Re-Structuring of Marine Communities Exposed to Environmental Change
Author Information
Author(s): Wahl Martin, Link Heike, Alexandridis Nicolaos, Thomason Jeremy C., Cifuentes Mauricio, Costello Mark J., da Gama Bernardo A. P., Hillock Kristina, Hobday Alistair J., Kaufmann Manfred J., Keller Stefanie, Kraufvelin Patrik, Krüger Ina, Lauterbach Lars, Antunes Bruno L., Molis Markus, Nakaoka Masahiro, Nyström Julia, bin Radzi Zulkamal, Stockhausen Björn, Thiel Martin, Vance Thomas, Weseloh Annika, Whittle Mark, Wiesmann Lisa, Wunderer Laura, Yamakita Takehisa, Lenz Mark
Primary Institution: IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany
Hypothesis
Compositional persistence is greater when there are less unutilised resources, higher taxonomic richness, and greater functional richness.
Conclusion
Taxon-rich communities retain their original composition longer than taxon-poor communities when faced with environmental change.
Supporting Evidence
- Taxon richness relates positively to structural persistence in functionally depauperate communities.
- Communities with less available substratum showed accelerated convergence.
- Convergence rates varied significantly among different biogeographic regions.
- Functional richness modulates the effect of taxonomic richness on community persistence.
- Introduced communities changed faster than resident communities after translocation.
- Mortality and recruitment drive the re-structuring of communities under environmental change.
- Temperature differences influenced the speed of convergence among communities.
- Taxon richness negatively related to convergence rate in several sites.
Takeaway
When the environment changes, communities with more types of species can keep their original makeup longer than those with fewer types.
Methodology
The study involved translocating marine communities to new environments and measuring their rate of compositional change over time.
Potential Biases
Potential biases from regional differences and uncontrolled environmental factors.
Limitations
The study may not account for all environmental variables affecting community dynamics.
Participant Demographics
Natural fouling communities from eight different biogeographical regions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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