Marine Organisms Response to Climate Change Effects in the Western Indian Ocean

There is widespread consensus among climate scientists today that global climate change is real and has anthropogenic roots. Marine species, for example, are exposed to a large array of abiotic stressors, such as warming and ocean acidification, that are linked directly to anthropogenic climate change. The general view on whether natural populations can adapt to anthropogenic change is that many species will fail to adapt to rapid climate change effects. This accelerating trend has profound effects on marine species and ecosystems, globally and the Eastern African region is no exception. Here, we provide a review that is the result of the workshop “Marine Organisms Response to Climate Change Effects – Adaptation or Extinction?” among ocean scientists actively studying the impact of climate change in the Western Indian Ocean. The review examines several key marine organisms and ecosystems in the region of the Western Indian Ocean, how these may be impacted by climate change, and the way forward for successful conservation and management.