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Denis V, Ferrier-Pagès C, Schubert N, Coppari M, Baker DM, Camp EF, Gori A, Grottoli AG, Houlbrèque F, Maier SR, Mancinelli G, Martinez S, Yalçın Özdilek Ş, Radice VZ, Ribes M, Richter C, Viladrich N, Rossi S. Heterotrophy in marine animal forests in an era of climate change. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:965-978. [PMID: 38284299 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Marine animal forests (MAFs) are benthic ecosystems characterised by biogenic three-dimensional structures formed by suspension feeders such as corals, gorgonians, sponges and bivalves. They comprise highly diversified communities among the most productive in the world's oceans. However, MAFs are in decline due to global and local stressors that threaten the survival and growth of their foundational species and associated biodiversity. Innovative and scalable interventions are needed to address the degradation of MAFs and increase their resilience under global change. Surprisingly, few studies have considered trophic interactions and heterotrophic feeding of MAF suspension feeders as an integral component of MAF conservation. Yet, trophic interactions are important for nutrient cycling, energy flow within the food web, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and MAF stability. This comprehensive review describes trophic interactions at all levels of ecological organisation in tropical, temperate, and cold-water MAFs. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of available tools for estimating the heterotrophic capacities of the foundational species in MAFs. It then discusses the threats that climate change poses to heterotrophic processes. Finally, it presents strategies for improving trophic interactions and heterotrophy, which can help to maintain the health and resilience of MAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vianney Denis
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Da'an District, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | | | - Nadine Schubert
- CCMAR-Center of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus Gambelas, Bld. 7, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Martina Coppari
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche snc, Ancona, 60131, Italy
| | - David M Baker
- School of Biological Sciences & Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Emma F Camp
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Andrea Gori
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Andréa G Grottoli
- School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Fanny Houlbrèque
- Entropie UMR 9220, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Nouméa, 98848, New Caledonia
| | - Sandra R Maier
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2 PO Box 570, Nuuk, 3900, Greenland
| | - Giorgio Mancinelli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Via Monteroni s/n, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Stephane Martinez
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Şükran Yalçın Özdilek
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, 17100, Turkey
| | - Veronica Z Radice
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Marta Ribes
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Claudio Richter
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Alten Hafen 26, Bremerhaven, 27568, Germany
- Department of Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Str., NW 2, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Nuria Viladrich
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Sergio Rossi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Via Monteroni s/n, Lecce, 73100, Italy
- Universidade Federal do Ceara, Instituto de Ciencias do Mar (Labomar), Av. da Abolicao 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
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Fong CR, Smith N, Catalan E, Caraveo BA, Barber PH, Fong P. Herbivorous sea urchins (Echinometra mathaei) support resilience on overfished and sedimented tropical reefs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3829. [PMID: 38360981 PMCID: PMC10869737 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Human impacts are dramatically changing ecological communities, motivating research on resilience. Tropical reefs are increasingly undergoing transitions to short algal turf, a successional community that mediates either recovery to coral by allowing recruitment or transitions to longer turf/macroalgae. Intense herbivory limits turf height; subsequently, overfishing erodes resilience of the desirable coral-dominated reef state. Increased sedimentation also erodes resilience through smothering and herbivory suppression. In spite of this critical role, most herbivory studies on tropical reefs focus on fishes, and the contribution of urchins remains under-studied. To test how different herbivory and sedimentation scenarios impact turf resilience, we experimentally simulated, in situ, four future overfishing scenarios derived from patterns of fish and urchin loss in other reef systems and two future sedimentation regimes. We found urchins were critical to short turf resilience, maintaining this state even with reduced fish herbivory and increased sediment. Further, urchins cleared sediment, facilitating fish herbivory. This study articulates the likelihood of increased reliance on urchins on impacted reefs in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elijah Catalan
- Howard University, Washington DC, USA
- UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
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3
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Dimitriadis C, Marampouti C, Calò A, Di Franco A, Giakoumi S, Di Franco E, Di Lorenzo M, Gerovasileiou V, Guidetti P, Pey A, Sini M, Sourbès L. Evaluating the long term effectiveness of a Mediterranean marine protected area to tackle the effects of invasive and range expanding herbivorous fish on rocky reefs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106293. [PMID: 38103302 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Here we provide evidence, along an 8-year period time-series based on multifaceted data from a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA), whether protection can tackle invasive and range expanding herbivore fishes, and their effects on the algal resource availability, taking into account the population trends of predatory fishes, fisheries catches of herbivore fishes and sea surface temperature (SST) through time. Our findings pointed out that an ineffective in restoring top-down control process MPA may facilitate, rather than alleviate, the sudden and enduring population burst of invasive and range-expanding herbivorous fishes at tipping points of abrupt change. This subsequently results in the deterioration of rocky reef habitats and the depletion of algal resources, with the tipping points of abrupt change for algal and herbivore fish species not overlapping chronologically. As sea temperature increases, ineffective or recently established MPAs may inadvertently facilitate the proliferation of invasive and range-expanding species, posing a significant challenge to management effectiveness and conservation objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Dimitriadis
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece.
| | - C Marampouti
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece
| | - A Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy
| | - A Di Franco
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn" sede interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - S Giakoumi
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn" sede interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - E Di Franco
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Parc Valrose 28, Avenue Valrose, 06108, Nice, France
| | - M Di Lorenzo
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - V Gerovasileiou
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Ionian University, Zakynthos, Greece; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Thalassocosmos, Gournes, Crete, Greece
| | - P Guidetti
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), National Research Council, Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, 16126, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Pey
- Thalassa - Marine Research & Environmental Awareness, 17 Rue Gutenberg, 06000, Nice, France
| | - M Sini
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Mytilene, Greece
| | - L Sourbès
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece
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Vompe AD, Epstein HE, Speare KE, Schmeltzer ER, Adam TC, Burkepile DE, Sharpton TJ, Vega Thurber R. Microbiome ecological memory and responses to repeated marine heatwaves clarify variation in coral bleaching and mortality. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17088. [PMID: 38273492 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Microbiomes are essential features of holobionts, providing their hosts with key metabolic and functional traits like resistance to environmental disturbances and diseases. In scleractinian corals, questions remain about the microbiome's role in resistance and resilience to factors contributing to the ongoing global coral decline and whether microbes serve as a form of holobiont ecological memory. To test if and how coral microbiomes affect host health outcomes during repeated disturbances, we conducted a large-scale (32 exclosures, 200 colonies, and 3 coral species sampled) and long-term (28 months, 2018-2020) manipulative experiment on the forereef of Mo'orea, French Polynesia. In 2019 and 2020, this reef experienced the two most severe marine heatwaves on record for the site. Our experiment and these events afforded us the opportunity to test microbiome dynamics and roles in the context of coral bleaching and mortality resulting from these successive and severe heatwaves. We report unique microbiome responses to repeated heatwaves in Acropora retusa, Porites lobata, and Pocillopora spp., which included: microbiome acclimatization in A. retusa, and both microbiome resilience to the first marine heatwave and microbiome resistance to the second marine heatwave in Pocillopora spp. Moreover, observed microbiome dynamics significantly correlated with coral species-specific phenotypes. For example, bleaching and mortality in A. retusa both significantly increased with greater microbiome beta dispersion and greater Shannon Diversity, while P. lobata colonies had different microbiomes across mortality prevalence. Compositional microbiome changes, such as changes to proportions of differentially abundant putatively beneficial to putatively detrimental taxa to coral health outcomes during repeated heat stress, also correlated with host mortality, with higher proportions of detrimental taxa yielding higher mortality in A. retusa. This study reveals evidence for coral species-specific microbial responses to repeated heatwaves and, importantly, suggests that host-dependent microbiome dynamics may provide a form of holobiont ecological memory to repeated heat stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex D Vompe
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Hannah E Epstein
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK
| | - Kelly E Speare
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Emily R Schmeltzer
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Thomas C Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Thomas J Sharpton
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Winston M, Fuller K, Neilson BJ, Donovan MK. Complex drivers of invasive macroalgae boom and bust in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115744. [PMID: 37951125 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Invasive macroalgae Eucheuma sp. and Kappaphycus spp. (E/K) became a dominant benthic feature in Kāne'ohe Bay throughout the past four decades - occurring on up to 74 ha of reef area and growing up to three meters thick, which prompted intensive management action. In 2013, E/K cover began decreasing at managed and unmanaged sites. This study examined the extent and timing of the E/K decline and evaluated environmental and ecological drivers beyond management contributing to the decline. E/K continued to recede into 2017 and remains sparse in Kāne'ohe Bay today. Increasing over the sampling period, herbivore biomass was negatively correlated with E/K cover, and other significant, non-linear relationships emerged between E/K cover and coral cover, sea surface temperature, wind, and rainfall. This study uncovers several possible mechanisms explaining a boom and bust in E/K abundance, emphasizes the importance of herbivory, and highlights the resilience of coral reefs in Kāne'ohe Bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Winston
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA 96720.
