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Hot and hungry: A mechanistic approach to the direct and indirect effects of marine heatwaves on plankton communities
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  • Maria Grigoratou,
  • Camila Serra-Pompei,
  • Adam Kemberling,
  • Andrew Pershing
Maria Grigoratou
Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Camila Serra-Pompei
Center for Climate Change Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Adam Kemberling
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
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Andrew Pershing
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
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Abstract

Marine heatwaves, increasingly frequent, impact marine ecosystems and services. Still, understanding how temperature affects observed responses remains limited due to complex interactions among temperature, abiotic and biotic factors, and community dynamics. Here we try to fill this gap by exposing simulated plankton communities to seasonal heatwaves of 4°C with a trait- and size-structured model that accounts for protists and the life cycle of copepods. Despite the short lifespans and fast growth rates of plankton, results show that heatwaves affect communities differently and for an extended period up to six years after their appearance. Temperature affects species physiology and ecosystem dynamics, directly and indirectly, shaping structure and biomass. Species traits, interactions, and functional diversity under changing temperatures emerge as pivotal. Our study advances mechanistic insights into marine heatwave impacts, highlighting the complex connections between temperature, species traits, and ecological interactions.