Journal article
Continent-wide declines in shallow reef life over a decade of ocean warming
Nature (London), Vol.615(7954), pp.858-865
30/03/2023
PMID: 36949201
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Abstract
Human society is dependent on nature1,2, but whether our ecological foundations are at risk remains unknown in the absence of systematic monitoring of species' populations3. Knowledge of species fluctuations is particularly inadequate in the marine realm4. Here we assess the population trends of 1,057 common shallow reef species from multiple phyla at 1,636 sites around Australia over the past decade. Most populations decreased over this period, including many tropical fishes, temperate invertebrates (particularly echinoderms) and southwestern Australian macroalgae, whereas coral populations remained relatively stable. Population declines typically followed heatwave years, when local water temperatures were more than 0.5 °C above temperatures in 2008. Following heatwaves5,6, species abundances generally tended to decline near warm range edges, and increase near cool range edges. More than 30% of shallow invertebrate species in cool latitudes exhibited high extinction risk, with rapidly declining populations trapped by deep ocean barriers, preventing poleward retreat as temperatures rise. Greater conservation effort is needed to safeguard temperate marine ecosystems, which are disproportionately threatened and include species with deep evolutionary roots. Fundamental among such efforts, and broader societal needs to efficiently adapt to interacting anthropogenic and natural pressures, is greatly expanded monitoring of species' population trends7,8.
Details
- Title
- Continent-wide declines in shallow reef life over a decade of ocean warming
- Creators
- Graham J Edgar - University of TasmaniaRick D Stuart-Smith - University of TasmaniaFreddie J Heather - University of TasmaniaNeville S Barrett - University of TasmaniaEmre Turak - University of TasmaniaHugh Sweatman - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceMichael J Emslie - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceDanny J Brock - Marine Science Program, Department for Environment and Water, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaJamie Hicks - Marine Science Program, Department for Environment and Water, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaBen French - Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, AustraliaSusan C Baker - University of TasmaniaSteffan A Howe - Parks VictoriaAlan Jordan - University of TasmaniaNathan A Knott - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Coffs Harbour)Peter Mooney - Reef Life Survey Foundation (Tasmania)Antonia T Cooper - University of TasmaniaElizabeth S Oh - University of TasmaniaGerman A Soler - University of TasmaniaCamille Mellin - The University of AdelaideScott D Ling - University of TasmaniaJillian C Dunic - Simon Fraser UniversityJohn W Turnbull - The University of SydneyPaul B Day - University of TasmaniaMeryl F Larkin - Southern Cross UniversityYanir Seroussi - Underwater Research Group of QueenslandJemina Stuart-Smith - University of TasmaniaElla Clausius - University of TasmaniaTom R Davis - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesJoe Shields - Reef Life Survey Foundation (Tasmania)Derek Shields - Reef Life Survey Foundation (Tasmania)Olivia J Johnson - University of TasmaniaYann Herrera Fuchs - University of TasmaniaLara Denis-Roy - University of TasmaniaTyson Jones - University of TasmaniaAmanda E Bates - University of Victoria
- Publication Details
- Nature (London), Vol.615(7954), pp.858-865
- Identifiers
- 991013372618402368
- Copyright
- Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article