Ocean weather, biological rates, and unexplained global ecological patterns

As on land, oceans exhibit high temporal and spatial temperature variation. This "ocean weather" contributes to the physiological and ecological processes that ultimately determine the patterns of species distribution and abundance, yet is often unrecognized, especially in tropical oceans. Here, we tested the paradigm of temperature stability in shallow waters (<12.5 m) across different zones of latitude. We collated hundreds of in situ, high temporal-frequency ocean temperature time series globally to produce an intuitive measure of temperature variability, ranging in scale from quarter-diurnal to annual time spans. To estimate organismal sensitivity of ectotherms (i.e. microbes, algae, and animals whose body temperatures depend upon ocean temperature), we computed the corresponding range of biological rates (such as metabolic rate or photosynthesis) for each time span, assuming an exponential relationship. We found that subtropical regions had the broadest temperature ranges at time spans equal to or shorter than a month, while temperate and tropical systems both exhibited narrow (i.e. stable) short-term temperature range estimates. However, temperature-dependent biological rates in tropical regions displayed greater ranges than in temperate systems. Hence, our results suggest that tropical ectotherms may be relatively more sensitive to short-term thermal variability. We also highlight previously unexplained macroecological patterns that may be underpinned by short-term temperature variability.

Keyword(s)

in situ, ocean temperature, high frequency, biological rate, climate variability hypothesis

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Li Shing Hiung Darren L. C. Y., Schuster Jasmin M., Duncan Murray, I, Payne Nicholas L., Helmuth Brian, Chu Jackson W. F., Baum Julia K., Brambilla Viviana, Bruno John, Davies Sarah W., Dornelas Maria, Gagnon Patrick, Guy-Haim Tamar, Jackson Jennifer M., Leichter James J., Madin Joshua S., Monteith Zachary L., Queiros Ana M., Schneider Eric V. C., Starko Samuel, Talwar Brendan S., Wyatt Alex S. J., Aichelman Hannah E., Bensoussan Nathaniel, Caruso Carlo, Castillo Karl, Choi Francis, Dong Yun-Wei, Garrabou Joaquim, Guillemain Dorian, Higgs Nicholas, Jiang Yuwu, Kersting Diego K., Kushner David J., Longo Guilherme O., Neufeld Christopher, Peirache Marion, Smyth Tim, Sprague Joshua L., Urvoy Gaelle, Zuberer Frederic, Bates Amanda E. (2024). Ocean weather, biological rates, and unexplained global ecological patterns. PNAS Nexus. 3 (8). pgae260 (12p.). https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae260, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00919/103086/

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