| | - Kimberly Fuller
- State of Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Brian J Neilson
- State of Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Mary K Donovan
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA 96720
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6
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Spiers L, Frazer TK. Comparison of feeding preferences of herbivorous fishes and the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in Little Cayman. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16264. [PMID: 38025680 PMCID: PMC10656904 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
On Caribbean coral reefs, losses of two key groups of grazers, herbivorous fishes and Diadema antillarum, coincided with dramatic increases in macroalgae, which have contributed to decreases in the resilience of these coral reefs and continued low coral cover. In some locations, herbivorous reef fishes and D. antillarum populations have begun to recover, and reductions in macroalgal cover and abundance have followed. Harder to determine, and perhaps more important, are the combined grazing effects of herbivorous fishes and D. antillarum on the structure of macroalgal communities. Surprisingly few studies have examined the feeding preferences of D. antillarum for different macroalgal species, and there have been even fewer comparative studies between these different herbivore types. Accordingly, a series of in-situ and ex-situ feeding assays involving herbivorous fishes and D. antillarum were used to examine feeding preferences. Ten macrophytes representing palatable and chemically and/or structurally defended species were used in these assays, including nine macroalgae, and one seagrass. All species were eaten by at least one of the herbivores tested, although consumption varied greatly. All herbivores consumed significant portions of two red algae species while avoiding Halimeda tuna, which has both chemical and structural defenses. Herbivorous fishes mostly avoided chemically defended species while D. antillarum consumed less of the structurally defended algae. These results suggest complementarity and redundancy in feeding by these different types of herbivores indicating the most effective macroalgal control and subsequent restoration of degraded coral reefs may depend on the recovery of both herbivorous fishes and D. antillarum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Spiers
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marathon, FL, United States of America
| | - Thomas K. Frazer
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America
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Fish community structure and dynamics are insufficient to mediate coral resilience. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1700-1709. [PMID: 36192541 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01882-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Coral reefs are being impacted by myriad stressors leading to drastic changes to their structure and function. Fishes play essential roles in driving ecosystem processes on coral reefs but the extent to which these processes are emergent at temporal or ecosystem scales or otherwise masked by other drivers (for example, climatic events and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks) is poorly understood. Using time series data on fish community composition and coral and macroalgae percentage cover between 2006 and 2017 from 57 sites around Mo'orea, Polynesia, we found that fish community diversity predicts temporal stability in fish biomass but did not translate to temporal stability of coral cover. Furthermore, we found limited evidence of directional influence of fish on coral dynamics at temporal and ecosystem scales and no evidence that fish mediate coral recovery rate from disturbance. Our findings suggest that coral reef fisheries management will benefit from maintaining fish diversity but that this level of management is unlikely to strongly mediate coral loss or recovery over time.
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Arjunwadkar CV, Tebbett SB, Bellwood DR, Bourne DG, Smith HA. Algal turf structure and composition vary with particulate loads on coral reefs. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 181:113903. [PMID: 35843165 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Algal turfs trap and retain particulates, however, little is known about the relationship between particulate accumulation and taxonomic composition of algal turfs. We investigated how particulate mass related to algal turf structure (length and density) and community composition (taxonomic and functional) on two disparate reefs. Particulate mass was positively related to algal turf length. By contrast, the relationship between particulate mass and turf density was more complex and followed a negative parabolic shape; density increased with particulate mass before stabilising and then declining. Community analyses showed taxonomic, but not functional group compositions differed significantly between reefs and with increasing particulate mass. Our results suggest high loads of particulates accumulated in algal turfs are related to a longer, lower density turf structure, typified by filamentous forms such as Cladophora. Changes in algal turf structure and composition could have a variety of bottom-up influences on coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sterling B Tebbett
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Hillary A Smith
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia.
