1
|
Gravem SA, Poirson BN, Robinson JW, Menge BA. Resistance of rocky intertidal communities to oceanic climate fluctuations. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297697. [PMID: 38809830 PMCID: PMC11135789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
A powerful way to predict how ecological communities will respond to future climate change is to test how they have responded to the climate of the past. We used climate oscillations including the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Pacific Gyre Oscillation, and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and variation in upwelling, air temperature, and sea temperatures to test the sensitivity of nearshore rocky intertidal communities to climate variability. Prior research shows that multiple ecological processes of key taxa (growth, recruitment, and physiology) were sensitive to environmental variation during this time frame. We also investigated the effect of the concurrent sea star wasting disease outbreak in 2013-2014. We surveyed nearly 150 taxa from 11 rocky intertidal sites in Oregon and northern California annually for up to 14-years (2006-2020) to test if community structure (i.e., the abundance of functional groups) and diversity were sensitive to past environmental variation. We found little to no evidence that these communities were sensitive to annual variation in any of the environmental measures, and that each metric was associated with < 8.6% of yearly variation in community structure. Only the years elapsed since the outbreak of sea star wasting disease had a substantial effect on community structure, but in the mid-zone only where spatially dominant mussels are a main prey of the keystone predator sea star, Pisaster ochraceus. We conclude that the established sensitivity of multiple ecological processes to annual fluctuations in climate has not yet scaled up to influence community structure. Hence, the rocky intertidal system along this coastline appears resistant to the range of oceanic climate fluctuations that occurred during the study. However, given ongoing intensification of climate change and increasing frequencies of extreme events, future responses to climate change seem likely.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Gravem
- Department of Integrative Biology, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Brittany N. Poirson
- Department of Integrative Biology, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jonathan W. Robinson
- Department of Integrative Biology, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Bruce A. Menge
- Department of Integrative Biology, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Swalethorp R, Landry MR, Semmens BX, Ohman MD, Aluwihare L, Chargualaf D, Thompson AR. Anchovy boom and bust linked to trophic shifts in larval diet. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7412. [PMID: 38052790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42966-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although massive biomass fluctuations of coastal-pelagic fishes are an iconic example of the impacts of climate variability on marine ecosystems, the mechanisms governing these dynamics are often elusive. We construct a 45-year record of nitrogen stable isotopes measured in larvae of Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax) in the California Current Ecosystem to assess patterns in food chain length. Larval trophic efficiency associated with a shortened food chain increased larval survival and produced boom periods of high adult biomass. In contrast, when larval food chain length increased, and energy transfer efficiency decreased, the population crashed. We propose the Trophic Efficiency in Early Life (TEEL) hypothesis, which states that larval fishes must consume prey that confer sufficient energy for survival, to help explain natural boom-bust dynamics of coastal pelagic fishes. Our findings illustrate a potential for trophic indicators to generally inform larval survival and adult population dynamics of coastal-pelagic fishes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rasmus Swalethorp
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- NOAA Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua), Technical University of Denmark, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Michael R Landry
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brice X Semmens
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark D Ohman
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lihini Aluwihare
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dereka Chargualaf
- NOAA Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew R Thompson
- NOAA Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bograd SJ, Jacox MG, Hazen EL, Lovecchio E, Montes I, Pozo Buil M, Shannon LJ, Sydeman WJ, Rykaczewski RR. Climate Change Impacts on Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2023; 15:303-328. [PMID: 35850490 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-032122-021945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The world's eastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUSs) contribute disproportionately to global ocean productivity and provide critical ecosystem services to human society. The impact of climate change on EBUSs and the ecosystems they support is thus a subject of considerable interest. Here, we review hypotheses of climate-driven change in the physics, biogeochemistry, and ecology of EBUSs; describe observed changes over recent decades; and present projected changes over the twenty-first century. Similarities in historical and projected change among EBUSs include a trend toward upwelling intensification in poleward regions, mitigatedwarming in near-coastal regions where upwelling intensifies, and enhanced water-column stratification and a shoaling mixed layer. However, there remains significant uncertainty in how EBUSs will evolve with climate change, particularly in how the sometimes competing changes in upwelling intensity, source-water chemistry, and stratification will affect productivity and ecosystem structure. We summarize the commonalities and differences in historical and projected change in EBUSs and conclude with an assessment of key remaining uncertainties and questions. Future studies will need to address these questions to better understand, project, and adapt to climate-driven changes in EBUSs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Bograd
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monterey, California, USA; , ,
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA;
| | - Michael G Jacox
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monterey, California, USA; , ,
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA;
- Physical Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monterey, California, USA; , ,
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA;
| | | | | | - Mercedes Pozo Buil
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monterey, California, USA; , ,
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA;
| | - Lynne J Shannon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;
| | | | - Ryan R Rykaczewski
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pirotta E, Booth CG, Calambokidis J, Costa DP, Fahlbusch JA, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Harwood J, Hazen EL, New L, Santora JA, Watwood SL, Wertman C, Southall BL. From individual responses to population effects: Integrating a decade of multidisciplinary research on blue whales and sonar. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University College Cork Cork Ireland
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics Washington State University Vancouver WA USA
| | - C. G. Booth
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - D. P. Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - J. A. Fahlbusch
- Cascadia Research Collective Olympia WA USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - A. S. Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Aptos CA USA
| | - J. A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - J. Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - E. L. Hazen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Environmental Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Monterey CA USA
| | - L. New
- Ursinus College Collegeville PA USA
| | - J. A. Santora
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Ecology Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Applied Math University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - S. L. Watwood
- Ranges, Engineering and Analysis Department Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport RI USA
| | - C. Wertman
- Ranges, Engineering and Analysis Department Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport RI USA
| | - B. L. Southall
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Aptos CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Santora JA, Rogers TL, Cimino MA, Sakuma KM, Hanson KD, Dick EJ, Jahncke J, Warzybok P, Field JC. Diverse integrated ecosystem approach overcomes pandemic-related fisheries monitoring challenges. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6492. [PMID: 34764244 PMCID: PMC8585921 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26484-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented cancellations of fisheries and ecosystem-assessment surveys, resulting in a recession of observations needed for management and conservation globally. This unavoidable reduction of survey data poses challenges for informing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, developing future stock assessments of harvested species, and providing strategic advice for ecosystem-based management. We present a diversified framework involving integration of monitoring data with empirical models and simulations to inform ecosystem status within the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. We augment trawl observations collected from a limited fisheries survey with survey effort reduction simulations, use of seabird diets as indicators of fish abundance, and krill species distribution modeling trained on past observations. This diversified approach allows for evaluation of ecosystem status during data-poor situations, especially during the COVID-19 era. The challenges to ecosystem monitoring imposed by the pandemic may be overcome by preparing for unexpected effort reduction, linking disparate ecosystem indicators, and applying new species modeling techniques. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring programs, including marine fisheries surveys. Here the authors combine multiple modelling approaches and data to overcome lost observational effort off the coasts of California in a diversified integrated ecosystem approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod A Santora
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA. .,Department of Applied Math, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, US.
