1
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Ruiz-Moreno A, Emslie MJ, Connolly SR. High response diversity and conspecific density-dependence, not species interactions, drive dynamics of coral reef fish communities. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14424. [PMID: 38634183 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Species-to-species and species-to-environment interactions are key drivers of community dynamics. Disentangling these drivers in species-rich assemblages is challenging due to the high number of potentially interacting species (the 'curse of dimensionality'). We develop a process-based model that quantifies how intraspecific and interspecific interactions, and species' covarying responses to environmental fluctuations, jointly drive community dynamics. We fit the model to reef fish abundance time series from 41 reefs of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. We found that fluctuating relative abundances are driven by species' heterogenous responses to environmental fluctuations, whereas interspecific interactions are negligible. Species differences in long-term average abundances are driven by interspecific variation in the magnitudes of both conspecific density-dependence and density-independent growth rates. This study introduces a novel approach to overcoming the curse of dimensionality, which reveals highly individualistic dynamics in coral reef fish communities that imply a high level of niche structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Ruiz-Moreno
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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2
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Álvarez-Noriega M, Madin JS, Baird AH, Dornelas M, Connolly SR. Disturbance-Induced Changes in Population Size Structure Promote Coral Biodiversity. Am Nat 2023; 202:604-615. [PMID: 37963122 DOI: 10.1086/726738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
AbstractReef-building coral assemblages are typically species rich, yet the processes maintaining high biodiversity remain poorly understood. Disturbance has long been thought to promote coral species coexistence by reducing the strength of competition (i.e., the intermediate disturbance hypothesis [IDH]). However, such disturbance-induced effects are insufficient to inhibit competitive exclusion. Nevertheless, there are other mechanisms by which disturbance and, more generally, environmental variation can favor coexistence. Here, we develop a size-structured, stochastic coral competition model calibrated with field data from two common colony morphologies to investigate the effects of hydrodynamic disturbance on community dynamics. We show that fluctuations in wave action can promote coral species coexistence but that this occurs via interspecific differences in size-dependent mortality rather than solely via stochastic fluctuations in competition (i.e., free space availability). While this mechanism differs from that originally envisioned in the IDH, it is nonetheless a mechanism by which intermediate levels of disturbance do promote coexistence. Given the sensitivity of coexistence to disturbance frequency and intensity, anthropogenic changes in disturbance regimes are likely to affect coral assemblages in ways that are not predictable from single-population models.
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3
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Zamborain-Mason J, Cinner JE, MacNeil MA, Graham NAJ, Hoey AS, Beger M, Brooks AJ, Booth DJ, Edgar GJ, Feary DA, Ferse SCA, Friedlander AM, Gough CLA, Green AL, Mouillot D, Polunin NVC, Stuart-Smith RD, Wantiez L, Williams ID, Wilson SK, Connolly SR. Sustainable reference points for multispecies coral reef fisheries. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5368. [PMID: 37666831 PMCID: PMC10477311 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41040-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustainably managing fisheries requires regular and reliable evaluation of stock status. However, most multispecies reef fisheries around the globe tend to lack research and monitoring capacity, preventing the estimation of sustainable reference points against which stocks can be assessed. Here, combining fish biomass data for >2000 coral reefs, we estimate site-specific sustainable reference points for coral reef fisheries and use these and available catch estimates to assess the status of global coral reef fish stocks. We reveal that >50% of sites and jurisdictions with available information have stocks of conservation concern, having failed at least one fisheries sustainability benchmark. We quantify the trade-offs between biodiversity, fish length, and ecosystem functions relative to key benchmarks and highlight the ecological benefits of increasing sustainability. Our approach yields multispecies sustainable reference points for coral reef fisheries using environmental conditions, a promising means for enhancing the sustainability of the world's coral reef fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Zamborain-Mason
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
| | - Joshua E Cinner
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 3J5, Canada
| | | | - Andrew S Hoey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - David J Booth
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney 2007 Australia, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Graham J Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | | | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- National Geographic Society, Pristine Seas Program, 1145 17th Street N.W, Washington DC, 20036-4688, USA
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i, 96744, USA
| | | | - Alison L Green
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - David Mouillot
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicholas V C Polunin
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University NE17RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rick D Stuart-Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Laurent Wantiez
- University of New Caledonia, BPR4 98851, Noumea cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Ivor D Williams
- Coral Reef Ecosystems Division, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Perth, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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4
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Madin JS, Baird AH, Connolly SR, Dornelas MA, Álvarez-Noriega M, McWilliam MJ, Barbosa M, Blowes SA, Cetina-Heredia P, Christie AP, Cumbo VR, Diaz M, Emms MA, Graham E, Hansen D, Hisano M, Howells E, Kuo CY, Palmer C, Hong JTC, Zhi En Teo T, Woods R. Six years of demography data for 11 reef coral species. Ecology 2023; 104:e4017. [PMID: 36882893 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are colonial animals with a range of life history strategies, making up diverse species assemblages that define coral reefs. We tagged and tracked approximately 30 colonies from each of 11 species during seven trips spanning six years (2009-2015) in order to measure their vital rates and competitive interactions on the reef crest at Trimodal Reef, Lizard Island, Australia. Pairs of species were chosen from five growth forms where one species of the pair was locally rare (R) and the other common (C). The sampled growth forms were massive [Goniastrea pectinata (R) and G. retiformis (C)], digitate [Acropora humilis (R) and A. cf. digitifera (C)], corymbose [A. millepora (R) and A. nasuta (C)], tabular [A. cytherea (R) and A. hyacinthus (C)] and arborescent [A. robusta (R) and A. intermedia (C)]. An extra corymbose species with intermediate abundance, A. spathulata was included when it became apparent that A. millepora was too rare on the reef crest, making the 11 species in total. The tagged colonies were visited each year in the weeks prior to spawning. During visits, two or more observers each took 2-3 photographs of each tagged colony from directly above and on the horizontal plane with a scale plate to track planar area. Dead or missing colonies were recorded and new colonies tagged in order to maintain approximately 30 colonies per species throughout the six years of the study. In addition to tracking tagged corals, 30 fragments were collected from neighboring untagged colonies of each species for counting numbers of eggs per polyp (fecundity); and fragments of untagged colonies were brought into the laboratory where spawned eggs were collected for biomass and energy measurements. We also conducted surveys at the study site to generate size structure data for each species in several of the years. Each tagged colony photograph was digitized by at least two people. Therefore, we could examine sources of error in planar area for both photographers and outliners. Competitive interactions were recorded for a subset of species by measuring the margins of tagged colony outlines interacting with neighboring corals. The study was abruptly ended by Tropical Cyclone Nathan (Category 4) that killed all but nine of the over 300 tagged colonies in early 2015. Nonetheless, these data will be of use to other researchers interested in coral demography and coexistence, functional ecology, and parametrizing population, community and ecosystem models. The data set is not copyright restricted, and users should cite this paper when using the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI, USA
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Maria A Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.,Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mariana Álvarez-Noriega
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael J McWilliam
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI, USA
| | - Miguel Barbosa
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.,CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Shane A Blowes
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany.,Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Computer Science, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Paulina Cetina-Heredia
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería y Procesos Costeros, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de, México.,Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera (LANRESC), Laboratorios Nacionales CONACYT, México
| | | | - Vivian R Cumbo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marcela Diaz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Madeleine A Emms
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics 'A. Buzzati-Traverso', National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Erin Graham
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Dominique Hansen
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Mizue Hisano
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Emily Howells
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia
| | - Chao-Yang Kuo
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Caroline Palmer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - James Tan Chun Hong
- Research and Education on Environment for Future Sustainability (REEFS) Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Theophilus Zhi En Teo
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Rachel Woods
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
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5
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McWilliam M, Dornelas M, Álvarez-Noriega M, Baird AH, Connolly SR, Madin JS. Net effects of life-history traits explain persistent differences in abundance among similar species. Ecology 2023; 104:e3863. [PMID: 36056537 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Life-history traits are promising tools to predict species commonness and rarity because they influence a population's fitness in a given environment. Yet, species with similar traits can have vastly different abundances, challenging the prospect of robust trait-based predictions. Using long-term demographic monitoring, we show that coral populations with similar morphological and life-history traits show persistent (decade-long) differences in abundance. Morphological groups predicted species positions along two, well known life-history axes (the fast-slow continuum and size-specific fecundity). However, integral projection models revealed that density-independent population growth (λ) was more variable within morphological groups, and was consistently higher in dominant species relative to rare species. Within-group λ differences projected large abundance differences among similar species in short timeframes, and were generated by small but compounding variation in growth, survival, and reproduction. Our study shows that easily measured morphological traits predict demographic strategies, yet small life-history differences can accumulate into large differences in λ and abundance among similar species. Quantifying the net effects of multiple traits on population dynamics is therefore essential to anticipate species commonness and rarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike McWilliam