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Adam TC, Holbrook SJ, Burkepile DE, Speare KE, Brooks AJ, Ladd MC, Shantz AA, Vega Thurber R, Schmitt RJ. Priority effects in coral-macroalgae interactions can drive alternate community paths in the absence of top-down control. Ecology 2022; 103:e3831. [PMID: 35862066 PMCID: PMC10078572 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The outcomes of species interactions can vary greatly in time and space with the outcomes of some interactions determined by priority effects. On coral reefs, benthic algae rapidly colonize disturbed substrate. In the absence of top-down control from herbivorous fishes, these algae can inhibit the recruitment of reef-building corals, leading to a persistent phase shift to a macroalgae-dominated state. Yet, corals may also inhibit colonization by macroalgae, and thus the effects of herbivores on algal communities may be strongest following disturbances that reduce coral cover. Here, we report results from experiments conducted on the fore reef of Moorea, French Polynesia, where we: 1) tested the ability of macroalgae to invade coral-dominated and coral-depauperate communities under different levels of herbivory, 2) explored the ability of juvenile corals (Pocillopora spp.) to suppress macroalgae, and 3) quantified the direct and indirect effects of fish herbivores and corallivores on juvenile corals. We found that macroalgae proliferated when herbivory was low but only in recently disturbed communities where coral cover was also low. When coral cover was < 10%, macroalgae increased 20-fold within one year under reduced herbivory conditions relative to high herbivory controls. Yet, when coral cover was high (50%), macroalgae were suppressed irrespective of the level of herbivory despite ample space for algal colonization. Once established in communities with low herbivory and low coral cover, macroalgae suppressed recruitment of coral larvae, reducing the capacity for coral replenishment. However, when we experimentally established small juvenile corals (2 cm diameter) following a disturbance, juvenile corals inhibited macroalgae from invading local neighborhoods, even in the absence of herbivores, indicating a strong priority effect in macroalgae-coral interactions. Surprisingly, fishes that initially facilitated coral recruitment by controlling algae had a net negative effect on juvenile corals via predation. Corallivores reduced growth rates of corals exposed to fishes by ~ 30% relative to fish exclosures despite increased competition with macroalgae within the exclosures. These results highlight that different processes are important for structuring coral reef ecosystems at different successional stages and underscore the need to consider multiple ecological processes and historical contingencies to predict coral community dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Sally J Holbrook
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Kelly E Speare
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Mark C Ladd
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,NOAA - National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Key Biscayne, FL, USA
| | - Andrew A Shantz
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St. Teresa, FL, USA
| | | | - Russell J Schmitt
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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Tebbett SB, Sgarlatta MP, Pessarrodona A, Vergés A, Wernberg T, Bellwood DR. How to quantify algal turf sediments and particulates on tropical and temperate reefs: An overview. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 179:105673. [PMID: 35688019 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Algal turfs are the most abundant benthic covering on reefs in many shallow-water marine ecosystems. The particulates and sediments bound within algal turfs can influence a multitude of functions within these ecosystems. Despite the global abundance and importance of algal turfs, comparison of algal turf-bound sediments is problematic due to a lack of standardisation across collection methods. Here we provide an overview of three methods (vacuum sampling, airlift sampling, and TurfPods), and the necessary equipment (including construction suggestions), commonly employed to quantify sediments from algal turfs. We review the purposes of these methods (e.g. quantification of standing stock versus net accumulation) and how methods can vary depending on the research question or monitoring protocol. By providing these details in a readily accessible format we hope to encourage a standardised set of approaches for marine benthic ecologists, geologists and managers, that facilitates further quantification and global comparisons of algal turf sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - M Paula Sgarlatta
- Centre for Marine Science & Innovation and Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Adriana Vergés
- Centre for Marine Science & Innovation and Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia; Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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11
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Gaiser EE, Kominoski JS, McKnight DM, Bahlai CA, Cheng C, Record S, Wollheim WM, Christianson KR, Downs MR, Hawman PA, Holbrook SJ, Kumar A, Mishra DR, Molotch NP, Primack RB, Rassweiler A, Schmitt RJ, Sutter LA. Long-term ecological research and the COVID-19 anthropause: A window to understanding social-ecological disturbance. Ecosphere 2022; 13:e4019. [PMID: 35573027 PMCID: PMC9087370 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The period of disrupted human activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coined the "anthropause," altered the nature of interactions between humans and ecosystems. It is uncertain how the anthropause has changed ecosystem states, functions, and feedback to human systems through shifts in ecosystem services. Here, we used an existing disturbance framework to propose new investigation pathways for coordinated studies of distributed, long-term social-ecological research to capture effects of the anthropause. Although it is still too early to comprehensively evaluate effects due to pandemic-related delays in data availability and ecological response lags, we detail three case studies that show how long-term data can be used to document and interpret changes in air and water quality and wildlife populations and behavior coinciding with the anthropause. These early findings may guide interpretations of effects of the anthropause as it interacts with other ongoing environmental changes in the future, particularly highlighting the importance of long-term data in separating disturbance impacts from natural variation and long-term trends. Effects of this global disturbance have local to global effects on ecosystems with feedback to social systems that may be detectable at spatial scales captured by nationally to globally distributed research networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn E. Gaiser
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - John S. Kominoski
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Diane M. McKnight
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Environmental Studies ProgramUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
| | | | - Chingwen Cheng
- The Design SchoolArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Sydne Record
- Department of BiologyBryn Mawr CollegeBryn MawrPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Wilfred M. Wollheim
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNew HampshireUSA
| | | | - Martha R. Downs
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and SynthesisUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Peter A. Hawman
- Department of GeographyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Sally J. Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- Department of Environmental ConservationUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Noah P. Molotch
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine ResearchUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
| | | | - Andrew Rassweiler
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lori A. Sutter
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
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12
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Holbrook SJ, Wencélius J, Dubel AK, Adam TC, Cook DC, Hunter CE, Lauer M, Lester SE, Miller SD, Rassweiler A, Schmitt RJ. Spatial covariation in nutrient enrichment and fishing of herbivores in an oceanic coral reef ecosystem. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2515. [PMID: 34918841 PMCID: PMC9285716 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Both natural and anthropogenic stressors are increasing on coral reefs, resulting in large-scale loss of coral and potential shifts from coral- to macroalgae-dominated community states. Two factors implicated in shifts to macroalgae are nutrient enrichment and fishing of reef herbivores. Although either of these factors alone could facilitate establishment of macroalgae, reefs may be particularly vulnerable to coral-to-algae phase shifts in which strong bottom-up forcing from nutrient enrichment is accompanied by a weakening of herbivore control of macroalgae via intense fishing. We explored spatial heterogeneity and covariance in these drivers on reefs in the lagoons of Moorea, French Polynesia, where the local fishery heavily targets herbivorous fishes and there are spatially variable inputs of nutrients from agricultural fertilizers and wastewater systems. Spatial patterns of fishing and nutrient enrichment were not correlated at the two landscape scales we examined: among the 11 interconnected lagoons around the island or among major habitats (fringing reef, mid-lagoon, back reef) within a lagoon. This decoupling at the landscape scale resulted from patterns of covariation between enrichment and fishing that differed qualitatively between cross-shore and long-shore directions. At the cross-shore scale, nutrient enrichment declined but fishing increased from shore to the crest of the barrier reef. By contrast, nutrient enrichment and fishing were positively correlated in the long-shore direction, with both increasing with proximity to a pass in the barrier reef. Contrary to widespread assumptions in the scientific literature that human coastal population density correlates with impact on marine ecosystems and that fishing effort declines linearly with distance from the shore, these local stressors produced a complex spatial mosaic of reef vulnerabilities. Our findings support spatially explicit management involving the control of anthropogenic nutrients and strategic reductions in fishing pressure on herbivores by highlighting specific areas to target for management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally J. Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jean Wencélius
- Department of AnthropologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alexandra K. Dubel
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Thomas C. Adam
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dana C. Cook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Chelsea E. Hunter
