Evaluating the global sea snake diversity and distribution under climate change scenario

Abstract

Anthropogenically accelerated climate change has wreaked havoc on marine ecosystems, particularly affecting marine reptiles such as sea snakes. These reptiles are highly sensitive to climate change induced coral reef degradation and environmental fluctuations, leading to habitat expansion and increased human-sea snake interactions. Despite this, till date no comprehensive investigation of global sea snake diversity and distribution has been conducted. In this study, we used MaxEnt Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) to assess effects of climate change on sea snake distribution from 1993 to 2024. This analysis integrates occurrence data sourced from exhaustive literature reviews and biogeographic databases with environmental predictors like seawater temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a concentration. The study identifies 74 species across 11 genera and 3 families. Among 14 biogeographic habitats examined, the South Pacific and Indian Oceans exhibit highest species richness, while the Atlantic Ocean shows the lowest. Notably, species in the Bay of Bengal and Arafura Sea demonstrate significant taxonomic distinctness. Furthermore, our findings reveal a substantial expansion of sea snake habitats from equatorial to temperate regions, primarily driven by increase in seawater temperature. Optimal habitat suitability is associated with temperatures of approximately 30 °C, chlorophyll a concentration of around 0.3 mg m⁻³, and salinity levels between 35 and 40 g L⁻¹. These insights into sea snake diversity and distributional shifts induced by global climate change are critical for formulating evidence-based management strategies, including implementation of sustainable fishing practices, preservation of critical habitats, and establishment of rigorous bycatch mitigation protocols to ensure conservation of these ecologically significant marine reptiles.