Impact details: range shifts

impact chain for tropical coastal areas / ocean warming (click nodes to view details):
selected case study results:
Case study reference
Spatial context
Impact description (case study)
Case study recommendations
Lloyd, P., Plaganyi, E. E., Weeks, S. J., Magno-Canto, M., & Plaganyi, G. (2012). Ocean warming alters species abundance patterns and increases species diversity in an African sub-tropical reef-fish community. Fisheries Oceanography, 21(1), 78-94. South Africa Using measurements of sea surface temperature and spear-fishing records for 84 species spanning a 19-yr period, the effects of ocean warming on sub-tropical reef-fish communities were examined in the Southeastern coast of Africa. Corresponding with a 0.46°C increase in average sea surface temperature between the time periods 1989-97 and 2002-2007, the relative abundance of temperate species as a whole decreased by 10-13% whereas that of tropical species increased by 9%, and broadly distributed species showed little change. Average species richness and diversity increased 33% and 15% respectively between the two time periods. These results are broadly consistent with a predicted poleward shift in species ranges and a predicted increase in species richness and diversity with increasing sea temperature. The findings confirm that large-scale climate change will cause a widening of the tropical belt and subsequent ocean warming will have a profound impact on marine species abundance patterns and community composition at a local scale in the sub-tropics. -
Parker Jr, R., & Dixon, R. (1998). Changes in a North Carolina reef fish community after 15 years of intense fishing - global warming implications. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 127(6), 908-920. North America Indicative of a warming trend, total species composition of reef fishes had become more tropical in Northern Carolina, and a tropical sponge previously unrecorded at this latitude became common. Two new (to the area) families and 29 new species of tropical fishes were recorded. Observations of 28 species of tropical reef fishes increased significantly. No new temperate species were observed, and the most abundant temperate species decreased by a factor of 22. Mean monthly bottom water temperatures in winter were 1-6°C warmer during the recent study. -
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