Role of hydrodynamics in shaping chemical habitats and modulating the responses of coastal benthic systems to ocean global change. (29th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noisette, Fanny; Pansch, Christian; Wall, Marlene; Wahl, Martin; Hurd, Catriona L.
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 28:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: 3812
• Page End: 3829
• Publication Date: 2022-03-29
• Subjects: acidification -- boundary layer -- deoxygenation -- engineer species -- global change mitigation -- hypoxia -- micro‐environment -- refugia -- water motion; Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

Abstract: Marine coastal zones are highly productive, and dominated by engineer species (e.g. macrophytes, molluscs, corals) that modify the chemistry of their surrounding seawater via their metabolism, causing substantial fluctuations in oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon, pH, and nutrients. The magnitude of these biologically driven chemical fluctuations is regulated by hydrodynamics, can exceed values predicted for the future open ocean, and creates chemical patchiness in subtidal areas at various spatial (µm to meters) and temporal (minutes to months) scales. Although the role of hydrodynamics is well explored for planktonic communities, its influence as a crucial driver of benthic organism and community functioning is poorly addressed, particularly in the context of ocean global change. Hydrodynamics can directly modulate organismal physiological activity or indirectly influence an organism's performance by modifying its habitat. This review addresses recent developments in (i) the influence of hydrodynamics on the biological activity of engineer species, (ii) the description of chemical habitats resulting from the interaction between hydrodynamics and biological activity, (iii) the role of these chemical habitat as refugia against ocean acidification and deoxygenation, and (iv) how species living in such chemical habitats may respond to ocean global change. Recommendations are provided to integrate the effect of hydrodynamics and environmental fluctuations in future research, to better predict the responses of coastal benthic ecosystems to ongoing ocean global change. Abstract : The biological effects of ocean global change (in particular, ocean acidification, deoxygenation, and warming), on the performance of both engineer species and associated species are well established (black arrows). Engineer species shape their environment not only by their structure they form but also by physically and chemically altering their surroundings. In synergy with physical forces, in particular hydrodynamics, they modulate physicochemical parameters, such as oxygen concentration (blue arrows), creating in their vicinity highly dynamic chemical habitats. This leads to a micro‐climate heterogeneity, with environmental fluctuations larger than in the surrounding seawater, that has the potential to mitigate or worsen global change responses (red arrow). The importance t role of hydrodynamic forces, and their feedback mechanisms (dashed blue arrows) with both engineer species and global change drivers, are understudied in benthic communities and warrant further investigation to be able to better predict the future of coastal benthic communities under ocean global change.