Functional changes in reef systems in warmer seas: Asymmetrical effects of altered grazing by a widespread crustacean mesograzer

R M Pearson; Kristin I Jinks; Christopher J Brown; Thomas Schlacher; Rod M Connolly

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.051

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Functional changes in reef systems in warmer seas: Asymmetrical effects of altered grazing by a widespread crustacean mesograzer

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Functional changes in reef systems in warmer seas: Asymmetrical effects of altered grazing by a widespread crustacean mesograzer

R M Pearson, Kristin I Jinks, Christopher J Brown, Thomas Schlacher and Rod M Connolly

Science of the Total Environment, Vol.644, pp.976-981

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.051

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Abstract

climate change

ecosystem function

coral reefs

temperate reefs

clibanarius virescens

crustacean mesograzer

Grazing is a pivotal function in many marine systems, conferring resilience to coral reefs by limiting algal overgrowth, but triggering phase shifts on temperate reefs. Thus, changes to consumption rates of grazing species in response to higher future temperatures may have broad ecological consequences. We measured how the consumption rates of a widespread mesograzer (the hermit crab Clibanarius virescens) responded to changing temperatures in the laboratory and applied these findings to model the spatial footprint on grazing animals throughout the Indo-Pacific region under climate change scenarios. We show that mean grazing capacity may increase in shallow coastal areas in the second half of the century. The effects are, however, asymmetrical, with tropical reefs predicted to experience slightly diminished grazing whilst reefs at higher latitudes will be grazed substantially more. Our findings suggest that assessments of the effects of climate change on reef ecosystems should consider how warming affects grazing performance when predicting wider ecological impacts.

Details

Title: Functional changes in reef systems in warmer seas: Asymmetrical effects of altered grazing by a widespread crustacean mesograzer
Authors: R M Pearson (Author) - Griffith University
Kristin I Jinks (Author) - Griffith University
Christopher J Brown (Author) - Griffith University
Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Rod M Connolly (Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: Science of the Total Environment, Vol.644, pp.976-981
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.051
ISSN: 0048-9697
Grants: Predicting fisheries change from cumulative impacts to aquatic habitats, DE160101207, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Promoting resilience of ecosystems through connectivity, DP150102271 , Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450732002621
Output Type: Journal article

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