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Mariana Álvarez-Noriega
- Centre for Geometric Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i, USA
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6
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Tebbett SB, Connolly SR, Bellwood DR. Benthic composition changes on coral reefs at global scales. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:71-81. [PMID: 36631667 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01937-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Globally, ecosystems are being reconfigured by a range of intensifying human-induced stressors. Coral reefs are at the forefront of this environmental transformation, and if we are to secure their key ecosystem functions and services, it is important to understand the likely configuration of future reefs. However, the composition and trajectory of global coral reef benthic communities is currently unclear. Here our global dataset of 24,468 observations spanning 22 years (1997-2018) revealed that particularly marked declines in coral cover occurred in the Western Atlantic and Central Pacific. The data also suggest that high macroalgal cover, widely regarded as the major degraded state on coral reefs, is a phenomenon largely restricted to the Western Atlantic. At a global scale, the raw data suggest decreased average (± standard error of the mean) hard coral cover from 36 ± 1.4% to 19 ± 0.4% (during a period delineated by the first global coral bleaching event (1998) until the end of the most recent event (2017)) was largely associated with increased low-lying algal cover such as algal turfs and crustose coralline algae. Enhanced understanding of reef change, typified by decreased hard coral cover and increased cover of low-lying algal communities, will be key to managing Anthropocene coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. .,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. .,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Tsai CH, Sweatman HPA, Thibaut LM, Connolly SR. Volatility in coral cover erodes niche structure, but not diversity, in reef fish assemblages. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabm6858. [PMID: 35704577 PMCID: PMC9200288 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm6858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The world's coral reefs are experiencing increasing volatility in coral cover, largely because of anthropogenic environmental change, highlighting the need to understand how such volatility will influence the structure and dynamics of reef assemblages. These changes may influence not only richness or evenness but also the temporal stability of species' relative abundances (temporal beta-diversity). Here, we analyzed reef fish assemblage time series from the Great Barrier Reef to show that, overall, 75% of the variance in abundance among species was attributable to persistent differences in species' long-term mean abundances. However, the relative importance of stochastic fluctuations in abundance was higher on reefs that experienced greater volatility in coral cover, whereas it did not vary with drivers of alpha-diversity. These findings imply that increased coral cover volatility decreases temporal stability in relative abundances of fishes, a transformation that is not detectable from static measures of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Han Tsai
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | | | - Loïc M. Thibaut
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Centre for Population Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Population Genomics, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, Republic of Panama
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8
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Turschwell MP, Connolly SR, Schäfer RB, De Laender F, Campbell MD, Mantyka-Pringle C, Jackson MC, Kattwinkel M, Sievers M, Ashauer R, Côté IM, Connolly RM, van den Brink PJ, Brown CJ. Interactive effects of multiple stressors vary with consumer interactions, stressor dynamics and magnitude. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1483-1496. [PMID: 35478314 PMCID: PMC9320941 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Predicting the impacts of multiple stressors is important for informing ecosystem management but is impeded by a lack of a general framework for predicting whether stressors interact synergistically, additively or antagonistically. Here, we use process-based models to study how interactions generalise across three levels of biological organisation (physiological, population and consumer-resource) for a two-stressor experiment on a seagrass model system. We found that the same underlying processes could result in synergistic, additive or antagonistic interactions, with interaction type depending on initial conditions, experiment duration, stressor dynamics and consumer presence. Our results help explain why meta-analyses of multiple stressor experimental results have struggled to identify predictors of consistently non-additive interactions in the natural environment. Experiments run over extended temporal scales, with treatments across gradients of stressor magnitude, are needed to identify the processes that underpin how stressors interact and provide useful predictions to management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mischa P Turschwell
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Naos Marine Laboratories, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Quantitative Landscape Ecology, iES-Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Namur Institute of Complex Systems and Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Max D Campbell
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.,School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Mira Kattwinkel
- Quantitative Landscape Ecology, iES-Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Michael Sievers
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roman Ashauer
- Environment Department, University of York, York, UK.,Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Côté
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul J van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher J Brown
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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9
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Bairos-Novak KR, Hoogenboom MO, van Oppen MJH, Connolly SR. Coral adaptation to climate change: Meta-analysis reveals high heritability across multiple traits. Glob Chang Biol 2021; 27:5694-5710. [PMID: 34482591 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is a rapidly intensifying selection pressure on biodiversity across the globe and, particularly, on the world's coral reefs. The rate of adaptation to climate change is proportional to the amount of phenotypic variation that can be inherited by subsequent generations (i.e., narrow-sense heritability, h2 ). Thus, traits that have higher heritability (e.g., h2 > 0.5) are likely to adapt to future conditions faster than traits with lower heritability (e.g., h2 < 0.1). Here, we synthesize 95 heritability estimates across 19 species of reef-building corals. Our meta-analysis reveals low heritability (h2 < 0.25) of gene expression metrics, intermediate heritability (h2 = 0.25-0.50) of photochemistry, growth, and bleaching, and high heritability (h2 > 0.50) for metrics related to survival and immune responses. Some of these values are higher than typically observed in other taxa, such as survival and growth, while others were more comparable, such as gene expression and photochemistry. There was no detectable effect of temperature on heritability, but narrow-sense heritability estimates were generally lower than broad-sense estimates, indicative of significant non-additive genetic variation across traits. Trait heritability also varied depending on coral life stage, with bleaching and growth in juveniles generally having lower heritability compared to bleaching and growth in larvae and adults. These differences may be the result of previous stabilizing selection on juveniles or may be due to constrained evolution resulting from genetic trade-offs or genetic correlations between growth and thermotolerance. While we find no evidence that heritability decreases under temperature stress, explicit tests of the heritability of thermal tolerance itself-such as coral thermal reaction norm shape-are lacking. Nevertheless, our findings overall reveal high trait heritability for the majority of coral traits, suggesting corals may have a greater potential to adapt to climate change than has been assumed in recent evolutionary models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Bairos-Novak
- College of Science and Engineering and ARCCOE for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mia O Hoogenboom
- College of Science and Engineering and ARCCOE for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering and ARCCOE for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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10
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Hughes TP, Kerry JT, Connolly SR, Álvarez-Romero JG, Eakin CM, Heron SF, Gonzalez MA, Moneghetti J. Emergent properties in the responses of tropical corals to recurrent climate extremes. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5393-5399.e3. [PMID: 34739821 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The frequency, intensity, and spatial scale of climate extremes are changing rapidly due to anthropogenic global warming.1,2 A growing research challenge is to understand how multiple climate-driven disturbances interact with each other over multi-decadal time frames, generating combined effects that cannot be predicted from single events alone.3-5 Here we examine the emergent dynamics of five coral bleaching events along the 2,300 km length of the Great Barrier Reef that affected >98% of the Reef between 1998 and 2020. We show that the bleaching responses of corals to a given level of heat exposure differed in each event and were strongly influenced by contingency and the spatial overlap and strength of interactions between events. Naive regions that escaped bleaching for a decade or longer were the most susceptible to bouts of heat exposure. Conversely, when pairs of successive bleaching episodes were close together (1-3 years apart), the thermal threshold for severe bleaching increased because the earlier event hardened regions of the Great Barrier Reef to further impacts. In the near future, the biological responses to recurrent bleaching events may become stronger as the cumulative geographic footprint expands further, potentially impairing the stock-recruitment relationships among lightly and severely bleached reefs with diverse recent histories. Understanding the emergent properties and collective dynamics of recurrent disturbances will be critical for predicting spatial refuges and cumulative ecological responses, and for managing the longer-term impacts of anthropogenic climate change on ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry P Hughes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - James T Kerry
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Jorge G Álvarez-Romero
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - C Mark Eakin
- Coral Reef Watch, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - Scott F Heron
- Marine Geophysical Laboratory, Physics Department, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | | | - Joanne Moneghetti
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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11
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Dietzel A, Connolly SR, Hughes TP, Bode M. The spatial footprint and patchiness of large-scale disturbances on coral reefs. Glob Chang Biol 2021; 27:4825-4838. [PMID: 34390297 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems have always been shaped by disturbances, but many of these events are becoming larger, more severe and more frequent. The recovery capacity of depleted populations depends on the frequency of disturbances, the spatial distribution of mortality and the scale of dispersal. Here, we show that four mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef (in 1998, 2002, 2016 and 2017) each had markedly larger disturbance footprints and were less patchy than a severe category 5 tropical cyclone (Cyclone Yasi, 2011). Severely bleached reefs in 2016 and 2017 were isolated from the nearest lightly affected reefs by up to 146 and 200 km, respectively. In contrast, reefs damaged by Cyclone Yasi were on average 20 km away from relatively undisturbed reefs, well within the estimated range of larval dispersal for most corals. Based on these results, we present a model of coral reef disturbance and recovery to examine (1) how the spatial clustering of disturbances modifies large-scale recovery rates; and (2) how recovery rates are shaped by species' dispersal abilities. Our findings illustrate that the spatial footprint of the recent mass bleaching events poses an unprecedented threat to the resilience of coral species in human history, a threat that is even larger than the amount of mortality suggests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Dietzel
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Terry P Hughes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Dietzel A, Bode M, Connolly SR, Hughes TP. The population sizes and global extinction risk of reef-building coral species at biogeographic scales. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:663-669. [PMID: 33649542 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01393-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of a species' abundance is critically important for assessing its risk of extinction, but for the vast majority of wild animal and plant species such data are scarce at biogeographic scales. Here, we estimate the total number of reef-building corals and the population sizes of more than 300 individual species on reefs spanning the Pacific Ocean biodiversity gradient, from Indonesia to French Polynesia. Our analysis suggests that approximately half a trillion corals (0.3 × 1012-0.8 × 1012) inhabit these coral reefs, similar to the number of trees in the Amazon. Two-thirds of the examined species have population sizes exceeding 100 million colonies, and one-fifth of the species even have population sizes greater than 1 billion colonies. Our findings suggest that, while local depletions pose imminent threats that can have ecologically devastating impacts to coral reefs, the global extinction risk of most coral species is lower than previously estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Dietzel
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Michael Bode
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Terry P Hughes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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13
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Baird AH, Guest JR, Edwards AJ, Bauman AG, Bouwmeester J, Mera H, Abrego D, Alvarez-Noriega M, Babcock RC, Barbosa MB, Bonito V, Burt J, Cabaitan PC, Chang CF, Chavanich S, Chen CA, Chen CJ, Chen WJ, Chung FC, Connolly SR, Cumbo VR, Dornelas M, Doropoulos C, Eyal G, Eyal-Shaham L, Fadli N, Figueiredo J, Flot JF, Gan SH, Gomez E, Graham EM, Grinblat M, Gutiérrez-Isaza N, Harii S, Harrison PL, Hatta M, Ho NAJ, Hoarau G, Hoogenboom M, Howells EJ, Iguchi A, Isomura N, Jamodiong EA, Jandang S, Keyse J, Kitanobo S, Kongjandtre N, Kuo CY, Ligson C, Lin CH, Low J, Loya Y, Maboloc EA, Madin JS, Mezaki T, Min C, Morita M, Moya A, Neo SH, Nitschke MR, Nojima S, Nozawa Y, Piromvaragorn S, Plathong S, Puill-Stephan E, Quigley K, Ramirez-Portilla C, Ricardo G, Sakai K, Sampayo E, Shlesinger T, Sikim L, Simpson C, Sims CA, Sinniger F, Spiji DA, Tabalanza T, Tan CH, Terraneo TI, Torda G, True J, Tun K, Vicentuan K, Viyakarn V, Waheed Z, Ward S, Willis B, Woods RM, Woolsey ES, Yamamoto HH, Yusuf S. An Indo-Pacific coral spawning database. Sci Data 2021; 8:35. [PMID: 33514754 PMCID: PMC7846567 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00793-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of multi-species synchronous spawning of scleractinian corals on the Great Barrier Reef in the 1980s stimulated an extraordinary effort to document spawning times in other parts of the globe. Unfortunately, most of these data remain unpublished which limits our understanding of regional and global reproductive patterns. The Coral Spawning Database (CSD) collates much of these disparate data into a single place. The CSD includes 6178 observations (3085 of which were unpublished) of the time or day of spawning for over 300 scleractinian species in 61 genera from 101 sites in the Indo-Pacific. The goal of the CSD is to provide open access to coral spawning data to accelerate our understanding of coral reproductive biology and to provide a baseline against which to evaluate any future changes in reproductive phenology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H. Baird
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - James R. Guest
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair J. Edwards
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU United Kingdom
| | - Andrew G. Bauman
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jessica Bouwmeester
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology, 46-007 Lilipuna Rd, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 USA
| | - Hanaka Mera
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - David Abrego
- grid.1031.30000000121532610National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450 Australia
| | - Mariana Alvarez-Noriega
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Russel C. Babcock
- grid.1016.60000 0001 2173 2719Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Miguel B. Barbosa
- grid.11914.3c0000 0001 0721 1626School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, KY16 9TH United Kingdom
| | - Victor Bonito
- Reef Explorer Fiji, Coral Coast Conservation Center, Votua Village, Korolevu, Nadroga Fiji
| | - John Burt
- grid.440573.1Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Patrick C. Cabaitan
- grid.11159.3d0000 0000 9650 2179Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Velasquez Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Manila, 1101 Philippines
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- grid.260664.00000 0001 0313 3026Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Beining Rd, Keelung, 20224 Taiwan
| | - Suchana Chavanich
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875Reef Biology Research Group, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
| | - Chaolun A. Chen
- grid.506939.0Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Jhen Chen
- grid.260664.00000 0001 0313 3026Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Beining Rd, Keelung, 20224 Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jen Chen
- grid.260664.00000 0001 0313 3026Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Beining Rd, Keelung, 20224 Taiwan
| | - Fung-Chen Chung
- Reef Guardian Sdn. Bhd., Bandar Tyng, Mile 6, North Road, Sandakan, Sabah 90000 Malaysia
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- grid.438006.90000 0001 2296 9689Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Vivian R. Cumbo
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - Maria Dornelas
- grid.11914.3c0000 0001 0721 1626Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TH United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Doropoulos
- grid.1016.60000 0001 2173 2719Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Gal Eyal
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Lee Eyal-Shaham
- grid.22098.310000 0004 1937 0503The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel
| | - Nur Fadli
- grid.440768.90000 0004 1759 6066Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Aceh Indonesia
| | - Joana Figueiredo
- grid.261241.20000 0001 2168 8324Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 N Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 USA
| | - Jean-François Flot
- grid.4989.c0000 0001 2348 0746Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, B-1050 Belgium
| | - Sze-Hoon Gan
- grid.265727.30000 0001 0417 0814Endangered Marine Species Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400 Malaysia
| | - Elizabeth Gomez
- grid.11159.3d0000 0000 9650 2179Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Velasquez Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Manila, 1101 Philippines
| | - Erin M. Graham
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797eResearch Centre, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Mila Grinblat
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia ,grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797Molecular & Cell biology, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Nataly Gutiérrez-Isaza
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Saki Harii
- grid.267625.20000 0001 0685 5104Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227 Japan
| | - Peter L. Harrison
- grid.1031.30000000121532610Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480 Australia
| | - Masayuki Hatta
- grid.412314.10000 0001 2192 178XDepartment of Biology, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
| | - Nina Ann Jin Ho
- grid.503008.eChina-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia, Jalan Sunsuria, Bandar Sunsuria, Sepang Selangor, Darul Ehsan, 43900 Malaysia
| | - Gaetan Hoarau
- 12 Rue Caumont, Saint-Pierre Reunion Island, 97410 France
| | - Mia Hoogenboom
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Emily J. Howells
- grid.1007.60000 0004 0486 528XCentre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions and School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522 Australia
| | - Akira Iguchi
- grid.466781.a0000 0001 2222 3430Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8567 Japan
| | - Naoko Isomura
- grid.471922.b0000 0004 4672 6261Department of Bioresources Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College, 905 Henoko, Nago, Okinawa, 905-2192 Japan
| | - Emmeline A. Jamodiong
- grid.267625.20000 0001 0685 5104Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 902-0213 Japan
| | - Suppakarn Jandang
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875Reef Biology Research Group, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
| | - Jude Keyse
- Glenala State High School, Durack, Queensland 4077 Australia
| | - Seiya Kitanobo
- grid.267625.20000 0001 0685 5104Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227 Japan
| | - Narinratana Kongjandtre
- grid.411825.b0000 0000 9482 780XAquatic Science, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, 169 LongHaad Bangsaen Rd, Saensook, Mueang Chonburi 20131 Thailand
| | - Chao-Yang Kuo
- grid.506939.0Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Charlon Ligson
- grid.11159.3d0000 0000 9650 2179Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Velasquez Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Manila, 1101 Philippines
| | - Che-Hung Lin
- grid.506939.0Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Jeffrey Low
- Coastal and Marine Branch, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yossi Loya
- grid.12136.370000 0004 1937 0546School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801 Israel
| | - Elizaldy A. Maboloc
- grid.24515.370000 0004 1937 1450Department of Ocean Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Rd, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 USA
| | - Takuma Mezaki
- Kuroshio Biological Research Foundation, 560 Nishidomari, Otsuki Town, Hata Kochi, 788-0333 Japan
| | - Choo Min
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Reef Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Masaya Morita
- grid.267625.20000 0001 0685 5104Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227 Japan
| | - Aurelie Moya
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Su-Hwei Neo
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Matthew R. Nitschke
- grid.267827.e0000 0001 2292 3111School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, 2820 New Zealand
| | | | - Yoko Nozawa
- grid.506939.0Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | | | - Sakanan Plathong
- grid.7130.50000 0004 0470 1162Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Karnjanavanich Rd, Hat Yai, 90110 Thailand
| | | | - Kate Quigley
- grid.1046.30000 0001 0328 1619Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Catalina Ramirez-Portilla
- grid.4989.c0000 0001 2348 0746Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, B-1050 Belgium
| | - Gerard Ricardo
- grid.1046.30000 0001 0328 1619Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Kazuhiko Sakai
- grid.267625.20000 0001 0685 5104Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227 Japan
| | - Eugenia Sampayo
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Tom Shlesinger
- grid.255966.b0000 0001 2229 7296Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32901-6988 USA
| | - Leony Sikim
- Reef Guardian Sdn. Bhd., Bandar Tyng, Mile 6, North Road, Sandakan, Sabah 90000 Malaysia
| | - Chris Simpson
- 25 Mettam Street, Trigg, Western Australia 6029 Australia
| | - Carrie A. Sims
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Frederic Sinniger
- grid.267625.20000 0001 0685 5104Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227 Japan
| | - Davies A. Spiji
- Reef Guardian Sdn. Bhd., Bandar Tyng, Mile 6, North Road, Sandakan, Sabah 90000 Malaysia
| | - Tracy Tabalanza
- grid.11159.3d0000 0000 9650 2179Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Velasquez Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Manila, 1101 Philippines
| | - Chung-Hong Tan
- grid.412255.50000 0000 9284 9319Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu 21030 Malaysia
| | - Tullia I. Terraneo
- grid.45672.320000 0001 1926 5090Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900 Saudi Arabia
| | - Gergely Torda
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - James True
- grid.419784.70000 0001 0816 7508Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chalongkrung Rd, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520 Thailand
| | - Karenne Tun
- Coastal and Marine Branch, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kareen Vicentuan
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, 119227 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Voranop Viyakarn
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875Reef Biology Research Group, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
| | - Zarinah Waheed
- grid.265727.30000 0001 0417 0814Endangered Marine Species Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400 Malaysia
| | - Selina Ward
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Bette Willis
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia ,grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Rachael M. Woods
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | | | - Hiromi H. Yamamoto
- grid.505718.eOkinawa Churashima Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, 888 Ishikawa, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0206 Japan
| | - Syafyudin Yusuf
- grid.412001.60000 0000 8544 230XFaculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
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14
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Dietzel A, Bode M, Connolly SR, Hughes TP. Long-term shifts in the colony size structure of coral populations along the Great Barrier Reef. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201432. [PMID: 33049171 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The age or size structure of a population has a marked influence on its demography and reproductive capacity. While declines in coral cover are well documented, concomitant shifts in the size-frequency distribution of coral colonies are rarely measured at large spatial scales. Here, we document major shifts in the colony size structure of coral populations along the 2300 km length of the Great Barrier Reef relative to historical baselines (1995/1996). Coral colony abundances on reef crests and slopes have declined sharply across all colony size classes and in all coral taxa compared to historical baselines. Declines were particularly pronounced in the northern and central regions of the Great Barrier Reef, following mass coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017. The relative abundances of large colonies remained relatively stable, but this apparent stability masks steep declines in absolute abundance. The potential for recovery of older fecund corals is uncertain given the increasing frequency and intensity of disturbance events. The systematic decline in smaller colonies across regions, habitats and taxa, suggests that a decline in recruitment has further eroded the recovery potential and resilience of coral populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Dietzel
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.,School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.,Naos Marine Laboratories, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Terry P Hughes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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15
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Morais RA, Connolly SR, Bellwood DR. Human exploitation shapes productivity-biomass relationships on coral reefs. Glob Chang Biol 2020; 26:1295-1305. [PMID: 31782858 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef fisheries support the livelihoods of millions of people in tropical countries, despite large-scale depletion of fish biomass. While human adaptability can help to explain the resistance of fisheries to biomass depletion, compensatory ecological mechanisms may also be involved. If this is the case, high productivity should coexist with low biomass under relatively high exploitation. Here we integrate large spatial scale empirical data analysis and a theory-driven modelling approach to unveil the effects of human exploitation on reef fish productivity-biomass relationships. We show that differences in how productivity and biomass respond to overexploitation can decouple their relationship. As size-selective exploitation depletes fish biomass, it triggers increased production per unit biomass, averting immediate productivity collapse in both the modelling and the empirical systems. This 'buffering productivity' exposes the danger of assuming resource production-biomass equivalence, but may help to explain why some biomass-depleted fish assemblages still provide ecosystem goods under continued global fishing exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato A Morais
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
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16
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Abstract
Body size is a trait that broadly influences the demography and ecology of organisms. In unitary organisms, body size tends to increase with age. In modular organisms, body size can either increase or decrease with age, with size changes being the net difference between modules added through growth and modules lost through partial mortality. Rates of colony extension are independent of body size, but net growth is allometric, suggesting a significant role of size-dependent mortality. In this study, we develop a generalizable model of partitioned growth and partial mortality and apply it to data from 11 species of reef-building coral. We show that corals generally grow at constant radial increments that are size independent, and that partial mortality acts more strongly on small colonies. We also show a clear life-history trade-off between growth and partial mortality that is governed by growth form. This decomposition of net growth can provide mechanistic insights into the relative demographic effects of the intrinsic factors (e.g. acquisition of food and life-history strategy), which tend to affect growth, and extrinsic factors (e.g. physical damage, and predation), which tend to affect mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kaneohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Marissa L Baskett
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Maria A Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
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17
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Thibaut LM, Connolly SR. Hierarchical modeling strengthens evidence for density dependence in observational time series of population dynamics. Ecology 2019; 101:e02893. [PMID: 31529700 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The extent to which populations in nature are regulated by density-dependent processes is unresolved. While experiments increasingly find evidence of strong density dependence, unmanipulated population time series yield much more ambiguous evidence of regulation, especially when accounting for effects of observation error. Here, we reexamine the evidence for density dependence in time series of population sizes in nature, by conducting an aggregate analysis of the populations in the Global Population Dynamics Database (GPDD). First, following the conventional approach, we fit a density-dependent and a density-independent variant of the Gompertz state-space model to each time series. Then, we conduct an aggregate analysis of the entire database by considering two random-effects density-dependent models that leverage information across data sets. When individual time series are tested independently, we find very little evidence for density dependence. However, in the aggregate, we find very strong evidence for density dependence, even though, paradoxically, estimated strengths of density dependence for individual time series tend to be weaker than when each individual time series is analyzed independently. Furthermore, a hierarchical model that accounts for taxonomic variation in the strength of density dependence reveals that density dependence is consistently stronger in insects and fish than in birds and mammals. Our findings resolve apparent inconsistencies between observational and experimental studies of density dependence by revealing that the observational record does indeed contain strong support for the hypothesis that density dependence is widespread in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc M Thibaut
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.,School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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18
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Hopf JK, Jones GP, Williamson DH, Connolly SR. Marine reserves stabilize fish populations and fisheries yields in disturbed coral reef systems. Ecol Appl 2019; 29:e01905. [PMID: 30985954 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Marine reserve networks are increasingly implemented to conserve biodiversity and enhance the persistence and resilience of exploited species and ecosystems. However, the efficacy of marine reserve networks in frequently disturbed systems, such as coral reefs, has rarely been evaluated. Here we analyze a well-mixed larval pool model and a spatially explicit model based on a well-documented coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) metapopulation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia, to determine the effects of marine reserve coverage and placement (in relation to larval connectivity and disturbance heterogeneity) on the temporal stability of fisheries yields and population biomass in environmentally disturbed systems. We show that marine reserves can contribute to stabilizing fishery yield while increasing metapopulation persistence, irrespective of whether reserves enhance or diminish average fishery yields. However, reserve placement and the level of larval connectivity among subpopulations were important factors affecting the stability and sustainability of fisheries and fish metapopulations. Protecting a mix of disturbed and non-disturbed reefs, rather than focusing on the least-disturbed habitats, was the most consistently beneficial approach across a range of dispersal and reserve coverage scenarios. Placing reserves only in non-disturbed areas was the most beneficial for biomass enhancement, but had variable results for fisheries and could potentially destabilize yields in systems with well-mixed larval or those that are moderately fished. We also found that focusing protection on highly disturbed areas could actually increase variability in yields and biomass, especially when degraded reef reserves were distant and poorly connected to the meta-population. Our findings have implications for the design and implementation of reserve networks in the presence of stochastic, patchy environmental disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess K Hopf
- College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Geoffrey P Jones
- College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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19
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Moneghetti J, Figueiredo J, Baird AH, Connolly SR. High-frequency sampling and piecewise models reshape dispersal kernels of a common reef coral. Ecology 2019; 100:e02730. [PMID: 30991454 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Models of dispersal potential are required to predict connectivity between populations of sessile organisms. However, to date, such models do not allow for time-varying rates of acquisition and loss of competence to settle and metamorphose, and permit only a limited range of possible survivorship curves. We collect high-resolution observations of coral larval survival and metamorphosis, and apply a piecewise modeling approach that incorporates a broad range of temporally varying rates of mortality and loss of competence. Our analysis identified marked changes in competence loss and mortality rates, the timing of which implicates developmental failure and depletion of energy reserves. Asymmetric demographic rates suggest more intermediate-range dispersal, less local retention, and less long-distance dispersal than predicted by previously employed non-piecewise models. Because vital rates are likely temporally asymmetric, at least for nonfeeding broadcast-spawned larvae, piecewise analysis of demographic rates will likely yield more reliable predictions of dispersal potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Moneghetti
