Marine protected areas do not prevent marine heatwave-induced fish community structure changes in a temperate transition zone.

ABSTRACT: Acute climate events like marine heatwaves have the potential to temporarily or permanently alter community structure with effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. We aimed to quantify the magnitude and consistency of climate driven community shifts inside and outside Marine Protected Areas before and after a marine heatwave using a kelp forest fish community dataset in southern California, USA. Abundance, biomass, diversity and recruitment of warm-water affinity species during the marine heatwave were significantly greater compared with prior years yet cool-water affinity species did not show commensurate declines. Fish communities inside MPAs were not buffered from these community shifts. This result is likely because the particular species most responsible for the community respo

SUBMITTER: Freedman RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7712829 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature