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Journal Article•DOI•

The Devil in the Deep: Expanding the Known Habitat of a Rare and Protected Fish

Lachlan Fetterplace, John W. Turnbull, Nathan A. Knott, Natasha Hardy
01 Jun 2018-European Journal of Ecology (Sciendo)-Vol. 4, Iss: 1, pp 22-29
TL;DR: It is suggested that the current depth range of eastern blue devil fish is being underestimated at 30 m, which potentially represents a large area of deep offshore reefs and micro-habitats out on the continental shelf that could contribute to the resilience of easternblue devil fish to extinction risk and contribute toThe resilience of many reef species to climate change.
Abstract: The accepted geographic range of a species is related to both opportunity and effort in sampling that range In deepwater ecosystems where human access is limited, the geographic ranges of many marine species are likely to be underestimated A chance recording from baited cameras deployed on deep uncharted reef revealed an eastern blue devil fish (Paraplesiops bleekeri) at a depth of 51 m and more than 2 km further down the continental shelf slope than previously observed This is the first verifiable observation of eastern blue devil fish, a protected and endemic southeastern Australian temperate reef species, at depths greater than the typically accepted depth range of 30 m Knowledge on the ecology of this and many other reef species is indeed often limited to shallow coastal reefs, which are easily accessible by divers and researchers Suitable habitat for many reef species appears to exist on deeper offshore reefs but is likely being overlooked due to the logistics of conducting research on these often uncharted habitats On the basis of our observation at a depth of 51 m and observations by recreational fishers catching eastern blue devil fishes on deep offshore reefs, we suggest that the current depth range of eastern blue devil fish is being underestimated at 30 m We also observed several common reef species well outside of their accepted depth range Notably, immaculate damsel (Mecaenichthys immaculatus), red morwong (Cheilodactylus fuscus), mado (Atypichthys strigatus), white-ear (Parma microlepis) and silver sweep (Scorpis lineolata) were abundant and recorded in a number of locations at up to a depth of at least 55 m This underestimation of depth potentially represents a large area of deep offshore reefs and micro habitats out on the continental shelf that could contribute to the resilience of eastern blue devil fish to extinction risk and contribute to the resilience of many reef species to climate change

Summary (1 min read)

Jump to: [Box 1: Extending our knowledge of deep reef assemblages] – [Species] and [Ethical Note:]

Box 1: Extending our knowledge of deep reef assemblages

  • The eastern blue devil fish was not the only species that the authors recorded outside its known depth range.
  • It soon became clear that a number of more common species were also captured on camera outside their previously recorded depth range (Fig. 3 , Table 1 ).
  • The list of species that were recorded on BRUVS samples with each species habitat association, percentage of reef (n=18) and sand (n=56) samples that each species was recorded on, depth range listed in the scientific literature (depth range based on Kuiter 2000 , Gomon et al.
  • Species that were recorded >10 m deeper than in the literature are highlighted in bold.

Species

  • The list of species that were recorded on BRUVS samples with each species habitat association, percentage of reef (n=18) and sand (n=56) samples that each species was recorded on, depth range listed in the scientific literature (depth range based on Kuiter 2000 , Gomon et al.
  • Species that were recorded >10 m deeper than in the literature are highlighted in bold.
  • These observations further support their hypothesis that the depth range of eastern blue devil fish and also other coastal reef species is likely being underestimated.
  • Often the fishermen did not know what they were and posted a description or photos for identification on online fishing forums (L. Fetterplace, pers. obs.) .
  • This knowledge can help give conservation measures for this species the greatest chance of success, whilst also benefitting the management of deeper offshore reefs.

Ethical Note:

  • The sampling methods in this study were approved by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries animal care and ethics committee, ACEF Ref: 10/09.
  • Supported by the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships.
  • The authors thank Prof Andy Davis, members of the Davis Lab, staff at Jervis Bay Marine Park and Batemans Marine Park for their assistance in the field.
  • The authors also thank Margie Andréason and Cameron Fetterplace who provided valuable comments and suggestions that greatly improved the manuscript and Sascha Schulz, Sue Newson and Mark McGrouther for their assistance and helpful discussion of species identification and current range.
  • The authors also acknowledge the efforts of reviewer Dr Ladislav Pekarik and one other anonymous reviewer who helped to improve the initial manuscript.

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EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
European Journal of Ecology
In October 2013, we were two months into undertaking video
sampling of sh communies on poorly studied marine so-
sediment environments, o the southeast coast of Australia.
We sampled around 3 km oshore using baited remote under-
water video staons (BRUVS; Fig. 1) in relavely deep water
(50–60 m), beyond the ability to eecvely sample using SCU-
BA. We dropped cameras on what we thought to be sand, but
that turned out to be uncharted low-prole patch reef, full of
overhangs and crevices.
For our purposes, samples on non-target habitat
(reefs) are considered ‘failed’, typically stored on hard drives
and le to gather dust at the back of a laboratory. This me
though, perhaps because the seascape was so interesng, we
went through the enre hour-long video sample from a deep
oshore reef. And there it was, the unmistakeable electric blue
colouring, white stripes and shy emergence of an eastern blue
devil sh (Paraplesiops bleekeri) from a crevice to invesgate a
baited camera. This observaon occurred at nearly triple their
previously recorded depth (at 51 m) and more than 2 km fur-
ther down the connental shelf slope than previously observed
(video here).
Eastern blue devil sh are protected o the coast of
eastern Australia under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.
They are rare and endemic to eastern Australian coastal reefs
and considered vulnerable to extracon for the aquarium in-
dustry (NSW DPI 2006). Despite this, lile is known about them
beyond taxonomic and descripve informaon. In parcular,
lile is known about the full extent of their geographic and
depth range, informaon that is important to understanding
the exncon risk, crical habitat and management needs of
vulnerable and endemic species (Purcell et al. 2004).
The observaon of eastern blue devil sh, a demersal
(boom dwelling) coastal reef species, on deep oshore reefs
NATURAL HISTORY REPORT
The devil in the deep: expanding the
known habitat of a rare and protected sh
EJE 2018, 4(1): 22-29, doi: DOI 10.2478/eje-2018-0003
Lachlan C. Fetterplace
1,2
, John W. Turnbull
3
, Nathan A. Knott
4
, Natasha A. Hardy
5
1
School of Biological
Sciences, University
of Wollongong, NSW,
Australia.
Corresponding author,
E-mail: shthinkers@
gmail.com
2
Fish Thinkers Research
Group, 11 Riverleigh
Avenue, Gerroa, NSW
2534, Australia.
3
School of Biological,
Earth and Environmental
Science, University of
New South Wales, NSW
2052 Australia
4
Fisheries Research,
New South Wales
Department of Primary
Industries, 4 Woollamia
Road, Huskisson, NSW,
Australia
5
School of Life and
Environmental Sciences,
University of Sydney,
NSW 2006 Australia
The accepted geographic range of a species is related to both opportunity and effort in sampling that range.
In deepwater ecosystems where human access is limited, the geographic ranges of many marine species are
likely to be underestimated. A chance recording from baited cameras deployed on deep uncharted reef revealed
an eastern blue devil sh (
Paraplesiops bleekeri
) at a depth of 51 m and more than 2 km further down the
continental shelf slope than previously observed. This is the rst veriable observation of eastern blue devil
sh, a protected and endemic southeastern Australian temperate reef species, at depths greater than the typi-
cally accepted depth range of 30 m. Knowledge on the ecology of this and many other reef species is indeed
often limited to shallow coastal reefs, which are easily accessible by divers and researchers. Suitable habitat for
many reef species appears to exist on deeper offshore reefs but is likely being overlooked due to the logistics of
conducting research on these often uncharted habitats. On the basis of our observation at a depth of 51 m and
observations by recreational shers catching eastern blue devil shes on deep offshore reefs, we suggest that
the current depth range of eastern blue devil sh is being underestimated at 30 m. We also observed several
common reef species well outside of their accepted depth range. Notably, immaculate damsel (
Mecaenichthys
immaculatus
), red morwong (
Cheilodactylus fuscus
), mado (
Atypichthys strigatus
), white-ear (
Parma microl-
epis
) and silver sweep (
Scorpis lineolata
) were abundant and recorded in a number of locations at up to a depth
of at least 55 m. This underestimation of depth potentially represents a large area of deep offshore reefs and
micro-habitats out on the continental shelf that could contribute to the resilience of eastern blue devil sh to
extinction risk and contribute to the resilience of many reef species to climate change.
INTRODUCTION
ABSTRACT
Natural history, Biogeography, Range expansion, Eastern blue devil sh, BRUV, SCUBA, Recreational shing, Temperate reef,
Depth range, Patch reef
KEYWORDS
© 2018 Lachlan C. Fetterplace et al.
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
23
was unusual, primarily because of the observed depth and dis-
tance from the coast. Eastern blue devil sh are charismac yet
shy (Fig. 2) crypc sh previously recorded in shallow coastal
waters and on inshore rocky reefs of 1–17 m (Edgar and Stuart-
Smith 2018) where they are found in caves, crevices and un-
der ledges (Kuiter 2000, NSW DPI 2006). Eastern blue devil sh
are listed as having a possible range down to 30 m (e.g. Kuiter
2000, NSW DPI 2006, Gomon et al. 2008); however, there are
no records on Reef Life Survey (RLS), a global database for reef
biota, at depths below 17.2 m. In fact, most RLS records are
from much shallower depths, with an average depth recorded
on the RLS database of 9.1 m (Edgar and Stuart-Smith 2014,
Edgar and Stuart-Smith 2018).
We know of no historical records in Australian muse-
ums or databases of eastern blue devil sh from deeper than
30 m either. Owing to a combinaon of their protected status
and the complex terrain they inhabit, commercial shers are
unlikely to come across them, as trawling is avoided on these
areas because of the risk of damage to nets. The vast major-
ity of sighngs and records of eastern blue devil sh are re-
ported from divers and researchers. The accepted depth range
of eastern blue devil sh and many coastal reef sh coincides
with the recreaonal dive limits of ~30 m, despite the fact that
Figure 1: Baited remote under water video staons (BRUVS) are oen
used to sample sh communies (taken from Feerplace and Rees
2017, CC BY 4.0). BRUVS are lowered to the sea oor (or to the desired
depth if sampling pelagic shes e.g. Rees et al. 2015 for an interest-
ing example) and le to record vising species without the need for an
operator to be connuously present. This allows a number of samples
to be taken simultaneously by deploying numerous BRUVS at the same
me over a number of sites. Other advantages of BRUVS include that it
avoids potenal behavioural changes sh may have in the presence of
divers, provides a permanent record, is non-extracve, and can survey
at depths, mes and in weather condions that are dangerous for div-
ers. The use of newer paired camera stereo BRUVS also allows the ac-
curate measurement of sh size (for a detailed review of BRUVS meth-
odology see Whitmarsh et al. 2017).
.
Figure 2: The eastern blue devil (Paraplesiops bleekeri) is a temperate cave-associated species that would not look out of place on a tropical reef.
Brightly coloured and a prize sighng for divers; they are protected in New South Wales (Australia) waters because of their natural rarity and low
abundance. (Photographer: John Turnbull: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
24
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
Box 1: Extending our knowledge of deep reef assemblages
The eastern blue devil sh was not the only species that we re-
corded outside its known depth range. Aer the inial unexpect-
ed observaon of the eastern blue devil sh, we idened the
species present on another 17 addional ‘failed’ reef BRUVS sam-
ples collected across an approximately 75 km stretch of coastline
from Jervis Bay to Bawley Point, NSW, Australia (data available at
Feerplace and Kno 2018). It soon became clear that a number
of more common species were also captured on camera outside
their previously recorded depth range (Fig. 3, Table 1). Notably,
several common reef species, such as immaculate damsel, red
morwong, mado, white-ear and silver sweep, are all listed as oc-
