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Filbee-Dexter K, Starko S, Pessarrodona A, Wood G, Norderhaug KM, Piñeiro-Corbeira C, Wernberg T. Marine protected areas can be useful but are not a silver bullet for kelp conservation. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:203-213. [PMID: 38546039 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Kelp forests are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, but they are increasingly being degraded and lost due to a range of human-related stressors, leading to recent calls for their improved management and conservation. One of the primary tools to conserve marine species and biodiversity is the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs). International commitments to protect 30% of the world's ecosystems are gaining momentum, offering a promising avenue to secure kelp forests into the Anthropocene. However, a clear understanding of the efficacy of MPAs for conserving kelp forests in a changing ocean is lacking. In this perspective, we question whether strengthened global protection will create meaningful conservation outcomes for kelp forests. We explore the benefits of MPAs for kelp conservation under a suite of different stressors, focusing on empirical evidence from protected kelp forests. We show that MPAs can be effective against some drivers of kelp loss (e.g., overgrazing, kelp harvesting), particularly when they are maintained in the long-term and enforced as no-take areas. There is also some evidence that MPAs can reduce impacts of climate change through building resilience in multi-stressor situations. However, MPAs also often fail to provide protection against ocean warming, marine heatwaves, coastal darkening, and pollution, which have emerged as dominant drivers of kelp forest loss globally. Although well-enforced MPAs should remain an important tool to protect kelp forests, successful kelp conservation will require implementing an additional suite of management solutions that target these accelerating threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Filbee-Dexter
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Samuel Starko
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Georgina Wood
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA - Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
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2
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Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bates AE, Strona G, Bulleri F, Horta E Costa B, Edgar GJ, Hereu B, Reed DC, Stuart-Smith RD, Barrett NS, Kushner DJ, Emslie MJ, García-Charton JA, Gonçalves EJ, Aspillaga E. Marine protected areas promote stability of reef fish communities under climate warming. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1822. [PMID: 38418445 PMCID: PMC10902350 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44976-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Protection from direct human impacts can safeguard marine life, yet ocean warming crosses marine protected area boundaries. Here, we test whether protection offers resilience to marine heatwaves from local to network scales. We examine 71,269 timeseries of population abundances for 2269 reef fish species surveyed in 357 protected versus 747 open sites worldwide. We quantify the stability of reef fish abundance from populations to metacommunities, considering responses of species and functional diversity including thermal affinity of different trophic groups. Overall, protection mitigates adverse effects of marine heatwaves on fish abundance, community stability, asynchronous fluctuations and functional richness. We find that local stability is positively related to distance from centers of high human density only in protected areas. We provide evidence that networks of protected areas have persistent reef fish communities in warming oceans by maintaining large populations and promoting stability at different levels of biological organization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda E Bates
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | | | - Fabio Bulleri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, URL CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Horta E Costa
- CCMAR, Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Building 7, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Graham J Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Reef Life Survey Foundation, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dan C Reed
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA
| | - Rick D Stuart-Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Reef Life Survey Foundation, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Neville S Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Emanuel J Gonçalves
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eneko Aspillaga
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), 07190, Esporles, Spain
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3
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Brandl SJ, Lefcheck JS, Bates AE, Rasher DB, Norin T. Can metabolic traits explain animal community assembly and functioning? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1-18. [PMID: 36054431 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
All animals on Earth compete for free energy, which is acquired, assimilated, and ultimately allocated to growth and reproduction. Competition is strongest within communities of sympatric, ecologically similar animals of roughly equal size (i.e. horizontal communities), which are often the focus of traditional community ecology. The replacement of taxonomic identities with functional traits has improved our ability to decipher the ecological dynamics that govern the assembly and functioning of animal communities. Yet, the use of low-resolution and taxonomically idiosyncratic traits in animals may have hampered progress to date. An animal's metabolic rate (MR) determines the costs of basic organismal processes and activities, thus linking major aspects of the multifaceted constructs of ecological niches (where, when, and how energy is obtained) and ecological fitness (how much energy is accumulated and passed on to future generations). We review evidence from organismal physiology to large-scale analyses across the tree of life to propose that MR gives rise to a group of meaningful functional traits - resting metabolic rate (RMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), and aerobic scope (AS) - that may permit an improved quantification of the energetic basis of species coexistence and, ultimately, the assembly and functioning of animal communities. Specifically, metabolic traits integrate across a variety of typical trait proxies for energy acquisition and allocation in animals (e.g. body size, diet, mobility, life history, habitat use), to yield a smaller suite of continuous quantities that: (1) can be precisely measured for individuals in a standardized fashion; and (2) apply to all animals regardless of their body plan, habitat, or taxonomic affiliation. While integrating metabolic traits into animal community ecology is neither a panacea to disentangling the nuanced effects of biological differences on animal community structure and functioning, nor without challenges, a small number of studies across different taxa suggest that MR may serve as a useful proxy for the energetic basis of competition in animals. Thus, the application of MR traits for animal communities can lead to a more general understanding of community assembly and functioning, enhance our ability to trace eco-evolutionary dynamics from genotypes to phenotypes (and vice versa), and help predict the responses of animal communities to environmental change. While trait-based ecology has improved our knowledge of animal communities to date, a more explicit energetic lens via the integration of metabolic traits may further strengthen the existing framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Brandl
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, 78373, USA
| | - Jonathan S Lefcheck
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network and MarineGEO Program, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
| | - Amanda E Bates
- Biology Department, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Douglas B Rasher
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA
| | - Tommy Norin
- DTU Aqua: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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4
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Feng K, Deng W, Zhang Y, Tao K, Yuan J, Liu J, Li Z, Lek S, Wang Q, Hugueny B. Eutrophication induces functional homogenization and traits filtering in Chinese lacustrine fish communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159651. [PMID: 36280085 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rapid anthropogenic nutrient enrichment has caused widespread ecological problems in aquatic ecosystems and the resulting eutrophication has dramatically changed fish communities throughout the world. However, few studies addressed how fish communities responded to eutrophication in terms of multidimensional functional and taxonomic structure, especially how eutrophication acted as an environment filter on functional traits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of eutrophication on fish species composition, community metrics and species functional traits in 26 shallow lakes from the middle reaches of Yangtze River basin, China. This study validated that eutrophication is an important factor shaping the fish community structure. Regression analyses showed that eutrophication favored higher total biomass and lower functional diversity of fish communities but had little effect on species richness. Despite the fact that some pelagic zooplanktivorous species were more abundant in the most eutrophic lakes, multivariate analyses of the relationships between species traits and environmental variables revealed weak relationships between feeding traits and eutrophication. In contrast, species with a benthic life stage were negatively associated with eutrophication while those with a large body size and high absolute fecundity showed the opposite trend. Due to demersal habitat degradation, and to a lesser degree, to changes in trophic resources availability, eutrophication caused functional simplification of fish communities by increasing functional traits homogeneity among the most tolerant species. Some relationships between functional traits and eutrophication well established in the western palearctic have not been observed in this study, emphasizing the importance of biases resulting from specific evolutionary histories. This work will provide useful insights on on-going restoration and management of shallow lakes in the Yangtze River basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), Université de Toulouse, CNRS 5174, IRD 253, Toulouse, France
| | - Wenbo Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Yinzhe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Kun Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; National Research Centre for Freshwater Fisheries Engineering, Ministry of Sciences and Technology, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Jiashou Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; National Research Centre for Freshwater Fisheries Engineering, Ministry of Sciences and Technology, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; National Research Centre for Freshwater Fisheries Engineering, Ministry of Sciences and Technology, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Sovan Lek
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), Université de Toulouse, CNRS 5174, IRD 253, Toulouse, France
| | - Qidong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; National Research Centre for Freshwater Fisheries Engineering, Ministry of Sciences and Technology, 7 South Donghu Road, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China.
| | - Bernard Hugueny
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), Université de Toulouse, CNRS 5174, IRD 253, Toulouse, France
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5
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Wu N, Lv Y, Zhang M, Wang Y, Peng W, Qu X. Understanding the relative roles of local environmental, geo-climatic and spatial factors for taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic β-diversity of stream fishes in a large basin, Northeast China. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9567. [PMID: 36523534 PMCID: PMC9745106 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to determine the relative roles of local environmental (Local), geo-climatic (Geo), and spatial (Spatial) factors to taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic β-diversity of stream fish in a large basin in Northeast China. We quantified the current biodiversity patterns of fish communities in the Hun-Tai River using β-diversity. We assessed (i) corresponding contributions of turnover and nestedness within the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic β-diversity of fishes; (ii) correlations among β-diversity facets (i.e., taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic facets); (iii) relative contributions of Local, Geo, and Spatial factors to β-diversity. We collected fish communities from 171 sampling sites. Mantel tests were used to examine the correlation of three facets of β-diversity and their components (i.e., total, nestedness, and turnover). Distance-based redundancy analysis and variation partitioning assess the relative contributions of Local, Geo, and Spatial factors to β-diversity. We found that turnover is the main driving mechanism for β-diversity in fish. Among the facets of β-diversity, taxonomic and phylogenetic facets have strong ecological information association. Spatial factors have a general contribution to various facets of β-diversity and its components. From aspects of fish β-diversity conservation, connectivity and habitat heterogeneity need to be maintained in the entire aquatic environment. In addition, protecting taxonomic β-diversity is helpful for maintaining phylogenetic β-diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naicheng Wu
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Yuanyuan Lv
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River BasinChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchBeijingChina
- Department of Water Ecology and EnvironmentChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchBeijingChina
| | - Yaochun Wang
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Wenqi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River BasinChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchBeijingChina
- Department of Water Ecology and EnvironmentChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchBeijingChina
| | - Xiaodong Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River BasinChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchBeijingChina
- Department of Water Ecology and EnvironmentChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchBeijingChina
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6
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Borland HP, Gilby BL, Henderson CJ, Connolly RM, Gorissen B, Ortodossi NL, Rummell AJ, Pittman SJ, Sheaves M, Olds AD. Dredging transforms the seafloor and enhances functional diversity in urban seascapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 831:154811. [PMID: 35351501 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Landscape modification alters the condition of ecosystems and the complexity of terrain, with consequences for animal assemblages and ecosystem functioning. In coastal seascapes, dredging is routine practice for extracting sediments and maintaining navigation channels worldwide. Dredging modifies processes and assemblages by favouring species with wide trophic niches, diverse habitat requirements and tolerances to dredge-related eutrophication and sedimentation. Dredging also transforms the three-dimensional features of the seafloor, but the functional consequences of these terrain changes remain unclear. We investigated the effects of terrain modification on the functional diversity of fish assemblages in natural and dredged estuaries to examine whether dredging programs could be optimised to minimise impacts on ecological functioning. Fish assemblages were surveyed with baited remote underwater video stations and variation in functional niche space was described using species traits to calculate metrics that index functional diversity. Terrain variation was quantified with nine complementary surface metrics including depth, aspect, curvature, slope and roughness extracted from sonar-derived bathymetry maps. Functional diversity was, surprisingly, higher in dredged estuaries, which supported more generalist species with wider functional niches, and from lower trophic levels, than natural estuaries. These positive effects of dredging on functional diversity were, however, spatially restricted and were linked to both the area and orientation of terrain modification. Functional diversity was highest in urban estuaries where dredged channels were small (i.e. <1% of the estuary), and where channel slopes were orientated towards the poles (i.e. 171-189°), promoting both terrain variation and light penetration in urban estuaries. Our findings highlight previously unrecognised functional consequences of terrain modification that can easily be incorporated into dredging programs. We demonstrate that restricting the spatial extent of dredging operations and the orientation of dredged channel slopes, wherever this is practical, could help to limit impacts on ecosystem functioning and productivity in urban seascapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden P Borland
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia.
| | - Ben L Gilby
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
| | - Christopher J Henderson
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Bob Gorissen
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
| | - Nicholas L Ortodossi
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
| | - Ashley J Rummell
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
| | - Simon J Pittman
- Oxford Seascape Ecology Lab, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Sheaves
- College of Science and Engineering and Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Andrew D Olds
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
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7
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Pawluk M, Fujiwara M, Martinez‐Andrade F. Climate change linked to functional homogenization of a subtropical estuarine system. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8783. [PMID: 35432937 PMCID: PMC9005932 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change causes marine species to shift and expand their distributions, often leading to changes in species diversity. While increased biodiversity is often assumed to confer positive benefits on ecosystem functioning, many examples have shown that the relationship is specific to the ecosystem and function studied and is often driven by functional composition and diversity. In the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, tropical species expansion was shown to have increased estuarine fish and invertebrate diversity; however, it is not yet known how those increases have affected functional diversity. To address this knowledge gap, two metrics of functional diversity, functional richness (FRic) and functional dispersion (FDis), were estimated in each year for a 38‐year study period, for each of the eight major bays along the Texas coast. Then, the community‐weighted mean (CWM) trait values for each of the functional traits are calculated to assess how functional composition has changed through time. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify species contributing most to changing functional diversity. We found significant increases in log‐functional richness in both spring and fall, and significant decreases in functional dispersion in spring, suggesting that although new functional types are entering the bays, assemblages are becoming more dominated by similar functional types. Community‐weighted trait means showed significant increases in the relative abundance of traits associated with large, long‐lived, higher trophic level species, suggesting an increase in periodic and equilibrium life‐history strategists within the bays. PCA identified mainly native sciaenid species as contributing most to functional diversity trends although several tropical species also show increasing trends through time. We conclude that the climate‐driven species expansion in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico led to a decrease in functional dispersion due to increasing relative abundance of species with similar life‐history characteristics, and thus the communities have become more functionally homogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Pawluk
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
| | - Masami Fujiwara
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
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8
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Pettersen AK, Marzinelli EM, Steinberg PD, Coleman MA. Impact of marine protected areas on temporal stability of fish species diversity. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13815. [PMID: 34342040 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Preserving biodiversity over time is a pressing challenge for conservation science. A key goal of marine protected areas (MPAs) is to maintain stability in species composition, via reduced turnover, to support ecosystem function. Yet, this stability is rarely measured directly under different levels of protection. Rather, evaluations of MPA efficacy generally consist of static measures of abundance, species richness, and biomass, and rare measures of turnover are limited to short-term studies involving pairwise (beta diversity) comparisons. Zeta diversity is a recently developed metric of turnover that allows for measurement of compositional similarity across multiple assemblages and thus provides more comprehensive estimates of turnover. We evaluated the effectiveness of MPAs at preserving fish zeta diversity across a network of marine reserves over 10 years in Batemans Marine Park, Australia. Snorkel transect surveys were conducted across multiple replicated and spatially interspersed sites to record fish species occurrence through time. Protection provided by MPAs conferred greater stability in fish species turnover. Marine protected areas had significantly shallower decline in zeta diversity compared with partially protected and unprotected areas. The retention of harvested species was four to six times greater in MPAs compared with partially protected and unprotected areas, and the stabilizing effects of protection were observable within 4 years of park implementation. Conversely, partial protection offered little to no improvement in stability, compared with unprotected areas. These findings support the efficacy of MPAs for preserving temporal fish diversity stability. The implementation of MPAs helps stabilize fish diversity and may, therefore, support biodiversity resilience under ongoing environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Pettersen
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peter D Steinberg
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- Marine Ecosystem Research, Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales Fisheries, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
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9
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Filbee-Dexter K, Wernberg T, Barreiro R, Coleman MA, de Bettignies T, Feehan CJ, Franco JN, Hasler B, Louro I, Norderhaug KM, Staehr PAU, Tuya F, Verbeek J. Leveraging the blue economy to transform marine forest restoration. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2022; 58:198-207. [PMID: 35092031 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration is a response to the urgent need to substantially accelerate and upscale ecological restoration to secure Earth's sustainable future. Globally, restoration commitments have focused overwhelmingly on terrestrial forests. In contrast, despite a strong value proposition, efforts to restore seaweed forests lag far behind other major ecosystems and continue to be dominated by small-scale, short-term academic experiments. However, seaweed forest restoration can match the scale of damage and threat if moved from academia into the hands of community groups, industry, and restoration practitioners. Connecting two rapidly growing sectors in the Blue Economy-seaweed cultivation and the restoration industry-can transform marine forest restoration into a commercial-scale enterprise that can make a significant contribution to global restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Rodolfo Barreiro
- Facultad de Ciencias y Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruna, Spain
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Department of Primary Industries, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thibaut de Bettignies
- UMS Patrimoine Naturel, OFB-CNRS-MNHN, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Colette J Feehan
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Joao N Franco
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Berit Hasler
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Fernando Tuya
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
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10
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Hadj-Hammou J, McClanahan TR, Graham NAJ. Decadal shifts in traits of reef fish communities in marine reserves. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23470. [PMID: 34873242 PMCID: PMC8648868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03038-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine reserves are known to impact the biomass, biodiversity, and functions of coral reef fish communities, but the effect of protective management on fish traits is less explored. We used a time-series modelling approach to simultaneously evaluate the abundance, biomass, and traits of eight fish families over a chronosequence spanning 44 years of protection. We constructed a multivariate functional space based on six traits known to respond to management or disturbance and affect ecosystem processes: size, diet, position in the water column, gregariousness, reef association, and length at maturity. We show that biomass increased with a log-linear trend over the time-series, but abundance only increased after 20 years of closure, and with more variation among reserves. This difference is attributed to recovery rates being dependent on body sizes. Abundance-weighted traits and the associated multivariate space of the community change is driven by increased proportions over time of the trait categories: 7-15 cm body size; planktivorous; species low in the water column; medium-large schools; and species with high levels of reef association. These findings suggest that the trait compositions emerging after the cessation of fishing are novel and dynamic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeneen Hadj-Hammou
- Lancaster University Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
| | - Tim R McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Programs, Bronx, NY, 10460, USA
| | - Nicholas A J Graham
- Lancaster University Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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11
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Davies BFR, Holmes L, Bicknell A, Attrill MJ, Sheehan EV. A decade implementing ecosystem approach to fisheries management improves diversity of taxa and traits within a marine protected area in the UK. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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12
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Boulanger E, Loiseau N, Valentini A, Arnal V, Boissery P, Dejean T, Deter J, Guellati N, Holon F, Juhel JB, Lenfant P, Manel S, Mouillot D. Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals and unpacks a biodiversity conservation paradox in Mediterranean marine reserves. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210112. [PMID: 33906403 PMCID: PMC8080007 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although we are currently experiencing worldwide biodiversity loss, local species richness does not always decline under anthropogenic pressure. This conservation paradox may also apply in protected areas but has not yet received conclusive evidence in marine ecosystems. Here, we survey fish assemblages in six Mediterranean no-take reserves and their adjacent fishing grounds using environmental DNA (eDNA) while controlling for environmental conditions. We detect less fish species in marine reserves than in nearby fished areas. The paradoxical gradient in species richness is accompanied by a marked change in fish species composition under different managements. This dissimilarity is mainly driven by species that are often overlooked by classical visual surveys but detected with eDNA: cryptobenthic, pelagic, and rare fishes. These results do not negate the importance of reserves in protecting biodiversity but shed new light on how under-represented species groups can positively react to fishing pressure and how conservation efforts can shape regional biodiversity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Boulanger
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Montpellier, France
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Loiseau
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Véronique Arnal
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Boissery
