Biological And Physical Factors That Mediate The Population Establishment Of The Coral Pocillopora aliciae On Temperate Reefs In New South Wales

Abstract

Climate change is leading to significant changes in the geographic distribution of species around the world. Many marine species have shifted their ranges poleward in response to ocean warming, following latitudinal changes in their thermal optima. However, the rates of these range shifts have been inconsistent and difficult to predict due to the complex interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. To improve our understanding of what mediates a species’ ability to expand poleward, we must first gain a deeper understanding of the ecology of species persisting at their range edges and the factors that influence their persistence. Here, I investigated the recent proliferation of a subtropical endemic coral Pocillopora aliciae at its poleward range-edge (34° S). Climate change is leading to significant changes in the geographic distribution of species around the world. Many marine species have shifted their ranges poleward in response to ocean warming, following latitudinal changes in their thermal optima. However, the rates of these range shifts have been inconsistent and difficult to predict due to the complex interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. To improve our understanding of what mediates a species’ ability to expand poleward, we must first gain a deeper understanding of the ecology of species persisting at their range edges and the factors that influence their persistence. Here, I investigated the recent proliferation of a subtropical endemic coral Pocillopora aliciae at its poleward range-edge (34° S). This research represents a crucial step forward in understanding the factors that mediate the establishment of populations of corals at their poleward range-edge in high latitude rocky reefs. This knowledge is fundamental if we are to predict the capacity of coral species to persist under the threat of global climate change.