curring down to 30 m, yet were present on 50–89% of deepwater
reef samples (Fig. 3, Table 1). Other species were observed <15
m outside their accepted depth range, including crimson-banded
wrasse (Notolabrus gymnogenis) on 17% of samples (Fig. 3, Table
1). We also found evidence that the depth range of one species,
redbanded grubsh (Parapercis binivirgata), ), includes much
‘shallower’ areas than listed in the scienc literature. This spe-
cies is listed as occurring in waters deeper than 86 m, however,
was present at a depth of 50 m on 39% of reef samples (Table 1).
These observaons further support our hypothesis that the depth
range of many other coastal reef species is likely underesmated.
Once o the reef edge, the sh communies found on
the surrounding sandy areas begin to change and are very dier-
ent to those on the reef (Schultz et al. 2012). Our study area is no
excepon; the patch reefs at a depth of 50 m tend to be domi-
nated by a range of more colourful or conspicuous species, whilst
the surrounding sand habitats sampled in Feerplace (2018) are
dominated by atheads (Platycephalidae), which use camouage
and burial in the sand to ambush prey. In contrast to the reef sam-
ples, none of the species encountered in comprehensive sampling
on so sediments at a depth of 50–60 m was outside its depth
range (Table 1). Species that occur on sand are much more likely
to have been caught in scienc or commercial trawling and the
capture depths then included in the scienc records.
Figure 3: Five species (photos from top to second from the boom are
red morwong, immaculate damsel, mado, white-ear and silver sweep)
that are common on shallow reefs and previously had an accepted
depth range of <30 m were observed regularly on deeper reefs in this
study (>50 m). Crimson-banded wrasse (boom photo) was also ob-
served outside their depth range on a small number of samples. (Pho-
tographer: John Turnbull: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
25
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
Table 1: The list of species that were recorded on BRUVS samples with each species habitat associaon, percentage of reef (n=18) and sand (n=56) samples that each species was recorded on, depth range listed in the scienc literature
(depth range based on Kuiter 2000, Gomon et al. 2008, Froese and Pauly 2017, Bray 2018, McGrouther 2018) and maximum depth recorded in our study if greater than listed in the literature. Species that were recorded >10 m deeper
than in the literature are highlighted in bold..
Family Species Common Name Habitat Associaon
Reef Samples
(%)
So sediments
(%)
Depth Range
in Scienc
Literature (m)
Max Depth
Recorded
Current
Study (m)
Aracanidae Anoplocapros inermis Eastern Boxsh Demersal
- 2* 2–300
Aulopiformes Latropiscis purpurissatus Sergeant Baker Reef associated
44 - 15–250
Berycidae Centroberyx anis Nannygai Reef associated
94 - 10–450
Callanthiidae Callanthias australis Splendid Perch Reef associated
22 - 10–365
Canthigaster Canthigaster callisterna Clown Toby Reef associated
11 - 10–250
Carangidae
Pseudocaranx georgianus Silver Trevally Benthopelagic
56 27 0–200
Seriola hippos Samsonsh Pelagic
6* - 1–100
Seriola lalandi Yellowtail Kingsh Pelagic
6* 2* 0–825
Trachurus novaezelandiae Yellowtail Scad Pelagic
- 23 0–500
Chaetodondae Chelmonops truncatus Eastern Talma Reef associated
6 - 5–70
Cheilodactylidae
Cheilodactylus fuscus Red Morwong Reef associated
56 - 0–30 55
Nemadactylus douglasii Grey Morwong Reef associated
89 5 0–200
Nemadactylus macropterus Jackass Morwong Reef associated
6* - 0–450
Clupeidae Sardinops sagax Australian Sardine Pelagic
- 2 0–200
Congridae Gorgasia spp. Garden Eels So sediments
- 2 NA
Dinolesdae Dinolestes lewini Longn Pike Benthopelagic
44 - 1–65
Enoplosidae Enoplosus armatus Old Wife Reef associated
22 - 0–90
Gemplidae Thyrsites atun Barracouta Benthopelagic
- 16 0–550
Heterodondae Heterodontus portusjacksoni Port Jackson Shark Reef/oceanodromous
22 16 1–275
Labridae
Achoerodus viridis Eastern Blue Groper Reef associated
50 - 0–60
Bodianus frenchii Foxsh Reef associated
6* - 10–80
Bodianus unimaculatus Eastern Pigsh Reef associated
89 - 0–60
Coris sandeyeri Eastern King Wrasse Reef associated
