Climate warming drives large-scale changes in ecosystem function

Abstract

The Barents Sea is the continental shelf sea to the north of Scandinavia and Northwest Russia and supports some of the richest fisheries in Europe. Until recently, the northern Barents Sea was dominated by small-sized, slow-growing fish species with specialized diets, mostly living in close association with the sea floor. Concomitant with rising sea temperatures and retreating sea ice, these fishes are being replaced by fast-growing, large-bodied generalists moving in from the south.