Laboratory of Botany, Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology & Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology PIE-UPV/EHU, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain.
The BITES Lab, Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes (Girona), Spain.
Glob Chang Biol. 2024 Aug;30(8):e17481. doi: 10.1111/gcb.17481.
Rising global temperatures present unprecedented challenges to marine ecosystems, demanding a profound understanding of their ecological dynamics for effective conservation strategies. Over a comprehensive macroalgal assessment spanning three decades, we investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of shallow-water benthic communities in the southern Bay of Biscay, uncovering climate-resilient areas amidst the ongoing phase shift in the region. Our investigation identified seven locations serving as potential climate refugia, where cold-affinity, canopy-forming macroalgal species persisted and community structure was similar to that observed in 1991. We unveiled a clear association between the emergence of these refugia, sea surface temperature (SST), and the Community Temperature Index, positioning SST as a significant driver of the observed phase shift in the region. Warming processes, defined as tropicalization (increase of warm-affinity species) and deborealization (decrease of cold-affinity species), were prominent outside refugia. In contrast, cooling processes, defined as borealization (increase of cold-affinity species) and detropicalization (decrease of warm-affinity species), prevailed inside refugia. Refugia exhibited approximately 35% lower warming processes compared to non-refuge areas. This resulted in a dominance of warm-affinity species outside refugia, contrasting with the stability observed within refugia. The persistence of canopy-forming species in refuge areas significantly contributed to maintaining ecosystem diversity and stability. These findings underscored the pivotal role of climate refugia in mitigating climate-driven impacts. Prioritizing the protection and restoration of these refugia can foster resilience and ensure the preservation of biodiversity for future generations. Our study illustrates the importance of refining our understanding of how marine ecosystems respond to climate change, offering actionable insights essential for informed conservation strategies and sustainable environmental management.
全球气温上升给海洋生态系统带来了前所未有的挑战，为了制定有效的保护策略，我们需要深入了解它们的生态动态。我们对 30 年来的浅水底栖生物群落进行了全面的宏观藻类评估，揭示了比斯开湾南部地区时空演变过程中的气候适应区域。我们发现了七个可能的气候避难所，这些地方有耐寒、形成树冠的大型藻类物种存在，群落结构与 1991 年观察到的相似。我们发现，这些避难所的出现与海面温度（SST）和群落温度指数之间存在明显的关联，SST 是该地区观察到的阶段转变的重要驱动因素。在避难所之外，变暖过程（暖水种增加）和北移（冷水种减少）明显；而在避难所内，冷却过程（冷水种增加）和南移（暖水种减少）占主导地位。与非避难区相比，避难区的变暖过程低约 35%。这导致避难区外暖水种占主导地位，而避难区内则保持稳定。避难区中树冠形成物种的存在显著有助于维持生态系统的多样性和稳定性。这些发现强调了气候避难所在减轻气候驱动影响方面的关键作用。优先保护和恢复这些避难所可以促进生态系统的恢复力，并确保为后代保护生物多样性。我们的研究说明了细化我们对海洋生态系统如何应对气候变化的理解的重要性，为制定明智的保护策略和可持续的环境管理提供了必要的行动性见解。
