Heat waves are discrete extreme events that can notoriously alter the function and structure of communities. Yet, evidence from marine habitats is mostly lacking. We took advantage of our monitoring program off south Western Australia to evaluate changes in reef-inhabiting communities after a heat wave that dramatically increased temperatures in early 2011. We demonstrate that biodiversity patterns of temperate seaweeds, sessile invertebrates and demersal fish were significantly different after the warming event, which led to a reduction in the abundance of habitat-forming seaweeds and a subsequent shift in community structure towards a depauperate state and a tropicalization of fish communities. To find out more check out: “An extreme climatic event alters marine ecosystem structure in a global biodiversity hotspot” (Nature Climate Change) – feel free to download from the articles page”.
-
Archives
- April 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- June 2014
- April 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- October 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- February 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- July 2011
- May 2011
- March 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
-
Meta