Climate-driven range expansion of a critically endangered top predator in northeast Atlantic waters

Wynn, R.B.; Josey, S.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1683-8831; Martin, A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1202-8612; Johns, D.G.; Yesou, P.. 2007 Climate-driven range expansion of a critically endangered top predator in northeast Atlantic waters. Biology Letters, 3 (5). 529-532. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0162

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract/Summary

Global climate change is driving rapid distribution shifts in marine ecosystems; these are well established for lower trophic levels, but are harder to quantify for migratory top predators. By analysing a 25-year sightings-based dataset, we found evidence for rapid northwards range expansion of the critically endangered Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus in northeast Atlantic waters. A 0.6°C sea surface temperature increase in the mid-1990s is interpreted as an underlying controlling factor, while simultaneous northward shifts of plankton and prey fish species suggests a strong bottom-up control. Our results have important conservation implications and provide new evidence for climate-driven regime shift in Atlantic ecosystems.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0162
ISSN:	1744-9561
Additional Keywords:	climate change, trophic cascade, Atlantic Ocean, Balearic shearwater
Date made live:	08 Nov 2007 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/149400

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...