From plankton to fish: 21st-century redistribution of marine biodiversity and the changing role of rare species.

Climate change could cause significant redistribution of marine biodiversity by 2100, with notable increases in fish and benthos richness and declines in zooplankton and phytoplankton.

• Why it matters: Understanding how climate-driven changes affect both common and rare marine species is crucial for accurate predictions and effective conservation, as current models often overlook noncommercial and rare taxa.
• What they did: Using Bayesian additive regression trees and extensive survey data, the study quantified diversity across multiple taxonomic groups and projected future changes in the northeast Atlantic until 2100.
• The result: Findings reveal potential disruptions in energy transfer within food webs and highlight areas of high biodiversity, providing a framework to guide proactive conservation efforts amid climate change.