Projecting kelp (Ecklonia radiata) gametophyte thermal adaptation and persistence under climate change.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Kelp forests underpin temperate marine ecosystems but are declining due to ocean warming, causing loss of associated ecosystem services. Projections suggest significant future decline but often only consider the persistence of adult sporophytes. Kelps have a biphasic life cycle, and the haploid gametophyte can be more thermally tolerant than the sporophyte. Therefore, projections may be altered when considering the thermal tolerance of gametophytes.

Methods

We undertook thermal tolerance experiments to quantify the effect of temperature on gametophyte survival, relative growth rate (RGR) and sex ratio for three genetically distinct populations of Ecklonia radiata gametophytes from comparatively high, mid- and low latitudes (43°, 33° and 30°S). We then use

SUBMITTER: Veenhof RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10921825 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature