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Global ensemble projections reveal trophic amplification of ocean biomass declines with climate change.


ABSTRACT: While the physical dimensions of climate change are now routinely assessed through multimodel intercomparisons, projected impacts on the global ocean ecosystem generally rely on individual models with a specific set of assumptions. To address these single-model limitations, we present standardized ensemble projections from six global marine ecosystem models forced with two Earth system models and four emission scenarios with and without fishing. We derive average biomass trends and associated uncertainties across the marine food web. Without fishing, mean global animal biomass decreased by 5% (±4% SD) under low emissions and 17% (±11% SD) under high emissions by 2100, with an average 5% decline for every 1 °C of warming. Projected biomass declines were primarily driven by increasing temperature and decreasing primary production, and were more pronounced at higher trophic levels, a process known as trophic amplification. Fishing did not substantially alter the effects of climate change. Considerable regional variation featured strong biomass increases at high latitudes and decreases at middle to low latitudes, with good model agreement on the direction of change but variable magnitude. Uncertainties due to variations in marine ecosystem and Earth system models were similar. Ensemble projections performed well compared with empirical data, emphasizing the benefits of multimodel inference to project future outcomes. Our results indicate that global ocean animal biomass consistently declines with climate change, and that these impacts are amplified at higher trophic levels. Next steps for model development include dynamic scenarios of fishing, cumulative human impacts, and the effects of management measures on future ocean biomass trends.

SUBMITTER: Lotze HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6600926 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Global ensemble projections reveal trophic amplification of ocean biomass declines with climate change.

Lotze Heike K HK   Tittensor Derek P DP   Bryndum-Buchholz Andrea A   Eddy Tyler D TD   Cheung William W L WWL   Galbraith Eric D ED   Barange Manuel M   Barrier Nicolas N   Bianchi Daniele D   Blanchard Julia L JL   Bopp Laurent L   Büchner Matthias M   Bulman Catherine M CM   Carozza David A DA   Christensen Villy V   Coll Marta M   Dunne John P JP   Fulton Elizabeth A EA   Jennings Simon S   Jones Miranda C MC   Mackinson Steve S   Maury Olivier O   Niiranen Susa S   Oliveros-Ramos Ricardo R   Roy Tilla T   Fernandes José A JA   Schewe Jacob J   Shin Yunne-Jai YJ   Silva Tiago A M TAM   Steenbeek Jeroen J   Stock Charles A CA   Verley Philippe P   Volkholz Jan J   Walker Nicola D ND   Worm Boris B  

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20190611 26


While the physical dimensions of climate change are now routinely assessed through multimodel intercomparisons, projected impacts on the global ocean ecosystem generally rely on individual models with a specific set of assumptions. To address these single-model limitations, we present standardized ensemble projections from six global marine ecosystem models forced with two Earth system models and four emission scenarios with and without fishing. We derive average biomass trends and associated un  ...[more]

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