Algal turf sediments on coral reefs: what's known and what's next

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 149, P. 110542 - 110542

Published: Sept. 26, 2019

Language: Английский

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Patchy delivery of functions undermines functional redundancy in a high diversity system

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 33(6), P. 1144 - 1155

Published: March 9, 2019

Abstract Globally, many ecosystems are being challenged and transformed by anthropogenic climate change. Future ecosystem configurations will be heavily influenced the critical ecological functions that affect resilience. Robust measures of these thus essential for understanding responding to Coral reefs experiencing unprecedented change due global mass coral bleaching. After bleaching events other disturbances, herbivorous fishes provide reef resilience controlling harmful proliferation algae. Identifying functional diversity amongst has been a mainstay fish research, but it remained unclear how, what extent, translates impacts on reefs. Rather than assessing potential community, we explicitly considered delivery herbivory quantifying, in detail, spatial extent overlap feeding areas across different groups. Core were highly concentrated consistently covered just 14% available space. Overlap groups was limited, showing high complementarity as tended feed next one another. Thus, processes patchy, effectively reducing redundancy, even presence diverse assemblage. Our findings caution against assumptions homogeneity functions. The impact local assemblages current approaches may overestimated, potentially leading skewed assessments results highlight need incorporate collective animal behaviour spatio‐temporal scales into future ultimately A plain language summary is this article.

Language: Английский

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Habitat zonation on coral reefs: Structural complexity, nutritional resources and herbivorous fish distributions

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(6), P. e0233498 - e0233498

Published: June 4, 2020

Distinct zonation of community assemblages among habitats is a ubiquitous feature coral reefs. The distribution roving herbivorous fishes (parrotfishes, surgeonfishes and rabbitfishes) particularly clear example, with the abundance these generally peaking in shallow-water, high-energy habitats, regardless biogeographic realm. Yet, our understanding factors which structure this habitat partitioning, especially regards to different facets structural complexity nutritional resource availability, limited. To address issue, we used three-dimensional photogrammetry structure-from-motion technologies describe five components (rugosity, cover, verticality, refuge density field-of-view) availability (grazing surface area) considered how are related fish distributions. All metrics (including cover) were highest on slope crest. Nutritional differed from general pattern peaked outer-flat. Unexpectedly, when compared fishes, none had marked influence models. However, grazing area was strong predictor both biomass fishes. relationship between distributions indicates that may be one primary driving lack affinity for low-complexity, algal turf-dominated outer-flat offers some cautious optimism herbivory sustained future, reef configurations.

Language: Английский

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Implications of 2D versus 3D surveys to measure the abundance and composition of benthic coral reef communities

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 40(4), P. 1137 - 1153

Published: June 16, 2021

A paramount challenge in coral reef ecology is to estimate the abundance and composition of communities residing such complex ecosystems. Traditional 2D projected surface cover estimates neglect 3D structure reefs organisms, overlook cryptic habitats (e.g., overhangs, cavities), thus may fail represent biomass needed assess trophic function. Here, we surveyed cover, biovolume, (i.e., ash-free dry weight) all major benthic taxa on 12 stations island Curaçao (Southern Caribbean) using structure-from-motion photogrammetry, point counts, situ measurements, elemental analysis. We then compared our community corresponding traditional explore differences different metrics. Overall, was dominated (52 ± 2%, mean SE) by non-calcifying phototrophs (macroalgae, turf algae, cyanobacterial mats), but their contribution total minor (3.2 0.6%). In contrast, (32 2%) more closely resembled (27 6%). The relative erect as gorgonians massive sponges, twofold 11-fold lower, respectively, than biomass. Cryptic area (3.3 0.2 m2 m-2planar reef) comprised half substrate, rendering two thirds coralline algae almost encrusting sponges (99.8%) undetected assessments. Yet, (35 18%). Based quantification exposed metrics, suggest adjustments current monitoring approaches highlight ramifications for evaluating ecological contributions overall To this end, metric conversions can complement other assessments generate non-invasive biomass, standing stocks organic carbon nitrogen) Caribbean communities.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00338-021-02118-6.

Language: Английский

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A 3D perspective on sediment accumulation in algal turfs: Implications of coral reef flattening

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 108(1), P. 70 - 80

Published: June 29, 2019

Abstract Globally, coral reefs are being transformed by a suite of stressors, the foremost climate change. Increasingly, it is expected that these reconfigured reef systems will emerge with lower‐complexity and be dominated algal turfs. Understanding this new operating space vital if we to maintain services, such as fishable biomass production, provide. However, functionality appears depend on nature turfs themselves, which in‐turn, intimately linked sediments they contain. As losing complexity, need understand if, what extent, turf condition complex structure connected. To address issue took advantage recent developments in 3D structure‐from‐motion technology examine how complexity metrics (elevation surface angle) related heavily climate‐impacted reef. This represents novel application context ecosystems. We found both elevation angle decreased, nutritional value epilithic matrix also decreased while sediment accumulation increased. Furthermore, showed elevated surfaces were characterized far shorter turfs, potentially herbivory hotspots, offering fertile grounds for further exploration dynamics at sub‐metre spatial scales. Synthesis. study yields insights into operating‐space future reefs, suggests flatten, likely increase even inputs remain unchanged, altering fundamentally. Maintaining key services provided climate‐transformed, low‐complexity turf‐dominated future, managing interactions between herbivory, sediments, structural complexity.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying sediment dynamics on an inshore coral reef: Putting algal turfs in perspective

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 141, P. 404 - 415

Published: March 7, 2019

Language: Английский

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Algal turf productivity on coral reefs: A meta-analysis

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 168, P. 105311 - 105311

Published: March 24, 2021

Language: Английский

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Long sediment-laden algal turf likely impairs coral recovery on Florida’s coral reefs

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(4), P. 1109 - 1120

Published: July 13, 2024

Language: Английский

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Can Herbivore Management Increase the Persistence of Indo-Pacific Coral Reefs?

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Sept. 10, 2019

Due to climate change, coral reefs have experienced mass bleaching and mortality events in recent years. Although are unlikely persist their current form unless change can be addressed, local management a role play by extending the time frame over which there functional reef systems capable of recovery. Here we consider potential application one – herbivorous fishes. The premise behind this approach is that increased herbivory could shift algal assemblages states benign or beneficial for corals, thereby increasing corals' ability recover from destructive such as thrive periods between events. With focus on Indo-Pacific reefs, review what known about underlying processes coral-algal competition ultimately affect corals grow, persist, replenish themselves. We then critically assess evidence effectiveness otherwise herbivore within marine protected areas (MPAs) better understand why many MPAs not improved outcomes more importantly identify circumstances would most likely effective. Herbivore panacea, but has enhance persistence right circumstances. Those include that: (i) absent management, an 'algal problem' i.e. insufficient maintain algae corals; (ii) actions able increase net herbivory. As corallivory potentially widespread negative consequence some problem well solutions. Because effects certain greatest settlement early survivorship, it may maintaining sufficient particularly important promoting recovery bleaching. Thus, part wider strategy manage reduce threats currently imperil reefs.

Language: Английский

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Antagonistic effects of seawalls and urban sedimentation on epilithic algal matrix (EAM)-feeding fishes

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 173, P. 113098 - 113098

Published: Nov. 9, 2021

Language: Английский

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