Most studies on connectivity and climate change tend to focus on terrestrial organisms, and those that do focus on marine organisms tend to look at physiological effects at the individual level, or at single-level stressors that greatly simplify the complex chemistry and weather patterns of the ocean. In their latest paper in Ecosphere, Gerber et al. try to rectify this gap in knowledge by proposing a framework to evaluate the impact of climate change on marine connectivity, specifically in terms of the effects of temperature and acidification. They unite the concepts of functional and structural connectivity, and by doing so they aim to generate new ideas for testing and predicting how the spatial distribution of organisms might change in the coming years.
Their extensive review of literature and concepts provides an excellent starting point for anyone thinking about connectivity in marine systems. As they point out with numerous empirical examples, there is a need for greater understanding of how both structural and functional connectivity will be affected by climate change beyond basic models of dispersal and physiology. They ultimately conclude with insights into the marine planning reserve process, and how the effects of climate change may require reserves that are spatially closer to each other to compensate for lost connectivity.
Resources
Gerber, L. R., M. Del Mar Mancha-Cisneros, M. I. O’Connor, E. R. Selig. 2014. Climate change impacts on connectivity in the ocean: implications for conservation. Ecosphere 5(3):33.
