1 °C warming increases spatial competition frequency and complexity in Antarctic marine macrofauna

Abstract

David Barnes et al. observe spatial competition of fauna on artificial substrata in the West Antarctic Peninsula and found that while 1°C warming increased the probability, density, and complexity of spatial competition, competition did not increase with 2°C warming. These results help improve understanding of responses of competitive pairings between species to global physical change and suggest an increase in competition intensity with moderate warming seems likely.