Adapted from Article: "Projecting global marine biodiversity impacts under climate change scenarios" by William W.L. Cheung1, Vicky W.Y. Lam1, Jorge L. Sarmiento2, Kelly Kearney2, Reg Watson1 & Daniel Pauly1

1. Projecting Global Marine
Biodiversity Impacts Under
Climate Change
APRIL IRUMS

2. Outline:
Marine
ecosystems
1.Introduction
2.Methods
3.Results
4.Discussion
5.Summary
6.Questions

3. Where is Global Warming going?
Source: www.globalissues.org
• Correlation between
climate change and
biodiversity loss
• Climate change rapidly
affects biodiversity and
marine ecosystem health

4. Introduction:
• Temperature changes have a detrimental affect
on marine ecosystems
• Declining ocean biodiversity affects human
activities like fisheries, costal lines and tourism
• Anthropogenic activity is largely responsible for
global warming

5. Introduction Continued:
• Prediction: By the year 2050 a near 2 °C global temperature
increase will affect marine ecosystems. Using various
algorithms and computer simulations we can predict what
will happen to the vast majority of marine organisms and
their ecosystems.
Source: www.itmemes.org

6. Introduction Continued:
• Hypothesis: W.L Cheung et al hypothesize that many
marine organisms in the sub-polar, tropics and semi-
enclosed seas will experience local extinctions
Source: W.L. Cheung Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory

7. Methods:
• Obtained samples of marine fish and invertebrates: Included 836
fish species and 230 invertebrate species
• Chosen based on abundance according to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Source: www.iisda.ca

8. Methods Continued:
• Using an algorithm (Sea Around Us Project), predicted
occurrence of species (30 lat, 30 long grid) measuring richness
and abundance
• Algorithms and models programmed to predict species
movement into suitable habits as environmental conditions
change
• Species hotspots were also predicted

9. Methods Continued:
• Models included three distinct climate change scenarios
• 1) High levels of green house gases
• 2) Medium levels of green house gases
• 3) Low levels of green house gases
• Generated using “Geophysical fluid Dynamics Laboratory of
the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration”

10. Methods Continued:
• A logistic population growth model assumed future ranges due
to climate change: Takes into account
• (1) intrinsic population growth
• (2) Larval dispersal
• (3) adult migration
Source: W.L. Cheung Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory

11. Results:
• Results show movement in range due to
global warming. Movement occurs in the
polar, semi-enclosed, and tropics region
Source: W.L. Cheung Aquatic Ecosystems R.L
Low species invasion
Medium species invasion
High species invasion

12. Results Continued:
• High intensity species invasion concentrated in the higher
latitude regions such as: Arctic & Southern Ocean. This is the
sub-polar biome Fig (a).
• Local Extinctions were very common in the tropics, southern
ocean, north Atlantic, pacific coast and the semi-enclosed
sea such as the Mediterranean, Red sea and Persian Gulf Fig
(b)

13. Results Continued:
• Species turnover includes both local extinction and invading
species was the greatest in the Arctic and sub-polar region
of the Southern Ocean. Fig (c)

14. Results Continued:
• All data analyzed using pre-existing and developing
software designed by W.L Cheung et al
• Mann-Whitney test p<0.001 used to analyze significance

15. Discussion/Understanding the
results:
• We notice that biodiversity is the highest in high latitude
regions indicating sensitivity to climate change
• Species richness declines as we move towards the poles
• When ocean temperatures rise, marine life moves towards
the poles (also depends on species)

16. Discussion continued:
• A higher rate of local extensions will occur in the tropical
regions
• Many tropical marine life have a distinct thermal tolerance
• Species strive to maintain optimal water temperatures
therefore move accordingly

17. Summary/What can be done?:
• Marine organisms tend to shift their range drastically during
times of increased water temperatures
• It is predicted that by 2050 our oceans will be drastically
compromised
• Several foreign nations are now setting limits on the amount
of harmful emissions that can be released into the
environment

18. Thank you for listening!
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