The ecological and evolutionary consequences of tropicalisation

Contemporary climate change is causing poleward range shifts of species globally.In the ocean, tropical species are expanding into temperate regions as they warm, whereas temperate species' ranges are receding, leading to changes in community composition in a phenomenon known as tropicalisation.Tropicalisation has a multitude of ecological and evolutionary consequences for species, communities, and whole ecosystems, and is altering global biodiversity patterns.Tropicalisation research has primarily focused on ecological impacts, but our understanding of its evolutionary consequences remains limited.A comprehensive strategy that integrates genetic and ecological research is essential to better understand the drivers and consequences of tropicalisation. Such a holistic approach is pivotal for predicting changes in ecosystem functioning and consequent biodiversity and socioeconomic impacts. Tropicalisation is a marine phenomenon arising from contemporary climate change, and is characterised by the range expansion of tropical/subtropical species and the retraction of temperate species. Tropicalisation occurs globally and can be detected in both tropical/temperate transition zones and temperate regions. The ecological consequences of tropicalisation range from single-species impacts (e.g., altered behaviour) to whole ecosystem changes (e.g., phase shifts in intertidal and subtidal habitats). Our understanding of the evolutionary consequences of tropicalisation is limited, but emerging evidence suggests that tropicalisation could induce phenotypic change as well as shifts in the genotypic composition of both expanding and retracting species. Given the rapid rate of contemporary climate change, research on tropicalisation focusing on shifts in ecosystem functioning, biodiversity change, and socioeconomic impacts is urgently needed. Tropicalisation is a marine phenomenon arising from contemporary climate change, and is characterised by the range expansion of tropical/subtropical species and the retraction of temperate species. Tropicalisation occurs globally and can be detected in both tropical/temperate transition zones and temperate regions. The ecological consequences of tropicalisation range from single-species impacts (e.g., altered behaviour) to whole ecosystem changes (e.g., phase shifts in intertidal and subtidal habitats). Our understanding of the evolutionary consequences of tropicalisation is limited, but emerging evidence suggests that tropicalisation