Rising synchrony controls western North American ecosystems

• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14128
• Publication Date: 2018-03-25T18:32:58Z
• Authors: Bryan A. Black; Peter van der Sleen; Emanuele Di Lorenzo; Daniel Griffin; William J. Sydeman; Jason B. Dunham; Ryan R. Rykaczewski; Marisol García‐Reyes; Mohammad Safeeq; Ivan Arismendi; Steven J. Bograd
• Keywords: Marine ecosystem; Terrestrial ecosystem

Along the western margin of North America, winter expression Pacific High (NPH) strongly influences interannual variability in coastal upwelling, storm track position, precipitation, and river discharge. Coherence among these factors induces covariance physical biological processes across adjacent marine terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we show that over past century degree spatial extent this (synchrony) has substantially increased, is coincident with rising variance NPH. Furthermore, centuries-long blue oak (Quercus douglasii) growth chronologies sensitive to NPH provide robust evidence modern levels synchrony are highest observed context last 250 years. These trends may ultimately be linked changing impacts El Niño Southern Oscillation on midlatitude ecosystems America. Such a rise destabilize ecosystems, expose populations higher risks extinction, thus concern given broad relevance climate systems.