Extreme temperatures, foundation species, and abrupt ecosystem change: an example from an iconic seagrass ecosystem

Global Change Biology - Tập 21 Số 4 - Trang 1463-1474 - 2015
Jordan A. Thomson1, Derek A. Burkholder1, Michael R. Heithaus1, James W. Fourqurean1, Matthew W. Fraser2, John Statton3,2, Gary A. Kendrick2
1Department of Biological Sciences; School of Environment; Arts and Society; Florida International University; 3000 NE 151 St. North Miami FL 33181 USA
2UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology; University of Western Australia; 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
3Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority; Conservation and Biodiversity Building, Fraser Avenue West Perth WA 6005 Australia

Tóm tắt

AbstractExtreme climatic events can trigger abrupt and often lasting change in ecosystems via the reduction or elimination of foundation (i.e., habitat‐forming) species. However, while the frequency/intensity of extreme events is predicted to increase under climate change, the impact of these events on many foundation species and the ecosystems they support remains poorly understood. Here, we use the iconic seagrass meadows of Shark Bay, Western Australia – a relatively pristine subtropical embayment whose dominant, canopy‐forming seagrass, Amphibolis antarctica, is a temperate species growing near its low‐latitude range limit – as a model system to investigate the impacts of extreme temperatures on ecosystems supported by thermally sensitive foundation species in a changing climate. Following an unprecedented marine heat wave in late summer 2010/11, A. antarctica experienced catastrophic (>90%) dieback in several regions of Shark Bay. Animal‐borne video footage taken from the perspective of resident, seagrass‐associated megafauna (sea turtles) revealed severe habitat degradation after the event compared with a decade earlier. This reduction in habitat quality corresponded with a decline in the health status of largely herbivorous green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the 2 years following the heat wave, providing evidence of long‐term, community‐level impacts of the event. Based on these findings, and similar examples from diverse ecosystems, we argue that a generalized framework for assessing the vulnerability of ecosystems to abrupt change associated with the loss of foundation species is needed to accurately predict ecosystem trajectories in a changing climate. This includes seagrass meadows, which have received relatively little attention in this context. Novel research and monitoring methods, such as the analysis of habitat and environmental data from animal‐borne video and data‐logging systems, can make an important contribution to this framework.

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Global Change Biology

Tập 21 Số 4

1463-1474

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