Publication Abstract

Climate Change and Distribution Shifts in Marine Fishes

A.L. Perry, P.J. Low, J.R. Ellis and J.D. Reynolds

We show that the distributions of both exploited and non-exploited North Sea fishes have responded markedly to recent increases in sea temperature, with nearly twothirds of species shifting in mean latitude and/or depth over 25 years. For species with northerly or southerly range margins in the North Sea, half have shown boundary

shifts with warming, and all but one shifted northward. Species with shifting distributions have faster life cycles and smaller body sizes than non-shifting species. Further temperature rises are likely to have profound impacts on commercial fisheries through continued shifts in distribution and alterations in community interactions.

Reference:

A.L. Perry, P.J. Low, J.R. Ellis and J.D. Reynolds (2005). Climate Change and Distribution Shifts in Marine Fishes. Science, 308(5730): 1912-1915.