidonia oceanica to variation was quantified at eight locations in Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea) along a natural sea surface (SST) gradient. The are spanned for narrow range latitude (1.5°), allowing minimization effect eventual photoperiod variability. Mean SST predicted P. meadow structure, with increased correlated higher shoot but lower leaf rhizome width, biomass. Chlorophyll (Chl- ) strongly impacted traits independent SST. Disentangling effects Chl- on density revealed that they work independently, same direction potential synergism. Space-for-time substitution predicts trigger denser meadows slender shoots, fewer leaves, ecosystem. Future investigations should evaluate if erode ecosystem services provided by meadows.

Language: Английский

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Near-future extreme temperatures affect physiology, morphology and recruitment of the temperate sponge Crella incrustans

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 823, P. 153466 - 153466

Published: Feb. 4, 2022

Language: Английский

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Mass Mortality Event of Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the Middle Adriatic: Potential Implications of the Climate Crisis for Marine Ecosystems

Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(3), P. 130 - 130

Published: Feb. 20, 2024

The effects of the climate crisis are affecting ecosystems at different scales and magnitudes. This paper focuses on a massive Mediterranean mussel die-off observed along middle Italian Adriatic coast in summer 2022. We considered possible environmental causes this phenomenon carried out climatic analysis last decade. performed field surveys locations 16 km coastal stretch from Martinsicuro (TE) south, to Grottammare (AP) north. study area includes two marine Sites Community Importance under European Natura 2000 network. mussels was practically all natural beds colonizing area. As sessile filter-feeding organisms inhabiting intertidal zone, highly exposed variations conditions such as temperature nutrient load. discuss die-off, proposing that high scarce availability food acted simultaneously stress factors, generating local unsustainable living for species.

Language: Английский

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Sliding Toward the Collapse of Mediterranean Coastal Marine Rocky Ecosystems

Ecological studies, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 291 - 324

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Animal Forest Mortality: Following the Consequences of a Gorgonian Coral Loss on a Mediterranean Coralligenous Assemblage

Diversity, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(3), P. 133 - 133

Published: March 19, 2021

In this work, the consequences of a local gorgonian coral mortality on whole coralligenous assemblage were studied. A Before/After-Control/Impact sampling design was used: structure compared before and after event at site two control sites. At site, relevant decrease in alpha beta diversity occurred, with shift from stratified characterized by gorgonians other invertebrates to an dominated algal turfs; conversely, neither significant variations nor biodiversity observed The involved main taxa different times: autumn 2018, large proportion plexaurid Paramuricea clavata died, but no changes remaining assemblage. Then, 2019, turfs increased significantly and, one year later, abundance Eunicella cavolini bryozoans collapsed. Although mechanisms following loss will remain uncertain cause-effect relationship cannot be derived, results suggest need for detecting signs forests stress monitoring programs, which should considered early indicators their condition. programs any sign indicator

Language: Английский

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Effects of Climate Crisis on Marine Ecosystem: Mass Mortality Event of the Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the Middle Adriatic

Published: March 22, 2024

The effects of the climate crisis are affecting ecosystems at different scales and magnitudes. This paper focuses on a massive Mediterranean mussel die-off observed along middle Italian Adriatic coast in summer 2022. We considered possible environmental causes this phenomenon carried out climatic analysis last decade. performed field surveys locations 16 Km coastal stretch (from Martinsicuro (TE) South, to Grottammare (AP) North). study area includes two marine Sites Community Importance under European Natura 2000 network. mussels has interested practically all natural mussel-beds colonizing area. Mussels sessile filter-feeding organisms inhabiting intertidal zone, therefore, highly exposed variations conditions such as temperature nutrient load. discuss die-off, proposing that high scarce availability food acted simultaneously stress factors, generating local unsustainable living for species.

Language: Английский

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