Changes to the timing of life cycle events (phenology)

Phenology is a term used to describe the timing of life cycle events such as spawning or migrations. Often these cycles and events have evolved under very specific conditions and are triggered by changes in the natural environment, such as day length or seasonal temperature variations.

Ecosystems are very complex and there are many different interactions and links between species (such as predator/prey, competition for shelter and food). We need to develop a better understanding of how climate change is influencing the timing (phenology) of ecological events and changing the interactions between species. And how adaptive species and their broader ecosystems are to these changes.

For example, two studies have shown:

- The egg-laying dates of Little Penguins in Bass Strait are earlier in warmer years.

- The timing of peak rock lobster puerulus (juvenile) settlement has shifted to later in the year (from July to October).

Phenological changes are difficult to detect in marine species and little information exists in Australia.

Physiological responses

All marine organisms live within an optimal range of parameters, such as temperature and pH, for which their physiology is adapted. Changes to such parameters can cause changes to vital physiological processes such as growth and reproduction. For example, the optimum growth temperature for southern rock lobster larvae (stage III phyllosoma – rock lobsters have 11 different life stages!) is around 20 °C. If the temperature of the water was to reach 21.5 °C they would be unable to adapt to this increase and would not survive.

However, some species may thrive under the new conditions and their physiological response may be to become more abundant or to grow faster. For example within the upper regions of the oceans all over the world are tiny plants and animals that cannot be seen with the naked eye. This sea soup - known as plankton - can be subdivided into zooplankton (animals) and phytoplankton (plants). These tiny creatures are very susceptible to climatic changes and the nutrient levels within the waters they live and are likely to become so abundant under certain conditions that they can be seen floating on the water as a toxic ‘bloom’.

For example 'red tides' of Noctiluca, a type of zooplankton, sometimes form a reddish bloom in waters around Australia’s coastlines where well-mixed warm waters and high nutrient levels may encourage their growth.  But increasingly, there are documented cases of these red tides in Tasmania in response to a combination of increased nutrient loads and warming waters off the east coast of Tasmania. The changes to Noctiluca and other zooplankton species are very important and the role of zooplankton in the environment is not to be underestimated.  Scientists are predicting that zooplankton will play a vital role in climate change science by acting as 'indicator species' for climate change impacts. That is, zooplankton may just be the oceans early warning system that changes are occurring.

(Edited by Yvette Barry)

Sources:

Hobday, A., T.A. Okey, E.S. Poloczanska, T.J. Kunz, and A.J. Richardson. (eds).(2006).
Impacts of climate change on Australian marine life. Report to the Australian Greenhouse
Office. Canberra, Australia.

Hallegraeff, G, Hosia, W, Knuckey R, Wilkinson C. (2008) Recent Range expansion of the red-tide dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans in Australian Coastal Waters. IOC-UNESCO Harmful Algae Newsletter 38:10-11.
 
Pecl G, Frusher S, Gardner C, Haward M, Hobday A, Jennings S, Nursey-Bray M, Punt A, Revill H, van Putten I (2009). East coast, Tasmania – an assessment of climate change impacts on east coast rock lobster productivity, interactions with fisheries management and flow-on effects to local communities. Case study to support a ‘first pass’ National Climate Change Coastal Vulnerability Assessment (NCVA). Report to the Department of Climate Change, Australia. April 2009. www.climatechange.gov.au/publications/coastline/east-coast-rock-lobster.aspx

Poloczanska ES, Babcock RC, Butler A, Hobday AJ, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Kunz TJ, Matear R, Milton D, Okey TA, Richardson AJ (2007) Climate change and Australian marine life. Oceanography and Marine Biology Annual Review, 45, 409–480.

Richardson J A Impacts of Climate change on zooplankton in Hobday, A., T.A. Okey, E.S. Poloczanska, T.J. Kunz, and A.J. Richardson. (eds).(2006). Impacts of climate change on Australian marine life. Part C: Literature Review Report to the Australian Greenhouse Office. Canberra, Australia.

Swadling, K.M., Slotwinski, A.S., Ritz, D.A., Gibson, J.A.E., and Hosie, G.W. 2008 Guide to the marine zooplankton of south eastern Australia. Version 1.0 June 2008 http://www.imas.utas.edu.au/zooplankton/