An integrative toolbox for the mechanistic understanding of climate-driven species redistribution, from individuals to communities.

Ms Samantha Twiname¹, Dr Asta Audzijonyte^1,2, Associate Professor Julia Blanchard¹, Mr Curtis Champion^1,2, Mr Thibaut de la Chesnais^1,3, Ms Michaela Doyle¹, Dr Quinn Fitzgibbon¹, Ms Hannah Fogarty^1,2, Dr Alistair Hobday^2,3, Ms Rachel Kelly^1,2,3, Mr Kieran Murphy¹, Dr Michael Oellermann¹, Ms Patricia Peinado¹, Dr Sean Tracey¹, Dr Cecilia Villanueva^1,2, Mr Barrett Wolfe¹, Professor Gretta Pecl^1,2

¹Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Hobart, Australia, ²Centre for Marine Socioecology, Hobart, Australia, ³CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Australia

Abstract:

Climate-driven species redistribution is pervasive and accelerating, yet complex and poorly understood. The immense implications of these changes for natural systems and human societies have driven an exponential increase in the number of studies investigating the effects on individual species and communities worldwide. Many studies have investigated components of species redistribution, however there is a lack of the hierarchical integration required for a better mechanistic understanding. Our objective is to provide an integrated framework to synthesize approaches to understand and predict marine species redistribution. We conceptualised the stages and processes involved in climate-driven species redistribution at increasing levels of biological organisation. We then synthesized laboratory, field and modelling techniques used to study these processes at individual, population and community levels. Links between scales of biological organisation and methodological approaches are summarised in a hierarchical framework that represents an integrated ‘toolbox’ for the mechanistic assessment of climate-driven species redistribution’s. In a rapidly expanding field of research, this framework provides strategic direction for: 1. guiding future research, 2. highlighting key gaps of knowledge, 3. fostering data exchange and collaborations between disciplines, and 4. improving our capacity to predict and manage climate change effects on natural systems.

Biography

Samantha is a recently completed PhD student at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in Hobart, where her project focused on the effects of ocean warming on the range shifts and interactions between two species of spiny lobster.