title: Shifting baselines in Antarctic ecosystems; ecophysiological response to warming in Lissarca miliaris at Signy Island, Antarctica.
abstract: The Antarctic Peninsula has experienced a rapid increase in atmospheric temperature over the last 50 years. Whether or not marine organisms thriving in this cold stenothermal environment are able to cope with warming is of concern. Here, we present changes to the growth and shell characteristics of the ecologically important, small and short lived brooding bivalve Lissarca miliaris from Signy Island, Antarctica. Using material collected from the 1970's to the present day, we show an increase in growth rate and adult shell deterioration accompanied by a decrease in offspring size, associated with an increase in annual average temperatures. Critical changes to the bivalve's ecology seen today evidence the problem of a shift in baseline since the onset of warming recorded in Antarctica. These small bivalves are demonstrating ecophysiological responses to subtle warming that, provided warming continues, could soon surpass a physiological tipping point, adding to warming associated threats such as increased predatory pressure and ocean acidification.
authors.affiliation: Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom. ajr04@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thatje
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linse
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D057232:Global Warming; D062312:Islands; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature