Large-scale interventions may delay decline of the Great Barrier Reef DOI Creative Commons
Scott A. Condie, Kenneth R. N. Anthony, Russell C. Babcock

et al.

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(4)

Published: April 1, 2021

On the iconic Great Barrier Reef (GBR), cumulative impacts of tropical cyclones, marine heatwaves and regular outbreaks coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) have severely depleted coral cover. Climate change will further exacerbate this situation over coming decades unless effective interventions are implemented. Evaluating efficacy alternative in a complex system experiencing major can only be achieved through systems modelling approach. We evaluated combinations using reef meta-community model. The model consisted dynamic network 3753 reefs supporting communities corals CoTS connected ocean larval dispersal, exposed to changing regimes flood plumes, acidification. Interventions included reducing plume impacts, expanding control populations, stabilizing rubble, managing solar radiation introducing heat-tolerant strains. Without intervention, all climate scenarios resulted precipitous declines GBR cover next 50 years. most strategies delaying decline were that protected from both predation (CoTS control) thermal stress (solar management) deployed at large scale. Successful implementation could expand opportunities for action, natural adaptation socioeconomic adjustment by least one two decades.

Language: Английский

Global decline in capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services DOI Creative Commons
Tyler D. Eddy, Vicky W. Y. Lam, Gabriel Reygondeau

et al.

One Earth, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 4(9), P. 1278 - 1285

Published: Sept. 1, 2021

Coral reefs worldwide are facing impacts from climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution. The cumulative effect of these on global capacity coral to provide ecosystem services is unknown. Here, we evaluate changes in extent reef habitat, fishery catches effort, Indigenous consumption fishes, coral-reef-associated biodiversity. Global coverage living has declined by half since the 1950s. Catches fishes peaked 2002 decline despite increasing fishing catch-per-unit effort decreased 60% 1950. At least 63% biodiversity with loss extent. With projected continued degradation associated fisheries catches, well-being sustainable coastal development human communities that depend threatened.

Language: Английский

Citations

448
Coral bleaching patterns are the outcome of complex biological and environmental networking DOI Creative Commons
David J. Suggett, David J. Smith

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 68 - 79

Published: Oct. 16, 2019

Abstract Continued declines in coral reef health over the past three decades have been punctuated by severe mass bleaching‐induced mortality events that grown intensity and frequency under climate change. Intensive global research efforts therefore persistently focused on bleaching phenomena to understand where corals bleach, when why—resulting a large—yet still somewhat patchy—knowledge base. Particularly catastrophic 5 years catalyzed calls for more diverse set of management tools, extending far beyond mitigation protection, also include aggressive interventions. However, effectiveness these various tools now rests rapidly assimilating our knowledge base into integrated frameworks. Here, we consider how intensive has established basis complex biological environmental networks, which together regulate outcomes severity. We discuss enough scaffold conceptual frameworks underpinning susceptibility, but new are urgently required translate this an operational system informing—and testing—bleaching outcomes. Specifically, adopting network models can fully describe predict metabolic functioning holobionts, is regulated doses interactions among factors. Identifying gaps limiting operation such logical step immediately guide prioritize future experiments observations. at time‐critical point implement capacity resolve patterns emerge from biological–environmental so effectively inform evolving ecological social adaptation aimed securing reefs.

Language: Английский

Citations

166
Impacts of nitrogen pollution on corals in the context of global climate change and potential strategies to conserve coral reefs DOI
Hongwei Zhao,

Meile Yuan,

Maryna Strokal

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 774, P. 145017 - 145017

Published: Feb. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

123
Anthropogenic pressures and life history predict trajectories of seagrass meadow extent at a global scale DOI Creative Commons
Mischa P. Turschwell, Rod M. Connolly, Jillian C. Dunic

et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(45)

Published: Nov. 1, 2021

Significance Seagrasses are important for ecosystem services, including climate regulation and fisheries production. But they threatened by multiple pressures poor water quality coastal development. Seagrass extent is not monitored in many places, so areas at most risk of decline the management actions needed these places largely unknown. We examine associations between change seagrass meadow area key globally, helping predict trajectory meadows unmonitored regions. find rapidly shrinking where destructive fishing occurs. Trajectories also vary with life-history strategy. Finally, we identify several locations decline, highlighting urgent monitoring required.

