We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Subtidal Benthic Invertebrates Shifting Northward Along the US Atlantic Coast.
- Authors
Hale, Stephen; Buffum, Henry; Kiddon, John; Hughes, Melissa
- Abstract
Numerous marine and terrestrial species have shifted their ranges poleward in response to warming from global climate change. However, few studies have examined range shifts of subtidal benthic communities in estuarine and nearshore waters. This study examined 20 years (1990-2010) of occurrence and abundance data of soft-bottom, benthic invertebrates along the Atlantic coast of the USA. Data from two biogeographic provinces (Carolinian and Virginian), which spanned 15° of latitude from mid-Florida to Cape Cod, were extracted from a national coastal assessment program. Mean water temperatures increased significantly during the study period, bottom water by 1.6 °C and surface water by 1.7 °C. Of 25 species with significant changes in centers of abundance (out of the 30 most prevalent), 18 (60%) shifted northward and 7 (23%) shifted southward. Species that shifted north moved an average distance of 181 km, in contrast with 65 km for species that shifted south. The southern limits of 22 species showed significant northward shifts; because there was little change in northern limits, this resulted in an average 25% range contraction. Community composition changed during the study period, most notably in southern latitudes. Five Carolinian species surmounted their northerly biogeographic boundary. Consequences of these range shifts include changes in benthic community structure and function, which have strong implications for ecosystem functioning and services including changes in fisheries dependent upon benthic prey.
- Subjects
ATLANTIC Coast (U.S.); MARINE species diversity; INVERTEBRATE ecology; ANIMALS -- Environmental aspects; CAROLINGIANS; ECOLOGY
- Publication
Estuaries & Coasts, 2017, Vol 40, Issue 6, p1744
- ISSN
1559-2723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12237-017-0236-z