Published

Warming winters promote biodiversity through reduced mortality of a habitat-forming species in soft-sediment intertidal systems - data Version 1

Allert Bijleveld (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research https://doi.org/10.25850/nioz/7b.b.4h

Habitat-forming species enhance biodiversity by providing shelter, substrate, and feeding grounds for many species. Climate-change effects on these species may have wide ranging impacts on local species richness and abundance. Warmer winter temperatures in particular are an important driver of demographic parameters in temperate to polar environments. However, the extent of these effects on local biodiversity remains unclear. We address this topic by studying the abundance of the tube-worm Lanice conchilega, a habitat-forming species that shows mass mortalities in intertidal areas after cold winters. Using 15 years of data collected throughout the intertidal Dutch Wadden Sea, we modelled population dynamics of L. conchilega relative to inundation and winter temperatures, and related its population growth to changes in species richness. Winter temperature was positively associated with L. conchilega’s population growth, which in turn correlated with increased local species richness. Specifically, for every 10 fold increase in L. conchilega population, 0.69 additional species were found. We conclude that increases in winter temperature promote L. conchilega’s abundance and, in turn, species richness due to its role as a habitat-forming species. The direct positive effect of warmer winters on L. conchilega abundance and the subsequent indirect effect on biodiversity might represent a silver lining within the environmental and biodiversity crisis we are facing.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Subject Earth and Environmental Sciences
DAS Code 7b.b.4h
Source https://doi.org/10.25850/nioz/7b.b.4h
Version 1
Creator(s)
de la Barra, Paula (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
ORCID

Bijleveld, Allert (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
ORCID
Contact the corresponding author
Depositor Anita Koolhaas (anita.koolhaas@nioz.nl)
Publication Date 2025-05-16T10:36:20.7066163
Deposit Date 2024-12-04
Dataset Persistent Identifier DOI:10.25850/nioz/7b.b.4h
Alternate identifier 10.1002/oik.10877
Related identifier
Contributor Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)
Distributor Research Data Management(NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
Distribution Date 2024-12-04
Production Date 2025-05-16
Dates
Funding References
RWS
SIBES

NAM
SIBES

NIOZ
SIBES
Geographic Coverage
Dutch Wadden Sea
North Bound: 53.53
South Bound: 52.91
West Bound: 4.80
East Bound: 6.75