RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Regulation of Keystone Predation by Small Changes in Ocean Temperature
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 2095
OP 2097
DO 10.1126/science.283.5410.2095
VO 283
IS 5410
A1 Sanford, Eric
YR 1999
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/283/5410/2095.abstract
AB Key species interactions that are sensitive to temperature may act as leverage points through which small changes in climate could generate large changes in natural communities. Field and laboratory experiments showed that a slight decrease in water temperature dramatically reduced the effects of a keystone predator, the sea starPisaster ochraceus, on its principal prey. Ongoing changes in patterns of cold water upwelling, associated with El Niño events and longer term geophysical changes, may thus have far-reaching impacts on the composition and diversity of these rocky intertidal communities.