- Department of AnthropologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of AnthropologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Matthew Lauer
- Department of AnthropologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sarah E. Lester
- Department of GeographyFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Scott D. Miller
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Andrew Rassweiler
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
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13
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14
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Chow CFY, Wassénius E, Dornelas M, Hoey AS. Species differences drive spatial scaling of foraging patterns in herbivorous reef fishes. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cher F. Y. Chow
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Inst., School of Biology, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Emmy Wassénius
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Inst., School of Biology, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- Global Economic Dynamics and the Biosphere, Royal Swedish Academy of Science Stockholm Sweden
- Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm Univ. Stockholm Sweden
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans Inst., School of Biology, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Andrew S. Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook Univ. Townsville Queensland Australia
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15
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Abstract
Recent human activity has profoundly transformed Earth biomes on a scale and at rates that are unprecedented. Given the central role of symbioses in ecosystem processes, functions, and services throughout the Earth biosphere, the impacts of human-driven change on symbioses are critical to understand. Symbioses are not merely collections of organisms, but co-evolved partners that arise from the synergistic combination and action of different genetic programs. They function with varying degrees of permanence and selection as emergent units with substantial potential for combinatorial and evolutionary innovation in both structure and function. Following an articulation of operational definitions of symbiosis and related concepts and characteristics of the Anthropocene, we outline a basic typology of anthropogenic change (AC) and a conceptual framework for how AC might mechanistically impact symbioses with select case examples to highlight our perspective. We discuss surprising connections between symbiosis and the Anthropocene, suggesting ways in which new symbioses could arise due to AC, how symbioses could be agents of ecosystem change, and how symbioses, broadly defined, of humans and “farmed” organisms may have launched the Anthropocene. We conclude with reflections on the robustness of symbioses to AC and our perspective on the importance of symbioses as ecosystem keystones and the need to tackle anthropogenic challenges as wise and humble stewards embedded within the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik F Y Hom
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677 USA
| | - Alexandra S Penn
- Department of Sociology and Centre for Evaluation of Complexity Across the Nexus, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH UK
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16
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Pérez-Rosales G, Brandl SJ, Chancerelle Y, Siu G, Martinez E, Parravicini V, Hédouin L. Documenting decadal disturbance dynamics reveals archipelago-specific recovery and compositional change on Polynesian reefs. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 170:112659. [PMID: 34217050 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are declining at an unprecedented rate as a consequence of local and global stressors. Using a 26-year monitoring database, we analyzed the loss and recovery dynamics of coral communities across seven islands and three archipelagos in French Polynesia. Reefs in the Society Islands recovered relatively quickly after disturbances, which was driven by the recovery of corals in the genus Pocillopora (84% of the total recovery). In contrast, reefs in the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos recovered poorly or not at all. Across archipelagos, predation by crown-of-thorns starfish and destruction by cyclones outweighed the effects of heat stress events on coral mortality. Despite the apparently limited effect of temperature-mediated stressors, the homogenization of coral communities towards dominance of Pocillopora in the Society Archipelago and the failure to fully recover from disturbances in the other two archipelagos concern the resilience of Polynesian coral communities in the face of intensifying climate-driven stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Pérez-Rosales
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », Mo'orea, French Polynesia.
| | - Simon J Brandl
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », Mo'orea, French Polynesia; CESAB - FRB, 5 Rue de l'École de Médecine, 34000 Montpellier, France; Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
| | - Yannick Chancerelle
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Gilles Siu
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Elodie Martinez
- University of Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Valeriano Parravicini
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », Mo'orea, French Polynesia
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17
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Evensen NR, Bozec YM, Edmunds PJ, Mumby PJ. Scaling the effects of ocean acidification on coral growth and coral-coral competition on coral community recovery. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11608. [PMID: 34306826 PMCID: PMC8284307 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is negatively affecting calcification in a wide variety of marine organisms. These effects are acute for many tropical scleractinian corals under short-term experimental conditions, but it is unclear how these effects interact with ecological processes, such as competition for space, to impact coral communities over multiple years. This study sought to test the use of individual-based models (IBMs) as a tool to scale up the effects of OA recorded in short-term studies to community-scale impacts, combining data from field surveys and mesocosm experiments to parameterize an IBM of coral community recovery on the fore reef of Moorea, French Polynesia. Focusing on the dominant coral genera from the fore reef, Pocillopora, Acropora, Montipora and Porites, model efficacy first was evaluated through the comparison of simulated and empirical dynamics from 2010-2016, when the reef was recovering from sequential acute disturbances (a crown-of-thorns seastar outbreak followed by a cyclone) that reduced coral cover to ~0% by 2010. The model then was used to evaluate how the effects of OA (1,100-1,200 µatm pCO2) on coral growth and competition among corals affected recovery rates (as assessed by changes in % cover y-1) of each coral population between 2010-2016. The model indicated that recovery rates for the fore reef community was halved by OA over 7 years, with cover increasing at 11% y-1 under ambient conditions and 4.8% y-1 under OA conditions. However, when OA was implemented to affect coral growth and not competition among corals, coral community recovery increased to 7.2% y-1, highlighting mechanisms other than growth suppression (i.e., competition), through which OA can impact recovery. Our study reveals the potential for IBMs to assess the impacts of OA on coral communities at temporal and spatial scales beyond the capabilities of experimental studies, but this potential will not be realized unless empirical analyses address a wider variety of response variables representing ecological, physiological and functional domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas R Evensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA, United States
| | - Yves-Marie Bozec
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA, United States
| | - Peter J Edmunds
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA, United States
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18
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Gouezo M, Fabricius K, Harrison P, Golbuu Y, Doropoulos C. Optimizing coral reef recovery with context-specific management actions at prioritized reefs. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113209. [PMID: 34346392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Assisting the natural recovery of coral reefs through local management actions is needed in response to increasing ecosystem disturbances in the Anthropocene. There is growing evidence that commonly used resilience-based passive management approaches may not be sufficient to maintain coral reef key functions. We synthesize and discuss advances in coral reef recovery research, and its application to coral reef conservation and restoration practices. We then present a framework to guide the decision-making of reef managers, scientists and other stakeholders, to best support reef recovery after a disturbance. The overall aim of this management framework is to catalyse reef recovery, to minimize recovery times, and to limit the need for ongoing management interventions into the future. Our framework includes two main stages: first, a prioritization method for assessment following a large-scale disturbance, which is based on a reef's social-ecological values, and on a classification of the likelihood of recovery or succession resulting in degraded, novel, hybrid or historical states. Second, a flow chart to assist with determining management actions for highly valued reefs. Potential actions are chosen based on the ecological attributes of the disturbed reef, defined during ecological assessments. Depending on the context, management actions may include (1) substrata rehabilitation actions to facilitate natural coral recruitment, (2) repopulating actions using active restoration techniques, (3) resilience-based management actions and (4) monitoring coral recruitment and growth to assess the effectiveness of management interventions. We illustrate the proposed decision framework with a case study of typhoon-damaged eastern outer reefs in Palau, Micronesia. The decisions made following this framework lead to the conclusion that some reefs may not return to their historical state for many decades. However, if motivation and funds are available, new management approaches can be explored to assist coral reefs at valued locations to return to a functional state providing key ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Gouezo
- Palau International Coral Reef Center, PO Box 7086, Koror, Palau; Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
| | - Katharina Fabricius
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia.
| | - Peter Harrison
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
| | - Yimnang Golbuu
- Palau International Coral Reef Center, PO Box 7086, Koror, Palau.
