The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis
Abstract The Southern Ocean ecosystem is undergoing rapid physical and biological changes that are likely to have profound implications for higher‐order predators. Here, we compare the long‐term, historical responses of Southern Ocean predators to climate change. We examine palaeoecological evidence...
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crwiley:10.1111/gcb.13104 2024-06-02T08:06:03+00:00 The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis Younger, Jane L. Emmerson, Louise M. Miller, Karen J. Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13104 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fgcb.13104 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.13104 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Global Change Biology volume 22, issue 2, page 474-493 ISSN 1354-1013 1365-2486 journal-article 2015 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13104 2024-05-03T10:55:20Z Abstract The Southern Ocean ecosystem is undergoing rapid physical and biological changes that are likely to have profound implications for higher‐order predators. Here, we compare the long‐term, historical responses of Southern Ocean predators to climate change. We examine palaeoecological evidence for changes in the abundance and distribution of seabirds and marine mammals, and place these into context with palaeoclimate records in order to identify key environmental drivers associated with population changes. Our synthesis revealed two key factors underlying Southern Ocean predator population changes; (i) the availability of ice‐free ground for breeding and (ii) access to productive foraging grounds. The processes of glaciation and sea ice fluctuation were key; the distributions and abundances of elephant seals, snow petrels, gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins all responded strongly to the emergence of new breeding habitat coincident with deglaciation and reductions in sea ice. Access to productive foraging grounds was another limiting factor, with snow petrels, king and emperor penguins all affected by reduced prey availability in the past. Several species were isolated in glacial refugia and there is evidence that refuge populations were supported by polynyas. While the underlying drivers of population change were similar across most Southern Ocean predators, the individual responses of species to environmental change varied because of species specific factors such as dispersal ability and environmental sensitivity. Such interspecific differences are likely to affect the future climate change responses of Southern Ocean marine predators and should be considered in conservation plans. Comparative palaeoecological studies are a valuable source of long‐term data on species’ responses to environmental change that can provide important insights into future climate change responses. This synthesis highlights the importance of protecting productive foraging grounds proximate to breeding locations, as well as ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seals Emperor penguins Sea ice Snow Petrels Southern Ocean Wiley Online Library Southern Ocean Global Change Biology 22 2 474 493 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
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English |
description |
Abstract The Southern Ocean ecosystem is undergoing rapid physical and biological changes that are likely to have profound implications for higher‐order predators. Here, we compare the long‐term, historical responses of Southern Ocean predators to climate change. We examine palaeoecological evidence for changes in the abundance and distribution of seabirds and marine mammals, and place these into context with palaeoclimate records in order to identify key environmental drivers associated with population changes. Our synthesis revealed two key factors underlying Southern Ocean predator population changes; (i) the availability of ice‐free ground for breeding and (ii) access to productive foraging grounds. The processes of glaciation and sea ice fluctuation were key; the distributions and abundances of elephant seals, snow petrels, gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins all responded strongly to the emergence of new breeding habitat coincident with deglaciation and reductions in sea ice. Access to productive foraging grounds was another limiting factor, with snow petrels, king and emperor penguins all affected by reduced prey availability in the past. Several species were isolated in glacial refugia and there is evidence that refuge populations were supported by polynyas. While the underlying drivers of population change were similar across most Southern Ocean predators, the individual responses of species to environmental change varied because of species specific factors such as dispersal ability and environmental sensitivity. Such interspecific differences are likely to affect the future climate change responses of Southern Ocean marine predators and should be considered in conservation plans. Comparative palaeoecological studies are a valuable source of long‐term data on species’ responses to environmental change that can provide important insights into future climate change responses. This synthesis highlights the importance of protecting productive foraging grounds proximate to breeding locations, as well as ... |
author2 |
Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Younger, Jane L. Emmerson, Louise M. Miller, Karen J. |
spellingShingle |
Younger, Jane L. Emmerson, Louise M. Miller, Karen J. The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
author_facet |
Younger, Jane L. Emmerson, Louise M. Miller, Karen J. |
author_sort |
Younger, Jane L. |
title |
The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
title_short |
The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
title_full |
The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
title_fullStr |
The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
title_sort |
influence of historical climate changes on southern ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13104 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fgcb.13104 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.13104 |
geographic |
Southern Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Southern Ocean |
genre |
Elephant Seals Emperor penguins Sea ice Snow Petrels Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seals Emperor penguins Sea ice Snow Petrels Southern Ocean |
op_source |
Global Change Biology volume 22, issue 2, page 474-493 ISSN 1354-1013 1365-2486 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13104 |
container_title |
Global Change Biology |
container_volume |
22 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
474 |
op_container_end_page |
493 |
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1800750926928019456 |