Impacts of ocean warming on echinoderms: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Climate Change Science

Background:

• Rising ocean temperatures pose a significant threat to marine ectotherms, particularly echinoderms, which play crucial ecological roles.
• Existing laboratory studies show variable responses of echinoderms to warming, necessitating a comprehensive synthesis to identify broad patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis synthesizing 85 studies to understand the effects of ocean warming on echinoderm performance predictors.
• To compare mean responses across biological metrics, life stages, taxonomic classes, and regions, including projections for end-of-century warming.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of 710 individual responses from 85 studies on echinoderms and ocean warming.
• Multivariate linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze mean responses across various biological and environmental factors.
• Specific models focused on responses to warming magnitudes exceeding projected end-of-century temperatures.

Main Results:

• Ocean warming generally increases echinoderm metabolic rates (+32%) and decreases survival (-35%).
• Subtropical and tropical echinoderms exhibit higher vulnerability (-9% and -8% respectively), with larvae (-20%) and asteroids (-30%) being particularly sensitive.
• Projected end-of-century warming exacerbates negative impacts on asteroids (-51%), tropical species (-34%), and juveniles (-40%).

Conclusions:

• Ocean warming presents a substantial threat to echinoderm populations, affecting metabolism, survival, and recruitment.
• Larval and juvenile stages, along with asteroids and tropical species, are identified as critical vulnerabilities.
• Findings aid in predicting the ecological consequences of ocean warming for keystone and invasive echinoderm species and marine ecosystems.