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19
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Tebbett SB, Bellwood DR. Algal turf productivity on coral reefs: A meta-analysis. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 168:105311. [PMID: 33798994 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Algal turfs are an abundant and highly productive component of coral reef ecosystems. However, our understanding of the drivers that shape algal turf productivity across studies and among reefs is limited. Based on published studies we considered how different factors may shape turf productivity and turnover rates. Of the factors considered, depth was the primary driver of turf productivity rates, while turnover was predominantly related to turf biomass. We also highlight shortcomings in the available data collected on turf productivity to-date; most data were collected prior to global coral bleaching events, within a limited geographic range, and were largely from experimental substrata. Despite the fact turfs are a widespread benthic covering on most coral reefs, and one of the major sources of benthic productivity, our understanding of their productivity is constrained by both a paucity of data and methodological limitations. We offer a potential way forward to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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20
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Cowles J, Templeton L, Battles JJ, Edmunds PJ, Carpenter RC, Carpenter SR, Paul Nelson M, Cleavitt NL, Fahey TJ, Groffman PM, Sullivan JH, Neel MC, Hansen GJA, Hobbie S, Holbrook SJ, Kazanski CE, Seabloom EW, Schmitt RJ, Stanley EH, Tepley AJ, Doorn NS, Vander Zanden JM. Resilience: insights from the U.S. LongTerm Ecological Research Network. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jane Cowles
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Laura Templeton
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park Maryland20742USA
- City University of New York Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center New York New York10031USA
| | - John J. Battles
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley California94720USA
| | - Peter J. Edmunds
- Department of Biology California State University Northridge California91330USA
| | - Robert C. Carpenter
- Department of Biology California State University Northridge California91330USA
| | | | - Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | | | - Timothy J. Fahey
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Peter M. Groffman
- City University of New York Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center New York New York10031USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies 2801 Sharon Turnpike Millbrook New York12545USA
| | - Joe H. Sullivan
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park Maryland20742USA
| | - Maile C. Neel
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park Maryland20742USA
| | - Gretchen J. A. Hansen
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Sarah Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Sally J. Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California93106USA
| | - Clare E. Kazanski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Eric W. Seabloom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California93106USA
| | - Emily H. Stanley
- Center for Limnology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin53706USA
| | - Alan J. Tepley
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal Virginia22630USA
| | - Natalie S. Doorn
- USDA Forest ServicePacific Southwest Research Station, Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics Program Albany California94710USA
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21
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Adam TC, Burkepile DE, Holbrook SJ, Carpenter RC, Claudet J, Loiseau C, Thiault L, Brooks AJ, Washburn L, Schmitt RJ. Landscape-scale patterns of nutrient enrichment in a coral reef ecosystem: implications for coral to algae phase shifts. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2227. [PMID: 32918509 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient pollution is altering coastal ecosystems worldwide. On coral reefs, excess nutrients can favor the production of algae at the expense of reef-building corals, yet the role of nutrients in driving community changes such as shifts from coral to macroalgae is not well understood. Here we investigate the potential role of anthropogenic nutrient loading in driving recent coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts on reefs in the lagoons surrounding the Pacific island of Moorea, French Polynesia. We use nitrogen (N) tissue content and stable isotopes (δ15 N) in an abundant macroalga (Turbinaria ornata) together with empirical models of nutrient discharge to describe spatial and temporal patterns of nutrient enrichment in the lagoons. We then employ time series data to test whether recent increases in macroalgae are associated with nutrients. Our results revealed that patterns of N enrichment were linked to several factors, including rainfall, wave-driven circulation, and distance from anthropogenic nutrient sources, especially human sewage. Reefs near large watersheds, where inputs of N from sewage and agriculture are high, have been consistently enriched in N for at least the last decade. In many of these areas, corals have decreased and macroalgae have increased, while reefs with lower levels of N input have maintained high cover of coral and low cover of macroalgae. Importantly, these patchy phase shifts to macroalgae have occurred despite substantial island-wide increases in the density and biomass of herbivorous fishes over the time period. Together, these results indicate that nutrient loading may be an important driver of coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts in the lagoons of Moorea even though the reefs harbor an abundant and diverse herbivore assemblage. These results emphasize the important role that bottom-up factors can play in driving coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts and underscore the critical importance of watershed management for reducing inputs of nutrients and other land-based pollutants to coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Sally J Holbrook
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Robert C Carpenter
- Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, Northridge, California, 91330, USA
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, 75005, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Charles Loiseau
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, 75005, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Lauric Thiault
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, 75005, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Libe Washburn
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Russell J Schmitt
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
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22
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Russ GR, Rizzari JR, Abesamis RA, Alcala AC. Coral cover a stronger driver of reef fish trophic biomass than fishing. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02224. [PMID: 32866333 PMCID: PMC7816266 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
An influential paradigm in coral reef ecology is that fishing causes trophic cascades through reef fish assemblages, resulting in reduced herbivory and thus benthic phase shifts from coral to algal dominance. Few long-term field tests exist of how fishing affects the trophic structure of coral reef fish assemblages, and how such changes affect the benthos. Alternatively, benthic change itself may drive the trophic structure of reef fish assemblages. Reef fish trophic structure and benthic cover were quantified almost annually from 1983 to 2014 at two small Philippine islands (Apo, Sumilon). At each island a No-Take Marine Reserve (NTMR) site and a site open to subsistence reef fishing were monitored. Thirteen trophic groups were identified. Large planktivores often accounted for >50% of assemblage biomass. Significant NTMR effects were detected at each island for total fish biomass, but for only 2 of 13 trophic components: generalist large predators and large planktivores. Fishing-induced changes in biomass of these components had no effect on live hard coral (HC) cover. In contrast, HC cover affected biomass of 11 of 13 trophic components significantly. Positive associations with HC cover were detected for total fish biomass, generalist large predators, piscivores, obligate coral feeders, large planktivores, and small planktivores. Negative associations with HC cover were detected for large benthic foragers, detritivores, excavators, scrapers, and sand feeders. These associations of fish biomass to HC cover were most clear when environmental disturbances (e.g., coral bleaching, typhoons) reduced HC cover, often quickly (1-2 yr), and when HC recovered, often slowly (5-10 yr). As HC cover changed, the biomass of 11 trophic components of the fish assemblage changed. Benthic and fish assemblages were distinct at all sites from the outset, remaining so for 31 yr, despite differences in fishing pressure and disturbance history. HC cover alone explained ~30% of the variability in reef fish trophic structure, whereas fishing alone explained 24%. Furthermore, HC cover affected more trophic groups more strongly than fishing. Management of coral reefs must include measures to maintain coral reef habitats, not just measures to reduce fishing by NTMRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry R. Russ
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueensland4811Australia
