Ecosystem response persists after a prolonged marine heatwave

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

Published: March 18, 2021

Abstract Some of the longest and most comprehensive marine ecosystem monitoring programs were established in Gulf Alaska following environmental disaster Exxon Valdez oil spill over 30 years ago. These have been successful assessing recovery from impacts, their continuation decades later has now provided an unparalleled assessment responses to another newly emerging global threat, heatwaves. The 2014–2016 northeast Pacific heatwave (PMH) was lasting globally past decade, with some cooling, but also continued warm conditions through 2019. Our analysis 187 time series primary production commercial fisheries nearshore intertidal offshore oceanic domains demonstrate abrupt changes across trophic levels, many persisting up at least 5 after onset heatwave. Furthermore, our suite metrics showed novel community-level groupings relative a decade prior Given anticipated increases heatwaves under current climate projections, it remains uncertain when or if will return pre-PMH state.

Language: Английский

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Marine protected areas, marine heatwaves, and the resilience of nearshore fish communities

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Jan. 25, 2023

Abstract Anthropogenic stressors from climate change can affect individual species, community structure, and ecosystem function. Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are intense thermal anomalies where water temperature is significantly elevated for five or more days. Climate projections suggest an increase in the frequency severity of MHWs coming decades. While there evidence that marine protected areas (MPAs) may be able to buffer species impacts, not sufficient support idea MPAs mitigate large-scale changes communities response MHWs. California experienced MHW subsequent El Niño Southern Oscillation event 2014 2016. We sought examine rocky reef fish at four associated reference sites relation MHW. observed a decline taxonomic diversity profound shift trophic inside outside following However, seemed dampen loss years MHW, recovered 75% faster compared sites. Our results contribute long-term resilience nearshore through both resistance recovery warming events.

Language: Английский

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Bellwethers of change: population modelling of North Pacific humpback whales from 2002 through 2021 reveals shift from recovery to climate response

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

For the 40 years after end of commercial whaling in 1976, humpback whale populations North Pacific Ocean exhibited a prolonged period recovery. Using mark–recapture methods on largest individual photo-identification dataset ever assembled for cetacean, we estimated annual ocean-basin-wide abundance species from 2002 through 2021. Trends estimates describe strong post-whaling era population recovery 16 875 (± 5955) to peak estimate 33 488 4455) 2012. An apparent 20% decline 2012 2021, 26 662 4192), suggests abruptly reached carrying capacity due loss prey resources. This was particularly evident whales wintering Hawai‘i, where, by had declined 34% 2013, down levels previously seen 2006, and contrasted an absence Mainland Mexico breeding humpbacks. The strongest marine heatwave recorded globally date during 2014–2016 appeared have altered course recovery, with enduring effects. Extending this time series will allow serve as indicator ecosystem face changing climate.

Language: Английский

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Sharp decline in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) survival and reproductive success in southeastern Alaska during and after the 2014–2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave

Mammalian Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 102(4), P. 1113 - 1131

Published: March 10, 2022

Language: Английский

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Marine Pelagic Ecosystem Responses to Climate Variability and Change

BioScience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 72(9), P. 827 - 850

Published: Aug. 16, 2022

abstract The marine coastal region makes up just 10% of the total area global ocean but contributes nearly 20% its primary production and over 80% fisheries landings. Unicellular phytoplankton dominate production. Climate variability has had impacts on various ecosystems, most sites are approaching age at which ecological responses to longer term, unidirectional climate trends might be distinguished. All five pelagic in US Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network experiencing warming surface air temperature. physical system is responding all with increasing mixed layer temperatures decreasing depth declining sea ice cover two polar sites. Their more varied. Some show multiple population or ecosystem changes, whereas, others, changes have not been detected, either because time needed they being measured.

Language: Английский

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Impact of Pacific Ocean heatwaves on phytoplankton community composition

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: March 13, 2023

Abstract Since 2013, marine heatwaves have become recurrent throughout the equatorial and northeastern Pacific Ocean are expected to increase in intensity relative historic norms. Among ecological ramifications associated with these high temperature anomalies increased mortality of higher trophic organisms such as mammals seabirds, which likely triggered by changes composition phytoplankton, base food web. Here, we assimilated satellite ocean color data into an biogeochemical model describe abundance phytoplankton functional types (PFTs) during last decade’s (2010s) warm Ocean. We find important “Blob” anomaly Gulf Alaska, where reduced silica supply led a switch community from diatoms dinoflagellates, resulting surface chlorophyll Summer–Fall 2014. A more dramatic change was observed Pacific, extreme conditions 2016 El Niño resulted major decline about 40% chlorophyll, nearly total collapse diatoms.

