Warming communities
Understanding how environmental conditions influence phenology, species distribution patterns and community composition is important for predicting effects of climate change on species abundance, range expansions/contractions, and community dynamics. We approach this research objective from multiple angles - 1) we study how ocean warming influences community composition, species phenology and development of ascidians in collaboration with Dr. Erica Westerman at the University of Arkansas and Dr. Walter Lambert at Framingham State University, 2) we use remote sensing tools and develop methods for assessing coupled changes in species composition and environmental variables in benthic communities.
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
J.A. Dijkstra, K. Mello, D. Sowers, M. Malik, L. Watling, L.A. Mayer, Fine-scale mapping of deep-sea habitat-forming species densities reveals taxonomic specific environmental drivers. Global Ecology and Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13287. 2021
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Litterer**, K. Mello, B.S. O’Brien*, Y. Rzhanov. Temperature, phenology, and turf macroalgae drive seascape change: Connections to mid-trophic level species. Ecosphere 10(11): e02923, 2019.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2923. 2019
W.J. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, E. Clark, J. Connoly, Larval exposure to low salinity compromises metamorphosis and growth in the colonial ascidian Botrylloides violaceus. Invertebrate Biology 137:281-288, 2018.
J.A. Dijkstra*, E.L. Westerman*, L.G. Harris. Elevated seasonal temperatures eliminate thermal barriers of reproduction of a dominant invasive species: A community state change for northern communities? Diversity and Distributions 23(10):1082-1092, 2017. * Equal Authorship
C. Simkanin, P. Fofonoff, K. Larson, G. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, G.M. Ruiz. Spatial and temporal ascidian invasions in the continental United States and Alaska. Marine Biology 1-16, 2016.
J.A. Dijkstra and C. Simkanin. Intraspecific response of colonial ascidians to variable salinity stress in an era of global change. Marine Ecology Progress Series 551:215-225, 2016.
J.A. Dijkstra, K.L. Buckman, D. Warren, D.W. Evans, M. Dionne, C.Y. Chen, Experimental and natural warming increases mercury concentrations in estuarine fish. PLoS ONE 8:pe58401, 2013.
J.A. Dijkstra, J. Boudreau, M. Dionne, Species-specific mediation of temperature and community interactions by multiple foundation species. Oikos 121(5):646-654, 2012.
J.A. Dijkstra, E.L. Westerman and L.G. Harris, The effects of climate change on species composition, succession, and phenology. A case study. Global Change Biology. 17: 2360-2369, 2011.
E.L. Westerman, R.B. Whitlatch, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, Variation in brooding period masks similarities in response to changing temperatures. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 391: 13-19, 2009.
P.C. Valentine, M.R. Carman, J. Dijkstra, D. Blackwood, Larval recruitment of the colonial ascidian Didemnum vexillum, seasonal water temperatures in New England coastal and offshore waters, and implications for spread of the species. Aquatic Invasions 4(1): 153-168, 2009.
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Dutton**, E. Westerman, L.G. Harris, Heart Rate reflects osmostic stress levels in two introduced colonial ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus. Marine Biology. Vol. 154(5): 805-811, 2008.
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Litterer**, K. Mello, B.S. O’Brien*, Y. Rzhanov. Temperature, phenology, and turf macroalgae drive seascape change: Connections to mid-trophic level species. Ecosphere 10(11): e02923, 2019.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2923. 2019
W.J. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, E. Clark, J. Connoly, Larval exposure to low salinity compromises metamorphosis and growth in the colonial ascidian Botrylloides violaceus. Invertebrate Biology 137:281-288, 2018.
J.A. Dijkstra*, E.L. Westerman*, L.G. Harris. Elevated seasonal temperatures eliminate thermal barriers of reproduction of a dominant invasive species: A community state change for northern communities? Diversity and Distributions 23(10):1082-1092, 2017. * Equal Authorship
C. Simkanin, P. Fofonoff, K. Larson, G. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, G.M. Ruiz. Spatial and temporal ascidian invasions in the continental United States and Alaska. Marine Biology 1-16, 2016.
J.A. Dijkstra and C. Simkanin. Intraspecific response of colonial ascidians to variable salinity stress in an era of global change. Marine Ecology Progress Series 551:215-225, 2016.
J.A. Dijkstra, K.L. Buckman, D. Warren, D.W. Evans, M. Dionne, C.Y. Chen, Experimental and natural warming increases mercury concentrations in estuarine fish. PLoS ONE 8:pe58401, 2013.
J.A. Dijkstra, J. Boudreau, M. Dionne, Species-specific mediation of temperature and community interactions by multiple foundation species. Oikos 121(5):646-654, 2012.
J.A. Dijkstra, E.L. Westerman and L.G. Harris, The effects of climate change on species composition, succession, and phenology. A case study. Global Change Biology. 17: 2360-2369, 2011.
E.L. Westerman, R.B. Whitlatch, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, Variation in brooding period masks similarities in response to changing temperatures. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 391: 13-19, 2009.
P.C. Valentine, M.R. Carman, J. Dijkstra, D. Blackwood, Larval recruitment of the colonial ascidian Didemnum vexillum, seasonal water temperatures in New England coastal and offshore waters, and implications for spread of the species. Aquatic Invasions 4(1): 153-168, 2009.
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Dutton**, E. Westerman, L.G. Harris, Heart Rate reflects osmostic stress levels in two introduced colonial ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus. Marine Biology. Vol. 154(5): 805-811, 2008.
