Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events
Abstract Unraveling the functional future of marine ecosystems amid global change poses a pressing challenge. This is particularly critical in the Mediterranean Sea, which is highly impacted by global and local drivers. Utilizing extensive mass mortality events (MMEs) datasets spanning from 1986 to...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55949-0 |
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| author | J. Carlot C. Galobart D. Gómez-Gras J. Santamaría R. Golo M. Sini E. Cebrian V. Gerovasileiou M. Ponti E. Turicchia S. Comeau G. Rilov L. Tamburello T. Pulido Mantas C. Cerrano J. B. Ledoux J.-P. Gattuso S. Ramirez-Calero L. Millan M. Montefalcone S. Katsanevakis N. Bensoussan J. Garrabou N. Teixidó |
| author_facet | J. Carlot C. Galobart D. Gómez-Gras J. Santamaría R. Golo M. Sini E. Cebrian V. Gerovasileiou M. Ponti E. Turicchia S. Comeau G. Rilov L. Tamburello T. Pulido Mantas C. Cerrano J. B. Ledoux J.-P. Gattuso S. Ramirez-Calero L. Millan M. Montefalcone S. Katsanevakis N. Bensoussan J. Garrabou N. Teixidó |
| author_sort | J. Carlot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Unraveling the functional future of marine ecosystems amid global change poses a pressing challenge. This is particularly critical in the Mediterranean Sea, which is highly impacted by global and local drivers. Utilizing extensive mass mortality events (MMEs) datasets spanning from 1986 to 2020 across the Mediterranean Sea, we investigated the trait vulnerability of benthic species that suffered from MMEs induced by nine distinct mortality drivers. By analyzing changes in ten ecological traits across 389 benthic species—constituting an extensive compendium of Mediterranean ecological traits to date—we identified 228 functional entities (FEs), defined as groups of species sharing the same trait values. Our findings indicate that of these 55 FEs were impacted by MMEs, accentuating a heightened vulnerability within specific trait categories. Notably, more than half of the mortality records showed severe impacts on calcifying and larger species with slower growth which mostly account for tree-like and massive forms. Altogether, we highlight that 29 FEs suffered extreme mortality, leading to a maximum increase of 19.1% of the global trait volume vulnerability over 35 years. We also reveal that 10.8% of the trait volume may have been temporarily lost over the last five years, emphasizing the risk of a rapid ecological transformation in the Mediterranean Sea. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e77968c1cbb643e789ad69acab6298d0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-e77968c1cbb643e789ad69acab6298d02025-08-20T02:43:11ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-55949-0Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality eventsJ. Carlot0C. Galobart1D. Gómez-Gras2J. Santamaría3R. Golo4M. Sini5E. Cebrian6V. Gerovasileiou7M. Ponti8E. Turicchia9S. Comeau10G. Rilov11L. Tamburello12T. Pulido Mantas13C. Cerrano14J. B. Ledoux15J.-P. Gattuso16S. Ramirez-Calero17L. Millan18M. Montefalcone19S. Katsanevakis20N. Bensoussan21J. Garrabou22N. Teixidó23Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRSCentre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC)Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai’i at MānoaCentre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC)Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC)Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, University HillCentre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC)Faculty of Environment, Department of Environment, Ionian UniversityDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of BolognaDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of BolognaLaboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRSNational Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily, Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of MarcheDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of MarcheCIIMARLaboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRSFacultat de Biologia, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de BarcelonaInstitute of Marine Sciences-CSIC (ICM-CSIC)Department of Earth, Environment, and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of GenoaDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, University HillInstitute of Marine Sciences-CSIC (ICM-CSIC)Institute of Marine Sciences-CSIC (ICM-CSIC)Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRSAbstract Unraveling the functional future of marine ecosystems amid global change poses a pressing challenge. This is particularly critical in the Mediterranean Sea, which is highly impacted by global and local drivers. Utilizing extensive mass mortality events (MMEs) datasets spanning from 1986 to 2020 across the Mediterranean Sea, we investigated the trait vulnerability of benthic species that suffered from MMEs induced by nine distinct mortality drivers. By analyzing changes in ten ecological traits across 389 benthic species—constituting an extensive compendium of Mediterranean ecological traits to date—we identified 228 functional entities (FEs), defined as groups of species sharing the same trait values. Our findings indicate that of these 55 FEs were impacted by MMEs, accentuating a heightened vulnerability within specific trait categories. Notably, more than half of the mortality records showed severe impacts on calcifying and larger species with slower growth which mostly account for tree-like and massive forms. Altogether, we highlight that 29 FEs suffered extreme mortality, leading to a maximum increase of 19.1% of the global trait volume vulnerability over 35 years. We also reveal that 10.8% of the trait volume may have been temporarily lost over the last five years, emphasizing the risk of a rapid ecological transformation in the Mediterranean Sea.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55949-0 |
| spellingShingle | J. Carlot C. Galobart D. Gómez-Gras J. Santamaría R. Golo M. Sini E. Cebrian V. Gerovasileiou M. Ponti E. Turicchia S. Comeau G. Rilov L. Tamburello T. Pulido Mantas C. Cerrano J. B. Ledoux J.-P. Gattuso S. Ramirez-Calero L. Millan M. Montefalcone S. Katsanevakis N. Bensoussan J. Garrabou N. Teixidó Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events Nature Communications |
| title | Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events |
| title_full | Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events |
| title_fullStr | Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events |
| title_short | Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events |
| title_sort | vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the mediterranean sea following mass mortality events |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55949-0 |
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