Global habitat loss of a highly migratory predator, the blue marlin (<i>Makaira nigricans</i>)

Dale, Jonathan J.; Brodie, Stephanie; Carlisle, Aaron B.; Castleton, Michael; Hazen, Elliott L.; Bograd, Steven J.; Block, Barbara A.

doi:10.1111/ddi.13606

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…The spatially concentrated impacts of ocean warming and species redistributions are likely to have substantial socioeconomic impacts on fishing fleets that target these regions and especially domestic fleets based in the Southeast United States, suggesting region-specific vulnerability as marine resources redistribute among regional and national jurisdictions and international waters ( 5 , 37 ). The magnitude of these impacts appears to be substantial: We found that seasonal effects for many species were even larger than annual change ( 38 ), a finding that aligns with other published studies [e.g., blue marlin; ( 39 , 40 )]. Our analyses to understand how habitat and associated distributions change are also likely influenced by data availability, in this case fishery-dependent data.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Widespread habitat loss and redistribution of marine top predators in a changing ocean

Braun,

Lezama-Ochoa,

Farchadi

et al. 2023

Sci. Adv.

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The Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico are among the fastest warming ocean regions, a trend that is expected to continue through this century with far-reaching implications for marine ecosystems. We examine the distribution of 12 highly migratory top predator species using predictive models and project expected habitat changes using downscaled climate models. Our models predict widespread losses of suitable habitat for most species, concurrent with substantial northward displacement of core habitats >500 km. These changes include up to >70% loss of suitable habitat area for some commercially and ecologically important species. We also identify predicted hot spots of multi-species habitat loss focused offshore of the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts. For several species, the predicted changes are already underway, which are likely to have substantial impacts on the efficacy of static regulatory frameworks used to manage highly migratory species. The ongoing and projected effects of climate change highlight the urgent need to adaptively and proactively manage dynamic marine ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Widespread habitat loss and redistribution of marine top predators in a changing ocean

Braun,

Lezama-Ochoa,

Farchadi

et al. 2023

Sci. Adv.

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“…The tendency for tagged fish to remain near Panamanian waters after long periods of time is unusual for these highly mobile species. For example, BUM tagged in the North Pacific were 1276 ± 2191 km from the tagging location after 112 ± 75 (median ± inter-quartile range; n = 69) days at liberty [57]. Similarly, BAM tagged near the Great Barrier Reef were 2146 ± 1226 km (mean ± s.d.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonally mediated niche partitioning in a vertically compressed pelagic predator guild

Logan,

Vaudo,

Wetherbee

et al. 2023

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Niche partitioning among closely related, sympatric species is a fundamental concept in ecology, and its mechanisms are of broad interest for understanding ecosystem functioning and predicting the impacts of human-driven environmental change. However, identifying mechanisms by which top marine predators partition available resources has been especially challenging given the difficulty of quantifying resource use of large pelagic animals. In the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP), three large, highly mobile and ecologically similar pelagic predators (blue marlin ( Makaira nigricans ), black marlin ( Istiompax indica ) and sailfish ( Istiophorus platypterus )) coexist in a vertically compressed habitat. To evaluate each species' ecological niche, we leveraged a decade of recreational fisheries data, multi-year satellite tracking with high-resolution dive data, and stable isotope analysis. Fishery interaction and telemetry-based three-dimensional seasonal utilization distributions suggested high spatial and temporal overlap among species; however, seasonal and diel variability in diving behaviour produced spatial partitioning, leading to low trophic overlap among species. Expanding oxygen minimum zones will reduce the available vertical habitat within predator guilds, likely leading to increases in interspecific competition. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of habitat partitioning among predators in the vertically compressed ETP can provide insight into how predators in other ocean regions may respond to vertically limited habitats.

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“…While species' responses may vary, they frequently include shifts in their distributional range likely related to temperature changes affecting physiology and prey distribution (Chin et al, 2010;Hammerschlag et al, 2022). Such shifts have been reported for large wide-ranging chondrichthyans such as white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) (Tanaka et al, 2021) suitable even for tropical and subtropical marine species already adapted to the relatively warm temperatures (Dale et al, 2022).…”

Section: Climate Change Factors Affecting Etp Chondrichthyansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability of Eastern Tropical Pacific chondrichthyan fish to climate change

Cerutti‐Pereyra,

Drenkard,

Espinoza

et al. 2024

Global Change Biology

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Climate change is an environmental emergency threatening species and ecosystems globally. Oceans have absorbed about 90% of anthropogenic heat and 20%–30% of the carbon emissions, resulting in ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, changes in ocean stratification and nutrient availability, and more severe extreme events. Given predictions of further changes, there is a critical need to understand how marine species will be affected. Here, we used an integrated risk assessment framework to evaluate the vulnerability of 132 chondrichthyans in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) to the impacts of climate change. Taking a precautionary view, we found that almost a quarter (23%) of the ETP chondrichthyan species evaluated were highly vulnerable to climate change, and much of the rest (76%) were moderately vulnerable. Most of the highly vulnerable species are batoids (77%), and a large proportion (90%) are coastal or pelagic species that use coastal habitats as nurseries. Six species of batoids were highly vulnerable in all three components of the assessment (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity). This assessment indicates that coastal species, particularly those relying on inshore nursery areas are the most vulnerable to climate change. Ocean warming, in combination with acidification and potential deoxygenation, will likely have widespread effects on ETP chondrichthyan species, but coastal species may also contend with changes in freshwater inputs, salinity, and sea level rise. This climate‐related vulnerability is compounded by other anthropogenic factors, such as overfishing and habitat degradation already occurring in the region. Mitigating the impacts of climate change on ETP chondrichthyans involves a range of approaches that include addressing habitat degradation, sustainability of exploitation, and species‐specific actions may be required for species at higher risk. The assessment also highlighted the need to further understand climate change's impacts on key ETP habitats and processes and identified knowledge gaps on ETP chondrichthyan species.

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Global habitat loss of a highly migratory predator, the blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)

Cited by 11 publications

References 70 publications

Widespread habitat loss and redistribution of marine top predators in a changing ocean

Widespread habitat loss and redistribution of marine top predators in a changing ocean

Seasonally mediated niche partitioning in a vertically compressed pelagic predator guild

Vulnerability of Eastern Tropical Pacific chondrichthyan fish to climate change

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