Protection of seabed sediments in Canada's marine conservation network for potential climate change mitigation co-benefit

FACETS, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 1 - 14

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Marine conserved areas (MCAs) can provide a range of ecological and socio-economic benefits, including climate change mitigation from the protection enhancement natural carbon storage. Canada's MCA network is expanding to encompass 30% its Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030. At present, aims integrate protecting coastal vegetated blue ecosystems (saltmarsh, seagrass, kelp). Here, we argue that incorporating unvegetated seabed sediments could bring similar benefits. Seabed store and/or accumulate high densities organic carbon, due their large spatial extent, contain stores orders magnitude larger than habitats. We estimate currently designated MCAs only 10.8% sediment stocks on continental margin, 13.4% with densities. Proposed would cover an additional 8.8% 6.1% total areas, respectively. identify set high-priority for future research potential protection, ranking importance based stocks, proxies lability, ecological/biological significance. The incorporation into networks support preventing releases stored carbon.

Language: Английский

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Processes in the Kitikmeot Sea estuary constraining marine life

Elementa Science of the Anthropocene, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

The Kitikmeot Sea, in the south-central Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is an estuarine system comprised of Coronation Gulf, Bathurst Inlet, Dease Strait, and Queen Maud Gulf. It unique pan-Arctic due to three defining features: (1) shallow bounding straits west (Dolphin Union Strait) northeast (Victoria that are less than 30 m deep; (2) Ocean inflow carrying nutrient salt supplies over sills primarily delivered from Canada Basin; (3) massive freshwater input mainland watershed drains area almost 5 times larger Sea. Here we present physical geochemical observations obtained 1999–2020 show these conditions maintain circulation year-round, wherein excess low-salinity water, formed inflowing rivers seasonal ice melt, exits both replenished by oceanic waters Amundsen Gulf Larsen Sound. restrict depth inflow, dictating salinity concentrations waters, increase tidal speeds sills, which leads mixing between outflowing water further lowers concentrations. Together, all processes establish a strongly stratified overall low-productivity ecosystem within We propose conceptual model marine function favors abundance char seals as top predators instead polar bears whales found adjacent Sea Archipelago.

Language: Английский

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Multiple climatic drivers increase pace and consequences of ecosystem change in the Arctic Coastal Ocean

Limnology and Oceanography Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 12, 2024

Abstract The impacts of climate change on Arctic marine systems are noticeable within the scientific “lifetime” most researchers and iconic image a polar bear struggling to stay top melting ice floe captures many dominant themes ecosystem change. But has our focus open‐ocean parameters that more easily modeled sensed remotely neglected an element is responding dramatically with broader implications for ecosystems? We argue complementary set changes open ocean occurring along coasts, amplified by interaction land in sea. observe increased number drivers larger ecological human communities they touch than quantifiable Ocean. Substantial knowledge gaps exist must be filled support adaptation sustainability socioecological coasts.

Language: Английский

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Deep-living and diverse Antarctic seaweeds as potentially important contributors to global carbon fixation

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: April 17, 2024

Abstract Global models predict that Antarctica has little suitable habitat for macroalgae and Antarctic therefore make a negligible contribution to global carbon fixation. However, coastal surveys are rare at southern polar latitudes (beyond 71° S), here we report diverse abundant macroalgal assemblages in un-navigated habitats of the Ross Sea from 71.5°–74.5° S. We found extensive living depths >70 m specimens crustose coralline algae as deep 125 m. Using light modelling published photosynthetic rates estimate may contribute between 0.9–2.8 % Combined, this suggests be greater contributor fixation possibly sequestration than previously thought. The vulnerability these environments climate change, especially shifting sea ice extent persistence, could influence Southern Ocean long-term sequestration.

Language: Английский

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Arctic and Subarctic marine heatwaves and their ecological impacts

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

The Arctic and Subarctic seas are predicted to become hotspots for marine heatwaves (MHWs). High-latitude ecosystems face unique consequences from accelerated warming sea ice loss, challenging species adapted cold conditions. We review the literature on MHW characteristics ecological impacts in seas, contrast between Bering Sea Barents Sea. uncover pervasive of MHWs across widely different organism groups, including benthic foundation species, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, seabirds, mammals. marginal especially prevalent areas experiencing retreat, such as seasonal zones, highlighting complex interplay dynamics. Overall, few studies have documented high-latitude ecosystems, with notable exception Chukchi 2017–2019. Many their narrow thermal preferences, appear vulnerable MHWs, they might not access climate refugia, while boreal benefit MHWs. Sessile kelp seagrasses, at risk during although evidence remains limited. Reproductive failure mass mortality events been several Pacific (e.g., crabs). observed ecosystem-wide repercussions northern shifts plankton communities affecting entire food web. responses still fully understood, a need further research assess direct indirect various taxa improve predictive models better management conservation strategies. can also large ecosystem services socio-ecological systems, example, closures economically valuable culturally important fisheries, seen Alaska, degradation traditional ice-hunting practices, compromised wellbeing coastal communities. Large abrupt changes following underscore urgent adaptive strategies ongoing change.

Language: Английский

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Benthic diel oxygen variability and stress as potential drivers for animal diversification in the Neoproterozoic-Palaeozoic

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 21, 2025

Abstract The delay between the origin of animals in Neoproterozoic and their Cambrian diversification remains perplexing. Animal mirrors an expansion marine shelf area under a greenhouse climate, though extent to which these environmental conditions directly influenced physiology early organismal ecology unclear. Here, we use biogeochemical model quantify oxygen dynamics at sunlit sediment-water interface over day-night (diel) cycles warm cold conditions. We find that temperatures dictated physiologically stressful diel benthic oxic-anoxic shifts nutrient-rich shelf. Under conditions, population-and-phenotype further show benefits efficient cellular sensing can offer adaptations stress outweigh its cost. Since diurnal redox variability would have expanded as continents were flooded end-Neoproterozoic Palaeozoic, propose combination physiological ample resources environment may impacted adaptive radiation tolerant fluctuations.

Language: Английский

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A horizon scan for Arctic coastal biodiversity research: understanding changes requires international collaboration

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ice algae contributions to the benthos during a time of sea ice change: a review of supply, coupling, and fate

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Aug. 16, 2024

The polymer-facilitated flux of ice algae on Arctic shelves can initiate benthic activity and growth after the nutritionally constrained winter period. Lipid-rich are readily consumed by benthos those entering sediment benefit deposit feeders. Ice assimilated organisms cascade up multiple trophic levels within sub-web, re-entering pelagic sub web through habitat coupling species. Pelagic predators have significant ice-algal carbon signals obtained from compartment. Sympagic-pelagic-benthic is expected to weaken with ongoing sea-ice change. This review discusses phenology, quantity, quality contributions coupling, linked thinning snow cover including multi-year replacement. Predicting future between marine sub-webs requires focused research that considers markers sources.

Language: Английский

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