Abstract
Emergent properties of ecosystems are community attributes, such as structure and function, that arise from connections and interactions (e.g., predator–prey, competition) among populations, species, or assemblages that, when viewed together, provide a holistic representation that is more than the sum of its individual parts. Climate change is altering emergent properties of aquatic ecosystems through component responses, a combination of shifts in species range, phenology, distribution, and productivity, which lead to novel ecosystems that have no historical analog. The reshuffling, restructuring, and rewiring of aquatic ecosystems due to climate impacts are of high concern for natural resource management and conservation as these changes can lead to species extinctions and reductions in ecosystem services. Overall, we found that substantial progress has been made to advance our understanding of how climate change is affecting emergent properties of aquatic ecosystems. However, responses are incredibly complex, and high uncertainty remains for how systems will reorganize and function over the coming decades. This cross‐system perspective summarizes the state of knowledge of climate‐driven emergent properties in aquatic habitats with case studies that highlight mechanisms of change, observed or anticipated outcomes, as well as insights into confounding non‐climate effects, research tools, and management approaches to advance the field.
Highlights
| NOAA NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Michael G
We found that substantial progress has been made to advance our understanding of how climate change is affecting emergent properties of aquatic ecosystems
We must recognize that the full range of species and ecosystem state responses to climate change, including null results obtained for a single species or species assemblage, will be informative for model parameterization, capturing population stability, and the quantification and reduction of uncertainty in ecosystem characteristics and vital rates
Summary
Teffer | University of British Columbia, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Vancouver, BC | David H. We found that substantial progress has been made to advance our understanding of how climate change is affecting emergent properties of aquatic ecosystems. Responses are incredibly complex, and high uncertainty remains for how systems will reorganize and function over the coming decades This cross-s ystem perspective summarizes the state of knowledge of climate-driven emergent properties in aquatic habitats with case studies that highlight mechanisms of change, observed or anticipated outcomes, as well as insights into confounding non-c limate effects, research tools, and management approaches to advance the field
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