| | - Justin R. Rizzari
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelong Waurn Ponds CampusGeelongVictoria3216Australia
| | - Rene A. Abesamis
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental ManagementSilliman UniversityDumaguete City6200Philippines
| | - Angel C. Alcala
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental ManagementSilliman UniversityDumaguete City6200Philippines
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Pombo-Ayora L, Coker DJ, Carvalho S, Short G, Berumen ML. Morphological and ecological trait diversity reveal sensitivity of herbivorous fish assemblages to coral reef benthic conditions. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 162:105102. [PMID: 32814268 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Herbivorous fishes play a critical role in the maintenance of coral reefs through grazing and cropping of various benthic algae types. Herbivorous fish assemblages are sensitive to changes in the reef environment and are often targeted by local fisheries. This can lead to a decline in ecosystem functions if key groups are reduced. The present study investigates the morphological and ecological trait diversity of herbivorous reef fish assemblages in habitats differing in relative benthic coverage: i) coral-dominated, ii) algae-dominated, and iii) an intermediate habitat. Trait diversity for conspicuous herbivorous fishes was measured using three trait diversity indices: trait richness, trait divergence, and trait evenness. These indices were derived from in situ community surveys and feeding observations, morphological assessment of feeding mechanics from locally collected specimens, and ecological information obtained from published data. Trait diversity, reflected in higher trait evenness and lower trait richness, was lower within algae-dominated habitats than coral-dominated habitats, suggesting that algae-dominated habitats may be compromised by the lack of essential functions provided by key species. These groups reduce algal biomass and may help facilitate the survival and growth of corals, which in turn can increase coral cover. Algae-habitats were dominated with species known to consume macroalgae (rabbitfish and surgeonfish), appearing to provide essential feeding and habitat resources. These species include browsers and croppers that are fundamental in reducing algal biomass and may help facilitate the survival and growth of corals, which in turn can promote reef health. However, this habitat lacked parrotfishes known to remove turf algae and sediments, an essential function for clearing benthic space for coral settlement and other key benthic invertebrates. This study identified several species with overlapping functional roles in the coral-dominated and intermediate habitats. Still, species that were not redundant showed high trait complementarity, suggesting that their removal may result in the loss of unique functions. Importantly, we show that algae-dominated habitats supported high numbers of juvenile fishes especially in species targeted by local artisanal fishers. We also showed that the loss of trait diversity is greater than the loss of species diversity through the comparison of taxonomic and trait β-diversity, further emphasizing the importance of trait diversity analysis in understanding ecosystem health and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Pombo-Ayora
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Darren J Coker
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - George Short
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
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Hata H, Takano S, Masuhara H. Herbivorous damselfishes expand their territories after causing white scars on Porites corals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16172. [PMID: 32999358 PMCID: PMC7527513 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73232-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Turf algae become the most abundant benthic group on coral reefs after mass coral bleaching. By defending feeding territories, damselfishes enhance the growth of turf algae in so-called algal farms and affect coral communities both directly and indirectly. We found several white scars (i.e., bite lesions) on massive Porites colonies around feeding territories. In this study, we examined the occurrence of white scars on corals and their function in coral-algal competition at the boundaries between algal farms of two damselfish species-the intensive farmer Stegastes nigricans, and the intermediate farmer S. lividus-and adjacent Porites corals for 3 years around Okinawa Island, Japan. White scars occurred on Porites colonies only adjacent to the territories of both damselfish species. Of the white scars on corals around S. nigricans territories, 73% of the area was covered by algae within 2 weeks, while the remaining was re-covered by Porites tissues. The coral-algal boundaries encroached further into areas of coral when the area of white scars were larger. These results suggest that both intensive and intermediate farmers bite adjacent Porites colonies causing white scars on corals, and expand their territories onto corals using algae-covered white scars as stepping stones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Hata
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan.
| | - Shota Takano
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Masuhara
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan
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25
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Gorczynski D, Beaudrot L. Functional diversity and redundancy of tropical forest mammals over time. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gorczynski
- Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology BioSciences Department Rice University Houston TX USA
| | - Lydia Beaudrot
- Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology BioSciences Department Rice University Houston TX USA
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Tebbett SB, Chase TJ, Bellwood DR. Farming damselfishes shape algal turf sediment dynamics on coral reefs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 160:104988. [PMID: 32907726 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Farming damselfishes are well known for shaping benthic communities on reefs, in terms of both cultivating algae and increasing productivity. However, their capacity to shape relationships between algal turfs, detritus and sediments remains largely unknown, despite the importance of such relationships on reefs. We therefore examined the relationships between sediment loads and both algal turf length and detritus levels, inside and outside farming damselfish territories, at two reefs on the Great Barrier Reef. We found that, while sediment loads are tightly coupled with algal turfs outside territories, the nature of this coupling was fundamentally different inside damselfish territories, with significantly longer algal turfs and higher detritus levels prevailing, irrespective of sediment loads. These modified algal turf-sediment relationships may be a key factor in explaining, a) the significantly higher productivity levels reported from within farming damselfish territories and b) the ability of farming damselfishes to persist in high-sediment locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - Tory J Chase
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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27
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28
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Karkarey R, Rathod P, Arthur R, Yadav S, Theo A, Alcoverro T. Wave exposure reduces herbivory in post-disturbed reefs by filtering species composition, abundance and behaviour of key fish herbivores. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9854. [PMID: 32561833 PMCID: PMC7305165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66475-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Harsh environmental conditions limit how species use the landscape, strongly influencing the way assemblages are distributed. In the wake of repeated coral bleaching mortalities in Lakshadweep, we examined how wave exposure influences herbivory in exposed and sheltered reefs. We used a combination of i. field observations of fish herbivore composition, abundance and activity across 6 exposed and 6 sheltered reefs; ii. experimental manipulations in a subset of these reefs (herbivore exclosures); and iii. opportunistic observations of fish recruitment, to determine how exposure influences herbivore biomass and herbivory. Species richness, biomass, abundance, total bite rates and species-specific per capita bite rates were lower in exposed compared to sheltered reefs, linked to strong environmental filtering of species composition, abundance and behaviour. For some critical species, this environmental filtering begins with differential recruitment and post-recruitment processes between exposures. Bite rates at sheltered sites were dominated by just a few species, most being laterally compressed surgeonfish that may find it difficult accessing or surviving in wave-battered shallow reefs. Exclosure experiments confirmed that exposed reefs were less controlled by herbivores than sheltered reefs. In post-disturbed reefs like Lakshadweep, environmental gradients appear to be key mediators of critical functions like herbivory by determining species composition, abundance and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rucha Karkarey
- Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore, 570002, India. .,National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bangalore, 560 065, India.
| | - Pooja Rathod
- Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore, 570002, India
| | - Rohan Arthur
- Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore, 570002, India.,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB, CSIC). Dept. of Marine Ecology. Accés a la Cala S. Francesc 14.17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | | | - Anne Theo
- Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore, 570002, India.,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB, CSIC). Dept. of Marine Ecology. Accés a la Cala S. Francesc 14.17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
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29
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Contreras-Silva AI, Tilstra A, Migani V, Thiel A, Pérez-Cervantes E, Estrada-Saldívar N, Elias-Ilosvay X, Mott C, Alvarez-Filip L, Wild C. A meta-analysis to assess long-term spatiotemporal changes of benthic coral and macroalgae cover in the Mexican Caribbean. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8897. [PMID: 32483234 PMCID: PMC7264131 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65801-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs in the wider Caribbean declined in hard coral cover by ~80% since the 1970s, but spatiotemporal analyses for sub-regions are lacking. Here, we explored benthic change patterns in the Mexican Caribbean reefs through meta-analysis between 1978 and 2016 including 125 coral reef sites. Findings revealed that hard coral cover decreased from ~26% in the 1970s to 16% in 2016, whereas macroalgae cover increased to ~30% in 2016. Both groups showed high spatiotemporal variability. Hard coral cover declined in total by 12% from 1978 to 2004 but increased again by 5% between 2005 and 2016 indicating some coral recovery after the 2005 mass bleaching event and hurricane impacts. In 2016, more than 80% of studied reefs were dominated by macroalgae, while only 15% were dominated by hard corals. This stands in contrast to 1978 when all reef sites surveyed were dominated by hard corals. This study is among the first within the Caribbean region that reports local recovery in coral cover in the Caribbean, while other Caribbean reefs have failed to recover. Most Mexican Caribbean coral reefs are now no longer dominated by hard corals. In order to prevent further reef degradation, viable and reliable conservation alternatives are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameris I Contreras-Silva
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße UFT, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Arjen Tilstra
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße UFT, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Valentina Migani
- Population and Evolutionary Ecology Group, Institute of Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 5, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Andra Thiel
- Population and Evolutionary Ecology Group, Institute of Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 5, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Esmeralda Pérez-Cervantes
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Nuria Estrada-Saldívar
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Xochitl Elias-Ilosvay
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße UFT, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Claudius Mott
- Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH, Dingolfinger Str. 9, 81673, München, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
| | - Christian Wild
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße UFT, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
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30
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Shantz AA, Ladd MC, Burkepile DE. Overfishing and the ecological impacts of extirpating large parrotfish from Caribbean coral reefs. ECOL MONOGR 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A. Shantz
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania 16802 USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
| | - Mark C. Ladd
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
| | - Deron E. Burkepile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
- Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
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31
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Impact of ocean acidification on the metabolome of the brown macroalgae Lobophora rosacea from New Caledonia. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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32
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Rassweiler A, Lauer M, Lester SE, Holbrook SJ, Schmitt RJ, Madi Moussa R, Munsterman KS, Lenihan HS, Brooks AJ, Wencélius J, Claudet J. Perceptions and responses of Pacific Island fishers to changing coral reefs. AMBIO 2020; 49:130-143. [PMID: 30843168 PMCID: PMC6888784 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01154-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The transformation of coral reefs has profound implications for millions of people. However, the interactive effects of changing reefs and fishing remain poorly resolved. We combine underwater surveys (271 000 fishes), catch data (18 000 fishes), and household surveys (351 households) to evaluate how reef fishes and fishers in Moorea, French Polynesia responded to a landscape-scale loss of coral caused by sequential disturbances (a crown-of-thorns sea star outbreak followed by a category 4 cyclone). Although local communities were aware of the disturbances, less than 20% of households reported altering what fishes they caught or ate. This contrasts with substantial changes in the taxonomic composition in the catch data that mirrored changes in fish communities observed on the reef. Our findings highlight that resource users and scientists may have very different interpretations of what constitutes 'change' in these highly dynamic social-ecological systems, with broad implications for successful co-management of coral reef fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Rassweiler
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306 USA
| | - Matthew Lauer
- San Diego State University – Anthropology, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
| | - Sarah E. Lester
- Department of Geography, Florida State University, 113 Collegiate Loop, Tallahassee, FL 32306 USA
| | - Sally J. Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 USA
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 USA
| | - Rakamaly Madi Moussa
- CRIOBE-USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD-PSL, Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL, BP 1013, Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Katrina S. Munsterman
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 USA
| | - Hunter S. Lenihan
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 USA
| | - Andrew J. Brooks
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Building 520, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150 USA
| | - Jean Wencélius
- San Diego State University – Anthropology, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
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Abstract
Ecological theory predicts that under the same environmental conditions, an ecosystem could have more than one community state that is maintained by reinforcing feedbacks. If so, a sufficiently large disturbance can flip the system to a less desired community that is difficult to reverse. Here, we demonstrate that a coral reef can become trapped in a seaweed-dominated state in the same conditions under which corals thrive. The implications are profound, particularly in light of the increasing occurrence of shifts to seaweed on coral reefs worldwide. Our results indicate that anticipatory management strategies that lessen the chance of a switch to seaweeds will be more effective than those aimed at restoring the coral community after a shift. Ecological theory predicts that ecosystems with multiple basins of attraction can get locked in an undesired state, which has profound ecological and management implications. Despite their significance, alternative attractors have proven to be challenging to detect and characterize in natural communities. On coral reefs, it has been hypothesized that persistent coral-to-macroalgae “phase shifts” that can result from overfishing of herbivores and/or nutrient enrichment may reflect a regime shift to an alternate attractor, but, to date, the evidence has been equivocal. Our field experiments in Moorea, French Polynesia, revealed the following: (i) hysteresis existed in the herbivory–macroalgae relationship, creating the potential for coral–macroalgae bistability at some levels of herbivory, and (ii) macroalgae were an alternative attractor under prevailing conditions in the lagoon but not on the fore reef, where ambient herbivory fell outside the experimentally delineated region of hysteresis. These findings help explain the different community responses to disturbances between lagoon and fore reef habitats of Moorea over the past several decades and reinforce the idea that reversing an undesired shift on coral reefs can be difficult. Our experimental framework represents a powerful diagnostic tool to probe for multiple attractors in ecological systems and, as such, can inform management strategies needed to maintain critical ecosystem functions in the face of escalating stresses.
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The Effect of Climate Change on Spring Maize (Zea mays L.) Suitability across China. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10103804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Spring maize (Zea mays L.) is a thermophilic C4 crop which is sensitive to climate change. This paper provides a detailed assessment of the effect of climate change on the crop from a new perspective, by predicting the probability of the potential distribution of spring maize across China. The affected area of spring maize suitability was identified, and then the affected area was subdivided into the improved area and the deteriorated area. Our results confirmed that there was a detrimental consequence for spring maize suitability under observed climate change from 1961–1990 to 1981–2010. However, our results revealed that warming scenarios of 1.5 °C and 2 °C were helpful for the suitable area expansion of spring maize. The affected area was smaller under warming scenarios than under historical climate change, revealing that temperature rise alone was not enough to trigger a “tipping point” (a threshold value after which abrupt shifts occur) for spring maize, even if warming is 2 °C above the level of 1961–1990. Our results not only benefit China in the design of mitigation and adaptation strategies, but also provide a theoretical judgement that the impact of global warming on the crop ecosystem is not serious if other climate factors remain unchanged.
