Abrupt declines in marine phytoplankton production driven by warming and biodiversity loss in a microcosm experiment. (11th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bestion, Elvire; Barton, Samuel; García, Francisca C.; Warfield, Ruth; Yvon‐Durocher, Gabriel
• Editors: Hillebrand, Helmut
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 23:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 457
• Page End: 466
• Publication Date: 2020-01-11
• Subjects: Climate change -- biodiversity loss -- phytoplankton -- biodiversity–ecosystem functioning -- thermal performance curve; Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.13444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

Abstract: Rising sea surface temperatures are expected to lead to the loss of phytoplankton biodiversity. However, we currently understand very little about the interactions between warming, loss of phytoplankton diversity and its impact on the oceans' primary production. We experimentally manipulated the species richness of marine phytoplankton communities under a range of warming scenarios, and found that ecosystem production declined more abruptly with species loss in communities exposed to higher temperatures. Species contributing positively to ecosystem production in the warmed treatments were those that had the highest optimal temperatures for photosynthesis, implying that the synergistic impacts of warming and biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning were mediated by thermal trait variability. As species were lost from the communities, the probability of taxa remaining that could tolerate warming diminished, resulting in abrupt declines in ecosystem production. Our results highlight the potential for synergistic effects of warming and biodiversity loss on marine primary production. Abstract : Climate change and biodiversity loss can interact to drive marine primary production. We experimentally manipulated the species richness of marine phytoplankton communities under a range of warming scenarios, and found that ecosystem production declined more abruptly with species loss in communities exposed to higher temperatures.