Agenda

03 Dec 2024 15:45

Acclimation to sequential sublethal heatwaves in a temperate benthic ecosystem

Aula Delta 0A, Edificio DELTA - Campus Scientifico via Torino

Speaker: Dr. Maysa Ito, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany

Title: Responses at various levels of ecological hierarchy indicate acclimation to sequential sublethal heatwaves in a temperate benthic ecosystem

Zoom Link: https://unive.zoom.us/j/83416859143?pwd=xMcpqrmscsKdYbp8YDc8GpOisIRDpd.1

Abstract:
Marine heatwaves have caused massive mortality in coastal benthic ecosystems, altering community composition. Here, we aim to understand the effects of single and sequential sublethal heatwaves in a temperate benthic ecosystem, investigating their disturbance on various levels of ecological hierarchy, i.e. individual physiology, trophic groups’ biomass and ecosystem carbon fluxes. To do so, we performed a near-natural experiment using outdoor benthic mesocosms along spring/summer, where communities were exposed to different thermal regimes: without heatwaves (0HW), with one heatwave (1HW) and with three heatwaves (3HWs). Gastropods were negatively impacted by one single heatwave treatment, but the exposure to three sequential heatwaves caused no response, indicating ecological stress memory. The magnitude of ecosystem carbon fluxes mostly decreased after 1HW, with a marked negative impact on mesograzers’ feeding, while the overall intensity of carbon fluxes increased after 3HWs. Consumers' acclimation after the exposure to sequential heatwaves increased grazing activity, representing a threat for the macroalgae biomass. The evaluation of physiological responses and ecological interactions is crucial to interpret variations in community composition and to detect early signs of stress. Our results reveal the spread of heatwave effects along the ecological hierarchical levels, helping to predict the trajectories of ecosystem development.

Bio Sketch:
Dr. Maysa Ito is a postdoctoral researcher at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany. She is a marine ecologist focused on understanding the impacts of current global changes on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Her research employs both experimental and modeling approaches to address ecological questions. She conducts mesocosm experiments to investigate how climate change alters ecological interactions and she uses ecosystem modeling to examine the impacts of human activities (e.g. fisheries) on food webs.

Language

The event will be held in English

Organized by

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Dr. Silvia Rova

Search in the agenda