Historical comparisons reveal multiple drivers of decadal change of an ecosystem engineer at the range edge

Biogenic reefs are important for habitat provision and coastal protection. Long-term datasets on the distribution and abundance of Sabellaria alveolata (L.) are available from Britain. The aim of this study was to combine historical records and contemporary data to (1) describe spatiotemporal variation in winter temperatures, (2) document short-term and long-term changes in the distribution and abundance of S. alveolata and discuss these changes in relation to extreme weather events and recent warming, and (3) assess the potential for artificial coastal defense structures to function as habitat for S. alveolata. A semi-quantitative abundance scale (ACFOR) was used to compare broadscale, long-term and interannual abundance of S. alveolata near its range edge in NW Britain. S. alveolata disappeared from the North Wales and Wirral coastlines where it had been abundant prior to the cold winter of 1962/1963. Population declines were also observed following the recent cold winters of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. Extensive surveys in 2004 and 2012 revealed that S. alveolata had recolonized locations from which it had previously disappeared. Furthermore, it had increased in abundance at many locations, possibly in response to recent warming. S. alveolata was recorded on the majority of artificial coastal defense structures surveyed, suggesting that the proliferation of artificial coastal defense structures along this stretch of coastline may have enabled S. alveolata to spread across stretches of unsuitable natural habitat. Long-term and broadscale contextual monitoring is essential for monitoring responses of organisms to climate change. Historical data and gray literature can be invaluable sources of information. Our results support the theory that Lusitanian species are responding positively to climate warming but also that short-term extreme weather events can have potentially devastating widespread and lasting effects on organisms. Furthermore, the proliferation of coastal defense structures has implications for phylogeography, population genetics, and connectivity of coastal populations.

[1]  Corinne Le Quéré,et al.  Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis , 2013 .

[2]  Stephen J. Hawkins,et al.  Drill-cored rock pools: An effective method of ecological enhancement on artificial structures , 2016 .

[3]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Facing the future: the importance of substratum features for ecological engineering of artificial habitats in the rocky intertidal , 2016 .

[4]  D. Smale,et al.  Climate-driven shifts in species' distributions may exacerbate the impacts of storm disturbances on North-east Atlantic kelp forests , 2016 .

[5]  Shimrit Perkol-Finkel,et al.  Corridors for aliens but not for natives: effects of marine urban sprawl at a regional scale , 2015 .

[6]  A. Cau,et al.  Homing and orientation of Palinurus elephas (Fabricius) in three no-take areas of the central-western Mediterranean: implications for marine reserve design , 2015 .

[7]  S J Hawkins,et al.  The role of sustained observations in tracking impacts of environmental change on marine biodiversity and ecosystems , 2014, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

[8]  P. Somerfield,et al.  Repeated mapping of reefs constructed by Sabellaria spinulosa Leuckart 1849 at an offshore wind farm site , 2014 .

[9]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Between a rock and a hard place: Environmental and engineering considerations when designing coastal defence structures , 2014 .

[10]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Data rescue and re-use: recycling old information to address new policy concerns , 2013 .

[11]  R. Freckleton,et al.  Dynamic species distribution models from categorical survey data. , 2013, The Journal of animal ecology.

[12]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  The importance of water‐retaining features for biodiversity on artificial intertidal coastal defence structures , 2013 .

[13]  Michael T Burrows,et al.  Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective , 2013, Ecology and evolution.

[14]  Leonie A. Robinson,et al.  Predicting Free-Space Occupancy on Novel Artificial Structures by an Invasive Intertidal Barnacle Using a Removal Experiment , 2013, PloS one.

[15]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Climate change and adaptational impacts in coastal systems: the case of sea defences. , 2013, Environmental science. Processes & impacts.

[16]  T. Wernberg,et al.  Extreme climatic event drives range contraction of a habitat-forming species , 2013, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

[17]  S. Neill,et al.  Physical and biological controls on larval dispersal and connectivity in a highly energetic shelf sea , 2013 .

[18]  J. Gasol,et al.  Spectral irradiance dependence of sunlight effects on plankton dimethylsulfide production , 2013 .

[19]  Stephen J. Hawkins,et al.  Sustained Observation of Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems , 2013 .

[20]  Shimrit Perkol-Finkel,et al.  Conservation challenges in urban seascapes: promoting the growth of threatened species on coastal infrastructures , 2012 .

[21]  Graham Tattersall,et al.  Multi-decadal variability and trends in the temperature of the northwest European continental shelf: A model-data synthesis , 2012 .

[22]  Elizabeth Cook,et al.  Changing coasts: marine aliens and artificial structures , 2012 .

[23]  S. Vavrus,et al.  Evidence linking Arctic amplification to extreme weather in mid‐latitudes , 2012 .

[24]  C. Cusack,et al.  Phytoplankton and microbial plankton of the Northeast Atlantic Shelf , 2012 .

[25]  Franklin B. Schwing,et al.  The Pace of Shifting Climate in Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems , 2011, Science.

[26]  Stanislas F. Dubois,et al.  The conservation status of Sabellaria alveolata (L.) (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) reefs in the Bay of Mont‐Saint‐Michel , 2011 .

[27]  D. Wethey,et al.  Response of intertidal populations to climate: Effects of extreme events versus long term change , 2011 .

[28]  Louise B. Firth,et al.  Air temperature and winter mortality: Implications for the persistence of the invasive mussel, Perna viridis in the intertidal zone of the south-eastern United States , 2011 .

[29]  Stephen J. Hawkins,et al.  Introductory comments - Global change in marine ecosystems: Patterns, processes and interactions with regional and local scale impacts , 2011 .

[30]  A. J. Underwood,et al.  Evaluation of ecological engineering of "armoured" shorelines to improve their value as habitat. , 2011 .

[31]  A. Newton,et al.  Individualistic species limitations of climate‐induced range expansions generated by meso‐scale dispersal barriers , 2011 .

[32]  Hailong Liu,et al.  The record‐breaking cold temperatures during the winter of 2009/2010 in the Northern Hemisphere , 2010 .

[33]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Enhancing stocks of the exploited limpet Patella candei d’Orbigny via modifications in coastal engineering , 2010 .

[34]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Consequences of climate-driven biodiversity changes for ecosystem functioning of North European rocky shores , 2009 .

[35]  Martijn Gough.  Climate change , 2009, Canadian Medical Association Journal.

[36]  Louise B. Firth,et al.  The influence of multiple environmental stressors on the limpet Cellana toreuma during the summer monsoon season in Hong Kong , 2009 .

[37]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Predicting impacts of climate‐induced range expansion: an experimental framework and a test involving key grazers on temperate rocky shores , 2009 .

[38]  L. Iveša,et al.  Colonization patterns of the date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga (L., 1758) on limestone breakwater boulders of a marina , 2008 .

[39]  R. Hofstede,et al.  Climate induced increases in species richness of marine fishes , 2008 .

[40]  M. Chapman,et al.  Patterns of distribution of annelids: taxonomic and spatial inconsistencies between two biogeographic provinces and across multiple spatial scales , 2007 .

[41]  N. Mieszkowska,et al.  Long-term changes in the geographic distribution and population structures of Osilinus lineatus (Gastropoda: Trochidae) in Britain and Ireland , 2007, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[42]  B. Helmuth,et al.  Living on the Edge of Two Changing Worlds: Forecasting the Responses of Rocky Intertidal Ecosystems to Climate Change , 2006 .

[43]  Stanislas F. Dubois,et al.  Effects of epibionts on Sabellaria alveolata (L.) biogenic reefs and their associated fauna in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel , 2006 .

[44]  N. Mieszkowska,et al.  Changes in the Range of Some Common Rocky Shore Species in Britain – A Response to Climate Change? , 2006, Hydrobiologia.

[45]  D. Mcgrath,et al.  Using historical data to detect temporal changes in the abundances of intertidal species on Irish shores , 2005, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[46]  Grete E. Dinesen,et al.  Low-crested coastal defence structures as artificial habitats for marine life: Using ecological criteria in design , 2005 .

[47]  P. Beninger,et al.  Particle capture and processing mechanisms in Sabellaria alveolata (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) , 2005 .

[48]  N. Mieszkowska,et al.  Recovery of a Biodiversity Action Plan species in northwest England: possible role of climate change, artificial habitat and water quality amelioration , 2004 .

[49]  K. Johannesson,et al.  Rapid colonization of Belgian breakwaters by the direct developer, Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) (Prosobranchia, Mollusca) , 1990, Hydrobiologia.

[50]  Stanislas F. Dubois,et al.  Biodiversity associated with Sabellaria alveolata (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) reefs: effects of human disturbances , 2002, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[51]  H. Viles,et al.  A temperate reef builder: an evaluation of the growth, morphology and composition of Sabellaria alveolata (L.) colonies on carbonate platforms in South Wales , 2000, Geological Society, London, Special Publications.

[52]  Y. Gruet.  Spatio-temporal Changes of Sabellarian Reefs Built by the Sedentary Polychaete Sabellaria alveolata (Linné) , 1986 .

[53]  D. P. Wilson.  Sabellaria Alveolata (L.) At Duckpool, North Cornwall, 1975 , 1976, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[54]  D. P. Wilson.  Sabellaria Colonies At Duckpool, North Cornwall, 1961–1970 , 1971, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[55]  D. Crisp,et al.  The Effects of the Severe Winter of 1962-63 on Marine Life in Britain , 1964 .

[56]  W. Herdman.  Spolia Runiana.—IV. Notes on the Abundance of some Common Marine Animals and a preliminary Quantitative Survey of their Occurrence. , 1920 .