| | - Tanya L Rogers
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Megan A Cimino
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA.,Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monterey, California, 93940, USA
| | - Keith M Sakuma
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Keith D Hanson
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - E J Dick
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Jaime Jahncke
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California, 94954, US
| | - Pete Warzybok
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California, 94954, US
| | - John C Field
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sullaway GH, Shelton AO, Samhouri JF. Synchrony erodes spatial portfolios of an anadromous fish and alters availability for resource users. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2692-2703. [PMID: 34553382 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Environmental forces can create spatially synchronous dynamics among nearby populations. However, increased climate variability, driven by anthropogenic climate change, will likely enhance synchrony among spatially disparate populations. Population synchrony may lead to greater fluctuations in abundance, but the consequences of population synchrony across multiple scales of biological organization, including impacts to putative competitors, dependent predators or human communities, are rarely considered in this context. Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha stocks distribute across the Northeast Pacific, creating spatially variable portfolios that support large ocean fisheries and marine mammal predators, such as killer whales Orcinus orca. We rely on a multi-population model that simulates Chinook salmon ocean distribution and abundance to understand spatial portfolios, or variability in abundance within and among ocean distribution regions, of Chinook salmon stocks across 17 ocean regions from Southeast Alaska to California. We found the expected positive correlation between the number of stocks in an ocean region and spatial portfolio strength; however, increased demographic synchrony eroded Chinook salmon spatial portfolios in the ocean. Moreover, we observed decreased resource availability within ocean fishery management jurisdictions but not within killer whale summer habitat. We found a strong portfolio effect across both Southern Resident and Northern Resident killer whale habitats that was relatively unaffected by increased demographic synchrony, likely a result of the large spatial area included in these habitats. However, within the areas of smaller fishing management jurisdictions we found a weakening of Chinook salmon portfolios and increased but inconsistent likelihood of low abundance years as demographic synchrony increased. We suggest that management and conservation actions that reduce spatial synchrony can enhance short-term ecosystem resilience by promoting the stabilizing effect multiple stocks have on aggregate Chinook salmon populations and overall resource availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genoa H Sullaway
- Lynker, under contract to Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew O Shelton
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jameal F Samhouri
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chiu JA, Bizzarro JJ, Starr RM. Trophic ecology of yellowtail rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) during a marine heat wave off central California, USA. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251499. [PMID: 33984011 PMCID: PMC8118247 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The yellowtail rockfish, Sebastes flavidus, is a widespread and abundant mesopredator in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. We utilized stomach content and stable isotope analyses to investigate the trophic ecology of this species at three sites off central California just before (August–October 2013) and during (August and October 2014) a marine heat wave. Sebastes flavidus largely consumed pelagic prey (zooplankton and micronekton). Diets were dominated by tunicates (salps and pyrosomes), pelagic crustaceans (euphausiids, hyperid amphipods, larval decapods), and fishes, with the relative contribution of these prey taxa varying spatially (sample location, longitude, depth) and temporally (year, month), based on complementary multivariate analyses. Prey-specific indices demonstrated that individual S. flavidus diet composition typically was dominated by one of these prey groups, and that prey switching occurred based on the relative availability of prey and their energetic importance. Stable isotope analysis of δ15N indicated that the S. flavidus populations sampled in 2014 had been feeding at an elevated trophic position and more variable prey spectrum relative to 2013, probably as a consequence of greater piscivory and the incorporation of temporal changes in diet composition. Because its opportunistic feeding behavior reflects the dynamism and heterogeneity of the pelagic forage preyscape, S. flavidus may be an important ecosystem indicator species. For example, the novel incorporation of pyrosomes as a large portion of the diet of S. flavidus during 2013–2014 directly related to the massive increase in pyrosome abundance in the California Current during the 2014 marine heat wave.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Chiu
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Bizzarro
- Cooperative Institute for Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Ecosystems, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Richard M. Starr
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tanner SE, Giacomello E, Menezes GM, Mirasole A, Neves J, Sequeira V, Vasconcelos RP, Vieira AR, Morrongiello JR. Marine regime shifts impact synchrony of deep‐sea fish growth in the northeast Atlantic. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne E. Tanner
- MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Univ. de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
- Depto de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Univ. de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Eva Giacomello
- IMAR – Inst. do Mar and Centro I&D Okeanos – Univ. dos Açores Horta Portugal
| | - Gui M. Menezes
- IMAR – Inst. do Mar and Centro I&D Okeanos – Univ. dos Açores Horta Portugal
- Univ. dos Açores, Depto de Oceanografia e Pescas Horta Portugal
| | - Alice Mirasole
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Dohrn‐Benthic Ecology Center Ischia Italy
| | - João Neves
- IMAR – Inst. do Mar and Centro I&D Okeanos – Univ. dos Açores Horta Portugal
| | - Vera Sequeira
- MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Univ. de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
- Depto de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Univ. de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | | | - Ana Rita Vieira
- MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Univ. de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
- Depto de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Univ. de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fiechter J, Santora JA, Chavez F, Northcott D, Messié M. Krill Hotspot Formation and Phenology in the California Current Ecosystem. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 2020; 47:e2020GL088039. [PMID: 32728303 PMCID: PMC7380319 DOI: 10.1029/2020gl088039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the California Current Ecosystem, krill represent a key link between primary production and higher trophic level species owing to their central position in the food web and tendency to form dense aggregations. However, the strongly advective circulation associated with coastal upwelling may decouple the timing, occurrence, and persistence of krill hotspots from phytoplankton biomass and nutrient sources. Results from a coupled physical-biological model provide insights into fundamental mechanisms controlling the phenology of krill hotspots in the California Current Ecosystem, and their sensitivity to alongshore changes in coastal upwelling intensity. The simulation indicates that dynamics controlling krill hotspot formation, intensity, and persistence on seasonal and interannual timescales are strongly heterogeneous and related to alongshore variations in upwelling-favorable winds, primary production, and ocean currents. Furthermore, regions promoting persistent krill hotspot formation coincide with increased observed abundance of top predators, indicating that the model resolves important ecosystem complexity and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Fiechter
- Ocean Sciences DepartmentUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzCAUSA
| | - Jarrod A. Santora
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSanta CruzCAUSA
- Department of Applied MathematicsUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzCAUSA
| | | | - Devon Northcott
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMoss LandingCAUSA
- Now at Scripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCAUSA
| | - Monique Messié
