California marine species threatened by climate change

Dungeness crabs, Pacific herrings and red abalones are some of California’s marine species most vulnerable to climate change. Researchers modeled the effects of projected climate change on 34 marine species, such as dungeness crabs (Metacarcinus magister) and red abalones (Haliotis rufescens), across two timeframes—2030 to 2060 and 2070 to 2100—for a study published recently in PLOS Climate. The team evaluated both their exposure to projected oceanographic changes and their hypothesized vulnerability. “The results are striking,” said Timothy Frawley, an assistant project scientist at the University of California Santa Cruz’s Institute of Marine Sciences and project co-lead, in an interview with the university. “Some of California’s most economically and culturally important fisheries are assessed as being among the most vulnerable to projected future environmental changes.” Researchers hope that fisheries managers can use the study to prioritize conservation and management strategies.

Read more at the UC Santa Cruz News Center.