Historical comparisons of body size are sensitive to data availability and ecological context

Elahi, Robin; Miller, Luke P.; Litvin, Steven Y.

doi:10.1002/ecy.3101

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 54 publications

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“…In fact, squid that we sampled in 2016-2019 exhibited some of the smallest sizes and youngest ages at maturity recorded for this species. Because there were discrepancies in collection methods, caution must be used when interpreting such size differences (Elahi et al 2020). While we acknowledge these constraints, our data additionally show that the body sizes of mature D. opalescens in the GOA in 2016-2017 were comparable to those recorded more than a half century ago in the CCS (fig.…”

Section: Demographic Effects Of Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Range Expansion of a Marine Ectotherm Reveals the Demographic and Ecological Consequences of Short-Term Variability in Seawater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen

Burford

Wild

Schwarz

et al. 2022

The American Naturalist

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The distributions of marine ectotherms are governed by physiological sensitivities to long-term trends in seawater temperature and dissolved oxygen. Short-term variability in these parameters has the potential to facilitate rapid range expansions, and the resulting ecological and socioeconomic consequences may portend those of future marine communities. Here, we combine physiological experiments with ecological and demographic surveys to assess the causes and consequences of sudden but temporary poleward range expansions of a marine ectotherm with considerable life history plasticity (California market squid, Doryteuthis opalescens). We show that sequential factors related to resource accessibility in the core range-the buildup of large populations as a result of competitive release and climate-associated temperature increase and oxygen loss that constrain aerobic activity-may drive these expansions. We also reveal that poleward range expansion alters the body sizeand therefore trophic role-of invading populations, with potential negative implications for socioeconomically valuable resident species. To help forecast rapid range expansions of marine ectotherms, we advocate that research efforts focus on factors impacting resource accessibility in core ranges. Determining how environmental condi-tions in receiving ecosystems affect body size and how body size is related to trophic role will help refine estimates of the impacts of future marine communities.

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Section: Demographic Effects Of Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Range Expansion of a Marine Ectotherm Reveals the Demographic and Ecological Consequences of Short-Term Variability in Seawater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen

Burford

Wild

Schwarz

et al. 2022

The American Naturalist

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Using a fisherman’s harvest in Acapulco, México, to characterize population structure, allometry, and body condition in the edible intertidal mollusc Chiton articulatus (Chitonida: Chitonidae)

Valencia-Cayetano

García‐Ibáñez

Avila-Poveda

et al. 2023

Regional Studies in Marine Science

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Passing the quadrat: inferring biodiversity change over time and across investigators

Elahi,

Micheli,

Watanabe

2024

Preprint

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Long-term ecological monitoring inevitably requires a "passing of the quadrat" from one investigator to another. Here we present the challenge and opportunity of inferring biodiversity change over time and across investigators using a rocky intertidal case study. The intertidal transect was surveyed initially by Willis Hewatt in 1931-1933, then resurveyed in detail by Rafe Sagarin, Sarah Gilman, and their mentors in 1993. In total, the transect has been resurveyed 17 times over the past three decades, with annual surveys nested within five distinct investigator eras. We addressed two goals with our dataset. First, we asked whether temporal change in several biodiversity metrics (species richness, Hill-Shannon and Hill-Simpson diversity, spatial beta diversity) was sensitive to investigator era. Second, we identified recent ecological "winners" and "losers", relative to the historical baseline, and asked whether such designations can change over time (1993-2023). We show that investigators contributed to variable trends in species richness over time, and we hypothesize that sampling effort contributed to this effect. In contrast, we highlight declines in the biodiversity of common species (Hill-Shannon) and dominant species (Hill-Simpson) over time, in the absence of investigator effects. These declines were associated with the rise of a few numerically dominant species and a trend of increasing spatial similarity. Relative to the historical baseline, ecological winners included certain barnacles, anemones, and turban snails, while losers included mussels, urchins, limpets and a host of more cryptic taxa. However, we show that such designations can be complicated by non-linear population trajectories and discuss mechanisms related to climate change versus potential artifacts related to investigator effort. We finish with recommendations and emphasize the value of marine stations in providing a venue for sustained periodic ecological monitoring at small spatial scales, long duration, and fine taxonomic resolution.

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Historical comparisons of body size are sensitive to data availability and ecological context

Cited by 4 publications

References 54 publications

Rapid Range Expansion of a Marine Ectotherm Reveals the Demographic and Ecological Consequences of Short-Term Variability in Seawater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen

Rapid Range Expansion of a Marine Ectotherm Reveals the Demographic and Ecological Consequences of Short-Term Variability in Seawater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen

Using a fisherman’s harvest in Acapulco, México, to characterize population structure, allometry, and body condition in the edible intertidal mollusc Chiton articulatus (Chitonida: Chitonidae)

Passing the quadrat: inferring biodiversity change over time and across investigators

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