6* - 0–60
Notolabrus gymnogenis Crimson Banded Wrasse Reef associated
17 - 4–40 53
Ophthalmolepis lineolata Southern Maori Wrasse Reef associated
78 - 1–60
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
26
Family Species Common Name Habitat Associaon
Reef Samples
(%)
So sediments
(%)
Depth Range
in Scienc
Literature (m)
Max Depth
Recorded
Current
Study (m)
Latrididae Latridopsis forsteri Bastard Trumpeter Reef associated
33 - 2–160
Microcanthidae Atypichthys strigatus Mado Reef associated
89 - 0–30 55
Monacanthidae
Eubalichthys bucephalus Black Reef Leatherjacket Reef associated
22 5 0–250
Eubalichthys mosaicus Mosaic Leatherjacket Reef associated
17 - 6–150
Meuschenia avolineata Yellowstriped Leatherjacket Reef associated
11 2* 1–50 52
Meuschenia freycine Sixspine Leatherjacket Reef associated
72 38 1–100
Meuschenia scaber Velvet Leatherjacket Reef associated
94 30 5–200
Meuschenia venusta Stars & stripes Leatherjacket Reef associated
6* - 5–100
Nelusea ayraudi Ocean Jacket Demersal
50 63 0–360
Mullidae Upeneichthys sp.† Goaish Demersal
39 2* 5–200
Muraenidae Gymnothorax prasinus Australian Green Moray Reef associated
6* - 0–40 46
Myliobadae Myliobas tenuicaudatus Southern Eagle Ray So seds/seagrass
6* 5 0–240
Odontaspididae Carcharias taurus Greynurse Shark Reef/oceanodromous
- 2* 0–190
#
Orectolobidae Orectolobus sp.‡ Wobbegong Reef associated
6* - 0–280
Paralichthyidae Pseudorhombus jenynsii Smalltooth Flounder So sediments
- 4 ? –150
Parascylliidae Parascyllium collare Collar Carpetshark Reef associated
6* - 20–230
Pempheridae Pempheris mulradiata Bigscale Bullseye Reef associated
6* - 2–70
Pinguipedidae Parapercis binivirgata Redbanded Grubsh Demersal
39 - 86–404 50
Platycephalidae
Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus Bluespoed Flathead So sediments
- 73 5–100
Platycephalus grandispinis Longspine Flathead So sediments - 88 3–75
Platycephalus richardsoni Tiger Flathead So sediments - 32 10–430
Plesiopidae Paraplesiops bleekeri Eastern Blue Devil Reef associated 6* - 3–30 51
Pomacentridae
Mecaenichthys immaculatus Immaculate Damsel Reef associated 56 - 0–30 55
Parma microlepis White-ear Reef associated 83 - 1–30 55
Table 1 connued: The list of species that were recorded on BRUVS samples with each species habitat associaon, percentage of reef (n=18) and sand (n=56) samples that each species was recorded on, depth range listed in the scienc
literature (depth range based on Kuiter 2000, Gomon et al. 2008, Froese and Pauly 2017, Bray 2018, McGrouther 2018) and maximum depth recorded in our study if greater than listed in the literature. Species that were recorded >10 m
deeper than in the literature are highlighted in bold.
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06 Nov 2018-PeerJ
TL;DR: It is shown that angling records can provide an important, but underutilized, resource for mapping the distribution of data-deficient fish species.
Abstract: In this paper, we map the distribution of scale-rayed wrasse Acantholabrus palloni in eastern Skagerrak based on a combination of verified and personally communicated angling records. Long thought to be occasional vagrants outside its known range in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, we ask if this rare and understudied labrid has expanded its range and become established in Swedish waters. A recent surge in verified angling records in the Swedish Anglers Association's specimen database Storfiskregistret provides information to suggest that this species should no longer be considered an occasional guest, but rather a species established in the Swedish parts of Skagerrak. These records are supported by additional personal communications with anglers. The species is currently well spread geographically along the Swedish Skagerrak coast, with many locations providing repeated captures of adult fish over multiple years. The typical Swedish catch sites are rocky reefs located between the general 40- and 80-m depth curves, likely influenced by currents bringing higher-salinity water from the North Sea. The present study show that angling records can provide an important, but underutilized, resource for mapping the distribution of data-deficient fish species.

