Descombes P., Wisz M. S., Leprieur F., Parravicini V., Heine C., Olsen S. M., Swingedouw D., Kulbicki Michel, Mouillot D., Pellissier L. (2015). Forecasted coral reef decline in marine biodiversity hotspots under climate change. Global Change Biology, 21 (7), p. 2479-2487. ISSN 1354-1013.
Titre du document
Forecasted coral reef decline in marine biodiversity hotspots under climate change
Année de publication
2015
Auteurs
Descombes P., Wisz M. S., Leprieur F., Parravicini V., Heine C., Olsen S. M., Swingedouw D., Kulbicki Michel, Mouillot D., Pellissier L.
Source
Global Change Biology, 2015,
21 (7), p. 2479-2487 ISSN 1354-1013
Coral bleaching events threaten coral reef habitats globally and cause severe declines of local biodiversity and productivity. Related to high sea surface temperatures (SST), bleaching events are expected to increase as a consequence of future global warming. However, response to climate change is still uncertain as future low-latitude climatic conditions have no present-day analogue. Sea surface temperatures during the Eocene epoch were warmer than forecasted changes for the coming century, and distributions of corals during the Eocene may help to inform models forecasting the future of coral reefs. We coupled contemporary and Eocene coral occurrences with information on their respective climatic conditions to model the thermal niche of coral reefs and its potential response to projected climate change. We found that under the RCP8.5 climate change scenario, the global suitability for coral reefs may increase up to 16% by 2100, mostly due to improved suitability of higher latitudes. In contrast, in its current range, coral reef suitability may decrease up to 46% by 2100. Reduction in thermal suitability will be most severe in biodiversity hotspots, especially in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Our results suggest that many contemporary hotspots for coral reefs, including those that have been refugia in the past, spatially mismatch with future suitable areas for coral reefs posing challenges to conservation actions under climate change.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020]
;
Sciences du milieu [021]
;
Limnologie physique / Océanographie physique [032]
;
Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]
Description Géographique
MONDE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010064719]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010064719
