This section shows how ocean acidification and warming can shift community structures, but it also points out that species responses vary by region. For example, mussels in Eastern Australia may be more tolerant of heat than those in northern Germany because they’re already acclimated to warmer waters. This suggests that local adaptation plays a big role in how climate change impacts ecosystems. Do you think local acclimation is enough to protect some species from climate change, or will ocean acidification eventually outweigh those regional advantages?

After reading this section, I learned that climate change alters not just the performance of mussels but also the active choices of colonizing infauna. Which made we wonder if this shift could create feedback loops that further advantage invasive mussels over natives?