The Resilience of Marine Ecosystems to Climatic Disturbances

2017/02/01 by Jennifer K. O’Leary, Jennifer K. O'Leary, Fiorenza Micheli +15 · 134 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Biology #Climate change #Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies #Disturbance (geology) #Ecological resilience #Ecology #Ecosystem #Ecosystem services #Environmental resource management #Environmental science #Geography #Habitat #Marine and coastal plant biology #Marine ecosystem #Psychological resilience #Resilience (materials science) #Stressor

paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/biosci/biw161

published in BioScience 67(3), 208-220 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2017/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

The intensity and frequency of climate-driven disturbances are increasing in coastal marine ecosystems. Understanding the factors that enhance or inhibit ecosystem resilience to climatic disturbance is essential. We surveyed 97 experts in six major coastal biogenic ecosystem types to identify “bright spots” of resilience in the face of climate change. We also evaluated literature that was recommended by the experts that addresses the responses of habitat-forming species to climatic disturbance. Resilience was commonly reported in the expert surveys (80% of experts). Resilience was observed in all ecosystem types and at multiple locations worldwide. The experts and literature cited remaining biogenic habitat, recruitment/connectivity, physical setting, and management of local-scale stressors as most important for resilience. These findings suggest that coastal ecosystems may still hold great potential to persist in the face of climate change and that local- to regional-scale management can help buffer global climatic impacts.

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