Anthropogenic climate change impacts on copepod trait biogeography

Area of Science:

• Marine ecology
• Oceanography
• Climate change biology

Background:

• Copepods are abundant marine zooplankton crucial for food webs and carbon cycling.
• North Atlantic climate change projections include significant warming, freshening, and reduced nutrients.
• These changes are expected to restructure marine communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the impact of projected climate change on North Atlantic copepod species distribution.
• To identify regions of high species turnover and analyze trait-specific responses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized copepod observational data and projected ocean climate changes.
• Employed species distribution models to predict range shifts.
• Analyzed changes based on copepod traits like size, lipid content, and feeding strategy.

Main Results:

• Copepod species are projected to shift northeastward at an average rate of 14.1 km per decade.
• Species turnover is estimated between 5% and 75%, with highest rates in areas of rapid temperature change.
• Trait-specific effects include advantages for large, diapausing copepods in cooling areas and increased richness for carnivorous species.

Conclusions:

• Climate change will significantly alter copepod community structure and distribution in the North Atlantic.
• Trait-specific responses highlight complex, cascading effects on marine food webs and carbon sequestration.
• Understanding these shifts is vital for predicting future ocean ecosystem dynamics.