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Predatory walls may impair climate warming-associated population expansion
Joël M Durant1, Rebecca E Holt1, Kotaro Ono2
1Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Ecology
|June 21, 2023
Summary
Predator presence, like Atlantic cod, can limit how fish like Atlantic haddock shift their ranges in response to climate change. This predator-prey dynamic may buffer ecosystems against climate-driven changes.
Area of Science:
- Marine ecology
- Climate change biology
- Fisheries science
Background:
- Climate change significantly alters species distribution and abundance, impacting ecosystem functions.
- Trophic interactions, particularly predator-prey dynamics, can influence species' responses to climate shifts.
- Predator presence is hypothesized to constrain species' ability to shift distributions in response to climate change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of predator presence and abundance on the distribution shifts of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus).
- To test whether predator-prey interactions can limit climate-driven range shifts in marine fish species.
- To assess the role of trophic interactions in buffering ecosystem changes due to climate change.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from two well-studied marine environments.
- Focused on the interaction between Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus).
- Integrated climatic and ecological data at scales relevant to predator-prey relationships.
Main Results:
- Cod distribution and increased abundance were found to limit the expansion of haddock into new areas.
- Predator presence restricts the ability of marine species to colonize thermally suitable habitats.
- These predator-prey dynamics can buffer ecosystem changes driven by climate change.
Conclusions:
- Predator-prey interactions are critical factors influencing species' responses to climate change.
- Considering trophic interactions is essential for a comprehensive understanding of climate change impacts on species distribution.
- Predator-prey dynamics can mitigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems by constraining species' range shifts.
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