- Agence de l'Eau Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse, Délégation de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Nacim Guellati
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | | | - Stéphanie Manel
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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13
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Knott NA, Williams J, Harasti D, Malcolm HA, Coleman MA, Kelaher BP, Rees MJ, Schultz A, Jordan A. A coherent, representative, and bioregional marine reserve network shows consistent change in rocky reef fish assemblages. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- N. A. Knott
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Huskisson New South Wales2540Australia
| | - J. Williams
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road Taylors Beach New South Wales2316Australia
| | - D. Harasti
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road Taylors Beach New South Wales2316Australia
| | - H. A. Malcolm
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Coffs Harbour New South Wales2800Australia
| | - M. A. Coleman
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Coffs Harbour New South Wales2800Australia
| | - B. P. Kelaher
- National Marine Science Centre and Marine Ecology Research Centre Southern Cross University Coffs Harbour New South Wales2450Australia
| | - M. J. Rees
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Huskisson New South Wales2540Australia
| | - A. Schultz
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Coffs Harbour New South Wales2800Australia
| | - A. Jordan
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road Taylors Beach New South Wales2316Australia
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14
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Mao Z, Gu X, Cao Y, Luo J, Zeng Q, Chen H, Jeppesen E. How does fish functional diversity respond to environmental changes in two large shallow lakes? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 753:142158. [PMID: 33207432 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Increasing threats to freshwater biodiversity from environmental changes and human activities highlight the need to understand the linkages between biological communities and their environment. Species richness has dominated our view of biodiversity patterns for over a century, but it is increasingly recognized that a trait-based, causal view of biodiversity may be more meaningful than species richness or taxonomic composition. This rationale has led to the exploration of functional diversity (FD) indices to quantify variation in traits that mediate species' contributions to ecosystem processes. In the present study, we quantified FD of fish communities in two large shallow lakes in China with different disturbances level using long-term monitoring data sets. Random-Forests regression was applied to examine how changes in FD were related to natural and human-related environmental variables. Fish stocking, water quality, climate, and hydrological changes were identified as the most important predictors of FD long-term trends. However, the major drivers of FD differed between two lakes, i.e., human activities explaining a greater proportion of FD variance in Lake Taihu, whereas physicochemical environmental factors prominently explained FD variance in Lake Hulun. Moreover, FD indices appeared more sensitive than species richness to multiple disturbances, suggesting that functional traits can be used to detect ecosystem alterations. This study offers insight into how FD can improve our understanding of the associations between fish communities and environmental changes of relevance also for lake and fisheries management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xiaohong Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Yong Cao
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Juhua Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qingfei Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Huihui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Erik Jeppesen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Silkeborg 8600, Denmark; Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research, Beijing 100049, China; Limnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Ecosystem Research and Implementation, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
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15
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Miatta M, Bates AE, Snelgrove PVR. Incorporating Biological Traits into Conservation Strategies. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2021; 13:421-443. [PMID: 32857677 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-032320-094121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Implementation of marine conservation strategies, such as increasing the numbers, extent, and effectiveness of protected areas (PAs), can help achieve conservation and restoration of ocean health and associated goods and services. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of including aspects of ecological functioning in PA design, the physical characteristics of habitats and simple measures of species diversity inform most PA designations. Marine and terrestrial ecologists have recently been using biological traits to assess community dynamics, functioning, and vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts. Here, we explore potential trait-based marine applications to advance PA design. We recommend strategies to integrate biological traits into (a) conservation objectives (e.g., by assessing and predicting impacts and vulnerability), (b) PA spatial planning (e.g., mapping ecosystem functions and functional diversity hot spots), and (c) time series monitoring protocols (e.g., using functional traits to detect recoveries). We conclude by emphasizing the need for pragmatic tools to improve the efficacy of spatial planning and monitoring efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Miatta
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada; , ,
| | - Amanda E Bates
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada; , ,
| | - Paul V R Snelgrove
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada; , ,
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada
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16
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Fish assemblages in protected seagrass habitats: Assessing fish abundance and diversity in no-take marine reserves and fished areas. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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17
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Ramírez-Ortiz G, Reyes-Bonilla H, Balart EF, Olivier D, Huato-Soberanis L, Micheli F, Edgar GJ. Reduced fish diversity despite increased fish biomass in a Gulf of California Marine Protected Area. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8885. [PMID: 32296607 PMCID: PMC7151750 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-use marine protected areas (MUMPAs) are a commonly applied tool for marine conservation in developing countries, particularly where large no-take reserves are not socially or politically feasible. Although MUMPAs have produced benefits around the world, the persistence of moderate fishing pressure reduces the likelihood of achieving the primary objective of these areas, which is the conservation of ecosystems. In this study we used traditional and functional metrics to evaluate how fish assemblages changed through time in a MUMPA, including shifts in species responses and in ecological processes. We conducted visual censuses of fishes at Espíritu Santo Island, México (MUMPA; N = 320; 24°N, 110°W) from 2005 to 2017 to assess fish richness, size-distribution and density. Three functional indices were calculated using six traits (size, mobility, period of activity, aggregation, position in water column and diet): functional richness (volume occupied by species), dispersion (complementarity between species) and originality (inverse of functional redundancy). We compared fish diversity among three management zone types (sustainable fishing, traditional fishing and no-take zones), through a 13-year period, assessing which species increased or decreased in occurrence, density, and biomass, and how indices respond over time. Despite a general increase in biomass and stability in density and originality, we detected a reduction in fish biodiversity in the form of declines in species and functional richness, which could imply the risk of local extinction and decrease in certain ecosystem processes. In addition, changes in functional dispersion showed that some functions are losing representation through time. Although no single cause is apparent, such factors as competitive interactions, habitat loss and persistence of fishing pressure potentially explain these decreases. The rise in biomass was associated with a general increase in the average size, rather than increased biomass of commercial species, as the latter remained stable during the study period. Expansion of no-take areas, enforcement of fishing regulations, and surveillance in core zones, should be implemented to reverse the decline in particular species and to promote conservation of fish functional diversity in this MUMPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Ramírez-Ortiz
- Programa de Ecología Pesquera, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Héctor Reyes-Bonilla
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Eduardo F Balart
- Programa de Ecología Pesquera, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Damien Olivier
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México.,Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Leonardo Huato-Soberanis
- Programa de Ecología Pesquera, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Hopkins Marine Station and Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - Graham J Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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18
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Glasby TM, Gibson PT. Decadal dynamics of subtidal barrens habitat. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 154:104869. [PMID: 31928986 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Rocky reef barrens that are devoid of macroalgae can be created by various mechanisms, and are often maintained in the long-term by grazing urchins. The persistence of barrens varies greatly among locations, although few studies have investigated the stability of this habitat over multiple decades, particularly at large spatial scales. We used aerial images to test for differences in temporal trajectories of shallow (2-10 m) barrens at 21 sites (average size 12 ha) over 30 years across 500 km of coastline in New South Wales, Australia. Longer-term (40-68 yr) trajectories of barrens cover were documented for five of the sites and these generally reflected the 30-year patterns. Averaged across all sites, barrens area increased at a rate of 19.9 ± 8.4 m2 per year per hectare of reef from 1980s-2010s. Importantly, however, 55% of sites had stable or fluctuating (±10% cover) barrens over this period, rather than displaying continual increases. Although the extent of shallow barrens increases with latitude, the temporal dynamics of barrens did not differ among three latitudinal regions where barrens are the most extensive. Associations between variability in barrens cover and environmental variables indicated that reef topography might pay a role in influencing barrens. Examples of such long-term persistence of extensive barrens are relatively rare and potential reasons for this and possible future changes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim M Glasby
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, 2316, Australia.
| | - Peter T Gibson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, 2316, Australia
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19
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Chen K, Rajper AR, Hughes RM, Olson JR, Wei H, Wang B. Incorporating functional traits to enhance multimetric index performance and assess land use gradients. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 691:1005-1015. [PMID: 31326793 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Taxonomic-based multimetric indices (MMIs) have been widely employed for assessing ecosystem status, particularly through the use of stream macroinvertebrate assemblages. However, the functional diversity and composition of assemblages is also important for maintaining stream ecosystem condition. Nonetheless, aquatic insect functional diversity and composition have not commonly been included in MMIs. Our goal was to advance our understanding of the performance and ecological interpretation of an MMI that potentially combined functional and taxonomic metrics. We sampled aquatic insects and natural and land-use variables at 74 temperate Chinese streams. We selected a candidate set of 36 functional and 20 taxonomic metrics that were screened by range tests, natural variation, responsiveness to anthropogenic disturbance, and redundancy for subsequent inclusion in MMIs. We determined if natural variation adjustments improved the performance of a functional-taxonomic MMI. Finally, we evaluated the degree to which the functional-taxonomic MMI served as an early-warning indicator of land use intensity. Natural variation explained between 19.62% and 71.02% of metric variability, indicating that functional metrics changed systematically along natural gradients. The final functional-taxonomic MMI adjusted for natural variation incorporated multiple aspects of assemblage characteristics: functional richness, Rao's quadratic entropy, abundance-weighted frequency of soft bodies, abundance-weighted frequency of predators, and number of Diptera taxa. In contrast to the natural variation unadjusted MMI, the functional-taxonomic adjusted MMI clearly distinguished least-disturbed sites from most-disturbed sites, exhibited high precision and low bias, and showed a significant negative response to land uses. The slope of a linear regression relative to 0-10% urban and 0-20% agriculture was significantly steeper for the functional-taxonomic adjusted MMI than that of the taxonomic adjusted MMI. We conclude that functional-taxonomic adjusted MMIs are more effective indicators of ecological condition and risks to biota from human pressures than are purely taxonomic unadjusted MMIs because functional-taxonomic MMIs are more sensitive to subtle anthropogenic pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China.
| | - Abdul Razzaque Rajper
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China.
| | - Robert M Hughes
- Amnis Opes Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.
| | - John R Olson
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA 93955, USA.
| | - Huiyu Wei
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China.
| | - Beixin Wang
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China.
