Projected Range Shift and Genetic Diversity Loss of Cold‐Temperate Kelps in the Northeast Versus the Northwest Atlantic Under Climate Change
Zi‐Min Hu, Xiao‐Meng Sun, Jorge Assis, Juan Diego Gaitan‐Espitia, Jaruwan Mayakun, Qiang Lin, Zhixin ZhangABSTRACT
Aim
Incorporating intraspecific genetic variability with ecological niche modelling to predict range shifts and diversity loss risks of benthic cold‐temperate kelps, and to guide biodiversity conservation under future climate scenarios.
Location
The Northwest and Northeast Atlantic.
Methods
Molecular datasets were assembled to detect the existence of genetically divergent lineages within the cold‐temperate kelps
Saccharina latissima
,
Results
Sea‐surface temperature was identified as the dominant factor shaping distribution ranges of cold‐temperate kelps. Lineage‐level models provided more spatially constrained projections than species‐level approaches and then revealed a northward gain in potential suitable habitat and southern‐edge loss of habitat ranges, leading to a net increase in the Northwest and decrease in the Northeast Atlantic. Unique and endemic genetic variation is projected to be lost for
S. latissima
and
Main Conclusions
The projected changes in distribution range and distinct gene pools of
S. latissima
,