Growth portfolios buffer climate‐linked environmental change in marine systems

Abstract

Large‐scale, climate‐induced synchrony in the productivity of fish populations is becoming more pronounced in the world's oceans. As synchrony increases, a population's “portfolio” of responses can be diminished, in turn reducing its resilience to strong perturbation. Here we argue that the costs and benefits of trait synchronization, such as the expression of growth rate, are context dependent. Contrary to prevailing views, synchrony among individuals could actually be beneficial for populations if growth synchrony increases during favorable conditions, and then declines under poor conditions when a broader portfolio of responses could be useful. Importantly, growth synchrony among individuals within populations has seldom been measured, despite well‐documented evidence of synchrony across populations. Here, we used century‐scale time series of annual otolith growth to test for changes in growth synchronization among individuals within multiple populations of a marine keystone species (Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua). On the basis of 74,662 annual growth increments recorded in 13,749 otoliths, we detected a rising conformity in long‐term growth rates within five northeast Atlantic cod populations in response to both favorable growth conditions and a large‐scale, multidecadal mode of climate variability similar to the East Atlantic Pattern. The within‐population synchrony was distinct from the across‐population synchrony commonly reported for large‐scale environmental drivers. Climate‐linked, among‐individual growth synchrony was also identified in other Northeast Atlantic pelagic, deep‐sea and bivalve species. We hypothesize that growth synchrony in good years and growth asynchrony in poorer years reflects adaptive trait optimization and bet hedging, respectively, that could confer an unexpected, but pervasive and stabilizing, impact on marine population productivity in response to large‐scale environmental change.

Coherent long‐term body‐size responses across all Northwest Atlantic herring populations to warming and environmental change despite contrasting harvest and ecological factors

“…Environmental factors can synchronize somatic growth either directly via common effect on individuals (as inferred for individually resolved otolith chronologies; e.g. Campana et al., 2023; Morrongiello et al., 2021) or indirectly via a common indirect response of the main herring prey (Liebhold et al., 2004). In the NWA, for example, several zooplankton assemblages have experienced marked shifts in biomass and composition over past decades, with some of the trends also linked to key climatic factors (e.g.…”

Age, growth, reproduction and status of resource development of Ptychidio jordani, a critically endangered freshwater fish in the Hongshui River, China

“…The population characteristics of fish, such as age, growth, reproduction and death, are the basis of fishery resource assessment and management (Campana et al, 2022;Zhan, 1995). These population characteristics are influenced by both genetic basis and natural environment (Stearns, 1997;Yin, 1995).…”

Age, Growth and Reproduction of Schizothorax pseudaksaiensis of the Turks River

“…Population characteristics are an important basis for fishery resources, among which the age, growth, and reproduction of fish are important indicators [4,5]. At present, descriptions of the geographical distribution and population genetic characteristics of S. pseudaksaiensis are limited [6], systematic studies on its biology and other aspects are scarce, In this study, which was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Tarim University (approval code: TDD-KYXF 20200426), S. pseudaksaiensis was collected using land cage/hanging nets (2a = 4.00 cm), and land cage/hanging nets were placed 50-60 m apart for about 20 km along the river.…”