Trophic convergence of marine vertebrate communities worldwide

Marine vertebrate communities globally exhibit trophic convergence, meaning communities in different locations with similar environmental conditions develop similar feeding structures and functional roles. This functional similarity, driven primarily by temperature, productivity, and depth, results in the emergence of six distinct types of trophic communities worldwide. This convergence challenges traditional biogeographic models based on geographic isolation and supports the idea that shared environmental pressures shape marine ecosystems, even with different species.[artigo aqui]

Key findings

Six global trophic community types: Studies have identified six consistent types of marine trophic communities (TC1-TC6) that appear across the globe.

Environmental drivers: The specific type of trophic community that emerges in a region is largely determined by environmental factors, especially:

• Temperature: As temperatures get colder towards the poles, overall trophic complexity tends to decrease.
• Productivity: The availability of energy at the base of the food web is a fundamental driver of community structure.
• Depth: Shallower coastal areas tend to support more complex and specialized trophic communities.

Functional similarity over evolutionary history: The findings show that geographically distant communities with different evolutionary origins can converge into the same functional type when they share similar environmental conditions. This indicates a strong role for convergent evolution in shaping global marine biodiversity patterns.

Implications for conservation: The existence of these global trophic analogs provides a new benchmark for conservation and management efforts, helping scientists to better understand and predict the impacts of environmental change on marine biodiversity.