Predatory walls may impair climate warming‐associated population expansion

Abstract

AbstractClimate change has a profound impact on species distribution and abundance globally, as well as local diversity, which affects ecosystem functioning. In particular, changes in population distribution and abundance may lead to changes in trophic interactions. Although species can often shift their spatial distribution when suitable habitats are available, it has been suggested that predator presence can be a constraint on climate‐related distribution shifts. We test this using two well‐studied and data‐rich marine environments. Focusing on a pair of sympatric fishes, Atlantic haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus and cod Gadus morhua, we study the effect of the presence and abundance of the latter on the former distribution. We found that the distribution of cod and increased abundance may limit the expansion of haddock to new areas and could consequently buffer ecosystem changes due to climate change. Though marine species may track the rate and direction of climate shifts, our results demonstrate that the presence of predators may limit their expansion to thermally suitable habitats. By integrating climatic and ecological data at scales that can resolve predator–prey relationships, this analysis demonstrates the usefulness of considering trophic interactions to gain a more comprehensive understanding and to mitigate the effects of climate change on species distributions.