4 citations

Cites background from "The Devil in the Deep: Expanding th..."

  • ...Anglers are often keen to participate in the management of fish stocks, but may also be skeptical about revealing the exact location of their fishing sites, so this type of recognition may lead to a further increased interest in fish conservation issues (Granek et al., 2008; Fetterplace et al., 2018)....

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  • ...Hence, anglers’ records and notes are excellent sources for confirmed qualitative data on presence of species in certain areas and can be useful and important, but underutilized, auxiliary, and corroborating sources for mapping distributions and habitats of data-deficient species (Fetterplace et al., 2018)....

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References
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Journal Article•DOI•
Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: impacts on ecosystems and human well-being

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Gretta T. Pecl1, Miguel B. Araújo2, Miguel B. Araújo3, Miguel B. Araújo4, Johann D. Bell5, Johann D. Bell6, Julia L. Blanchard1, Timothy C. Bonebrake7, I-Ching Chen8, Timothy Clark1, Robert K. Colwell, Finn Danielsen, Birgitta Evengård9, Lorena Falconi10, Simon Ferrier11, Stewart Frusher1, Raquel A. Garcia12, Raquel A. Garcia13, Roger Griffis14, Alistair J. Hobday1, Charlene Janion-Scheepers15, Marta A. Jarzyna16, Sarah Jennings1, Sarah Jennings17, Jonathan Lenoir18, Hlif I. Linnetved3, Victoria Y. Martin19, Phillipa C. McCormack17, Jan McDonald17, Jan McDonald1, Nicola J. Mitchell20, Tero Mustonen21, John M. Pandolfi22, Nathalie Pettorelli23, Ekaterina Popova24, Sharon A. Robinson5, Brett R. Scheffers25, Justine D. Shaw22, Cascade J. B. Sorte26, Jan M. Strugnell10, Jan M. Strugnell27, Jennifer M. Sunday28, Mao-Ning Tuanmu29, Adriana Vergés30, Cecilia Villanueva1, Thomas Wernberg20, Erik Wapstra17, Stephen E. Williams10 •
Hobart Corporation1, Spanish National Research Council2, University of Copenhagen3, University of Évora4, University of Wollongong5, Conservation International6, University of Hong Kong7, National Cheng Kung University8, Umeå University9, James Cook University10, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation11, Stellenbosch University12, University of Cape Town13, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration14, Monash University15, Yale University16, University of Tasmania17, University of Picardie Jules Verne18, Southern Cross University19, University of Western Australia20, University of Eastern Finland21, University of Queensland22, Zoological Society of London23, National Oceanography Centre24, University of Florida25, University of California, Irvine26, La Trobe University27, University of British Columbia28, Academia Sinica29, University of New South Wales30
31 Mar 2017-Science
TL;DR: The negative effects of climate change cannot be adequately anticipated or prepared for unless species responses are explicitly included in decision-making and global strategic frameworks, and feedbacks on climate itself are documented.
Abstract: Distributions of Earth’s species are changing at accelerating rates, increasingly driven by human-mediated climate change. Such changes are already altering the composition of ecological communities, but beyond conservation of natural systems, how and why does this matter? We review evidence that climate-driven species redistribution at regional to global scales affects ecosystem functioning, human well-being, and the dynamics of climate change itself. Production of natural resources required for food security, patterns of disease transmission, and processes of carbon sequestration are all altered by changes in species distribution. Consideration of these effects of biodiversity redistribution is critical yet lacking in most mitigation and adaptation strategies, including the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

1,917 citations

"The Devil in the Deep: Expanding th..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Numerous climate-driven range shifts have been documented globally (Figueira and Booth 2010, Poloczanska et al. 2013, Pecl et al. 2017), and it is feasible that eastern blue devil fishes and other reef fishes may be shifting their range both in latitude and depth....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Global imprint of climate change on marine life

