Kelps on the move: Potential future distribution areas in the face of climate change, on the Pacific coast of South America.

ABSTRACT: Kelp forests are critical marine ecosystems that offer key services such as habitat, coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and support for fisheries. Along the temperate Pacific coast of South America, however, these seaweeds have historically been subjected to intense exploitation pressure, given their value as an economic resource. Additionally, they are impacted by oceanographic and climatic factors such as ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) event and ongoing climate change. The combined effects of these stressors pose a significant threat to their biomass and geographic distribution. Species distribution models under four representative concentration pathways for 2050 were used to assess the current and future potential distribution of two endemic intertidal kelp species, Lessonia

SUBMITTER: Duarte M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12456798 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature