Topic: Past, Present and Future Climate
Title: Climate impacts on marine species
Session ID: PC002

The marine environment is disproportionately impacted by climate change, as evidenced through increasing water temperature, ocean acidification, deoxygenation, rising sea levels, shifting circulation patterns and increased storm activity. We invite presentations that explore the observed or modeled response of marine organisms to climate variability or climate change. Recent studies have revealed climate-mediated declines in some marine species, while others have shown remarkable resilience to climate change. For example, Arctic sea ice loss threatens species that rely on ice for habitat such as polar bears and ringed seals, whereas tuna species that target moderate sea surface temperatures may experience range expansion. Ecological impacts can derive from changes in physiology, bioenergetics, abundance, distribution, habitat, community structure, reproduction, behavior, and phenology. A wide range of marine organisms will be considered, including invertebrates, fish, reptiles, mammals, and sea birds. We also invite presentations that explore climate impacts on marine fisheries in terms of spatial distribution, changing target species and/or gear type, or simply the challenges faced by fisheries management in a changing climate. This session will showcase observed and predicted responses of marine organisms to climate change and provide a venue for researchers to contrast climate-driven phenomena across regions and taxa.