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Elvira S. Poloczanska1, Christopher J. Brown2, Christopher J. Brown1, William J. Sydeman, Wolfgang Kiessling3, Wolfgang Kiessling4, David S. Schoeman5, David S. Schoeman6, Pippa J. Moore7, Pippa J. Moore8, Keith Brander9, John F. Bruno10, Lauren B. Buckley10, Michael T. Burrows, Carlos M. Duarte11, Carlos M. Duarte12, Benjamin S. Halpern13, Johnna Holding12, Carrie V. Kappel13, Mary I. O'Connor14, John M. Pandolfi2, Camille Parmesan15, Camille Parmesan16, Franklin B. Schwing17, Sarah Ann Thompson, Anthony J. Richardson2, Anthony J. Richardson1 •
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation1, University of Queensland2, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg3, Museum für Naturkunde4, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University5, University of the Sunshine Coast6, Edith Cowan University7, Aberystwyth University8, Technical University of Denmark9, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill10, University of Western Australia11, Spanish National Research Council12, University of California, Santa Barbara13, University of British Columbia14, University of Texas at Austin15, University of Plymouth16, National Marine Fisheries Service17
01 Oct 2013-Nature Climate Change
TL;DR: This article synthesized all available studies of the consistency of marine ecological observations with expectations under climate change This yielded a meta-database of 1,735 marine biological responses for which either regional or global climate change was considered as a driver.
Abstract: Research that combines all available studies of biological responses to regional and global climate change shows that 81–83% of all observations were consistent with the expected impacts of climate change These findings were replicated across taxa and oceanic basins Past meta-analyses of the response of marine organisms to climate change have examined a limited range of locations1,2, taxonomic groups2,3,4 and/or biological responses5,6 This has precluded a robust overview of the effect of climate change in the global ocean Here, we synthesized all available studies of the consistency of marine ecological observations with expectations under climate change This yielded a meta-database of 1,735 marine biological responses for which either regional or global climate change was considered as a driver Included were instances of marine taxa responding as expected, in a manner inconsistent with expectations, and taxa demonstrating no response From this database, 81–83% of all observations for distribution, phenology, community composition, abundance, demography and calcification across taxa and ocean basins were consistent with the expected impacts of climate change Of the species responding to climate change, rates of distribution shifts were, on average, consistent with those required to track ocean surface temperature changes Conversely, we did not find a relationship between regional shifts in spring phenology and the seasonality of temperature Rates of observed shifts in species’ distributions and phenology are comparable to, or greater, than those for terrestrial systems

1,504 citations

"The Devil in the Deep: Expanding th..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Numerous climate-driven range shifts have been documented globally (Figueira and Booth 2010, Poloczanska et al. 2013, Pecl et al. 2017), and it is feasible that eastern blue devil fishes and other reef fishes may be shifting their range both in latitude and depth....

    [...]

Journal Article•DOI•
Coral Reef Ecosystems under Climate Change and Ocean Acidification

[...]

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg1, Elvira S. Poloczanska1, Elvira S. Poloczanska2, William J. Skirving3, Sophie Dove1 •
University of Queensland1, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation2, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration3
29 May 2017-Frontiers in Marine Science
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that even lower greenhouse gas emission scenarios (such as Representative Concentration Pathway RCP 4.5) are likely to drive the elimination of most warm-water coral reefs by 2040-2050.
Abstract: Coral reefs are found in a wide range of environments, where they provide food and habitat to a large range of organisms as well as other ecological goods and services. Warm-water coral reefs, for example, occupy shallow sunlit, warm and alkaline waters in order to grow and calcify at the high rates necessary to build and maintain their calcium carbonate structures. At deeper locations (40 – 150 m), “mesophotic” (low light) coral reefs accumulate calcium carbonate at much lower rates (if at all in some cases) yet remain important as habitat for a wide range of organisms, including those important for fisheries. Finally, even deeper, down to 2000 m or more, the so-called ‘cold-water’ coral reefs are found in the dark depths. Despite their importance, coral reefs are facing significant challenges from human activities including pollution, over-harvesting, physical destruction, and climate change. In the latter case, even lower greenhouse gas emission scenarios (such as Representative Concentration Pathway RCP 4.5) are likely drive the elimination of most warm-water coral reefs by 2040-2050. Cold-water corals are also threatened by warming temperatures and ocean acidification although evidence of the direct effect of climate change is less clear. Evidence that coral reefs can adapt at rates which are sufficient for them to keep up with rapid ocean warming and acidification is minimal, especially given that corals are long-lived and hence have slow rates of evolution. Conclusions that coral reefs will migrate to higher latitudes as they warm are equally unfounded, with the observations of tropical species appearing at high latitudes ‘necessary but not sufficient’ evidence that entire coral reef ecosystems are shifting. On the contrary, coral reefs are likely to degrade rapidly over the next 20 years, presenting fundamental challenges for the 500 million people who derive food, income, coastal protection, and a range of other services from coral reefs. Unless rapid advances to the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement occur over the next decade, hundreds of millions of people are likely to face increasing amounts of poverty and social disruption, and, in some cases, regional insecurity.

