Marine heatwaves threaten global biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services

Dan A. Smale (), Thomas Wernberg, Eric C. J. Oliver, Mads Thomsen, Ben P. Harvey, Sandra C. Straub, Michael T. Burrows, Lisa V. Alexander, Jessica A. Benthuysen, Markus G. Donat, Ming Feng, Alistair J. Hobday, Neil J. Holbrook, Sarah E. Perkins-Kirkpatrick, Hillary A. Scannell, Alex Gupta, Ben L. Payne and Pippa J. Moore
Additional contact information
Dan A. Smale: The Laboratory, Citadel Hill
Thomas Wernberg: The University of Western Australia
Eric C. J. Oliver: Dalhousie University
Mads Thomsen: University of Canterbury, Private Bag
Ben P. Harvey: Aberystwyth University
Sandra C. Straub: The University of Western Australia
Michael T. Burrows: Scottish Marine Institute
Lisa V. Alexander: The University of New South Wales
Jessica A. Benthuysen: Australian Institute of Marine Science
Markus G. Donat: The University of New South Wales
Ming Feng: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
Alistair J. Hobday: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
Neil J. Holbrook: University of Tasmania
Sarah E. Perkins-Kirkpatrick: The University of New South Wales
Hillary A. Scannell: University of Washington
Alex Gupta: The University of New South Wales
Ben L. Payne: Scottish Marine Institute
Pippa J. Moore: Aberystwyth University

Nature Climate Change, 2019, vol. 9, issue 4, 306-312

Abstract: Abstract The global ocean has warmed substantially over the past century, with far-reaching implications for marine ecosystems1. Concurrent with long-term persistent warming, discrete periods of extreme regional ocean warming (marine heatwaves, MHWs) have increased in frequency2. Here we quantify trends and attributes of MHWs across all ocean basins and examine their biological impacts from species to ecosystems. Multiple regions in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans are particularly vulnerable to MHW intensification, due to the co-existence of high levels of biodiversity, a prevalence of species found at their warm range edges or concurrent non-climatic human impacts. The physical attributes of prominent MHWs varied considerably, but all had deleterious impacts across a range of biological processes and taxa, including critical foundation species (corals, seagrasses and kelps). MHWs, which will probably intensify with anthropogenic climate change3, are rapidly emerging as forceful agents of disturbance with the capacity to restructure entire ecosystems and disrupt the provision of ecological goods and services in coming decades.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0412-1

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