Nature
11 November 2015, London

A new study by University of Tasmania researchers and international collaborators has found that a key element of future changes in the distribution of marine biodiversity resulting from ocean warming is not as closely related to local warming rates as previously assumed.

Published today in the prestigious international journal Nature, the research shows that the proportion of fish and invertebrate species expected to disappear from  temperate and coral reefs at particular locations under future ocean climates is instead most dependent on where else those species live.

Resources:

• Nature article - "Thermal biases and vulnerability to warming in the world's marine fauna", Rick Stuart-Smith et al
• Media release - "IMAS study changing understanding of how global warming will affect marine biodiversity", University of Tasmania, 12 November 2015
• Reef Life Survey website
• Article and video from Marine Hub Final Report 2015 - "Reef life survey global analysis of marine protected areas"

Contact
Rick Stuart-Smith