Although the specific effects of warming, acidification and changes in circulation will vary across ocean basins, it is clear that there will be multiple impacts on ocean and coastal ecosystems throughout the world. Effects on individual species are likely to cascade throughout the entire ecosystem, influencing species interactions, food web dynamics, migration patterns and ecosystem resiliency. Regional patterns of ecosystem change are contingent on the region’s history, the spatial scale of influence and the ability of organisms to acclimate to or evolve with changing conditions. These ecological effects, in turn, are likely to negatively impact the world’s social and economic systems as a result of the loss of valuable ecosystem services upon which humans depend. Such services at stake include healthy seafood, clean beaches, stable fisheries, abundant wildlife, and vibrant coastal communities.
