Predicting evolutionary responses to climate change in the sea

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Climate change science
• Evolutionary biology

Background:

• Short-term studies reveal ocean warming and acidification impact marine life.
• Predicting long-term climate change effects on marine ecosystems is hindered by a lack of understanding of adaptive capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of an evolutionary perspective in understanding climate change impacts on marine organisms.
• To review approaches for assessing the evolutionary potential of marine species to cope with rapid environmental change.

Main Methods:

• Examining geological records and present-day analogues for insights into adaptation potential.
• Assessing the role of phenotypic plasticity in marine species' persistence.
• Outlining experimental approaches including molecular tools, quantitative genetics, and experimental evolution.

Main Results:

• The geological record and analogues provide insights into adaptation limits and possibilities.
• Phenotypic plasticity can aid species persistence in changing marine environments.
• Combining molecular, quantitative genetic, and experimental evolution approaches offers a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary potential.

Conclusions:

• An evolutionary perspective is essential for predicting marine ecosystem responses to climate change.
• Further research combining diverse methodologies is needed to fully understand marine organisms' adaptive capacity.
• This review provides a framework for future research on marine evolutionary potential under climate change.