Language: Английский

Citations

113
Emergent properties in the responses of tropical corals to recurrent climate extremes DOI Creative Commons
Terry P. Hughes, James T. Kerry, Sean R. Connolly

et al.

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(23), P. 5393 - 5399.e3

Published: Nov. 4, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

107
Coral reefs benefit from reduced land–sea impacts under ocean warming DOI Creative Commons
Jamison M. Gove, Gareth J. Williams, Joey Lecky

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 621(7979), P. 536 - 542

Published: Aug. 9, 2023

Coral reef ecosystems are being fundamentally restructured by local human impacts and climate-driven marine heatwaves that trigger mass coral bleaching mortality1. Reducing can increase resistance to recovery from bleaching2. However, resource managers lack clear advice on targeted actions best support reefs under climate change3 sector-based governance means most land- sea-based management efforts remain siloed4. Here we combine surveys of change with a unique 20-year time series land-sea encompassed an unprecedented heatwave in Hawai'i. Reefs increased herbivorous fish populations reduced land-based impacts, such as wastewater pollution urban runoff, had positive cover trajectories predisturbance. These also experienced modest reduction mortality following severe heat stress compared enhanced impacts. Scenario modelling indicated simultaneously reducing results three- sixfold greater probability having high reef-builder four years postdisturbance than if either occurred isolation. International protect 30% Earth's land ocean 2030 underway5. Our reveal integrated could help achieve coastal conservation goals provide the opportunity persist our changing climate.

Language: Английский

Citations

58
Deficits in functional trait diversity following recovery on coral reefs DOI Open Access
Mike McWilliam, Morgan S. Pratchett, Mia O. Hoogenboom

et al.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 287(1918), P. 20192628 - 20192628

Published: Jan. 8, 2020

The disturbance regimes of ecosystems are changing, and prospects for continued recovery remain unclear. New assemblages with altered species composition may be deficient in key functional traits. Alternatively, important traits sustained by that replace those decline (response diversity). Here, we quantify the response diversity coral using case studies three locations. Despite return trajectories cover, original diverse attributes failed to recover at each location. Response reassembly trait space was limited, varied according biogeographic differences dominant, rapidly recovering species. deficits identified here suggest cover cannot assure reef diversity, shortening intervals between disturbances can limit among functionally

Language: Английский

Citations

91
Quantifying global potential for coral evolutionary response to climate change DOI
Cheryl A. Logan, John P. Dunne, James S. Ryan

et al.

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(6), P. 537 - 542

Published: May 17, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

82
Nutrient-supplying ocean currents modulate coral bleaching susceptibility DOI Creative Commons
Thomas M. DeCarlo, Laura Gajdzik, Joanne I. Ellis

et al.

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 6(34)

Published: Aug. 21, 2020

Nutrients become a death knell 5 for corals as the ocean warms.

Language: Английский

Citations

80
Changing role of coral reef marine reserves in a warming climate DOI Creative Commons
Nicholas A. J. Graham, James P. W. Robinson, Sarah E. Smith

et al.

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: April 24, 2020

Abstract Coral reef ecosystems are among the first to fundamentally change in structure due climate change, which leads questioning of whether decades knowledge regarding management is still applicable. Here we assess ecological responses no-take marine reserves over two decades, spanning a major climate-driven coral bleaching event. Pre-bleaching reserve were consistent with large literature, higher cover, more species fish, and greater fish biomass, particularly upper trophic levels. However, 16 years following mortality, effects absent for benthos, greatly diminished richness. Positive biomass persisted, but groups benefiting from profoundly changed, low level herbivores dominating responses. These findings highlight that while have important roles on reefs face functional they benefit will be substantially altered.

Language: Английский

Citations

73