Invasive marine species set to take advantage of rising seas
More than two-thirds of newly flooded coastlines worldwide could become suitable habitat for 122 non-native marine species—including Chinese mitten crabs, Pacific oysters and Asian tiger shrimp—by the middle and end of this century. The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, identifies coastal regions at heightened risk, including the eastern United States, the Gulf of Mexico,…
By the middle to end of the century, an estimated 290,000 to 470,000 square kilometers of coastal land worldwide could become suitable habitats for 122 non-native marine species due to rising sea levels, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The research identifies areas such as the eastern United States, the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea coastlines, southeastern China, and northern Australia as particularly vulnerable to invasion by species like Chinese mitten crabs, Pacific oysters, and Asian tiger shrimp.
Previous studies have examined climate change's impact on species distribution but not the potential for non-native marine species to spread into coastal areas newly flooded by rising seas. Estuaries, which connect land and sea and are centers of human activity, may be especially vulnerable. The authors project that under a moderate emissions scenario, invasive species could colonize more than two-thirds of newly inundated coastal land in regions where they are already established.
The findings highlight the need to incorporate sea-level rise into invasion-risk assessments and early monitoring and management strategies to limit negative impacts on biodiversity, fisheries productivity, and other ecosystem services.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
