Humans have used, and had effects on, marine ecosystems, particularly during the recent history. As the human population and its economic activities increase, these effects intensify at the global scale and at all depths. Yet, our awareness and understanding of the long‐term, pervasive effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the seafloor, and the resident meiofauna, are far from complete. Here, we explore meiofauna responses to, and their recovery from, the most prominent and widespread anthropogenic disturbances in the sea, including bottom trawling, pollution, the spread of invasive species, and climate change. Anthropogenic disturbance and natural environmental dynamics interact, causing changes in meiofaunal abundance and diversity, either in the short-term, through effects on growth and development, or in the long-term, through genetic selection or adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Species-specific sensitivity to disturbance can propagate to community-level responses, mediated by shifts in interspecific interactions. Meiofaunal responses to anthropogenic disturbance are typically non-linear and depend on the environmental context in which the disturbance occurs, on the spatial and temporal scales of observation, and on the extent to which the disturbance creates novel environments to which the meiofauna has to adapt. Due to their small size, life history characteristics, and phylogenetic and functional diversity, meiofaunal assemblages are highly resilient, and there is little evidence for the local extinction of meiofauna from anthropogenically disturbed seafloor habitats. It therefore seems likely that meiofauna has the ability to adapt, and thrive, in response to most environmental changes. This assumption, however, is being challenged as several environmental elements (e.g., atmospheric CO2 concentrations, biogeochemical cycles, etc.) are moving beyond their historical ranges. Placing meiofauna responses to anthropogenic disturbance in the wider context of benthic ecosystems, we conclude by emphasising current uncertainties regarding observable versus assumed, direct versus indirect, and single versus interactive consequences of anthropogenic disturbances.

Meiofauna mediates ecosystem effects of anthropogenic disturbances in the oceans.

Semprucci F.;
2022

Abstract

Humans have used, and had effects on, marine ecosystems, particularly during the recent history. As the human population and its economic activities increase, these effects intensify at the global scale and at all depths. Yet, our awareness and understanding of the long‐term, pervasive effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the seafloor, and the resident meiofauna, are far from complete. Here, we explore meiofauna responses to, and their recovery from, the most prominent and widespread anthropogenic disturbances in the sea, including bottom trawling, pollution, the spread of invasive species, and climate change. Anthropogenic disturbance and natural environmental dynamics interact, causing changes in meiofaunal abundance and diversity, either in the short-term, through effects on growth and development, or in the long-term, through genetic selection or adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Species-specific sensitivity to disturbance can propagate to community-level responses, mediated by shifts in interspecific interactions. Meiofaunal responses to anthropogenic disturbance are typically non-linear and depend on the environmental context in which the disturbance occurs, on the spatial and temporal scales of observation, and on the extent to which the disturbance creates novel environments to which the meiofauna has to adapt. Due to their small size, life history characteristics, and phylogenetic and functional diversity, meiofaunal assemblages are highly resilient, and there is little evidence for the local extinction of meiofauna from anthropogenically disturbed seafloor habitats. It therefore seems likely that meiofauna has the ability to adapt, and thrive, in response to most environmental changes. This assumption, however, is being challenged as several environmental elements (e.g., atmospheric CO2 concentrations, biogeochemical cycles, etc.) are moving beyond their historical ranges. Placing meiofauna responses to anthropogenic disturbance in the wider context of benthic ecosystems, we conclude by emphasising current uncertainties regarding observable versus assumed, direct versus indirect, and single versus interactive consequences of anthropogenic disturbances.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11576/2750371
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