Climate change is altering the distribution and abundance of marine species, including canopy-forming seaweeds which provide important ecosystem functions and services. We used species distribution models to project climate-driven range shifts of rockweeds (Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus), Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), kelps (Saccharina latissima, Laminaria digitata), and the invasive Codium fragile in the NW Atlantic. Our results highlight the benefits of strong climate change mitigation which would limit changes in rocky-shore community compositions. Yet substantial range shifts are expected under business-as-usual emissions, with a transition in dominant species and community reorganization south of Newfoundland.
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February