Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37878014›Full record

ArticleAnnals of botany2024

Multiscale stability of an intertidal kelp (Postelsia palmaeformis) near its northern range edge through a period of prolonged heatwaves.

Matthew Csordas, Samuel Starko, Christopher J Neufeld, Sarah Ann Thompson, Julia K Baum

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of botany, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Marine heatwave and keystone predator loss drive broad-scale decline and hinder recovery of a rocky intertidal kelp.Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Matthew CsordasDepartment of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
Samuel StarkoDepartment of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9604-9188
Christopher J NeufeldDepartment of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
Sarah Ann ThompsonFarallon Institute, Petaluma, CA 94952, USA.
Julia K BaumDepartment of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9827-1612
University of Victoria · CAFarallon Institute · USThe University of Western Australia · AUUniversity of British Columbia · CA

Funding

Kelp Rescue Initiative CF001Mitacs IT28407Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council RGPAS/522477-2018
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsClimate change, including gradual changes and extreme weather events, is driving widespread species losses and range shifts. These climatic changes are felt acutely in intertidal ecosystems, where many organisms live close to their thermal limits and experience the extremes of both marine and terrestrial environments. A recent series of multiyear heatwaves in the northeast Pacific Ocean might have impacted species even towards their cooler, northern range edges. Among them, the high intertidal kelp Postelsia palmaeformis has traits that could make it particularly vulnerable to climate change, but it is critically understudied.

methodsIn 2021 and 2022, we replicated in situ and aerial P. palmaeformis surveys that were conducted originally in 2006 and 2007, in order to assess the state of northern populations following recent heatwaves. Changes in P. palmaeformis distribution, extent, density and morphometrics were assessed between these two time points over three spatial scales, ranging from 250 m grid cells across the entire 167 km study region, to within grid cells and the individual patch. KEY

resultsWe found evidence consistent with population stability at all three scales: P. palmaeformis remained present in all 250 m grid cells in the study region where it was previously found, and neither the extent within cells nor the patch density changed significantly between time points. However, there was evidence of slight distributional expansion, increased blade lengths and a shift to earlier reproductive timing.

conclusionsWe suggest that apparent long-term stability of P. palmaeformis might be attributable to thermal buffering near its northern range edge and from the wave-exposed coastlines it inhabits, which may have decreased the impacts of heatwaves. Our results highlight the importance of multiscale assessments when examining changes within species and populations, in addition to the importance of dispersal capability and local conditions in regulating the responses of species to climate change.

Indexed as

KelpClimate ChangeEcosystemPhenotypeBiogeographyclimate changeheatwavekelpleading range edgemultiscale analysisphenological shiftsPostelsia palmaeformisspecies distributionsstability

Identifiers

PMID37878014
PMCPMC10921842
OpenAlexW4387931102

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.