A Functional Trait-Based Approach to Mapping Climate-Driven Changes in Temperature-Dependent Feeding Suitability

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Climate change is altering species distributions and trophic interactions globally.
• Predictive tools are crucial for assessing future ecological impacts and informing conservation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To project temperature-dependent changes in relative feeding suitability for various species under future climate scenarios.
• To develop a decision-support tool for prioritizing species monitoring based on projected shifts in feeding suitability.

Main Methods:

• Application of thermal performance curves (TPCs) to model feeding suitability.
• Utilization of a normalized Thermal Habitat Suitability (THS) index to map spatial patterns.
• Categorization of feeding suitability into five standardized classes (0-1 range) under baseline and mid-century climate conditions.

Main Results:

• Freshwater species generally showed increased feeding efficiency under projected climate change.
• Marine and terrestrial species exhibited more variable trends in feeding suitability.
• The study highlights the need to integrate prey distribution modeling for spatial match-mismatch dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The developed approach provides a valuable temperature-based decision-support tool for ecological management.
• Managers can use projected shifts in feeding suitability to prioritize species for monitoring.
• Integrating thermal performance with distribution models is key to understanding climate change impacts on trophic interactions.