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Impact of global warming on European
tidal estuaries: some evidence of
northward migration of estuarine fish
species
By Delphine Nicolas, Aurelie Chaalali, Hilaire Drouineau, Jeremy Lobry,
Ainhize Uriarte, Angel Borja, Philippe Boet
What’s The Issue? (Part 1)
To
determine whether the
latitudinal distribution of southern
fish species in European tidal
estuaries has shifted northward as
an expected consequence of
global warming.
What’s The Issue? (Part 2)
The
researchers conducted a
second part to this study where
they specifically focused on 10
particular southern/subtropical
species
Just So You Know…
Just So You Know…
PML
= Past mean Latitude
(mean between highest and
lowest latitudes at which
species were recorded)
RML
= Recent Mean Latitude
A Little Background Info…
 Due
to a long term warming beginning in
the 1970s, several marine species in the
North Atlantic hemisphere have been
recorded as migrating northward to
remain within suitable temperatures
A Little Background Info…
Guys, What are
you doing up
here!?
Platichthys flesus
European Flounder
A Little Background Info…
U Did good guys, but we’ll take it
from here
Purpose Of Paper
 The
authors
wanted to
highlight
evidence of
latitudinal range
shifts of fish
species
associated with
European tidal
estuaries along
the northeast
Atlantic
seaboard
Methods and Materials (Part 1)

Mean latitude of past fish species distributions
in 1970s was compared with the mean
latitude of distributions today (based on
information from 55 estuaries) along a
latitudinal gradient from Portugal to Scotland

Maps were used for past distribution
information (prior to 1978)

WFD (Water Framework Directive) surveys
were used for recent distribution information
(2004-2007)

Only 15 species were used
Methods and Materials (Part 2)

For second part of the study they compared
past and recent northernmost latitude of
subtropical species distribution

10 species in WFD (Water framework
Directive) surveys qualified as subtropical
because they remained under the 50°N
latitude

Distributions from recent surveys were
compared with that of a 1973 catalogue
(UNESCO) to test for northward expansion of
these 10 species over time
Main Findings (Part 1)
Comparison between past
and recent mean latitudinal
distributions for selected
estuarine species
Main Findings (Part 1)
 For
11 out of 15 species, the
difference between RML and PML
was found to be positive ranging
from 0.6° to 11.1° of latitude
showing a northward migration
 No
southward shifts recorded
Main Findings (Part 2)
Comparison between past
and recent northernmost
limits of subtropical species
range
Main Findings (Part 2)
6
species were caught further
north than ever recorded
before 1973
4
were not observed further
north than their normal limit of
distribution
Conclusion
 “The
two parts of the study both
highlighted some evidence of a
northward shift in the distribution of
several typical estuarine species,
which is consistent with the
assumption of a northward
migration that is expected in
response to global warming”
Why Should You Care?
Why Should You Care?
No, But Seriously

At a community level range shifts may lead
to…
1) change adjustments between
preys and predators (upsetting
the ecosystem)
2) and may even affects biodiversity,
richness, competition and productivity
Sources

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http://www.lumcon.edu/education/studentdatabase/estuary.asp
http://www.forces-ofnature.co.uk/dbdriven/beachguide/beachguide.php
http://www.christopherpiperwines.co.uk/acatalog/regionmap_eur
ope.html
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/imagery/neatl.html
http://article.wn.com/view/2012/08/26/The_reallife_turtle_wax_Fish_
offer_sea_creatures_a_swimthrou/
http://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/8260http://www.zerowastewa.c
om.au/disposal/government/hhweducationkit/
http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/toonaday/illustration/cartoonfish-tourist-swimming-with-a-camera-438003.html