%0 Journal Article %J Nature Climate Change %D 2018 %T Differential vulnerability to climate change yields novel deep-reef communities %A Marzloff, Martin Pierre %A Oliver, Eric C. J. %A Neville Barrett %A Holbrook, Neil J. %A James, Lainey %A Wotherspoon, Simon J. %A Craig R. Johnson %K Autonomous underwater vehicle %K climate prediction %K continental shelf reef %K imagery %K morphospecies %K sessile marine invertebrates %X

The effects of climate-driven ocean change on reef habitat-forming species are diverse and can be deleterious to the structure and functioning of seafloor communities. Although responses of shallow coral- or seaweed-based reef communities to environmental changes are a focus of ecological research in the coastal zone, the ecology of habitat-forming organisms on deeper mesophotic reefs remains poorly known. These reefs are typically highly biodiverse and productive as a result of massive nutrient recycling. Based on seafloor imagery obtained from an autonomous underwater vehicle8, we related change in community composition on deep reefs (30–90 m) across a latitudinal gradient (25–45° S) in southeastern Australia to high-resolution environmental and oceanographic data, and predicted future changes using downscaled climate change projections for the 2060s. This region is recognized as a global hotspot for ocean warming. The models show an overall tropicalization trend in these deep temperate reef communities, but different functional groups associate differentially to environmental drivers and display a diversity of responses to projected ocean change. We predict the emergence of novel deep-reef assemblages by the 2060s that have no counterpart on reefs today, which is likely to underpin shifts in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

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%B Nature Climate Change %V 8 %P 873 - 878 %8 24 Sep 2018 %G eng %U http://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0278-7 %! Nature Clim Change %R 10.1038/s41558-018-0278-7 %0 Report %D 2016 %T Seafloor biota, rock lobster and demersal fishes assemblages of the Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve Region: determining the influence of the shelf sanctuary zone on population demographics %A Jacquomo Monk %A Neville Barrett %A J Hulls %A James, Lainey %A G.R. Hosack %A Elizabeth S. Oh %A Martin, Tara %A Edwards, Stuart %A Nau, Amy %A Heaney, Bernadette %A Scott D Foster %X

The Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) is the southernmost CMR within the Australian CMR network in continental waters. The Tasman Fracture CMR, as part of its zoning arrangements, includes a no-take zone on the continental shelf. This is the only area of continental shelf habitat included within the south-eastern CMR network that completely prohibits fishing activities through the establishment of a Sanctuary Zone. Despite being protected for over 7-years, little was known about the range of habitats and associated biological diversity occurring on the shelf waters within this CMR, or the extent that protection had influenced the biota of the CMR. In this study, we take a multi-step approach to first identifying the types and distribution of benthic habitats within, and adjacent to the CMR, and then focussing on reef habitat, to use a range of biological sampling tools to describe the associated reef biota. These surveys included contrasts of the biota in, and adjacent to the no-take zone, to determine the extent that the biota may have responded to the 7 years of protection within the CMR. Reef habitat was targeted due to its overall greater species diversity than adjacent soft sediments, and this habitat was known to be actively targeted by fishing activities, including those for southern rock lobster.
 

%8 01 Jun 2016 %G eng