Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Climate change transforms the functional identity of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages.


ABSTRACT: Quantifying changes in functional community structure driven by disturbance is critical to anticipate potential shifts in ecosystem functioning. However, how marine heatwaves (MHWs) affect the functional structure of temperate coral-dominated communities is poorly understood. Here, we used five long-term (> 10 years) records of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages in a multi-taxa, trait-based analysis to investigate MHW-driven changes in functional structure. We show that, despite stability in functional richness (i.e. the range of species functional traits), MHW-impacted assemblages experienced long-term directional changes in functional identity (i.e. their dominant trait values). Declining traits included large sizes, long lifespans, arborescent morphologies, filter-feeding strategies or calcified skeletons. These traits, which were mostly supported by few sensitive and irreplaceable species from a single functional group (habitat-forming octocorals), disproportionally influence certain ecosystem functions (e.g. 3D-habitat provision). Hence, MHWs are leading to assemblages that are deficient in key functional traits, with likely consequences for the ecosystem functioning.

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Gras D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8252474 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC6468064 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5563790 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7200002 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5136673 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4104648 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4469969 | biostudies-literature
| PRJEB25233 | ENA
| S-EPMC5811028 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8379277 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4614813 | biostudies-other