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Robinson JPW, Williams ID, Yeager LA, McPherson JM, Clark J, Oliver TA, Baum JK. Environmental conditions and herbivore biomass determine coral reef benthic community composition: implications for quantitative baselines. CORAL REEFS (ONLINE) 2018; 37:1157-1168. [PMID: 30930680 PMCID: PMC6404665 DOI: 10.1007/s00338-018-01737-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Our ability to understand natural constraints on coral reef benthic communities requires quantitative assessment of the relative strengths of abiotic and biotic processes across large spatial scales. Here, we combine underwater images, visual censuses and remote sensing data for 1566 sites across 34 islands spanning the central-western Pacific Ocean, to empirically assess the relative roles of abiotic and grazing processes in determining the prevalence of calcifying organisms and fleshy algae on coral reefs. We used regression trees to identify the major predictors of benthic composition and to test whether anthropogenic stress at inhabited islands decouples natural relationships. We show that sea surface temperature, wave energy, oceanic productivity and aragonite saturation strongly influence benthic community composition; overlooking these factors may bias expectations of calcified reef states. Maintenance of grazing biomass above a relatively low threshold (~ 10-20 kg ha-1) may also prevent transitions to algal-dominated states, providing a tangible management target for rebuilding overexploited herbivore populations. Biophysical relationships did not decouple at inhabited islands, indicating that abiotic influences remain important macroscale processes, even at chronically disturbed reefs. However, spatial autocorrelation among inhabited reefs was substantial and exceeded abiotic and grazing influences, suggesting that natural constraints on reef benthos were superseded by unmeasured anthropogenic impacts. Evidence of strong abiotic influences on reef benthic communities underscores their importance in specifying quantitative targets for coral reef management and restoration that are realistic within the context of local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. W. Robinson
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700, Station CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | - Ivor D. Williams
- Ecosystem Science Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI USA
| | - Lauren A. Yeager
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX 78373 USA
| | - Jana M. McPherson
- Center for Conservation Research, Calgary Zoological Society, 1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6 Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Jeanette Clark
- Ecosystem Science Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI USA
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaìi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI USA
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California Santa Barbara, 735 State St #300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 USA
| | - Thomas A. Oliver
- Ecosystem Science Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI USA
| | - Julia K. Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700, Station CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
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Briggs CJ, Adam TC, Holbrook SJ, Schmitt RJ. Macroalgae size refuge from herbivory promotes alternative stable states on coral reefs. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202273. [PMID: 30226879 PMCID: PMC6143192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reef systems can undergo rapid transitions from coral-dominated to macroalgae-dominated states following disturbances, and models indicate that these may sometimes represent shifts between alternative stable states. While several mechanisms may lead to alternate stable states on coral reefs, only a few have been investigated theoretically. We explore a model that illustrates that reduced vulnerability of macroalgae to herbivory as macroalgae grow and mature could be an important mechanism: when macroalgae are palatable to herbivores as juveniles, but resistant as adults, coral-dominated and algae-dominated states are bistable across a wide range of parameter space. We compare two approaches to global sensitivity analysis to rank the relative importance of the model parameters in determining the presence and magnitude of alternative stable states, and find that the two most influential parameters are the death rate of coral and the rate of maturation of algae out of the vulnerable stage. The Random Forest approach for global sensitivity analysis, recently adopted by ecologists, provides a more efficient method for ranking the relative importance of parameters than a variance-based approach that has been used frequently by computer scientists and engineers. Our results suggest that managing reefs to reduce chronic stressors that cause coral mortality and/or enhance the growth rates of algae can help prevent reefs from becoming locked in a macroalgae-dominated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl J. Briggs
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas C. Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Sally J. Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
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Adjeroud M, Kayal M, Iborra-Cantonnet C, Vercelloni J, Bosserelle P, Liao V, Chancerelle Y, Claudet J, Penin L. Recovery of coral assemblages despite acute and recurrent disturbances on a South Central Pacific reef. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9680. [PMID: 29946062 PMCID: PMC6018695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27891-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by various types of disturbances, and their recovery is challenged by accelerating, human-induced environmental changes. Recurrent disturbances reduce the pool of mature adult colonies of reef-building corals and undermine post-disturbance recovery from newly settled recruits. Using a long-term interannual data set, we show that coral assemblages on the reef slope of Moorea, French Polynesia, have maintained a high capacity to recover despite a unique frequency of large-scale disturbances which, since the 1990s, have caused catastrophic declines in coral cover and abundance. In 2014, only four years after one of the most extreme cases of coral decline documented, abundance of juvenile and adult colonies had regained or exceeded pre-disturbance levels, and no phase-shift to macroalgal dominance was recorded. This rapid recovery has been achieved despite constantly low coral recruitment rates, suggesting a high post-disturbance survivorship of recruits. However, taxonomic differences in coral susceptibility to disturbances and contrasting recovery trajectories have resulted in changes in the relative composition of species. In the present context of global coral reef decline, our study establishes a new benchmark for the capacity of certain benthic reef communities to sustain and recover their coral cover from repeated, intense disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Adjeroud
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, UPVD 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France.
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France.
| | - Mohsen Kayal
- USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, UPVD 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | - Claudie Iborra-Cantonnet
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, UPVD 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | - Julie Vercelloni
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pauline Bosserelle
- Pacific Community (SPC), Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystem division, BP D5, 98848, Noumea, New Caledonia
| | - Vetea Liao
- USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, UPVD 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | - Yannick Chancerelle
- USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, UPVD 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | - Joachim Claudet
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Penin
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
- Université de la Réunion, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, 15 avenue René Cassin CS 92003, 97744, Saint Denis, Cédex 9, La Réunion, France
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Recruitment Drives Spatial Variation in Recovery Rates of Resilient Coral Reefs. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7338. [PMID: 29743539 PMCID: PMC5943288 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25414-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical reefs often undergo acute disturbances that result in landscape-scale loss of coral. Due to increasing threats to coral reefs from climate change and anthropogenic perturbations, it is critical to understand mechanisms that drive recovery of these ecosystems. We explored this issue on the fore reef of Moorea, French Polynesia, following a crown-of-thorns seastar outbreak and cyclone that dramatically reduced cover of coral. During the five-years following the disturbances, the rate of re-establishment of coral cover differed systematically around the triangular-shaped island; coral cover returned most rapidly at sites where the least amount of live coral remained after the disturbances. Although sites differed greatly in the rate of return of coral, all showed at least some evidence of re-assembly to their pre-disturbance community structure in terms of relative abundance of coral taxa and other benthic space holders. The primary driver of spatial variation in recovery was recruitment of sexually-produced corals; subsequent growth and survivorship were less important in shaping the spatial pattern. Our findings suggest that, although the coral community has been resilient, some areas are unlikely to attain the coral cover and taxonomic structure they had prior to the most recent disturbances before the advent of another landscape-scale perturbation.
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Harris DL, Rovere A, Casella E, Power H, Canavesio R, Collin A, Pomeroy A, Webster JM, Parravicini V. Coral reef structural complexity provides important coastal protection from waves under rising sea levels. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaao4350. [PMID: 29503866 PMCID: PMC5829992 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aao4350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems that support millions of people worldwide by providing coastal protection from waves. Climate change and human impacts are leading to degraded coral reefs and to rising sea levels, posing concerns for the protection of tropical coastal regions in the near future. We use a wave dissipation model calibrated with empirical wave data to calculate the future increase of back-reef wave height. We show that, in the near future, the structural complexity of coral reefs is more important than sea-level rise in determining the coastal protection provided by coral reefs from average waves. We also show that a significant increase in average wave heights could occur at present sea level if there is sustained degradation of benthic structural complexity. Our results highlight that maintaining the structural complexity of coral reefs is key to ensure coastal protection on tropical coastlines in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Harris
- Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM), Bremen University, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
- The University of Queensland, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Alessio Rovere
- Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM), Bremen University, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, NY 10964, USA
| | - Elisa Casella
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hannah Power
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Remy Canavesio
- Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement, USR 3278 CNRS–École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE)–Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire d’Excellence (LabEX) “CORAIL,” University of Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan, France
| | - Antoine Collin
- EPHE, PSL Research University, CNRS LETG 6554, Dinard 35800, France
- LabEX CORAIL, Perpignan, France
| | - Andrew Pomeroy
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jody M. Webster
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Valeriano Parravicini
- Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement, USR 3278 CNRS–École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE)–Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire d’Excellence (LabEX) “CORAIL,” University of Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan, France
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