As global sea temperatures continue to rise, new research highlights how climate change is reshaping marine biodiversity. A recent study led by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) reveals that Turbo sazae, a species of marine gastropod, is migrating northward along the Korean coastline due to warming ocean waters.
Turbo sazae’s Habitat Shift Confirmed by Genetic Connectivity Analysis
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Animals, used genetic connectivity analysis to track the movement and adaptation of T. sazae. Traditionally found in the warmer southern coastal waters of Korea, particularly around Jeju Island, this marine species has now been detected much farther north, near Uljin on Korea’s eastern coast.
According to the National Comprehensive Investigation into Marine Ecosystems, T. sazae has expanded its habitat up to 37 degrees north latitude as of 2018. This northward range expansion aligns with rising sea surface temperatures, one of the most immediate effects of climate change in marine ecosystems.
Research Collaboration Highlights Climate Impact on Marine Life
The study was a joint effort between two research teams: one led by Dr. Hyun-sung Yang at the Tropical and Subtropical Research Center, KIOST, and another led by Dr. Young-Ghan Cho at the National Institute of Fisheries Science. Their interdisciplinary research assessed the physiological, ecological, and genetic traits of Turbo sazae to predict how climate-induced barren grounds are affecting benthic marine life.
One of the most striking discoveries was that the T. sazae populations from Jeju Island and the eastern coast share identical genetic markers, confirming that the species is migrating and successfully settling in new, cooler habitats.
Warming Waters Compromise Immune Health of Turbo sazae
The study also investigated the cause behind a significant decline in T. sazae populations around Jeju Island. Previous theories suggested that changes in feeding behavior due to urchin barrens were to blame. However, new findings from the Jeju Bio Research Center at KIOST identified a reduction in immune function, triggered by warmer sea temperatures, as the main culprit.
This compromised immunity makes the gastropods more vulnerable to disease and environmental stress, undermining their survival in traditionally warmer habitats and encouraging their migration to cooler regions.
Ocean Currents Fuel Larval Dispersal
Further analysis suggests that T. sazae larvae are dispersing via ocean currents like the Tsushima Current, aiding their settlement along Korea’s eastern coast. This process supports the theory of climate-driven habitat expansion and offers concrete evidence of how marine species respond to environmental stress through genetic adaptation and relocation.
Implications for Climate Adaptation and Marine Conservation
This research offers vital insights into how marine organisms adapt to climate change, emphasizing the importance of understanding species-specific migration patterns. The northward expansion of Turbo sazae could serve as a model for studying other marine species experiencing similar habitat shifts.
Moreover, these findings provide valuable data for developing marine conservation strategies and climate adaptation policies in the face of rapidly warming oceans.
Reference
Cho, Y.-G., Yang, H.-S., et al. (2025). Insights into the Genetic Connectivity and Climate-Driven Northward Range Expansion of Turbo sazae (Gastropoda: Turbinidae) Along the Eastern Coast of Korea. Animals, 15(9), Article 1321. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091321
Source: Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)