Unravelling the functional pathways of marine ecosystems in the face of global change poses a pressing challenge. This is particularly critical in the Mediterranean Sea, a biodiversity hotspot that is also one of the most impacted marine ecosystems by human pressures. In this study, we investigate the traits of benthic species that suffer from mass mortality events due to nine different stressors, utilizing species traits and extensive mass mortality event datasets spanning from 1986 to 2020. Analysing ten ecological traits of 410 benthic species, including 32 habitat-forming corals, we identified 236 functional entities (FEs, defined as groups of species sharing the same trait values) where 56 were impacted. Our results unveiled a risk of trait erosion supported by limited trait redundancy and a significantly higher vulnerability in specific trait categories. Notably, 54% of mortality records showed severe impacts which affect similar FEs such as tree-like and massive forms, slow growth rates, calcifying and large individuals. Specifically, 29 FEs suffered extreme mortality (higher than 90%), impacting 18.4% of the species trait volume (the volume covered by the FEs). Contrasting impacts were observed across regions, with the western region being the most affected in terms of trait diversity (FEs = 44) followed by the central region (FEs = 33), and the eastern region (FEs = 25). Overall, our results demonstrate a significant 10.9% increase in the impacted trait volume over the ast five years across the Mediterranean, highlighting the risk of a rapid ecological transformation of the Mediterranean Sea.
Jérémy Carlot, C.G. (2024). Species trait impairment in the Mediterranean Sea following mortality events. Ancona : Reef Check Italia [10.5281/zenodo.13823192].
Species trait impairment in the Mediterranean Sea following mortality events
Massimo Ponti;Eva Turicchia;
2024
Abstract
Unravelling the functional pathways of marine ecosystems in the face of global change poses a pressing challenge. This is particularly critical in the Mediterranean Sea, a biodiversity hotspot that is also one of the most impacted marine ecosystems by human pressures. In this study, we investigate the traits of benthic species that suffer from mass mortality events due to nine different stressors, utilizing species traits and extensive mass mortality event datasets spanning from 1986 to 2020. Analysing ten ecological traits of 410 benthic species, including 32 habitat-forming corals, we identified 236 functional entities (FEs, defined as groups of species sharing the same trait values) where 56 were impacted. Our results unveiled a risk of trait erosion supported by limited trait redundancy and a significantly higher vulnerability in specific trait categories. Notably, 54% of mortality records showed severe impacts which affect similar FEs such as tree-like and massive forms, slow growth rates, calcifying and large individuals. Specifically, 29 FEs suffered extreme mortality (higher than 90%), impacting 18.4% of the species trait volume (the volume covered by the FEs). Contrasting impacts were observed across regions, with the western region being the most affected in terms of trait diversity (FEs = 44) followed by the central region (FEs = 33), and the eastern region (FEs = 25). Overall, our results demonstrate a significant 10.9% increase in the impacted trait volume over the ast five years across the Mediterranean, highlighting the risk of a rapid ecological transformation of the Mediterranean Sea.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.