Marine fish ranges are expanding and shifting deeper across the European continental shelf
Abstract
Understanding how climate change and exploitation affect marine species distribution is key for biodiversity conservation. While warming is typically expected to drive species poleward and into deeper waters, unexpected patterns such as equatorward shifts and shallowing also occur. Fishing pressure may further contract species' ranges. Yet, the mechanisms underpinning these 3-dimensional range shifts remain largely unresolved. Using 92,961 bottom trawl samples across the European continental shelf, covering 607 fish species over four decades, we show that deepening is predominant, with 60% of populations experiencing an increase in their average depth. Contrary to expectations, latitudinal shifts are balanced, with 49% of populations shifting poleward and 51% equatorward. Here, we quantify how population relocations are driven by the interplay between environmental factors and species traits as species track their optimal ecological niches. We also highlight that the recent reduction in fishing pressure has likely facilitated spatial expansions and increases in populations abundance.
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BibTeX
@article{auber2026marine,
title = {{Marine fish ranges are expanding and shifting deeper across the European continental shelf}},
author = {Arnaud Auber and Martin Marzloff and David Mouillot and Kari E. Ellingsen and Kirsteen Mackenzie and Fabien Leprieur and Patricia Belloeil and Matthew J. Mclean and Daniel G. Boyce and Adrián A. González Ortiz and Rita Vasconcelos and David M. Keith and Eva Maire and Aurore Receveur and Bastien Mourguiart and Camille Albouy},
journal = {Nature Communications},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-74371-8},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05854056v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Marine fish ranges are expanding and shifting deeper across the European continental shelf
AU - Arnaud Auber
AU - Martin Marzloff
AU - David Mouillot
AU - Kari E. Ellingsen
AU - Kirsteen Mackenzie
AU - Fabien Leprieur
AU - Patricia Belloeil
AU - Matthew J. Mclean
AU - Daniel G. Boyce
AU - Adrián A. González Ortiz
AU - Rita Vasconcelos
AU - David M. Keith
AU - Eva Maire
AU - Aurore Receveur
AU - Bastien Mourguiart
AU - Camille Albouy
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Nature Communications
DO - 10.1038/s41467-026-74371-8
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05854056v1
AB - Understanding how climate change and exploitation affect marine species distribution is key for biodiversity conservation. While warming is typically expected to drive species poleward and into deeper waters, unexpected patterns such as equatorward shifts and shallowing also occur. Fishing pressure may further contract species' ranges. Yet, the mechanisms underpinning these 3-dimensional range shifts remain largely unresolved. Using 92,961 bottom trawl samples across the European continental shelf, covering 607 fish species over four decades, we show that deepening is predominant, with 60% of populations experiencing an increase in their average depth. Contrary to expectations, latitudinal shifts are balanced, with 49% of populations shifting poleward and 51% equatorward. Here, we quantify how population relocations are driven by the interplay between environmental factors and species traits as species track their optimal ecological niches. We also highlight that the recent reduction in fishing pressure has likely facilitated spatial expansions and increases in populations abundance.
SN - 2041-1723
SN - 2041-1723
ER -