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMoss LandingCAUSA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tremblay N, Hünerlage K, Werner T. Hypoxia Tolerance of 10 Euphausiid Species in Relation to Vertical Temperature and Oxygen Gradients. Front Physiol 2020; 11:248. [PMID: 32265739 PMCID: PMC7107326 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxygen Minimum Zones prevail in most of the world's oceans and are particularly extensive in Eastern Boundary Upwelling Ecosystems such as the Humboldt and the Benguela upwelling systems. In these regions, euphausiids are an important trophic link between primary producers and higher trophic levels. The species are known as pronounced diel vertical migrators, thus facing different levels of oxygen and temperature within a 24 h cycle. Declining oxygen levels may lead to vertically constrained habitats in euphausiids, which consequently will affect several trophic levels in the food web of the respective ecosystem. By using the regulation index (RI), the present study aimed at investigating the hypoxia tolerances of different euphausiid species from Atlantic, Pacific as well as from Polar regions. RI was calculated from 141 data sets and used to differentiate between respiration strategies using median and quartile (Q) values: low degree of oxyregulation (0.25 < RI median < 0.5); high degree of oxyregulation (0.5 < RI median < 1; Q1 > 0.25 or Q3 > 0.75); and metabolic suppression (RI median, Q1 and Q3 < 0). RI values of the polar (Euphausia superba, Thysanoessa inermis) and sub-tropical (Euphausia hanseni, Nyctiphanes capensis, and Nematoscelis megalops) species indicate a high degree of oxyregulation, whereas almost perfect oxyconformity (RI median ≈ 0; Q1 < 0 and Q3 > 0) was identified for the neritic temperate species Thysanoessa spinifera and the tropical species Euphausia lamelligera. RI values of Euphausia distinguenda and the Humboldt species Euphausia mucronata qualified these as metabolic suppressors. RI showed a significant impact of temperature on the respiration strategy of E. hanseni from oxyregulation to metabolic suppression. The species' estimated hypoxia tolerances and the degree of oxyconformity vs. oxyregulation were linked to diel vertical migration behavior and the temperature experienced during migration. The results highlight that the euphausiid species investigated have evolved various strategies to deal with different levels of oxygen, ranging from species showing a high degree of oxyconformity to strong oxyregulation. Neritic species may be more affected by hypoxia, as these are often short-distance-migrators and only adapted to a narrow range of environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Tremblay
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Kim Hünerlage
- Institute for Sea Fisheries, Thünen Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Friedman WR, Halpern BS, McLeod E, Beck MW, Duarte CM, Kappel CV, Levine A, Sluka RD, Adler S, O’Hara CC, Sterling EJ, Tapia-Lewin S, Losada IJ, McClanahan TR, Pendleton L, Spring M, Toomey JP, Weiss KR, Possingham HP, Montambault JR. Research Priorities for Achieving Healthy Marine Ecosystems and Human Communities in a Changing Climate. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE 2020; 7. [PMID: 0 DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
|
12
|
Habitat compression and ecosystem shifts as potential links between marine heatwave and record whale entanglements. Nat Commun 2020; 11:536. [PMID: 31988285 PMCID: PMC6985238 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14215-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change and increased variability and intensity of climate events, in combination with recovering protected species populations and highly capitalized fisheries, are posing new challenges for fisheries management. We examine socio-ecological features of the unprecedented 2014–2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave to understand the potential causes for record numbers of whale entanglements in the central California Current crab fishery. We observed habitat compression of coastal upwelling, changes in availability of forage species (krill and anchovy), and shoreward distribution shift of foraging whales. We propose that these ecosystem changes, combined with recovering whale populations, contributed to the exacerbation of entanglements throughout the marine heatwave. In 2016, domoic acid contamination prompted an unprecedented delay in the opening of California’s Dungeness crab fishery that inadvertently intensified the spatial overlap between whales and crab fishery gear. We present a retroactive assessment of entanglements to demonstrate that cooperation of fishers, resource managers, and scientists could mitigate future entanglement risk by developing climate-ready fisheries approaches, while supporting thriving fishing communities. Climate-driven extreme events may have strong local impacts on marine organisms and fisheries. Here the authors report increased whale entanglements in the northeast Pacific following a marine heatwave, and propose compression of coastal upwelling habitat as the potential driver.
Collapse
|
13
|
Sasaki MC, Dam HG. Integrating patterns of thermal tolerance and phenotypic plasticity with population genetics to improve understanding of vulnerability to warming in a widespread copepod. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:4147-4164. [PMID: 31449341 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Differences in population vulnerability to warming are defined by spatial patterns in thermal adaptation. These patterns may be driven by natural selection over spatial environmental gradients, but can also be shaped by gene flow, especially in marine taxa with high dispersal potential. Understanding and predicting organismal responses to warming requires disentangling the opposing effects of selection and gene flow. We begin by documenting genetic divergence of thermal tolerance and developmental phenotypic plasticity. Ten populations of the widespread copepod Acartia tonsa were collected from sites across a large thermal gradient, ranging from the Florida Keys to Northern New Brunswick, Canada (spanning over 20° latitude). Thermal performance curves (TPCs) from common garden experiments revealed local adaptation at the sampling range extremes, with thermal tolerance increasing at low latitudes and decreasing at high latitudes. The opposite pattern was observed in phenotypic plasticity, which was strongest at high latitudes. No relationship was observed between phenotypic plasticity and environmental variables. Instead, the results are consistent with the hypothesis of a trade-off between thermal tolerance and the strength of phenotypic plasticity. Over a large portion of the sampled range, however, we observed a remarkable lack of differentiation of TPCs. To examine whether this lack of divergence is the result of selection for a generalist performance curve or constraint by gene flow, we analyzed cytochrome oxidase I mtDNA sequences, which revealed four distinct genetic clades, abundant genetic diversity, and widely distributed haplotypes. Strong divergence in thermal performance within genetic clades, however, suggests that the pace of thermal adaptation can be relatively rapid. The combined insight from the laboratory physiological experiments and genetic data indicate that gene flow constrains differentiation of TPCs. This balance between gene flow and selection has implications for patterns of vulnerability to warming. Taking both genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity into account, our results suggest that local adaptation does not increase vulnerability to warming, and that low-latitude populations in general may be more vulnerable to predicted temperature change over the next century.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Sasaki
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, USA
| | - Hans G Dam
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Freshwater C, Anderson SC, Holt KR, Huang A, Holt CA. Weakened portfolio effects constrain management effectiveness for population aggregates. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01966. [PMID: 31257710 PMCID: PMC6900020 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Population diversity can reduce temporal variability in aggregate population abundances in a process known as the portfolio effect. Portfolio effects may weaken, however, due to greater synchrony among component populations. While weakened portfolio effects have been previously documented, the consequences of reduced stability on meeting conservation goals for population aggregates that are harvested (e.g., stock aggregates in fisheries) are rarely quantified. Here, we demonstrate how changes in variability within components, synchrony among components, and population productivity interact to influence the probability of achieving an array of management objectives for Fraser River sockeye salmon: a stock aggregate of high economic, ecological, and cultural value. We first present evidence that component variability and synchrony have increased over the last two decades, consistent with a weakening portfolio effect. We then parameterize a stochastic, closed-loop model that simulates the population dynamics of each stock, the fishery that harvests the stock aggregate, and the management framework used to establish mixed-stock exploitation rates. We find that while median aggregate abundance and catch through time were relatively insensitive to greater aggregate variability, catch stability and performance metrics associated with achieving management targets generally declined as component variability and synchrony increased. A notable exception we observed is that harvest control means that scale exploitation rates based on aggregate abundance may be more effective as synchrony increases. Reductions in productivity led to broad declines in performance, but also moderated the impacts of component variability and synchrony on the proportion of component stocks above management targets and catch stability. Our results suggest that even precautionary management strategies that account for declines in productivity may underestimate risk, particularly to socioeconomic objectives, if they fail to consider changes in aggregate variability. Adequately incorporating changes in portfolio effect strength may be particularly relevant when developing recovery strategies that are robust to climate change, which is likely to increase synchrony and component variability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Freshwater
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaPacific Biological Station3190 Hammond Bay RoadNanaimoBritish ColumbiaV9T 6N7Canada
| | - Sean C. Anderson
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaPacific Biological Station3190 Hammond Bay RoadNanaimoBritish ColumbiaV9T 6N7Canada
| | - Kendra R. Holt
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaInstitute of Ocean Sciences9860 West Saanich RoadSidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 5T5Canada
| | - Ann‐Marie Huang
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaPacific Biological Station3190 Hammond Bay RoadNanaimoBritish ColumbiaV9T 6N7Canada
| | - Carrie A. Holt
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaPacific Biological Station3190 Hammond Bay RoadNanaimoBritish ColumbiaV9T 6N7Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Friedman WR, Martin BT, Wells BK, Warzybok P, Michel CJ, Danner EM, Lindley ST. Modeling composite effects of marine and freshwater processes on migratory species. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Whitney R. Friedman
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California 100 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Benjamin T. Martin
- Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Brian K. Wells
- Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Pete Warzybok
- Point Blue Conservation Science Petaluma California USA
| | - Cyril J. Michel
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California 100 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Eric M. Danner
- Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Steven T. Lindley
- Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz California USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Thomsen SK, Green DJ. Predator-mediated effects of severe drought associated with poor reproductive success of a seabird in a cross-ecosystem cascade. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1642-1652. [PMID: 30773758 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite the profound impacts of drought on terrestrial productivity in coastal arid ecosystems, only a few studies have addressed how drought can influence ecological cascades across ecosystem boundaries. In this study, we examine the consequences of rainfall pulses and drought that subsequently impact the breeding success of a threatened nocturnal seabird, the Scripps's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus scrippsi). On an island off the coast of southern California, the main cause of reduced nest success for one of their largest breeding colonies is egg predation by an endemic deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus elusus). Mice on the island have an opportunistic diet of primarily terrestrial sources, but drastic declines in terrestrial productivity from drought might be expected to increase their reliance on marine resources, including murrelet eggs. We compiled data on terrestrial and marine productivity between 1983 and 2013 to determine how conditions in these ecosystems influence murrelet nest success. We found that the severity of drought had the strongest negative impact on murrelet nest success. We calculated that the reduction in fecundity during drought years due to increased egg predation by mice was substantial enough to produce a declining population growth rate. Nest success was much higher under normal or high rainfall conditions, depending on whether oceanic conditions were favorable to murrelets. Therefore, the more frequent and severe drought that is projected for this region could lead to an increased risk of murrelet population decline on this island. Our study highlights the need for understanding how species interactions will change through the effects of increasing drought and altered rainfall regimes under global change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Thomsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David J Green
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Barber JS, Ruff CP, McArdle JT, Hunter LL, Speck CA, Rogers DW, Greiner CM. Intertidal clams exhibit population synchrony across spatial and temporal scales. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 2019; 64:S284-S300. [PMID: 31007281 PMCID: PMC6472620 DOI: 10.1002/lno.11085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Long-term datasets can be particularly useful for parsing out factors influencing populations, yet few studies have utilized continuous datasets to quantify population dynamics in bivalve molluscs. We used dynamic factor analysis on a clam biomass dataset spanning 28 yr and five distinct regions in the southern Salish Sea to determine (1) if native intertidal clam populations exhibit synchrony and (2) what environmental covariates may be correlated with these population trends. Once covariates were accounted for, the model with the most data support included three predominant trends to describe multidecadal change in clam biomass. Intraspecific synchrony was highest among Saxidomus gigantea and Leukoma staminea populations, with no clear evidence of covariance in Clinocardium nuttallii. Specifically, we quantified a pronounced decadal decline in L. staminea and an increase in S. gigantea biomass on most beaches. No beaches showed synchrony in trends across all three species, indicating that species-specific trends (regardless of location) were more common than beach-specific trends (regardless of species). Seven environmental covariates were evaluated in their capacity to explain variability in annual mean biomass. Of these, the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation lagged 4 yr prior to the observation year was most supported by the data in the best fitting model, implying that 4 yr old clam biomass is partially determined by oceanographic processes affecting larval clams. Although results suggest large-scale density-independent factors play a role in venerid clam population dynamics, it is also likely local factors account for variability not explained by our model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie S. Barber
- Fisheries DepartmentSwinomish Indian Tribal CommunityLa ConnerWashington
| | | | - James T. McArdle
- Fisheries DepartmentSwinomish Indian Tribal CommunityLa ConnerWashington
| | - Lindy L. Hunter
- Fisheries DepartmentSwinomish Indian Tribal CommunityLa ConnerWashington
| | - Camille A. Speck
- Washington Department of Fish and WildlifePort TownsendWashington
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Litzow MA, Ciannelli L, Puerta P, Wettstein JJ, Rykaczewski RR, Opiekun M. Non-stationary climate-salmon relationships in the Gulf of Alaska. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1855. [PMID: 30404879 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of climate effects on ecology often account for non-stationarity in individual physical and biological variables, but rarely allow for non-stationary relationships among variables. Here, we show that non-stationary relationships among physical and biological variables are central to understanding climate effects on salmon (Onchorynchus spp.) in the Gulf of Alaska during 1965-2012. The relative importance of two leading patterns in North Pacific climate, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), changed around 1988/1989 as reflected by changing correlations with leading axes of sea surface temperature variability. Simultaneously, relationships between the PDO and Gulf of Alaska environmental variables weakened, and long-standing temperature-salmon and PDO-salmon covariance declined to zero. We propose a mechanistic explanation for changing climate-salmon relationships in terms of non-stationary atmosphere-ocean interactions coinciding with changing PDO-NPGO relative importance. We also show that regression models assuming stationary climate-salmon relationships are inappropriate over the multidecadal time scale we consider. Relaxing assumptions of stationary relationships markedly improved modelling of climate effects on salmon catches and productivity. Attempts to understand the implications of changing climate patterns in other ecosystems might also be aided by the application of models that allow associations among environmental and biological variables to change over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Litzow
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK 99615, USA .,Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA
| | - Lorenzo Ciannelli
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - Patricia Puerta
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - Justin J Wettstein
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.,Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway.,Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, 5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ryan R Rykaczewski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Michael Opiekun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Woodson CB, Micheli F, Boch C, Al‐Najjar M, Espinoza A, Hernandez A, Vázquez‐Vera L, Saenz‐Arroyo A, Monismith SG, Torre J. Harnessing marine microclimates for climate change adaptation and marine conservation. Conserv Lett 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Hopkins Marine Station and Center for Ocean Solutions Stanford University Pacific Grove California
| | - Charles Boch
- Hopkins Marine Station and Center for Ocean Solutions Stanford University Pacific Grove California
| | | | - Antonio Espinoza
- COBIA Lab University of Georgia Athens Georgia
- Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Buzos y Pescadores Isla Natividad Baja California Sur México
| | | | | | - Andrea Saenz‐Arroyo
- Departamento de Conservacion de la Biodiversidad El Colegio de la Frontera Sur San Cristobal de las Casas Mexico
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Black BA, van der Sleen P, Di Lorenzo E, Griffin D, Sydeman WJ, Dunham JB, Rykaczewski RR, García-Reyes M, Safeeq M, Arismendi I, Bograd SJ. Rising synchrony controls western North American ecosystems. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:2305-2314. [PMID: 29575413 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Along the western margin of North America, the winter expression of the North Pacific High (NPH) strongly influences interannual variability in coastal upwelling, storm track position, precipitation, and river discharge. Coherence among these factors induces covariance among physical and biological processes across adjacent marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we show that over the past century the degree and spatial extent of this covariance (synchrony) has substantially increased, and is coincident with rising variance in the winter NPH. Furthermore, centuries-long blue oak (Quercus douglasii) growth chronologies sensitive to the winter NPH provide robust evidence that modern levels of synchrony are among the highest observed in the context of the last 250 years. These trends may ultimately be linked to changing impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on midlatitude ecosystems of North America. Such a rise in synchrony may destabilize ecosystems, expose populations to higher risks of extinction, and is thus a concern given the broad biological relevance of winter climate to biological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A Black
- University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | | | - Emanuele Di Lorenzo
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Daniel Griffin
- Department of Geography, Environment & Society, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - William J Sydeman
- Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, Petaluma, CA, USA
| | - Jason B Dunham
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Ryan R Rykaczewski
- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Safeeq
- Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
- Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Fresno, CA, USA
| | - Ivan Arismendi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, Monterey, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Malanson GP. Intraspecific variability may not compensate for increasing climatic volatility. POPUL ECOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-018-0612-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
22
|
Barceló C, Ciannelli L, Brodeur RD. Pelagic marine refugia and climatically sensitive areas in an eastern boundary current upwelling system. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:668-680. [PMID: 28787756 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13857] [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: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Refugia are areas relatively buffered from contemporary climate change that enable the persistence of valued physical, ecological, or sociocultural resources. Spatially identifying refugia is important for conservation and applied management. Yet the concept of refugia has not been broadly extended to marine ecosystems. Here, we analyze data from a unique and long-term (1999-2015) standardized survey of pelagic marine and anadromous species off Oregon and Washington in the northern California Current to identify such refugia. We use quantitative approaches to assess locations with high species richness and community persistence relative to local and basin-scale environmental fluctuations. We have identified a potential climate change refugial zone along the continental shelf of Washington State in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean, characterized by a species-rich community with low interannual temporal community change. This region contrasts with adjacent areas to the south and offshore that have lower species richness, and higher temporal species community change. Also, using spatially variant generalized additive mixed models, we identify areas with species compositions that are more influenced by basin-scale climatic fluctuations than others. We propose that upwelling regions with retentive topographic features, such as wide continental shelves, can function as marine refugia for pelagic fauna, whereas offshore locations are potentially more climatically sensitive and experience high temporal change in species composition. Further identification of these marine refugia using in situ data for pelagic biodiversity and climatically sensitive areas can help guide management in the face of inevitable climatically driven change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caren Barceló
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Lorenzo Ciannelli
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Richard D Brodeur
- Fish Ecology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Newport, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abrahms B, Hazen EL, Bograd SJ, Brashares JS, Robinson PW, Scales KL, Crocker DE, Costa DP. Climate mediates the success of migration strategies in a marine predator. Ecol Lett 2017; 21:63-71. [PMID: 29096419 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Individual behavioural specialisation has far-reaching effects on fitness and population persistence. Theory predicts that unconditional site fidelity, that is fidelity to a site independent of past outcome, provides a fitness advantage in unpredictable environments. However, the benefits of alternative site fidelity strategies driving intraspecific variation remain poorly understood and have not been evaluated in different environmental contexts. We show that contrary to expectation, strong and weak site fidelity strategies in migratory northern elephant seals performed similarly over 10 years, but the success of each strategy varied interannually and was strongly mediated by climate conditions. Strong fidelity facilitated stable energetic rewards and low risk, while weak fidelity facilitated high rewards and high risk. Weak fidelity outperformed strong fidelity in anomalous climate conditions, suggesting that the evolutionary benefits of site fidelity may be upended by increasing environmental variability. We highlight how individual behavioural specialisation may modulate the adaptive capacity of species to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Briana Abrahms
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, 99 Pacific St. #255A, Monterey, CA, 93940, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, 99 Pacific St. #255A, Monterey, CA, 93940, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Environmental Research Division, 99 Pacific St. #255A, Monterey, CA, 93940, USA
| | - Justin S Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Patrick W Robinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Kylie L Scales
- University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Qld, Australia
| | - Daniel E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA, 94928, USA
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Samhouri JF, Andrews KS, Fay G, Harvey CJ, Hazen EL, Hennessey SM, Holsman K, Hunsicker ME, Large SI, Marshall KN, Stier AC, Tam JC, Zador SG. Defining ecosystem thresholds for human activities and environmental pressures in the California Current. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jameal F. Samhouri
- Conservation Biology Division Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard Seattle Washington 98112 USA
| | - Kelly S. Andrews
- Conservation Biology Division Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard Seattle Washington 98112 USA
| | - Gavin Fay
- Department of Fisheries Oceanography School for Marine Science and Technology University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 200 Mill Road Fairhaven Massachusetts 02719 USA
| | - Chris J. Harvey
- Conservation Biology Division Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard Seattle Washington 98112 USA
| | - Elliott L. Hazen
- Environmental Research Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 99 Pacific Street, Suite 255A Monterey California 93940 USA
| | - Shannon M. Hennessey
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University 3029 Cordley Hall Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Kirstin Holsman
- Resource Ecology & Fisheries Management Division Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 7600 Sand Point Way N.E. Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Mary E. Hunsicker
- Fish Ecology Division Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 2032 SE OSU Drive Newport Oregon 97365 USA
| | - Scott I. Large
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) H.C. Andersens Boulevard 44‐46 1553 Copenhagen V Denmark
| | - Kristin N. Marshall
- Conservation Biology Division Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 2725 Montlake Boulevard Seattle Washington 98112 USA
| | - Adrian C. Stier
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis 735 State Street Santa Barbara California 93101 USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
| | - Jamie C. Tam
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 166 Water Street Woods Hole Massachusetts 02543 USA
| | - Stephani G. Zador
- Resource Ecology & Fisheries Management Division Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 7600 Sand Point Way N.E. Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Santora JA, Sydeman WJ, Schroeder ID, Field JC, Miller RR, Wells BK. Persistence of trophic hotspots and relation to human impacts within an upwelling marine ecosystem. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:560-574. [PMID: 27862556 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Human impacts (e.g., fishing, pollution, and shipping) on pelagic ecosystems are increasing, causing concerns about stresses on marine food webs. Maintaining predator-prey relationships through protection of pelagic hotspots is crucial for conservation and management of living marine resources. Biotic components of pelagic, plankton-based, ecosystems exhibit high variability in abundance in time and space (i.e., extreme patchiness), requiring investigation of persistence of abundance across trophic levels to resolve trophic hotspots. Using a 26-yr record of indicators for primary production, secondary (zooplankton and larval fish), and tertiary (seabirds) consumers, we show distributions of trophic hotspots in the southern California Current Ecosystem result from interactions between a strong upwelling center and a productive retention zone with enhanced nutrients, which concentrate prey and predators across multiple trophic levels. Trophic hotspots also overlap with human impacts, including fisheries extraction of coastal pelagic and groundfish species, as well as intense commercial shipping traffic. Spatial overlap of trophic hotspots with fisheries and shipping increases vulnerability of the ecosystem to localized depletion of forage fish, ship strikes on marine mammals, and pollution. This study represents a critical step toward resolving pelagic areas of high conservation interest for planktonic ecosystems and may serve as a model for other ocean regions where ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning of pelagic ecosystems is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod A Santora
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Center for Stock Assessment Research, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California, 96060, USA
| | - William J Sydeman
- Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, 101 H Street, Suite Q, Petaluma, California, 94952, USA
| | - Isaac D Schroeder
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEC), University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 99 Pacific Street, Suite 255A, Monterey, California, 93940, USA
| | - John C Field
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 110 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Rebecca R Miller
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEC), University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 110 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Brian K Wells
