Widespread shifts in the coastal biota of northern California during the 2014-2016 marine heatwaves.

ABSTRACT: During 2014-2016, severe marine heatwaves in the northeast Pacific triggered well-documented disturbances including mass mortalities, harmful algal blooms, and declines in subtidal kelp beds. However, less attention has been directed towards understanding how changes in sea surface temperature (SST) and alongshore currents during this period influenced the geographic distribution of coastal taxa. Here, we examine these effects in northern California, USA, with a focus on the region between Point Reyes and Point Arena. This region represents an important biogeographic transition zone that lies <150 km north of Monterey Bay, California, where numerous southern species have historically reached their northern (poleward) range limits. We report substantial changes in geographic distributions a

SUBMITTER: Sanford E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6414504 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature