Dr Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira2, Dr. Sara Barrientos1, Dr. Francisco Arenas2, Profesor Rodolfo Barreiro1, Dr. Cândida Gomes Vale2
1BioCost Research Group, University Of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain, 2CIIMAR, Oporto, Portugal
Kelp forests are one of the most productive ecosystems of temperate coasts. As other marine species, they are mostly limited by temperature. Indeed, changes in the distribution of these species, and even the disappearance of the most sensitive are being observed due to climate change worldwide. Recent studies have shown the role of climatic refuge in kelps conservation. However, they only consider physical drivers, ignoring other factors like biotic interactions that could play a determining role in species presence. An example would be herbivory by fish, which has recently been shown to be an important factor in the collapse of kelp forests in temperate regions. In this study, we have developed models accounting for algae-fish interactions to determine whether climatic refuges will actually be effective for the conservation of kelp forests in a future of global warming. Although temperature is one of the major drivers of algae distribution, preliminary results suggest they are also strongly driven by the presence of herbivorous fishes. Additionally, models predict these fishes’ presence is mostly related to the minimum temperature of water. Climatic refuges are expected to have conditions for the persistence of kelp forest under climate change, but also be for fish herbivores. Indeed, given the importance of their interaction, it is possible that climatic refuges might not be enough for the conservation kelp forest. More information should feed the definition of refuges not only for kelp forest but for algae worldwide.
Biography:
My research work is focused on the study of short- and long-term changes in intertidal and subtidal macroalgae communities and their relationship to increased natural and anthropogenic disturbances at both global and local scales. Part of my studies have a multidisciplinary approach, in order to know how the loss of habitat-forming species such as many seaweeds, affect coastal populations that live from the ecosystem services them provide. Currently, both approaches have as a priority to know the health status of kelp forests and their main threats in NW Spain, and their importance for artisanal fisheries in this region.
