Rising seas could open new habitats for invasive marine species, study warns

A paper published in Nature Ecology & Evolution projects that sea-level rise caused by global warming will create new coastal environments for invasive marine organisms. By simulating the spread of 122 non-native fish, crustaceans, molluscs and sea stars, the team found that roughly 290,000-470,000 square kilometres of land flooded by mid-century could support these species, with estuaries acting as primary entry points.

The greatest vulnerabilities are projected for coastlines of the eastern United States, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, the Gulf of Guinea, the Arabian Gulf, the northern Bay of Bengal, southeastern China and northern Australia. Existing invaders such as the Pacific oyster, Atlantic blue crab and veined rapa whelk are already established in Europe, highlighting the potential for further expansion. The study links climate change directly to biodiversity threats and arrives as nations prepare for UN-backed summits on climate and biodiversity. A UN biodiversity panel previously estimated that biological invasions cost over $423 billion in 2019.