Tietbohl Matthew D, Genevier Lily G C, Krieger Erik C, Kattan Alexander, Wang Yixin, Gokul Elamurugu Alias, Rodriguez Bravo Lucia M, Palm Lea, Mele Gage, Hoteit Ibrahim, Johnson Maggie D
Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia; Division of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Total Environ. 2025 May 1;975:179073. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179073. Epub 2025 Apr 2.
Anthropogenic climate change has precipitated an increase in marine heatwaves (MHWs) that have significant and multifaceted impacts on marine ecosystems. In late August 2023, an intense heatwave coincided with a mass fish kill event on the Saudi Arabian coast of the central Red Sea. Here, we compile MHW metrics from satellite data to illustrate the mortality event was linked with the most intense period of rapid heating in the central Red Sea in recent history. Using field surveys, we quantified the impact of the event on the fish community and found that nearly 1000 fish washed ashore along a 60 km stretch of coastline. Representatives of 54 species were detected, which illustrates the impact of the MHW event on a broad range of fishes. The exact cause of mortality during the event is unknown, but likely related to temperature-induced physiological stress and associated factors. Sparse coastal monitoring limited our ability to rapidly respond to the event and document the proximate cause of mortality. This study not only sheds light on the immediate impacts of a MHW on components of a coral reef ecosystem, but also emphasizes the broader ecological consequences. Mass fish kills may have cascading impacts on ecosystem functioning by causing shifts in community structure and a decrease in biodiversity, which can undermine both the ecological functioning and economic stability of marine-dependent regions. This may be especially true for reefs already occupying a thermal niche that approaches the upper limits of many species, such as those in the Red Sea. Our study highlights the critical need for enhanced reporting mechanisms and forecasting tools to effectively document and help mitigate further impacts linked to MHW-induced mass marine die-offs.
人为气候变化导致海洋热浪（MHWs）增加，这些海洋热浪对海洋生态系统产生了重大且多方面的影响。2023年8月下旬，一场强烈的热浪与红海中部沙特阿拉伯海岸的大规模鱼类死亡事件同时发生。在此，我们根据卫星数据汇编了海洋热浪指标，以说明此次死亡事件与红海中部近期历史上最强烈的快速升温期有关。通过实地调查，我们量化了该事件对鱼类群落的影响，发现沿着60公里长的海岸线有近1000条鱼被冲上岸。检测到了54个物种的代表，这说明了海洋热浪事件对广泛鱼类的影响。该事件期间死亡的确切原因尚不清楚，但可能与温度引起的生理压力及相关因素有关。沿海监测稀少限制了我们迅速应对该事件并记录死亡直接原因的能力。这项研究不仅揭示了海洋热浪对珊瑚礁生态系统组成部分的直接影响，还强调了更广泛的生态后果。大规模鱼类死亡可能通过导致群落结构变化和生物多样性减少，对生态系统功能产生连锁反应，这可能会破坏依赖海洋地区的生态功能和经济稳定性。对于已经处于接近许多物种上限的热生态位的珊瑚礁来说，情况可能尤其如此，比如红海的珊瑚礁。我们的研究强调了迫切需要加强报告机制和预测工具，以有效记录并帮助减轻与海洋热浪引发的大规模海洋生物死亡相关的进一步影响。