449 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean‐warming hotspot

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Jennifer M. Sunday1, Jennifer M. Sunday2, Gretta T. Pecl3, Stewart Frusher3, Alistair J. Hobday4, Nicole A. Hill3, Neil J. Holbrook3, Graham J. Edgar3, Rick D. Stuart-Smith3, Neville S. Barrett3, Thomas Wernberg5, Thomas Wernberg6, Reg Watson3, Dan A. Smale7, Elizabeth A. Fulton4, Dirk Slawinski8, Ming Feng8, Ben Radford5, Ben Radford6, Peter A. Thompson4, Amanda E. Bates3, Amanda E. Bates9 •
Simon Fraser University1, University of British Columbia2, University of Tasmania3, Hobart Corporation4, University of Western Australia5, Australian Institute of Marine Science6, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom7, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation8, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton9
01 Sep 2015-Ecology Letters
TL;DR: It is found that small-ranging species are in double jeopardy, with limited ability to escape warming and greater intrinsic vulnerability to stochastic disturbances, and independent support for the hypothesis that species with narrow latitudinal ranges are limited by factors other than climate.
Abstract: Species' ranges are shifting globally in response to climate warming, with substantial variability among taxa, even within regions. Relationships between range dynamics and intrinsic species traits may be particularly apparent in the ocean, where temperature more directly shapes species' distributions. Here, we test for a role of species traits and climate velocity in driving range extensions in the ocean-warming hotspot of southeast Australia. Climate velocity explained some variation in range shifts, however, including species traits more than doubled the variation explained. Swimming ability, omnivory and latitudinal range size all had positive relationships with range extension rate, supporting hypotheses that increased dispersal capacity and ecological generalism promote extensions. We find independent support for the hypothesis that species with narrow latitudinal ranges are limited by factors other than climate. Our findings suggest that small-ranging species are in double jeopardy, with limited ability to escape warming and greater intrinsic vulnerability to stochastic disturbances.

324 citations

"The Devil in the Deep: Expanding th..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Without further sampling of deeper reefs on the continental shelf, we will not know the extent and range of the deeper populations of eastern blue devil fish, and how they and other reef fishes are being affected by climatic changes in an ocean warming hotspot (Sunday et al. 2015)....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Increasing ocean temperatures allow tropical fishes to survive overwinter in temperate waters

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Will F. Figueira1, David J. Booth1•
University of Technology, Sydney1
01 Feb 2010-Global Change Biology
TL;DR: This article examined the dependence of overwintering on winter severity and pre-winter recruitment for eight species of juvenile coral reef fishes which are carried into temperate SE Australia by the East Australian Current (EAC) during the austral summer.
Abstract: The southeast coast of Australia is a global hotspot for increasing ocean temperatures due to climate change. The temperate incursion of the East Australian Current (EAC) is increasing, affording increased connectivity with the Great Barrier Reef. The survival of tropically sourced juveniles over the winter is a significant stumbling block to poleward range shifts of marine organisms in this region. Here we examine the dependence of overwintering on winter severity and prewinter recruitment for eight species of juvenile coral reef fishes which are carried into temperate SE Australia (30–37 °S) by the EAC during the austral summer. The probability of persistence was most strongly influenced by average winter temperature and there was no effect of recruitment strength. Long-term (138 years) data indicate that winter water temperatures throughout this region are increasing at a rate above the global average and predictions indicate a further warming of >2 °C by the end of the century. Rising ocean temperatures are resulting in a higher frequency of winter temperatures above survival thresholds. Current warming trajectories predict 100% of winters will be survivable by at least five of the study species as far south as Sydney (34 °S) by 2080. The implications for range expansions of these and other species of coral reef fish are discussed.

228 citations

"The Devil in the Deep: Expanding th..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Numerous climate-driven range shifts have been documented globally (Figueira and Booth 2010, Poloczanska et al. 2013, Pecl et al. 2017), and it is feasible that eastern blue devil fishes and other reef fishes may be shifting their range both in latitude and depth....

    [...]

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Frequently Asked Questions (1)
Q1. What are the contributions in this paper?

In October 2013, the authors were two months into undertaking video sampling of fish communities on poorly studied marine softsediment environments, off the southeast coast of Australia. The observation of eastern blue devil fish, a demersal ( bottom dwelling ) coastal reef species, on deep offshore reefs NATURAL HISTORY REPORT This observation occurred at nearly triple their previously recorded depth ( at 51 m ) and more than 2 km further down the continental shelf slope than previously observed ( video here ).