Warming simplifies marine ecological networks through losses in trophic and non-trophic interactions
Published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2026
Ocean warming is anticipated to alter marine community composition and ecological interactions. In a 4.5-month mesocosm experiment, we examined how experimental warming and transient upwelling affected the biomass and ecological network properties of coastal benthic communities.
Extreme warming reduced total community biomass by approximately 50%. The biomass of the foundation species Fucus spp. declined by 50–76%, with complete loss at +5°C. This decline was associated with a reduction of approximately 39% in non-trophic interactions. Extreme warming also caused the disappearance of predatory sea stars and reduced network connectance, omnivory, generality, and carnivorous energy fluxes.
Recommended citation: Kraufvelin, L., Pansch, C., Wolf, F., Barboza, F. R., Vajedsamiei, J., Nordström, M. C., & Kortsch S. (2026). Warming simplifies marine ecological networks through losses in trophic and non-trophic interactions. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 782, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15092
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