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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Changes in fish communities due to benthic habitat shifts under ocean acidification conditions
Shigeki WadaSylvain AgostiniJason M. Hall-spencerFederico QuattrocchiCarlo CattanoKazuo InabaBen P. HarveyMarco MilazzoG. Turcosubject
Environmental Engineering010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesRange (biology)CoralReef-associated fish010501 environmental sciences01 natural sciencesJapanEnvironmental ChemistryAnimalsEcosystemMarine ecosystemSeawaterScleractinian coral coverBiogenic habitat complexity Carbon dioxide Reef-associated fish Scleractinian coral coverWaste Management and DisposalBiogenic habitat complexityEcosystem0105 earth and related environmental sciencesEcologyCoral ReefsfungiGlobal warmingOcean acidificationHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationPollutionHabitatCarbon dioxideBenthic zoneEnvironmental sciencegeographic locationsdescription
Ocean acidification will likely change the structure and function of coastal marine ecosystems over coming decades. Volcanic carbon dioxide seeps generate dissolved CO2 and pH gradients that provide realistic insights into the direction and magnitude of these changes. Here, we used fish and benthic community surveys to assess the spatio-temporal dynamics of fish community properties off CO2 seeps in Japan. Adding to previous evidence from ocean acidification ecosystem studies conducted elsewhere, our findings documented shifts from calcified to non-calcified habitats with reduced benthic complexity. In addition, we found that such habitat transition led to decreased diversity of associated fish and to selection of those fish species better adapted to simplified ecosystems dominated by algae. Our data suggest that near-future projected ocean acidification levels will oppose the ongoing range expansion of coral reef-associated fish due to global warming.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-01 |