Laboratory of Ecology, Earth and Marine Sciences Department, University of Palermo Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
Laboratory of Ecology, Earth and Marine Sciences Department, University of Palermo Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
Sci Total Environ. 2021 May 20;770:144749. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144749. Epub 2021 Jan 25.
Climate change is evolving so fast that the related adverse effects on the environment are becoming noticeable. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore and understand the effects generated by multiple extreme climatic events (MECEs) on marine ecosystem functioning and the services provided. Accordingly, we combined long-term in-situ empirical observations in the Mediterranean Sea with a mesocosm manipulation to investigate the concurrence of increasing temperature and hypoxia events. By focussing on a foundation mussel species, we were able to detect several cascade events triggered by a mass mortality event caused by stressful temperature and oxygen conditions, and resulting in a loss of ecosystem services. The measured rates of chlorophyll-a, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids - in both particulate and sedimentary organic matter - were used as proxies of ecosystem functioning during pre- and post- disturbance events (MECEs). In the past, MECEs were crucial for individual performance, mussel population dynamics and biomass. Their effect propagated along the ecological hierarchy negatively affecting the associated community and ecosystem. Our results suggest that the protection and/or restoration of coastal areas requires careful consideration of ecosystem functioning. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Our decadal time-series recorded by a near-term ecological forecasting network of thermal sensor allowed us to record and monitor multiple extreme climatic events (MECEs; heat wave and hypoxia events), warning on the environmental change recorded on a pond system. By integrating observational and manipulative approaches, we showed how a MECE triggered cascade events, from individual-based impaired functioning up to biodiversity loss (community composition and structure changes). Our results emphasize the key role played by a foundation species in driving ecosystem functioning, and the synergistic effects of climatic drivers acting simultaneously.
气候变化发展迅速，其对环境造成的相关负面影响也逐渐显现。因此，迫切需要探索和了解多种极端气候事件（MECEs）对海洋生态系统功能和提供的服务产生的影响。为此，我们将地中海的长期现场实证观测与中观模型操作相结合，以调查温度升高和缺氧事件同时发生的情况。通过聚焦于一种基础贻贝类物种，我们能够检测到由高温和低氧条件导致的大规模死亡事件引发的多个级联事件，这些事件导致生态系统服务的丧失。在干扰前后事件（MECEs）期间，我们使用叶绿素-a、碳水化合物、蛋白质和脂质（包括颗粒状和沉积物有机质中的）的测量速率作为生态系统功能的替代指标。过去，MECEs 对个体表现、贻贝种群动态和生物量至关重要。它们的影响沿着生态层次结构向下传播，对相关群落和生态系统产生负面影响。我们的研究结果表明，沿海地区的保护和/或恢复需要仔细考虑生态系统功能。研究意义：我们通过近期的热传感器生态预测网络记录了十年时间序列，从而能够记录和监测多种极端气候事件（MECEs；热浪和缺氧事件），对池塘系统记录的环境变化发出警告。通过整合观测和操作方法，我们展示了 MECEs 如何引发级联事件，从个体功能受损到生物多样性丧失（群落组成和结构变化）。我们的研究结果强调了基础物种在驱动生态系统功能方面的关键作用，以及同时作用的气候驱动因素的协同效应。