Language: Английский

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Relationships of temperature and biodiversity with stability of natural aquatic food webs

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: June 14, 2023

Abstract Temperature and biodiversity changes occur in concert, but their joint effects on ecological stability of natural food webs are unknown. Here, we assess these relationships 19 planktonic webs. We estimate as structural (using the volume contraction rate) temporal variation species abundances). Warmer temperatures were associated with lower stability, while had no consistent either property. While richness was higher Simpson diversity stability. The responses linked to disproportionate contributions from two trophic groups (predators consumers), both synchrony all within web distinctive three (predators, consumers, producers). Our results suggest that, ecosystems, warmer can erode ecosystem may not have effects.

Language: Английский

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More Than Marine Heatwaves: A New Regime of Heat, Acidity, and Low Oxygen Compound Extreme Events in the Gulf of Alaska

AGU Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Jan. 12, 2024

Abstract Recent marine heatwaves in the Gulf of Alaska have had devastating impacts on species from various trophic levels. Due to climate change, total heat exposure upper ocean has become longer, more intense, frequent, and likely happen at same time as other environmental extremes. The combination multiple extremes can exacerbate response sensitive organisms. Our hindcast simulation provides first indication that than 20% bottom water continental shelf was exposed quadruple heat, positive hydrogen ion concentration [H + ], negative aragonite saturation state (Ω arag ), oxygen [O 2 ] compound extreme events during 2018–2020 wave. Natural intrusion deep acidified combined with wave triggered occurrence these 2019. During 2013–2016 wave, surface waters were already widespread due temperature effect ]. We introduce a new Downwelling Index (GOADI) short‐term predictive skill, which serve indicator past near‐future Ω , near seafloor. results suggest waves may not been sole stressor led observed ecosystem warrant closer look existing situ inorganic carbon data biological observations model output.

Language: Английский

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Linking climate stressors to ecological processes in ecosystem models, with a case study from the Gulf of Alaska

ICES Journal of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 22, 2024

Abstract As climate stressors are impacting marine ecosystems and fisheries across the world, ecosystem models that incorporate environmental variables increasingly used to inform ecosystem-based management. The assumptions around mechanistic links between biological processes in these important, but implications for model outcomes of which captured how they affect modeled seldom explored. Using a whole-ecosystem (Atlantis) Gulf Alaska, we explore effects capturing physical (increased temperature) biogeochemical (decreased low trophic level productivity) stressors, disentangle each stressor on productivity forage fish, groundfish, fish-eating seabirds. We then test alternative specifications temperature-driven habitat determination bioenergetics. Increased temperature resulted increased weight-at-age higher natural mortality, while decreased mortality. Model specification dependence movement spawning influenced outcomes, decoupling from led overly optimistic biomass predictions. use management becomes more operational, illustrate ecological influence outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Warmer, earlier, faster: Cumulative effects of Gulf of Alaska heatwaves on the early life history of Pacific cod

Elementa Science of the Anthropocene, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Warming climates are creating unprecedented environmental conditions, such as more frequent and intense marine heatwaves (MHWs), that directly impact phenology growth of fish other organisms. Understanding individual phenological responses to temperature is critical predict species population climate change; however, doing so requires disentangling the effects on phenology, size, in wild populations. We quantified relationships between hatch timing, size-at-age, early a Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) affected by recent MHWs Gulf Alaska. juveniles were collected near Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA, across 11 years, categorized before (2007, 2009–2010, 2012–2014), during (2015, 2016, 2019), (2017, 2018) multiple MHWs. estimated age with otolith structural analysis. Hatching occurred average 14 days earlier 26 than Approximately 53% 16% these respective shifts timing attributable warmer temperatures incubation. Size-at-age was similar periods at younger ages (90 days), but approximately 7 mm larger older (132 days) MHWs, respectively. These differences size-at-age partially related differed among MHW periods. However, observed rate could not account for increases size-at-age. found alone explain changes phenology; thus, factors parental effects, epigenetics, selection likely contributed. Our results indicate spawn based historical thermal should be questioned forecasting global continues warm.

Language: Английский

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