logo
ResearchBunny Logo
Climate-driven invasion and incipient warnings of kelp ecosystem collapse

Environmental Studies and Forestry

Climate-driven invasion and incipient warnings of kelp ecosystem collapse

S. D. Ling and J. P. Keane

In a groundbreaking study by Scott D. Ling and John P. Keane, researchers reveal alarming early-warning signs of ecosystem collapse due to climate change in southeastern Australia. Their findings indicate that by 2030, half of the kelp beds may vanish, linked to the overgrazing of a rampant sea urchin. Discover how proactive measures can be taken to combat this environmental crisis.

00:00
00:00
Playback language: English
Abstract
Climate change is causing species redistribution, potentially leading to ecosystem collapse. This study examines a catastrophic phase shift in kelp ecosystems due to the range extension of an overgrazing sea urchin (*Centrostephanus rodgersii*) in southeastern Australia. Early-warning signals, termed ‘incipient barrens,’ were detected well before collapse, showing poleward progression over 15 years. Projections indicate half of all kelp beds in the affected region will collapse by ~2030. Overgrazing was linked to deep boulder reefs and negatively associated with fished predatory lobsters and abalone. Equatorward observations provide a space-for-time substitution to detect early warnings, enabling proactive climate adaptation measures.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Jan 09, 2024
Authors
Scott D. Ling, John P. Keane
Tags
climate change
kelp ecosystems
species redistribution
overgrazing
sea urchins
boulder reefs
early-warning signals
Listen, Learn & Level Up
Over 10,000 hours of research content in 25+ fields, available in 12+ languages.
No more digging through PDFs, just hit play and absorb the world's latest research in your language, on your time.
listen to research audio papers with researchbunny