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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Homogenization and miniaturization of habitat structure in temperate marine forests

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(20), P. 5262 - 5275

Published: July 25, 2021

Humans are rapidly transforming the structural configuration of planet's ecosystems, but these changes and their ecological consequences remain poorly quantified in underwater habitats. Here, we show that loss forest-forming seaweeds rise ground-covering 'turfs' across four continents consistently resulted miniaturization habitat structure, with seascapes converging towards flattened habitats smaller habitable spaces. Globally, turf occupied a architectural trait space were structurally more similar regions than marine forests, evidencing homogenization. Surprisingly, such convergence occurred despite consisting vastly different species richness taxa providing architecture, as well disparate drivers forest decline. Turf contained high sediment loads, 100s km mid-Western Australia resulting reefs retaining an additional ~242 million tons (four orders magnitude sediments delivered fluvially annually). Together, this work demonstrates replacement forests by turfs is generalizable phenomenon has profound for ecology temperate reefs.

Language: Английский

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The functional roles of surgeonfishes on coral reefs: past, present and future

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 387 - 439

Published: Jan. 9, 2022

Language: Английский

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Local human pressures modulate turf sediment loads in a warm-temperate oceanic island

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 205, P. 107030 - 107030

Published: Feb. 23, 2025

In the Anthropocene, algal turfs are expected to replace macroalgal forests and coral cover as dominant benthic state. These turf seascapes play a key role in regulating ecosystem processes through sediment retention, which carries significant ecological socio-economic implications. However, our understanding of sediments trapped by on coastal reefs, particularly oceanic islands, remains limited. this study, we quantified seascape architecture (algal composition mean height) properties (total particulate load, grain size distribution, organic content) across warm-temperate island. We further decoupled geomorphological, anthropogenic, algae structural predictors explaining spatial variation properties. Our results revealed loads, varying three orders magnitude (∼1 g/m2 2000 g/m2), while load varied two 100 g/m2). Human pressure were strongest highlighting local human stressors modulating dynamics emerging seascapes. study provides baseline information patterns drivers critical area develop management plans that target resilience core functions under altered reef configurations Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Sedimentation and overfishing drive changes in early succession and coral recruitment

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 287(1941), P. 20202575 - 20202575

Published: Dec. 16, 2020

Sedimentation and overfishing are important local stressors on coral reefs that can independently result in declines recruitment shifts to algal-dominated states. However, the role of herbivory driving recovery across environmental gradients is often unclear. Here we investigate early successional benthic communities a sediment gradient Palau, Micronesia over 12-month period. Total sedimentation rates measured by 'TurfPods' varied from 0.03 ± 0.1 SE mg cm-2 d-1 at offshore sites 1.32 0.2 inshore sites. To assess succession, three-dimensional settlement tiles were deployed with experimental cages used exclude tile access larger herbivorous fish. Benthic assemblages exhibited rapid transitions within three months deployment. At low levels (less than 0.6 d-1), resulted dominated inducers (short turf algae crustose coralline algae), whereas exclusion herbivores overgrowth inhibitors (encrusting upright foliose macroalgae). An 'inducer threshold' was found under increasing (greater having limited no presence communities, herbivore sediment-laden algal assemblages, while invertebrates (sponges, ascidians) terrestrial accumulation. A 'coral 0.8 d-1, below which net reduced 50% absence herbivores, minimal above threshold. Our results highlight nonlinear trajectories succession identify strong interactions between have cascading effects recruitment. Local management strategies aim reduce turbidity manage fisheries measurable community recruitment, enhancing reef resilience recovery.

Language: Английский

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Fish farm effluents alter reef benthic assemblages and reduce coral settlement

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 153, P. 111025 - 111025

Published: March 4, 2020

Language: Английский

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Sediments ratchet-down coral reef algal turf productivity

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 713, P. 136709 - 136709

Published: Jan. 15, 2020

Language: Английский

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Bio-physical determinants of sediment accumulation on an offshore coral reef: A snapshot study

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 895, P. 165188 - 165188

Published: June 27, 2023

Sediments are found on all coral reefs around the globe. However, amount of sediment in different reservoirs, and rates at which sediments move between can shape biological functioning reefs. Unfortunately, relatively few studies have examined reef dynamics, associated bio-physical drivers, simultaneously over matching spatial temporal scales. This has led to a partial understanding how living systems connected, especially clear-water offshore To address this problem, four reservoirs/sedimentary processes three drivers were quantified across seven habitats/depths Lizard Island, an exposed mid-shelf Great Barrier Reef. Even location substantial load suspended passed reef; theoretically capable replacing entire standing stock on-reef turf just 8 h. quantification actual deposition suggested that 2 % passing settled reef. The data also revealed marked incongruence (sediment trap data) accumulation (TurfPod profile, with flat back emerging as key areas both accumulation. By contrast, shallow windward crest was area but had limited capacity for These cross-reef patterns related wave energy geomorphology, low ecologically important aligning energy. findings reveal disconnect benthos, 'post-settlement' fate dependent local hydrodynamic conditions. From ecological perspective, suggests contextual constraints (wave geomorphology) may predispose some or high-load regimes.

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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Damselfishes alleviate the impacts of sediments on host corals

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7(4), P. 192074 - 192074

Published: April 1, 2020

Mutualisms play a critical role in ecological communities; however, the importance and prevalence of mutualistic associations can be modified by external stressors. On coral reefs, elevated sediment deposition major stressor reducing health corals reef resilience. Here, we investigated influence severe sedimentation on relationship between small damselfishes ( Pomacentrus moluccensis Dascyllus aruanus ) their host Pocillopora damicornis ). In an aquarium experiment, were exposed to rates approximately 100 mg cm −2 d −1 , with without fishes present, test whether: (i) accumulation sediments hosts, (ii) moderate partial colony mortality and/or tissue condition. Colonies accumulated much less compared colonies fishes, this effect was strongest for D. (fivefold than controls) as opposed P. (twofold controls). symbiont also had up 10-fold sediment-induced mortality, well higher chlorophyll protein concentrations. These results demonstrate that fish mutualisms vary strength benefits, indicate some or facilitative interactions might become more important species resilience at high-stress levels.

Language: Английский

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