Killer storms: North atlantic hurricanes and disease outbreaks in sea urchins

Robert E. Scheibling, Jean Sébastien Lauzon-Guay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An increase in the incidence of disease in various marine organisms over the past few decades has been linked to ocean climate change. In Nova Scotia, Canada, mass mortalities of sea urchins, due to an amoebic disease, are associated with tropical cyclones of relatively high intensity that pass close to the coast when water temperature is above a threshold for disease propagation. These conditions increase the likelihood of introduction and spread of a nonindigenous water-borne pathogen through turbulent mixing. Our analysis shows that the most deadly storms, in terms of the probability of a sea urchin mass mortality, have become more deadly over the past 30 years. We also found that storms have been tracking closer to the coast and that surface temperature has increased during the hurricane season. These trends are likely to continue with climate warming, resulting in a regional shift to a kelp bed ecosystem and the loss of the urchin fishery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2331-2338
Number of pages8
JournalLimnology and Oceanography
Volume55
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2010

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science

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