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Joana Figueiredo
- Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida, 33004, USA
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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20
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Hughes TP, Kerry JT, Baird AH, Connolly SR, Chase TJ, Dietzel A, Hill T, Hoey AS, Hoogenboom MO, Jacobson M, Kerswell A, Madin JS, Mieog A, Paley AS, Pratchett MS, Torda G, Woods RM. Global warming impairs stock-recruitment dynamics of corals. Nature 2019; 568:387-390. [PMID: 30944475 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1081-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Changes in disturbance regimes due to climate change are increasingly challenging the capacity of ecosystems to absorb recurrent shocks and reassemble afterwards, escalating the risk of widespread ecological collapse of current ecosystems and the emergence of novel assemblages1-3. In marine systems, the production of larvae and recruitment of functionally important species are fundamental processes for rebuilding depleted adult populations, maintaining resilience and avoiding regime shifts in the face of rising environmental pressures4,5. Here we document a regional-scale shift in stock-recruitment relationships of corals along the Great Barrier Reef-the world's largest coral reef system-following unprecedented back-to-back mass bleaching events caused by global warming. As a consequence of mass mortality of adult brood stock in 2016 and 2017 owing to heat stress6, the amount of larval recruitment declined in 2018 by 89% compared to historical levels. For the first time, brooding pocilloporids replaced spawning acroporids as the dominant taxon in the depleted recruitment pool. The collapse in stock-recruitment relationships indicates that the low resistance of adult brood stocks to repeated episodes of coral bleaching is inexorably tied to an impaired capacity for recovery, which highlights the multifaceted processes that underlie the global decline of coral reefs. The extent to which the Great Barrier Reef will be able to recover from the collapse in stock-recruitment relationships remains uncertain, given the projected increased frequency of extreme climate events over the next two decades7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry P Hughes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - James T Kerry
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tory J Chase
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andreas Dietzel
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tessa Hill
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mia O Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mizue Jacobson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kaneohe, HI, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Abbie Mieog
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra City, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Allison S Paley
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gergely Torda
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rachael M Woods
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Álvarez‐Noriega M, Baird AH, Dornelas M, Madin JS, Connolly SR. Negligible effect of competition on coral colony growth. Ecology 2018; 99:1347-1356. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Álvarez‐Noriega
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Andrew H. Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity Scottish Oceans Institute University of St. Andrews St. Andrews KY16 9TH UK
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa 46‐007 Lilipuna Rd Kaneohe Hawai'i 96744 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
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22
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Hughes TP, Anderson KD, Connolly SR, Heron SF, Kerry JT, Lough JM, Baird AH, Baum JK, Berumen ML, Bridge TC, Claar DC, Eakin CM, Gilmour JP, Graham NAJ, Harrison H, Hobbs JPA, Hoey AS, Hoogenboom M, Lowe RJ, McCulloch MT, Pandolfi JM, Pratchett M, Schoepf V, Torda G, Wilson SK. Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene. Science 2018; 359:80-83. [PMID: 29302011 DOI: 10.1126/science.aan8048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 682] [Impact Index Per Article: 113.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Tropical reef systems are transitioning to a new era in which the interval between recurrent bouts of coral bleaching is too short for a full recovery of mature assemblages. We analyzed bleaching records at 100 globally distributed reef locations from 1980 to 2016. The median return time between pairs of severe bleaching events has diminished steadily since 1980 and is now only 6 years. As global warming has progressed, tropical sea surface temperatures are warmer now during current La Niña conditions than they were during El Niño events three decades ago. Consequently, as we transition to the Anthropocene, coral bleaching is occurring more frequently in all El Niño-Southern Oscillation phases, increasing the likelihood of annual bleaching in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry P Hughes
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Kristen D Anderson
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Scott F Heron
- Coral Reef Watch, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA.,Marine Geophysical Laboratory, Physics Department, College of Science, Technology, and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - James T Kerry
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Janice M Lough
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23599-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tom C Bridge
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Queensland Museum, 70-102 Flinders Street, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Danielle C Claar
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - C Mark Eakin
- Coral Reef Watch, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - James P Gilmour
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Science Centre, University of Western Australia (UWA), WA 6009, Australia
| | - Nicholas A J Graham
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Hugo Harrison
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jean-Paul A Hobbs
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Mia Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Ryan J Lowe
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, UWA Oceans Institute, and School of Earth Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Malcolm T McCulloch
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, UWA Oceans Institute, and School of Earth Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - John M Pandolfi
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Morgan Pratchett
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Verena Schoepf
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, UWA Oceans Institute, and School of Earth Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Gergely Torda
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Perth, WA 6151, Australia
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23
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Zamborain-Mason J, Russ GR, Abesamis RA, Bucol AA, Connolly SR. Node self-connections and metapopulation persistence: reply to Saura (2018). Ecol Lett 2018; 21:605-606. [PMID: 29460504 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Saura () claims that studies using the Probability of Connectivity metric (PC) had already demonstrated the importance of including node self-connections in network metrics. As originally defined and used, PC cannot test the importance of self-connections. However, with key terms redefined, PC could be a useful tool in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Zamborain-Mason
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Garry R Russ
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Rene A Abesamis
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.,Silliman University-Angelo King Centre for Research and Environmental Management, Negros Oriental, Philippines
| | - Abner A Bucol
- Silliman University-Angelo King Centre for Research and Environmental Management, Negros Oriental, Philippines
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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24
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Dornelas M, Madin JS, Baird AH, Connolly SR. Allometric growth in reef-building corals. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0053. [PMID: 28330923 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting demographic rates is a critical part of forecasting the future of ecosystems under global change. Here, we test if growth rates can be predicted from morphological traits for a highly diverse group of colonial symbiotic organisms: scleractinian corals. We ask whether growth is isometric or allometric among corals, and whether most variation in coral growth rates occurs at the level of the species or morphological group. We estimate growth as change in planar area for 11 species, across five morphological groups and over 5 years. We show that coral growth rates are best predicted from colony size and morphology rather than species. Coral size follows a power scaling law with a constant exponent of 0.91. Despite being colonial organisms, corals have consistent allometric scaling in growth. This consistency simplifies the task of projecting community responses to disturbance and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Joshua S Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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25
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Connolly SR, Keith SA, Colwell RK, Rahbek C. Process, Mechanism, and Modeling in Macroecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 32:835-844. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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26
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Blowes SA, Pratchett MS, Connolly SR. Aggression, interference, and the functional response of coral-feeding butterflyfishes. Oecologia 2017; 184:675-684. [PMID: 28669003 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3902-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Functional responses describing how foraging rates change with respect to resource density are central to our understanding of interspecific interactions. Competitive interactions are an important determinant of foraging rates; however, the relationship between the exploitation and interference components of competition has received little empirical or theoretical consideration. Moreover, little is known about the relationship between aggressive behavioural interactions and interference competition. Using a natural gradient of consumer and resource densities, we empirically examine how aggressiveness relates to consumer-consumer encounter rates and foraging for four species of Chaetodon reef fish spanning a range of dietary niche breadths. The probability of aggression was most strongly associated with both total consumer and resource densities. In contrast, total encounter rates were best predicted by conspecific consumer density, and were highest for the most specialised consumer (Chaetodon trifascialis), not the most aggressive (Chaetodon baronessa). The most specialised consumer, not the most aggressive, also exhibited the largest reduction in foraging rates with increasing consumer density. Our results support the idea of a positive link between the exploitation and interference components of competition for the most specialised consumer. Moreover, our results caution against inferring the presence of ecological interactions (competition) from observations of behaviour (aggression and agonism) alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A Blowes
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (IDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103, Germany.
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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Zamborain‐Mason J, Russ GR, Abesamis RA, Bucol AA, Connolly SR. Network theory and metapopulation persistence: incorporating node self‐connections. Ecol Lett 2017; 20:815-831. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Garry R. Russ
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
| | - Rene A. Abesamis
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
| | - Abner A. Bucol
- Silliman University – Angelo King Centre for Research and Environmental Management Negros Oriental Philippines
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
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Álvarez-Noriega M, Baird AH, Dornelas M, Madin JS, Cumbo VR, Connolly SR. Fecundity and the demographic strategies of coral morphologies. Ecology 2017; 97:3485-3493. [PMID: 27912010 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Understanding species differences in demographic strategies is a fundamental goal of ecology. In scleractinian corals, colony morphology is tightly linked with many demographic traits, such as size-specific growth and morality. Here we test how well morphology predicts the colony size-fecundity relationship in eight species of broadcast-spawning corals. Variation in colony fecundity is greater among morphologies than between species with a similar morphology, demonstrating that colony morphology can be used as a quantitative proxy for demographic strategies. Additionally, we examine the relationship between size-specific colony fecundity and mechanical vulnerability (i.e., vulnerability to colony dislodgment). Interestingly, the relationship between size-specific fecundity and mechanical vulnerability varied among morphologies. For tabular species, the most fecund colonies are the most mechanically vulnerable, while the opposite is true for massive species. For corymbose and digitate colonies, mechanical vulnerability remains relatively constant as fecundity increases. These results reveal strong differences in the demographic tradeoffs among species of different morphologies. Using colony morphology as a quantitative proxy for demographic strategies can help predict coral community dynamics and responses to anthropogenic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Álvarez-Noriega
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Joshua S Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Vivian R Cumbo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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Connolly SR, Hughes TP, Bellwood DR. A unified model explains commonness and rarity on coral reefs. Ecol Lett 2017; 20:477-486. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean R. Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
| | - Terry P. Hughes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
| | - David R. Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld. Australia
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30
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Casey JM, Baird AH, Brandl SJ, Hoogenboom MO, Rizzari JR, Frisch AJ, Mirbach CE, Connolly SR. A test of trophic cascade theory: fish and benthic assemblages across a predator density gradient on coral reefs. Oecologia 2016; 183:161-175. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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31
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Malerba ME, Heimann K, Connolly SR. Improving dynamic phytoplankton reserve-utilization models with an indirect proxy for internal nitrogen. J Theor Biol 2016; 404:1-9. [PMID: 27216639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Ecologists have often used indirect proxies to represent variables that are difficult or impossible to measure directly. In phytoplankton, the internal concentration of the most limiting nutrient in a cell determines its growth rate. However, directly measuring the concentration of nutrients within cells is inaccurate, expensive, destructive, and time-consuming, substantially impairing our ability to model growth rates in nutrient-limited phytoplankton populations. The red chlorophyll autofluorescence (hereafter "red fluorescence") signal emitted by a cell is highly correlated with nitrogen quota in nitrogen-limited phytoplankton species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of including flow cytometric red fluorescence as a proxy for internal nitrogen status to model phytoplankton growth rates. To this end, we used the classic Quota model and designed three approaches to calibrate its model parameters to data: where empirical observations on cell internal nitrogen quota were used to fit the model ("Nitrogen-Quota approach"), where quota dynamics were inferred only from changes in medium nutrient depletion and population density ("Virtual-Quota approach"), or where red fluorescence emission of a cell was used as an indirect proxy for its internal nitrogen quota ("Fluorescence-Quota approach"). Two separate analyses were carried out. In the first analysis, stochastic model simulations were parameterized from published empirical relationships and used to generate dynamics of phytoplankton communities reared under nitrogen-limited conditions. Quota models were fitted to the dynamics of each simulated species with the three different approaches and the performance of each model was compared. In the second analysis, we fit Quota models to laboratory time-series and we calculate the ability of each calibration approach to describe the observed trajectories of internal nitrogen quota in the culture. Results from both analyses concluded that the Fluorescence-Quota approach including per-cell red fluorescence as a proxy of internal nitrogen substantially improved the ability of Quota models to describe phytoplankton dynamics, while still accounting for the biologically important process of cell nitrogen storage. More broadly, many population models in ecology implicitly recognize the importance of accounting for storage mechanisms to describe the dynamics of individual organisms. Hence, the approach documented here with phytoplankton dynamics may also be useful for evaluating the potential of indirect proxies in other ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martino E Malerba
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
| | - Kirsten Heimann
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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32
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Madin JS, Hoogenboom MO, Connolly SR, Darling ES, Falster DS, Huang D, Keith SA, Mizerek T, Pandolfi JM, Putnam HM, Baird AH. A Trait-Based Approach to Advance Coral Reef Science. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:419-428. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Hopf JK, Jones GP, Williamson DH, Connolly SR. Synergistic Effects of Marine Reserves and Harvest Controls on the Abundance and Catch Dynamics of a Coral Reef Fishery. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1543-1548. [PMID: 27185553 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Marine no-take reserves, where fishing and other extractive activities are prohibited, have well-established conservation benefits [1], yet their impacts on fisheries remains contentious [2-4]. For fishery species, reserves are often implemented alongside more conventional harvest strategies, including catch and size limits [2, 5]. However, catch and fish abundances observed post-intervention are often attributed to reserves, without explicitly estimating the potential contribution of concurrent management interventions [2, 3, 6-9]. Here we test a metapopulation model against observed fishery [10] and population [11] data for an important coral reef fishery (coral trout; Plectropomus spp.) in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) to evaluate how the combined increase in reserve area [12] and reduction in fishing effort [13, 14] in 2004 influenced changes in fish stocks and the commercial fishery. We found that declines in catch, increases in catch rates, and increases in biomass since 2004 were substantially attributable to the integration of direct effort controls with the rezoning, rather than the rezoning alone. The combined management approach was estimated to have been more productive for fish and fisheries than if the rezoning had occurred alone and comparable to what would have been obtained with effort controls alone. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the direct effort controls prevented initial decreases in catch per unit effort that would have otherwise occurred with the rezoning. Our findings demonstrate that by concurrently restructuring the fishery, the conservation benefits of reserves were enhanced and the fishery cost of rezoning the reserve network was socialized, mitigating negative impacts on individual fishers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess K Hopf
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey P Jones
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Martino E. Malerba
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Kirsten Heimann
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
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Hopf JK, Jones GP, Williamson DH, Connolly SR. Fishery consequences of marine reserves: short-term pain for longer-term gain. Ecol Appl 2016; 26:818-829. [PMID: 27411253 DOI: 10.1890/15-0348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine reserves are often established in areas that support fisheries. Larval export from reserves is argued to help compensate for the loss of fishable habitat; however, previous modeling studies have focused on long-term equilibrium outcomes. We examined the transient consequences of reserve establishment for fished metapopulations, considering both a well-mixed larval pool and a spatially explicit model based on a coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) metapopulation. When fishing pressure was reallocated relative to the area protected, yields decreased initially, then recovered, and ultimately exceeded pre-reserve levels. However, recovery time was on the order of several years to decades. If fishing pressure intensified to maintain pre-reserve yields, reserves were sometimes unable to support the increased mortality and the metapopulation collapsed. This was more likely when reserves were small, or located peripherally within the metapopulation. Overall, reserves can achieve positive conservation and fishery benefits, but fisheries management complementary to reserve implementation is essential.
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Madin JS, Anderson KD, Andreasen MH, Bridge TC, Cairns SD, Connolly SR, Darling ES, Diaz M, Falster DS, Franklin EC, Gates RD, Hoogenboom MO, Huang D, Keith SA, Kosnik MA, Kuo CY, Lough JM, Lovelock CE, Luiz O, Martinelli J, Mizerek T, Pandolfi JM, Pochon X, Pratchett MS, Putnam HM, Roberts TE, Stat M, Wallace CC, Widman E, Baird AH. The Coral Trait Database, a curated database of trait information for coral species from the global oceans. Sci Data 2016; 3:160017. [PMID: 27023900 PMCID: PMC4810887 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Trait-based approaches advance ecological and evolutionary research because traits provide a strong link to an organism's function and fitness. Trait-based research might lead to a deeper understanding of the functions of, and services provided by, ecosystems, thereby improving management, which is vital in the current era of rapid environmental change. Coral reef scientists have long collected trait data for corals; however, these are difficult to access and often under-utilized in addressing large-scale questions. We present the Coral Trait Database initiative that aims to bring together physiological, morphological, ecological, phylogenetic and biogeographic trait information into a single repository. The database houses species- and individual-level data from published field and experimental studies alongside contextual data that provide important framing for analyses. In this data descriptor, we release data for 56 traits for 1547 species, and present a collaborative platform on which other trait data are being actively federated. Our overall goal is for the Coral Trait Database to become an open-source, community-led data clearinghouse that accelerates coral reef research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S. Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Kristen D. Anderson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - Magnus Heide Andreasen
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution & Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Tom C.L. Bridge
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB #3, Townsville MC, Townsville 4810, Australia
| | - Stephen D. Cairns
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, Washington, District Of Columbia 20013, USA
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - Emily S. Darling
- Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York 10460, USA
| | - Marcela Diaz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Daniel S. Falster
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Erik C. Franklin
- University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Ruth D. Gates
- University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Mia O. Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Sally A. Keith
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution & Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Matthew A. Kosnik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Chao-Yang Kuo
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - Janice M. Lough
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB #3, Townsville MC, Townsville 4810, Australia
| | - Catherine E. Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Osmar Luiz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Julieta Martinelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Toni Mizerek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - John M. Pandolfi
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Xavier Pochon
- Environmental Technologies, Coastal & Freshwater Group, The Cawthron Institute, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
- Institute of Marine Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - Hollie M. Putnam
- University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - T. Edward Roberts
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - Michael Stat
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Carden C. Wallace
- Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Queensland Museum Network, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Widman
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Andrew H. Baird
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
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Hughes TP, Cameron DS, Chin A, Connolly SR, Day JC, Jones GP, McCook L, McGinnity P, Mumby PJ, Pears RJ, Pressey RL, Russ GR, Tanzer J, Tobin A, Young MAL. A critique of claims for negative impacts of Marine Protected Areas on fisheries. Ecol Appl 2016; 26:637-641. [PMID: 27209801 DOI: 10.1890/15-0457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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Mokany K, Ferrier S, Connolly SR, Dunstan PK, Fulton EA, Harfoot MB, Harwood TD, Richardson AJ, Roxburgh SH, Scharlemann JPW, Tittensor DP, Westcott DA, Wintle BA. Integrating modelling of biodiversity composition and ecosystem function. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sean R. Connolly
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University; Townsville QLD Australia
| | | | | | - Michael B. Harfoot
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge UK
- Computational Ecology and Environmental Science, Microsoft Research; Cambridge UK
| | | | - Anthony J. Richardson
- CSIRO; Brisbane QLD Australia
- Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics, School of Mathematics and Physics, The Univ. of Queensland; St Lucia QLD Australia
| | | | - Jörn P. W. Scharlemann
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge UK
- School of Life Sciences, Univ. of Sussex; Brighton UK
| | - Derek P. Tittensor
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge UK
- Computational Ecology and Environmental Science, Microsoft Research; Cambridge UK
- Dept of Biology; Dalhousie University; Halifax NS Canada
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Casey JM, Ainsworth TD, Choat JH, Connolly SR. Farming behaviour of reef fishes increases the prevalence of coral disease associated microbes and black band disease. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:20141032. [PMID: 24966320 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial community structure on coral reefs is strongly influenced by coral-algae interactions; however, the extent to which this influence is mediated by fishes is unknown. By excluding fleshy macroalgae, cultivating palatable filamentous algae and engaging in frequent aggression to protect resources, territorial damselfish (f. Pomacentridae), such as Stegastes, mediate macro-benthic dynamics on coral reefs and may significantly influence microbial communities. To elucidate how Stegastes apicalis and Stegastes nigricans may alter benthic microbial assemblages and coral health, we determined the benthic community composition (epilithic algal matrix and prokaryotes) and coral disease prevalence inside and outside of damselfish territories in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed distinct bacterial communities associated with turf algae and a two to three times greater relative abundance of phylotypes with high sequence similarity to potential coral pathogens inside Stegastes's territories. These potentially pathogenic phylotypes (totalling 30.04% of the community) were found to have high sequence similarity to those amplified from black band disease (BBD) and disease affected corals worldwide. Disease surveys further revealed a significantly higher occurrence of BBD inside S. nigricans's territories. These findings demonstrate the first link between fish behaviour, reservoirs of potential coral disease pathogens and the prevalence of coral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M Casey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - J Howard Choat
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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Connolly SR, MacNeil MA, Caley MJ, Knowlton N, Cripps E, Hisano M, Thibaut LM, Bhattacharya BD, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Brainard RE, Brandt A, Bulleri F, Ellingsen KE, Kaiser S, Kröncke I, Linse K, Maggi E, O'Hara TD, Plaisance L, Poore GCB, Sarkar SK, Satpathy KK, Schückel U, Williams A, Wilson RS. Commonness and rarity in the marine biosphere. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:8524-9. [PMID: 24912168 PMCID: PMC4060690 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1406664111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Explaining patterns of commonness and rarity is fundamental for understanding and managing biodiversity. Consequently, a key test of biodiversity theory has been how well ecological models reproduce empirical distributions of species abundances. However, ecological models with very different assumptions can predict similar species abundance distributions, whereas models with similar assumptions may generate very different predictions. This complicates inferring processes driving community structure from model fits to data. Here, we use an approximation that captures common features of "neutral" biodiversity models--which assume ecological equivalence of species--to test whether neutrality is consistent with patterns of commonness and rarity in the marine biosphere. We do this by analyzing 1,185 species abundance distributions from 14 marine ecosystems ranging from intertidal habitats to abyssal depths, and from the tropics to polar regions. Neutrality performs substantially worse than a classical nonneutral alternative: empirical data consistently show greater heterogeneity of species abundances than expected under neutrality. Poor performance of neutral theory is driven by its consistent inability to capture the dominance of the communities' most-abundant species. Previous tests showing poor performance of a neutral model for a particular system often have been followed by controversy about whether an alternative formulation of neutral theory could explain the data after all. However, our approach focuses on common features of neutral models, revealing discrepancies with a broad range of empirical abundance distributions. These findings highlight the need for biodiversity theory in which ecological differences among species, such as niche differences and demographic trade-offs, play a central role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Connolly
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
| | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - M Julian Caley
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Nancy Knowlton
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013;
| | - Ed Cripps
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Mizue Hisano
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Loïc M Thibaut
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | | | | | - Russell E Brainard
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818
| | - Angelika Brandt
- Biocenter Grindel and Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Kari E Ellingsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM-High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Stefanie Kaiser
- German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research, Senckenberg am Meer, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ingrid Kröncke
- Marine Research Department, Senckenberg am Meer, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Katrin Linse
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Maggi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Laetitia Plaisance
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013
| | | | - Santosh K Sarkar
- Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, Calcutta 700 019, India
| | - Kamala K Satpathy
- Environment and Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India; and
| | - Ulrike Schückel
- Marine Research Department, Senckenberg am Meer, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Alan Williams
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Marine Laboratories, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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Madin JS, Baird AH, Dornelas M, Connolly SR. Mechanical vulnerability explains size-dependent mortality of reef corals. Ecol Lett 2014; 17:1008-15. [PMID: 24894390 PMCID: PMC4145665 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Understanding life history and demographic variation among species within communities is a central ecological goal. Mortality schedules are especially important in ecosystems where disturbance plays a major role in structuring communities, such as coral reefs. Here, we test whether a trait-based, mechanistic model of mechanical vulnerability in corals can explain mortality schedules. Specifically, we ask whether species that become increasingly vulnerable to hydrodynamic dislodgment as they grow have bathtub-shaped mortality curves, whereas species that remain mechanically stable have decreasing mortality rates with size, as predicted by classical life history theory for reef corals. We find that size-dependent mortality is highly consistent between species with the same growth form and that the shape of size-dependent mortality for each growth form can be explained by mechanical vulnerability. Our findings highlight the feasibility of predicting assemblage-scale mortality patterns on coral reefs with trait-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
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Ban SS, Graham NAJ, Connolly SR. Evidence for multiple stressor interactions and effects on coral reefs. Glob Chang Biol 2014; 20:681-97. [PMID: 24166756 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Concern is growing about the potential effects of interacting multiple stressors, especially as the global climate changes. We provide a comprehensive review of multiple stressor interactions in coral reef ecosystems, which are widely considered to be one of the most sensitive ecosystems to global change. First, we synthesized coral reef studies that examined interactions of two or more stressors, highlighting stressor interactions (where one stressor directly influences another) and potentially synergistic effects on response variables (where two stressors interact to produce an effect that is greater than purely additive). For stressor-stressor interactions, we found 176 studies that examined at least 2 of the 13 stressors of interest. Applying network analysis to analyze relationships between stressors, we found that pathogens were exacerbated by more costressors than any other stressor, with ca. 78% of studies reporting an enhancing effect by another stressor. Sedimentation, storms, and water temperature directly affected the largest number of other stressors. Pathogens, nutrients, and crown-of-thorns starfish were the most-influenced stressors. We found 187 studies that examined the effects of two or more stressors on a third dependent variable. The interaction of irradiance and temperature on corals has been the subject of more research (62 studies, 33% of the total) than any other combination of stressors, with many studies reporting a synergistic effect on coral symbiont photosynthetic performance (n = 19). Second, we performed a quantitative meta-analysis of existing literature on this most-studied interaction (irradiance and temperature). We found that the mean effect size of combined treatments was statistically indistinguishable from a purely additive interaction, although it should be noted that the sample size was relatively small (n = 26). Overall, although in aggregate a large body of literature examines stressor effects on coral reefs and coral organisms, considerable gaps remain for numerous stressor interactions and effects, and insufficient quantitative evidence exists to suggest that the prevailing type of stressor interaction is synergistic.
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44
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Blowes SA, Pratchett MS, Connolly SR. Heterospecific aggression and dominance in a guild of coral-feeding fishes: the roles of dietary ecology and phylogeny. Am Nat 2013; 182:157-68. [PMID: 23852351 DOI: 10.1086/670821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Interspecific competition mediates biodiversity maintenance and is an important selective pressure for evolution. Competition is often conceptualized as being exploitative (indirect) or involving direct interference. However, most empirical studies are phenomenological, focusing on quantifying effects of density manipulations, and most competition theory has characterized exploitation competition systems. The effects on resource use of traits associated with direct, interference competition has received far less attention. Here we examine the relationships of dietary ecology and phylogeny to heterospecific aggression in a guild of corallivorous reef fishes. We find that, among chaetodontids (butterflyfishes), heterospecific aggression depends on a synergistic interaction of dietary overlap and specialization: aggression increases with dietary overlap for interactions between specialists but not for interactions involving generalists. Moreover, behavioral dominance is a monotonically increasing function of dietary specialization. The strong, positive relationship of dominance to specialization suggests that heterospecific aggression may contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity where it promotes resource partitioning. Additionally, we find strong phylogenetic signals in dietary overlap and specialization but not behavioral dominance. Our results support the use of phylogeny as a proxy for ecological similarity among butterflyfishes, but we find that direct measures of dietary overlap and specialization predict heterospecific agression much better than phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A Blowes
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
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Keith SA, Baird AH, Hughes TP, Madin JS, Connolly SR. Faunal breaks and species composition of Indo-Pacific corals: the role of plate tectonics, environment and habitat distribution. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130818. [PMID: 23698011 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Species richness gradients are ubiquitous in nature, but the mechanisms that generate and maintain these patterns at macroecological scales remain unresolved. We use a new approach that focuses on overlapping geographical ranges of species to reveal that Indo-Pacific corals are assembled within 11 distinct faunal provinces. Province limits are characterized by co-occurrence of multiple species range boundaries. Unexpectedly, these faunal breaks are poorly predicted by contemporary environmental conditions and the present-day distribution of habitat. Instead, faunal breaks show striking concordance with geological features (tectonic plates and mantle plume tracks). The depth range over which a species occurs, its larval development rate and genus age are important determinants of the likelihood that species will straddle faunal breaks. Our findings indicate that historical processes, habitat heterogeneity and species colonization ability account for more of the present-day biogeographical patterns of corals than explanations based on the contemporary distribution of reefs or environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Keith
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
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Graham EM, Baird AH, Willis BL, Connolly SR. Effects of delayed settlement on post-settlement growth and survival of scleractinian coral larvae. Oecologia 2013; 173:431-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2635-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Figueiredo J, Baird AH, Connolly SR. Synthesizing larval competence dynamics and reef-scale retention reveals a high potential for self-recruitment in corals. Ecology 2013; 94:650-9. [DOI: 10.1890/12-0767.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Chan NCS, Connolly SR. Sensitivity of coral calcification to ocean acidification: a meta-analysis. Glob Chang Biol 2013; 19:282-90. [PMID: 23504739 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Revised: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
To date, meta-analyses of effects of acidification have focused on the overall strength of evidence for statistically significant responses; however, to anticipate likely consequences of ocean acidification, quantitative estimates of the magnitude of likely responses are also needed. Herein, we use random effects meta-analysis to produce a systematically integrated measure of the distribution of magnitudes of the response of coral calcification to decreasing ΩArag . We also tested whether methodological and biological factors that have been hypothesized to drive variation in response magnitude explain a significant proportion of the among-study variation. We found that the overall mean response of coral calcification is ~15% per unit decrease in ΩArag over the range 2 < ΩArag < 4. Among-study variation is large (standard deviation of 8% per unit decrease in ΩArag ). Neither differences in carbonate chemistry manipulation method, study duration, irradiance level, nor study species growth rate explained a significant proportion of the among-study variation. However, studies employing buoyant weighting found significantly smaller decreases in calcification per unit ΩArag (~10%), compared with studies using the alkalinity anomaly technique (~25%). These differences may be due to the greater tendency for the former to integrate over light and dark calcification. If the existing body of experimental work is indeed representative of likely responses of corals in nature, our results imply that, under business as usual conditions, declines in coral calcification by end-of-century will be ~22%, on average, or ~15% if only studies integrating light and dark calcification are considered. These values are near the low end of published projections, but support the emerging view that variability due to local environmental conditions and species composition is likely to be substantial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil C S Chan
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia.
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Thibaut LM, Connolly SR. Understanding diversity-stability relationships: towards a unified model of portfolio effects. Ecol Lett 2012; 16:140-50. [PMID: 23095077 PMCID: PMC3588152 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A major ecosystem effect of biodiversity is to stabilise assemblages that perform particular functions. However, diversity-stability relationships (DSRs) are analysed using a variety of different population and community properties, most of which are adopted from theory that makes several restrictive assumptions that are unlikely to be reflected in nature. Here, we construct a simple synthesis and generalisation of previous theory for the DSR. We show that community stability is a product of two quantities: the synchrony of population fluctuations, and an average species-level population stability that is weighted by relative abundance. Weighted average population stability can be decomposed to consider effects of the mean-variance scaling of abundance, changes in mean abundance with diversity and differences in species' mean abundance in monoculture. Our framework makes explicit how unevenness in the abundances of species in real communities influences the DSR, which occurs both through effects on community synchrony, and effects on weighted average population variability. This theory provides a more robust framework for analysing the results of empirical studies of the DSR, and facilitates the integration of findings from real and model communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc M Thibaut
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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50
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Madin JS, Hughes TP, Connolly SR. Calcification, storm damage and population resilience of tabular corals under climate change. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46637. [PMID: 23056379 PMCID: PMC3464260 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Two facets of climate change--increased tropical storm intensity and ocean acidification--are expected to detrimentally affect reef-building organisms by increasing their mortality rates and decreasing their calcification rates. Our current understanding of these effects is largely based on individual organisms' short-term responses to experimental manipulations. However, predicting the ecologically-relevant effects of climate change requires understanding the long-term demographic implications of these organism-level responses. In this study, we investigate how storm intensity and calcification rate interact to affect population dynamics of the table coral Acropora hyacinthus, a dominant and geographically widespread ecosystem engineer on wave-exposed Indo-Pacific reefs. We develop a mechanistic framework based on the responses of individual-level demographic rates to changes in the physical and chemical environment, using a size-structured population model that enables us to rigorously incorporate uncertainty. We find that table coral populations are vulnerable to future collapse, placing in jeopardy many other reef organisms that are dependent upon them for shelter and food. Resistance to collapse is largely insensitive to predicted changes in storm intensity, but is highly dependent on the extent to which calcification influences both the mechanical properties of reef substrate and the colony-level trade-off between growth rate and skeletal strength. This study provides the first rigorous quantitative accounting of the demographic implications of the effects of ocean acidification and changes in storm intensity, and provides a template for further studies of climate-induced shifts in ecosystems, including coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
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