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Rapid biotic homogenization of marine fish assemblages

Author

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  • Anne E. Magurran

    (Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews)

  • Maria Dornelas

    (Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews)

  • Faye Moyes

    (Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews)

  • Nicholas J. Gotelli

    (University of Vermont)

  • Brian McGill

    (School of Biology and Ecology, Sustainability Solutions Initiative, University of Maine)

Abstract

The role human activities play in reshaping biodiversity is increasingly apparent in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the responses of entire marine assemblages are not well-understood, in part, because few monitoring programs incorporate both spatial and temporal replication. Here, we analyse an exceptionally comprehensive 29-year time series of North Atlantic groundfish assemblages monitored over 5° latitude to the west of Scotland. These fish assemblages show no systematic change in species richness through time, but steady change in species composition, leading to an increase in spatial homogenization: the species identity of colder northern localities increasingly resembles that of warmer southern localities. This biotic homogenization mirrors the spatial pattern of unevenly rising ocean temperatures over the same time period suggesting that climate change is primarily responsible for the spatial homogenization we observe. In this and other ecosystems, apparent constancy in species richness may mask major changes in species composition driven by anthropogenic change.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne E. Magurran & Maria Dornelas & Faye Moyes & Nicholas J. Gotelli & Brian McGill, 2015. "Rapid biotic homogenization of marine fish assemblages," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9405
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9405
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