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 110 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Studwell AJ, Hines E, Elliott ML, Howar J, Holzman B, Nur N, Jahncke J. Modeling Nonresident Seabird Foraging Distributions to Inform Ocean Zoning in Central California. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169517. [PMID: 28122001 PMCID: PMC5266262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Seabird aggregations at sea have been shown to be associated with concentrations of prey. Previous research identified Central California as a highly used foraging area for seabirds, with locally breeding seabirds foraging close to their colonies on Southeast Farallon Island. Herein, we focus on nonresident (i.e. non-locally breeding) seabird species off of Central California. We hypothesized that high-use foraging areas for nonresident seabirds would be influenced by oceanographic and bathymetric factors and that spatial and temporal distributions would be similar within planktivorous and generalist foraging guilds but would differ between them. With data collected by the Applied California Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) partnership during cruises between April and October from 2004–2013, we developed generalized linear models to identify high-use foraging areas for each of six nonresident seabird species. The four generalist species are Phoebastria nigripes (black-footed albatross), Ardenna griseus (sooty shearwater), Ardenna creatopus (pink-footed shearwater), and Fulmarus glacialis (northern fulmar). The two planktivorous species are Phalaropus lobatus (red-necked phalarope) and Phalaropus fulicarius (red phalarope). Sea surface temperature was significant for generalist species and sea surface salinity was important for planktivorous species. The distance to the 200-m isobath was significant in five of six models, Pacific Decadal Oscillation with a 3-month lag in four models, and sea surface fluorescence, the distance to Cordell Bank, and depth in three models. We did not find statistically significant differences between distributions of individual seabird species within a foraging guild or between guilds, with the exception of the sooty shearwater. Model results for a multi-use seabird foraging area highlighted the continental shelf break, particularly within the vicinity of Cordell Bank, as the highest use areas as did Marxan prioritization. Our research methods can be implemented elsewhere to identify critical habitat that needs protection as human development pressures continue to expand to the ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Studwell
- Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, United States of America
- Department of Geography and Environment, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA, United States of America
| | - Ellen Hines
- Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, United States of America
- Department of Geography and Environment, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Julie Howar
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA, United States of America
| | - Barbara Holzman
- Department of Geography and Environment, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Nadav Nur
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA, United States of America
| | - Jaime Jahncke
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Boersma KS, Nickerson A, Francis CD, Siepielski AM. Climate extremes are associated with invertebrate taxonomic and functional composition in mountain lakes. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8094-8106. [PMID: 27878081 PMCID: PMC5108261 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase climate variability and the occurrence of extreme climatic events, with potentially devastating effects on aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the role of climate extremes in structuring aquatic communities or the interplay between climate and local abiotic and biotic factors. Here, we examine the relative influence of climate and local abiotic and biotic conditions on biodiversity and community structure in lake invertebrates. We sampled aquatic invertebrates and measured environmental variables in 19 lakes throughout California, USA, to test hypotheses of the relationship between climate, local biotic and environmental conditions, and the taxonomic and functional structure of aquatic invertebrate communities. We found that, while local biotic and abiotic factors such as habitat availability and conductivity were the most consistent predictors of alpha diversity, extreme climate conditions such as maximum summer temperature and dry-season precipitation were most often associated with multivariate taxonomic and functional composition. Specifically, sites with high maximum temperatures and low dry-season precipitation housed communities containing high abundances of large predatory taxa. Furthermore, both climate dissimilarity and abiotic dissimilarity determined taxonomic turnover among sites (beta diversity). These findings suggest that while local-scale environmental variables may predict alpha diversity, climatic variability is important to consider when projecting broad-scale aquatic community responses to the extreme temperature and precipitation events that are expected for much of the world during the next century.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Clinton D. Francis
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversitySan Luis ObispoCAUSA
| | - Adam M. Siepielski
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ArkansasFayettevilleARUSA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Ohlberger J, Scheuerell MD, Schindler DE. Population coherence and environmental impacts across spatial scales: a case study of Chinook salmon. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Ohlberger
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of Washington Seattle Washington 98195 USA
| | - Mark D. Scheuerell
- Fish Ecology DivisionNorthwest Fisheries Science CenterNational Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98112 USA
| | - Daniel E. Schindler
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of Washington Seattle Washington 98195 USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Fleming AH, Clark CT, Calambokidis J, Barlow J. Humpback whale diets respond to variance in ocean climate and ecosystem conditions in the California Current. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2016; 22:1214-24. [PMID: 26599719 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Large, migratory predators are often cited as sentinel species for ecosystem processes and climate-related changes, but their utility as indicators is dependent upon an understanding of their response to environmental variability. Documentation of the links between climate variability, ecosystem change and predator dynamics is absent for most top predators. Identifying species that may be useful indicators and elucidating these mechanistic links provides insight into current ecological dynamics and may inform predictions of future ecosystem responses to climatic change. We examine humpback whale response to environmental variability through stable isotope analysis of diet over a dynamic 20-year period (1993-2012) in the California Current System (CCS). Humpback whale diets captured two major shifts in oceanographic and ecological conditions in the CCS. Isotopic signatures reflect a diet dominated by krill during periods characterized by positive phases of the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), cool sea surface temperature (SST), strong upwelling and high krill biomass. In contrast, humpback whale diets are dominated by schooling fish when the NPGO is negative, SST is warmer, seasonal upwelling is delayed and anchovy and sardine populations display increased biomass and range expansion. These findings demonstrate that humpback whales trophically respond to ecosystem shifts, and as a result, their foraging behavior is a synoptic indicator of oceanographic and ecological conditions across the CCS. Multi-decadal examination of these sentinel species thus provides insight into biological consequences of interannual climate fluctuations, fundamental to advancing ecosystem predictions related to global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyson H Fleming
- Center for Marine Biodiversity & Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Casey T Clark
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | | | - Jay Barlow
- NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sydeman WJ, Poloczanska E, Reed TE, Thompson SA. Climate change and marine vertebrates. Science 2015; 350:772-7. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aac9874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
|
31
|
Feyrer F, Cloern JE, Brown LR, Fish MA, Hieb KA, Baxter RD. Estuarine fish communities respond to climate variability over both river and ocean basins. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:3608-3619. [PMID: 25966973 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries are dynamic environments at the land-sea interface that are strongly affected by interannual climate variability. Ocean-atmosphere processes propagate into estuaries from the sea, and atmospheric processes over land propagate into estuaries from watersheds. We examined the effects of these two separate climate-driven processes on pelagic and demersal fish community structure along the salinity gradient in the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA. A 33-year data set (1980-2012) on pelagic and demersal fishes spanning the freshwater to marine regions of the estuary suggested the existence of five estuarine salinity fish guilds: limnetic (salinity = 0-1), oligohaline (salinity = 1-12), mesohaline (salinity = 6-19), polyhaline (salinity = 19-28), and euhaline (salinity = 29-32). Climatic effects propagating from the adjacent Pacific Ocean, indexed by the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), affected demersal and pelagic fish community structure in the euhaline and polyhaline guilds. Climatic effects propagating over land, indexed as freshwater outflow from the watershed (OUT), affected demersal and pelagic fish community structure in the oligohaline, mesohaline, polyhaline, and euhaline guilds. The effects of OUT propagated further down the estuary salinity gradient than the effects of NPGO that propagated up the estuary salinity gradient, exemplifying the role of variable freshwater outflow as an important driver of biotic communities in river-dominated estuaries. These results illustrate how unique sources of climate variability interact to drive biotic communities and, therefore, that climate change is likely to be an important driver in shaping the future trajectory of biotic communities in estuaries and other transitional habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Feyrer
- California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819-6129, USA
| | - James E Cloern
- U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Larry R Brown
- California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819-6129, USA
| | - Maxfield A Fish
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 830 S Street, Sacramento, CA, 95811-95206, USA
| | - Kathryn A Hieb
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2109 Arch-Airport Road, Stockton, CA, 95206, USA
| | - Randall D Baxter
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2109 Arch-Airport Road, Stockton, CA, 95206, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Slowing down of North Pacific climate variability and its implications for abrupt ecosystem change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:11496-501. [PMID: 26324900 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1501781112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine ecosystems are sensitive to stochastic environmental variability, with higher-amplitude, lower-frequency--i.e., "redder"--variability posing a greater threat of triggering large ecosystem changes. Here we show that fluctuations in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index have slowed down markedly over the observational record (1900-present), as indicated by a robust increase in autocorrelation. This "reddening" of the spectrum of climate variability is also found in regionally averaged North Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and can be at least partly explained by observed deepening of the ocean mixed layer. The progressive reddening of North Pacific climate variability has important implications for marine ecosystems. Ecosystem variables that respond linearly to climate forcing will have become prone to much larger variations over the observational record, whereas ecosystem variables that respond nonlinearly to climate forcing will have become prone to more frequent "regime shifts." Thus, slowing down of North Pacific climate variability can help explain the large magnitude and potentially the quick succession of well-known abrupt changes in North Pacific ecosystems in 1977 and 1989. When looking ahead, despite model limitations in simulating mixed layer depth (MLD) in the North Pacific, global warming is robustly expected to decrease MLD. This could potentially reverse the observed trend of slowing down of North Pacific climate variability and its effects on marine ecosystems.
Collapse
|
33
|
Piacenza SE, Barner AK, Benkwitt CE, Boersma KS, Cerny-Chipman EB, Ingeman KE, Kindinger TL, Lee JD, Lindsley AJ, Reimer JN, Rowe JC, Shen C, Thompson KA, Thurman LL, Heppell SS. Patterns and Variation in Benthic Biodiversity in a Large Marine Ecosystem. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135135. [PMID: 26308521 PMCID: PMC4550249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While there is a persistent inverse relationship between latitude and species diversity across many taxa and ecosystems, deviations from this norm offer an opportunity to understand the conditions that contribute to large-scale diversity patterns. Marine systems, in particular, provide such an opportunity, as marine diversity does not always follow a strict latitudinal gradient, perhaps because several hypothesized drivers of the latitudinal diversity gradient are uncorrelated in marine systems. We used a large scale public monitoring dataset collected over an eight year period to examine benthic marine faunal biodiversity patterns for the continental shelf (55-183 m depth) and slope habitats (184-1280 m depth) off the US West Coast (47°20'N-32°40'N). We specifically asked whether marine biodiversity followed a strict latitudinal gradient, and if these latitudinal patterns varied across depth, in different benthic substrates, and over ecological time scales. Further, we subdivided our study area into three smaller regions to test whether coast-wide patterns of biodiversity held at regional scales, where local oceanographic processes tend to influence community structure and function. Overall, we found complex patterns of biodiversity on both the coast-wide and regional scales that differed by taxonomic group. Importantly, marine biodiversity was not always highest at low latitudes. We found that latitude, depth, substrate, and year were all important descriptors of fish and invertebrate diversity. Invertebrate richness and taxonomic diversity were highest at high latitudes and in deeper waters. Fish richness also increased with latitude, but exhibited a hump-shaped relationship with depth, increasing with depth up to the continental shelf break, ~200 m depth, and then decreasing in deeper waters. We found relationships between fish taxonomic and functional diversity and latitude, depth, substrate, and time at the regional scale, but not at the coast-wide scale, suggesting that coast-wide patterns can obscure important correlates at smaller scales. Our study provides insight into complex diversity patterns of the deep water soft substrate benthic ecosystems off the US West Coast.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan E. Piacenza
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Allison K. Barner
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Cassandra E. Benkwitt
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Kate S. Boersma
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | | | - Kurt E. Ingeman
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Tye L. Kindinger
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jonathan D. Lee
- Department of Geographic Information Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Amy J. Lindsley
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jessica N. Reimer
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jennifer C. Rowe
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Chenchen Shen
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Kevin A. Thompson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Lindsey L. Thurman
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Selina S. Heppell
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Changing central Pacific El Niños reduce stability of North American salmon survival rates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:10962-6. [PMID: 26240365 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1503190112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pacific salmon are a dominant component of the northeast Pacific ecosystem. Their status is of concern because salmon abundance is highly variable--including protected stocks, a recently closed fishery, and actively managed fisheries that provide substantial ecosystem services. Variable ocean conditions, such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), have influenced these fisheries, while diminished diversity of freshwater habitats have increased variability via the portfolio effect. We address the question of how recent changes in ocean conditions will affect populations of two salmon species. Since the 1980s, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have been more frequently associated with central tropical Pacific warming (CPW) rather than the canonical eastern Pacific warming ENSO (EPW). CPW is linked to the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), whereas EPW is linked to the PDO, different indicators of northeast Pacific Ocean ecosystem productivity. Here we show that both coho and Chinook salmon survival rates along western North America indicate that the NPGO, rather than the PDO, explains salmon survival since the 1980s. The observed increase in NPGO variance in recent decades was accompanied by an increase in coherence of local survival rates of these two species, increasing salmon variability via the portfolio effect. Such increases in coherence among salmon stocks are usually attributed to controllable freshwater influences such as hatcheries and habitat degradation, but the unknown mechanism underlying the ocean climate effect identified here is not directly subject to management actions.
Collapse
|
35
|
Shifting Effects of Ocean Conditions on Survival and Breeding Probability of a Long-Lived Seabird. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132372. [PMID: 26168050 PMCID: PMC4500586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
With a rapidly changing climate, there is an increasing need to predict how species will respond to changes in the physical environment. One approach is to use historic data to estimate the past influence of environmental variation on important demographic parameters and then use these relationships to project the abundance of a population or species under future climate scenarios. However, as novel climate conditions emerge, novel species responses may also appear. In some systems, environmental conditions beyond the range of those observed during the course of most long-term ecological studies are already evident. Yet little attention has been given to how these novel conditions may be influencing previously established environment–species relationships. Here, we model the relationships between ocean conditions and the demography of a long-lived seabird, Brandt’s cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatusI), in central California and show that these relationships have changed in recent years. Beginning in 2007/2008, the response of Brandt’s cormorant, an upper trophic level predator, to ocean conditions shifted, resulting in lower than predicted survival and breeding probability. Survival was generally less variable than breeding probability and was initially best predicted by the basin-scale forcing of the El Niño Southern Oscillation rather than local ocean conditions. The shifting response of Brandt’s cormorant to ocean conditions may be just a proximate indication of altered dynamics in the food web and that important forage fish are not responding to the physical ocean environment as expected. These changing relationships have important implications for our ability to project the effects of future climate change for species and communities.
Collapse
|
36
|
Velarde E, Ezcurra E, Horn MH, Patton RT. Warm oceanographic anomalies and fishing pressure drive seabird nesting north. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2015; 1:e1400210. [PMID: 26601193 PMCID: PMC4640602 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1400210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Parallel studies of nesting colonies in Mexico and the United States show that Elegant Terns (Thalasseus elegans) have expanded from the Gulf of California Midriff Island Region into Southern California, but the expansion fluctuates from year to year. A strong inverse relationship between nesting pairs in three Southern California nesting areas [San Diego saltworks, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, and Los Angeles Harbor (1991 to 2014)] and Isla Rasa in the Midriff (1980 to 2014) shows that terns migrate northward when confronting warm oceanographic anomalies (>1.0°C), which may decrease fish availability and hamper nesting success. Migration pulses are triggered by sea surface temperature anomalies localized in the Midriff and, secondarily, by reductions in the sardine population as a result of intensive fishing. This behavior is new; before year 2000, the terns stayed in the Midriff even when oceanographic conditions were adverse. Our results show that terns are responding dynamically to rapidly changing oceanographic conditions and fish availability by migrating 600 km northwest in search of more productive waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enriqueta Velarde
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Hidalgo 617, Colonia Río Jamapa, Boca del Río, Veracruz 94290, Mexico
| | - Exequiel Ezcurra
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael H. Horn
- Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834–6850, USA
| | - Robert T. Patton
- Avian Research Associates, 830 Orange Avenue, Suite K, Coronado, CA 92118, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Veit RR, Manne LL. Climate and changing winter distribution of alcids in the Northwest Atlantic. Front Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
38
|
|
39
|
Shelton AO, Samhouri JF, Stier AC, Levin PS. Assessing trade-offs to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management of forage fish. Sci Rep 2014; 4:7110. [PMID: 25407879 PMCID: PMC4236757 DOI: 10.1038/srep07110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-first century conservation is centered on negotiating trade-offs between the diverse needs of people and the needs of the other species constituting coupled human-natural ecosystems. Marine forage fishes, such as sardines, anchovies, and herring, are a nexus for such trade-offs because they are both central nodes in marine food webs and targeted by fisheries. An important example is Pacific herring, Clupea pallisii in the Northeast Pacific. Herring populations are subject to two distinct fisheries: one that harvests adults and one that harvests spawned eggs. We develop stochastic, age-structured models to assess the interaction between fisheries, herring populations, and the persistence of predators reliant on herring populations. We show that egg- and adult-fishing have asymmetric effects on herring population dynamics - herring stocks can withstand higher levels of egg harvest before becoming depleted. Second, ecosystem thresholds proposed to ensure the persistence of herring predators do not necessarily pose more stringent constraints on fisheries than conventional, fishery driven harvest guidelines. Our approach provides a general template to evaluate ecosystem trade-offs between stage-specific harvest practices in relation to environmental variability, the risk of fishery closures, and the risk of exceeding ecosystem thresholds intended to ensure conservation goals are met.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Olaf Shelton
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA
| | - Jameal F Samhouri
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA
| | - Adrian C Stier
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA
| | - Philip S Levin
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Black BA, Sydeman WJ, Frank DC, Griffin D, Stahle DW, García-Reyes M, Rykaczewski RR, Bograd SJ, Peterson WT. Climate change. Six centuries of variability and extremes in a coupled marine-terrestrial ecosystem. Science 2014; 345:1498-502. [PMID: 25237100 DOI: 10.1126/science.1253209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Reported trends in the mean and variability of coastal upwelling in eastern boundary currents have raised concerns about the future of these highly productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems. However, the instrumental records on which these estimates are based are insufficiently long to determine whether such trends exceed preindustrial limits. In the California Current, a 576-year reconstruction of climate variables associated with winter upwelling indicates that variability increased over the latter 20th century to levels equaled only twice during the past 600 years. This modern trend in variance may be unique, because it appears to be driven by an unprecedented succession of extreme, downwelling-favorable, winter climate conditions that profoundly reduce productivity for marine predators of commercial and conservation interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A Black
- University of Texas Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA.
| | - William J Sydeman
- Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, 101 H Street, Suite Q, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA
| | - David C Frank
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Zähringerstrasse 25, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Griffin
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - David W Stahle
- Department of Geosciences, University of Arkansas, 216 Ozark Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Marisol García-Reyes
- Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research, 101 H Street, Suite Q, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA
| | - Ryan R Rykaczewski
- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, 701 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Steven J Bograd
- Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1352 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - William T Peterson
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Hatfield Marine Science Center, NOAA, 2030 Southeast Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Overton CT, Casazza ML, Takekawa JY, Strong DR, Holyoak M. Tidal and seasonal effects on survival rates of the endangered California clapper rail: does invasive Spartina facilitate greater survival in a dynamic environment? Biol Invasions 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-013-0634-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
42
|
Santora JA, Schroeder ID, Field JC, Wells BK, Sydeman WJ. Spatio-temporal dynamics of ocean conditions and forage taxa reveal regional structuring of seabird–prey relationships. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2014; 24:1730-1747. [PMID: 29210234 DOI: 10.1890/13-1605.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Studies of predator–prey demographic responses and the physical drivers of such relationships are rare, yet essential for predicting future changes in the structure and dynamics of marine ecosystems. Here, we hypothesize that predator–prey relationships vary spatially in association with underlying physical ocean conditions, leading to observable changes in demographic rates, such as reproduction. To test this hypothesis, we quantified spatio-temporal variability in hydrographic conditions, krill, and forage fish to model predator (seabird) demographic responses over 18 years (1990–2007). We used principal component analysis and spatial correlation maps to assess coherence among ocean conditions, krill, and forage fish, and generalized additive models to quantify interannual variability in seabird breeding success relative to prey abundance. The first principal component of four hydrographic measurements yielded an index that partitioned “warm/weak upwelling” and “cool/strong upwelling” years. Partitioning of krill and forage fish time series among shelf and oceanic regions yielded spatially explicit indicators of prey availability. Krill abundance within the oceanic region was remarkably consistent between years, whereas krill over the shelf showed marked interannual fluctuations in relation to ocean conditions. Anchovy abundance varied on the shelf, and was greater in years of strong stratification, weak upwelling and warmer temperatures. Spatio-temporal variability of juvenile forage fish co-varied strongly with each other and with krill, but was weakly correlated with hydrographic conditions. Demographic responses between seabirds and prey availability revealed spatially variable associations indicative of the dynamic nature of “predator–habitat” relationships. Quantification of spatially explicit demographic responses, and their variability through time, demonstrate the possibility of delineating specific critical areas where the implementation of protective measures could maintain functions and productivity of central place foraging predators.
Collapse
|