Abstract
Author(s): Mahanes, Samuel A.; Sorte, Cascade J. B. | Abstract: High-latitude marine ecosystems have experienced fewer species invasions than temperate marine ecosystems, a discrepancy that may be attributed to barriers such as low propagule pressure, extreme and seasonal abiotic conditions, and biotic resistance of relatively intact communities. Each of these barriers is being affected by climate change and increasing human activity in high-latitude (g55o N) areas. We reviewed the evidence for each of these barriers limiting species invasion in high-latitude areas in the northern hemisphere. Based on records from government documents of high‐latitude countries, non-native species appear to be increasing in number (in Denmark and the United States) although there remains a paucity of data on invasive species establishment for high-latitude regions. Future study is needed to identify the drivers and impacts of invasions at high latitudes so that managers looking to prevent invasions can focus their efforts on bolstering barriers to invasion in these unique ecosystems.
Highlights
Species invasions and climate change are two of the greatest threats to global biodiversity (Bellard et al, 2016a; Occhipinti-Ambrogi, 2007; Simberloff et al, 2013)
Species invasion proceeds along a known pathway: propagules are transported to a new area, individuals that survive the novel conditions are able to colonize, a population is established when individuals successfully reproduce, and this established population may expand its range to adjacent locations within the non-native region (Theoharides and Dukes, 2007)
Climate change is acting on each of these barriers, reducing them to a degree that may allow an unprecedented wave of species invasions in these historically uninvaded high-latitude ecosystems (Fig. 1) (Stachowicz et al, 2002; Holland and Bitz, 2003; Ruiz and Hewitt, 2009; de Rivera et al, 2011; Thyrring et al, 2017)
Summary
Species invasions and climate change are two of the greatest threats to global biodiversity (Bellard et al, 2016a; Occhipinti-Ambrogi, 2007; Simberloff et al, 2013). High-latitude areas have historically experienced lower levels of human traffic and development than more temperate areas, limiting propagule pressure in these ecosystems; this longstanding barrier to invasion appears primed for change due to increases in shipping, accessible trade routes, and tourism (Miller et al, 2007; Ruiz and Hewitt, 2009; Ware et al, 2014). Increased human activity in high-latitude areas – such as through shipping and tourism as described above – will disturb native ecosystems by releasing pollutants (Cloern and Jassby, 2012) and clearing or altering substrate (Airoldi and Bulleri, 2011; Simkanin et al, 2012) These activities will increase mortality for existing populations while potentially freeing up resources for establishment of new species (Stachowicz et al, 1999; Byers, 2002). There is even a possibility that biotic resistance in high-latitude ecosystems will increase with climate change as species from adjacent regions undergo poleward range shifts into high-latitude communities
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