1 °C warming increases spatial competition frequency and complexity in Antarctic marine macrofauna.

ABSTRACT: Environmental conditions of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica have varied little for >5 million years but are now changing. Here, we investigated how warming affects competition for space. Little considered in the polar regions, this is a critical component of biodiversity response. Change in competition in response to environment forcing might be detectable earlier than individual species presence/absence or performance measures (e.g. growth). Examination of fauna on artificial substrata in Antarctica's shallows at ambient or warmed temperature found that, mid-century predicted 1°C warming (throughout the year or just summer-only), increased the probability of individuals encountering spatial competition, as well as density and complexity of such interactions. 2°C, late century predict

SUBMITTER: Barnes DKA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7886862 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature