The functional effects of a dominant consumer are altered following the loss of a dominant producer.

Human impacts on ecosystems are resulting in unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss worldwide. The loss of species results in the loss of the multiple roles that each species plays or functions (i.e.

Climate Change Amelioration by Marine Producers: Does Dominance Predict Impact?

AbstractClimate change threatens biodiversity worldwide, and assessing how those changes will impact communities will be critical for conservation. Dominant primary producers can alter local-scale environmental conditions, reducing temperature shading and mitigating ocean acidification photosynthesis, which could buffer communities from the impacts of climate change. We conducted two experiments on the coast of southeastern Alaska to assess the effects of a common seaweed species, , on temperature and pH in field tide pools and tide pool mesocosms.