Consequences of climate-driven biodiversity changes for ecosystem functioning of North European rocky shores 

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.

A supplement to the amphipod (Crustacea) species inventory of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea): indication of rapid recent change

“…As to the hard-bottom communities at Helgoland, we probably will see them growing closer to those in south-west Britain and southern Norway with respect to species composition and diversity. Increases in local biodiversity in the context of warming have also been shown and predicted, respectively, for intertidal communities of the British Isles (Hawkins et al, 2009) and tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea (Beukema & Dekker, 2010).…”

The Soundscape Approach for the Assessment and Conservation of Mediterranean Landscapes: Principles and Case Studies

“…Lately, marine systems have been ever more affected by human activities (over-exploitation, eutrophication, pollution, and invasive species introductions (Burrows et al, 2011;Halpern et al, 2008;Hoegh-Guldberg & Bruno, 2010). These stressors produced documented changes in species composition and richness (Beaugrand et al, 2010;Byrnes et al, 2007;Dulvy et al, 2003;Hawkins et al, 2009;Sax & Gaines, 2003). To minimize the consequences of such major human intrusion, a great deal of effort has been made to establish marine reserves (Boersma & Parrish, 1999;Mangel, 2000) that are selected according to specific criteria necessary for species survival, which include: food, mating potential, refuge availability, the chemical characteristics of the water, and unaltered remnant habitats, etc.…”

Biogeography of Intertidal Barnacles in Different Marine Ecosystems of Taiwan - Potential Indicators of Climate Change?

“…With the anthropogenic increase in carbon dioxide production, the temperature of the earth is increasing and the recent global climate is changing, affecting the ecosystems of the world Hawkins et al, 2009). Among different ecosystems, the rocky intertidal zone is a harsh habitat strongly influenced by both physical (e.g., thermal stress) and biological (e.g.…”

“…competition) factors. Rocky intertidal species therefore are sensitive to environmental changes, and can show rapid responses (Thompson et al, 2002, Rivadeneira & Fernandez, 2005Helmuth et al, 2006;Hawkins et al, 2009). Increased seawater temperature has resulted in range shifts of intertidal species in northern temperate Atlantic waters (Southward et al 2005;Helmuth et al 2006;Lima et al, 2006Lima et al, , 2007aMieskowska et al, 2006Mieskowska et al, , 2007Herbert et al, 2007;Hawkins et al, 2008).…”