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20
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Parker JRC, Saunders BJ, Bennett S, DiBattista JD, Shalders TC, Harvey ES. Shifts in Labridae geographical distribution along a unique and dynamic coastline. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jack R. C. Parker
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth WA Australia
| | | | - Scott Bennett
- Department of Global Change Research Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA)CSIC-UIB Esporles Spain
| | - Joseph D. DiBattista
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth WA Australia
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Tanika C. Shalders
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth WA Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Kensington WA Australia
| | - Euan S. Harvey
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth WA Australia
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21
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Ortodossi NL, Gilby BL, Schlacher TA, Connolly RM, Yabsley NA, Henderson CJ, Olds AD. Effects of seascape connectivity on reserve performance along exposed coastlines. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:580-589. [PMID: 30318640 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Seascape connectivity (landscape connectivity in the sea) can modify reserve performance in low-energy marine ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass), but it is not clear whether similar spatial linkages also shape reserve effectiveness on high-energy, exposed coastlines. We used the surf zones of ocean beaches in eastern Australia as a model system to test how seascape connectivity and reserve attributes combine to shape conservation outcomes. Spatial patterns in fish assemblages were measured using baited remote underwater video stations in 12 marine reserves and 15 fished beaches across 2000 km of exposed coastline. Reserve performance was shaped by both the characteristics of reserves and the spatial properties of the coastal seascapes in which reserves were embedded. Number of fish species and abundance of harvested fishes were highest in surf-zone reserves that encompassed >1.5 km of the surf zone; were located < 100 m to rocky headlands; and included pocket beaches in a heterogeneous seascape. Conservation outcomes for exposed coastlines may, therefore, be enhanced by prioritizing sufficiently large areas of seascapes that are strongly linked to abutting complementary habitats. Our findings have broader implications for coastal conservation planning. Empirical data to describe how the ecological features of high-energy shorelines influence conservation outcomes are lacking, and we suggest that seascape connectivity may have similar ecological effects on reserve performance on both sheltered and exposed coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas L Ortodossi
- ANIMAL Research Centre and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Ben L Gilby
- ANIMAL Research Centre and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Thomas A Schlacher
- ANIMAL Research Centre and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Yabsley
- ANIMAL Research Centre and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Christopher J Henderson
- ANIMAL Research Centre and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Andrew D Olds
- ANIMAL Research Centre and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia
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22
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Cresson P, Le Direach L, Rouanet E, Goberville E, Astruch P, Ourgaud M, Harmelin-Vivien M. Functional traits unravel temporal changes in fish biomass production on artificial reefs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 145:137-146. [PMID: 30857649 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Artificial reefs (ARs) are deployed worldwide as they are expected to support fisheries management. While the underlying mechanisms remain widely debated, production was recently determined as the most probable cause of increases in fish biomass. Changes in fish biomass in a temperate AR system were investigated from December 2008 to November 2015 by considering seven distinct functional groups, and isotopic functional indices were used to identify how these changes may have affected organic matter (OM) fluxes. Contrasting patterns of change were observed between functional trophic groups, highlighting that combining the biomass of all species present in a community is inappropriate for assessing AR-induced effects. Benthic sedentary species predominated (>75% of the total biomass) through massive production, with a 68-fold increase in mean biomass over the study period. Mobile species tended to vary seasonally, suggesting only a slight influence of AR. Zooplanktivores biomass decreased over the 6-year period, as a possible result of changes in environmental conditions. Isotopic indices helped to reveal both the community maturation and the importance of local OM sources not only in supporting fish biomass production but also in attracting pelagic species. Our results corroborate that production and attraction are two extremes of a range of contrasting patterns and highlight the importance of considering the specific responses of functional components of fish communities to accurately describe changes in AR functioning. Functional attributes such as trophic traits, habitat use and dispersal abilities must not be overlooked as they modulate fish species responses to the deployment of man-made rocky substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Cresson
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Resources Halieutiques Manche Mer du Nord, F-62200, Boulogne sur Mer, France.
| | - Laurence Le Direach
- GIS Posidonie, OSU Institut Pythéas, Aix-Marseille Univ., Campus de Luminy, F-13288, Marseille, France
| | - Elodie Rouanet
- GIS Posidonie, OSU Institut Pythéas, Aix-Marseille Univ., Campus de Luminy, F-13288, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Goberville
- Unité Biologie des organismes et écosystèmes aquatiques (BOREA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, CNRS, IRD, CP53, 61, Rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Astruch
- GIS Posidonie, OSU Institut Pythéas, Aix-Marseille Univ., Campus de Luminy, F-13288, Marseille, France
| | - Mélanie Ourgaud
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université; de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, F-13288, Marseille, France
| | - Mireille Harmelin-Vivien
- GIS Posidonie, OSU Institut Pythéas, Aix-Marseille Univ., Campus de Luminy, F-13288, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ., Université; de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, F-13288, Marseille, France
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23
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Barnum TR, Weller DE, Williams M. Urbanization reduces and homogenizes trait diversity in stream macroinvertebrate communities. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:2428-2442. [PMID: 28872731 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
