The Fall 2023 Biology Seminar Series continues with a talk from Dr. Zoë Kitchel, "Mechanisms and consequences of species on the move." The seminar is on Tuesday, September 26th, at 12:00pm.
The flora and fauna on this planet are currently facing unprecedented environmental change. In response, species can go extinct, adapt, or move where they live. Species in the ocean are moving in response to recent anthropogenic impacts at a rate 6x faster than species in terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is immense variability around this average. Species vary in movement to new locations based on population size, traits such as reproductive strategy and mobility, and where they are living. Asymmetries in species range shifts can lead to the development of novel communities and species interactions in the ocean. In addition to impacting communities of fish and invertebrates underwater, this reshuffling of species also has consequences for humans on land who depend on natural resources for subsistence and livelihoods.