More than one-half of the world's population lives in urban areas, so quantifying the effects of urbanization on ecological communities is important for understanding whether anthropogenic stressors homogenize communities across environmental and climatic gradients. We examined the relationship of impervious surface coverage (a marker of urbanization) and the structure of stream macroinvertebrate communities across the state of Maryland and within each of Maryland's three ecoregions: Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Appalachian, which differ in stream geomorphology and community composition. We considered three levels of trait organization: individual traits, unique combinations of traits, and community metrics (functional richness, functional evenness, and functional divergence) and three levels of impervious surface coverage (low [<2.5%], medium [2.5% to 10%], and high [>10%]). The prevalence of an individual trait differed very little between low impervious surface and high impervious surface sites. The arrangement of trait combinations in community trait space for each ecoregion differed when impervious surface coverage was low, but the arrangement became more similar among ecoregions as impervious surface coverage increased. Furthermore, trait combinations that occurred only at low or medium impervious surface coverage were clustered in a subset of the community trait space, indicating that impervious surface affected the presence of only a subset of trait combinations. Functional richness declined with increasing impervious surface, providing evidence for environmental filtering. Community metrics that include abundance were also sensitive to increasing impervious surface coverage: functional divergence decreased while functional evenness increased. These changes demonstrate that increasing impervious surface coverage homogenizes the trait diversity of macroinvertebrate communities in streams, despite differences in initial community composition and stream geomorphology among ecoregions. Community metrics were also more sensitive to changes in the abundance rather than the gain or loss of trait combinations, showing the potential for trait-based approaches to serve as early warning indicators of environmental stress for monitoring and biological assessment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Barnum
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
| | - Donald E Weller
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
| | - Meghan Williams
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
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Mangano MC, Bottari T, Caridi F, Porporato EMD, Rinelli P, Spanò N, Johnson M, Sarà G. The effectiveness of fish feeding behaviour in mirroring trawling-induced patterns. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 131:195-204. [PMID: 28992961 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The ability to observe and predict trawling-induced patterns at spatial and temporal scales that are relevant to inform realistic management strategies is a challenge which scientists have consistently faced in recent decades. Here, we use fish feeding behaviour, a biological trait easily impaired by trawling disturbance, to depict alterations in fish condition (i.e. individual fitness) and feeding opportunities. The benthivorous fish Mullus barbatus barbatus was selected as a model species. The observed trends of responses to trawling in prey species confirmed the effectiveness of a non-trawled zone in sustaining higher levels of diet diversity (e.g. quantity and quality of ingested prey) and fish condition values (e.g. morphometric and physiological Condition Index). Changes observed in fish prey selection confirmed the role of trawling disturbance in modifying the local soft bottoms community, producing alterations of prey availability that trigger shifts in fish diet. Trawling-induced feeding patterns, mirrored through stomach contents, can positively or negatively affect fish condition, the main driver of population dynamics in maintaining carrying capacity levels. Due to the widespread socio-economic value of the red mullet fishery, and the current exploitation status, evidence gathered by the proposed bottom-up trait based approach might inform future trawling adaptation strategies, and tailor spatial conservation measures supporting an Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Mangano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale degli Scienze Ed. 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Science del Mare (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy.
| | - T Bottari
- IAMC-CNR, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 981622 Messina, Italy
| | - F Caridi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - E M D Porporato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venezia Mestre, Italy
| | - P Rinelli
- IAMC-CNR, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 981622 Messina, Italy
| | - N Spanò
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166, Messina Italy
| | - M Johnson
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, UK
| | - G Sarà
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale degli Scienze Ed. 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Science del Mare (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy
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25
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Coleman MA, Cetina-Heredia P, Roughan M, Feng M, van Sebille E, Kelaher BP. Anticipating changes to future connectivity within a network of marine protected areas. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:3533-3542. [PMID: 28122402 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Continental boundary currents are projected to be altered under future scenarios of climate change. As these currents often influence dispersal and connectivity among populations of many marine organisms, changes to boundary currents may have dramatic implications for population persistence. Networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) often aim to maintain connectivity, but anticipation of the scale and extent of climatic impacts on connectivity are required to achieve this critical conservation goal in a future of climate change. For two key marine species (kelp and sea urchins), we use oceanographic modelling to predict how continental boundary currents are likely to change connectivity among a network of MPAs spanning over 1000 km of coastline off the coast of eastern Australia. Overall change in predicted connectivity among pairs of MPAs within the network did not change significantly over and above temporal variation within climatic scenarios, highlighting the need for future studies to incorporate temporal variation in dispersal to robustly anticipate likely change. However, the intricacies of connectivity between different pairs of MPAs were noteworthy. For kelp, poleward connectivity among pairs of MPAs tended to increase in the future, whereas equatorward connectivity tended to decrease. In contrast, for sea urchins, connectivity among pairs of MPAs generally decreased in both directions. Self-seeding within higher-latitude MPAs tended to increase, and the role of low-latitude MPAs as a sink for urchins changed significantly in contrasting ways. These projected changes have the potential to alter important genetic parameters with implications for adaptation and ecosystem vulnerability to climate change. Considering such changes, in the context of managing and designing MPA networks, may ensure that conservation goals are achieved into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales Fisheries, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Paulina Cetina-Heredia
- Regional and Coastal Oceanography Laboratory, School of Mathematics and Statistics, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Climate Change Research Centre and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Moninya Roughan
- Regional and Coastal Oceanography Laboratory, School of Mathematics and Statistics, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - Ming Feng
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, M097, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Erik van Sebille
- Climate Change Research Centre and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Grantham Institute & Department of Physics, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, UK
| | - Brendan P Kelaher
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
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