Frontiers in Marine Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10
Published: Jan. 4, 2024
There
are
few
generalizable
patterns
in
ecology,
with
widespread
observations
and
predictability.
One
possible
pattern
is
the
cumulative
trophic
theory,
which
consistently
exhibits
S-curves
of
biomass
over
level
(TL)
for
200
different
marine
ecosystems.
But
whether
those
persist
some
more
distinct
ecosystems,
coral
reefs,
unclear.
Coral
reefs
unique
among
representing
global
biodiversity
hotspots
providing
crucial
ecosystem
services.
They
subject
to
many
pressures,
including
both
(e.g.,
climate
ocean
changes,
warming,
acidification)
local
overexploitation/overfishing,
increase
turbidity,
bleaching,
habitat
destruction,
invasive
species)
stressors.
The
analysis
emergent
features,
such
as
S-curves,
could
represent
a
useful
new
analytical
option
that
can
also
be
implemented
reefs.
approach
was
applied
42
U.S.
Pacific
islands
(Guam
Commonwealth
Northern
Mariana
Islands,
American
Samoa,
Remote
Islands
Areas,
Northwestern
Main
Hawaiian
Islands),
using
data
collected
from
fish
surveys.
Results
show
reef
ecosystems
do
indeed
follow
S-curve
expected
not
trivial
tropical
systems
tend
less
widely
examined
strongly
dominated
by
structuring
organisms
like
corals.
curve
parameters
results
consistent
assemblage
diversity
indexes
benthic
substrate
ratio,
suggests
this
measure
serve
indicator
ecological
status
Moreover,
shape
what
one
would
expect
levels
perturbation,
areas
densely
inhabited
showing
pronounced
contrast
observed
low
human
population
density
islands.
All
reflected
parameters,
particularly
inflection
point
TL
steepness,
generally
negative
response
natural
anthropogenic
disturbances.
Cross-archipelago
differences
have
been
detected
Island
chain
tending
lower
points
than
other
regions.
Collectively
our
findings
demonstrate
potential
application
evaluate
Ecosystem Services,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
63, P. 101545 - 101545
Published: July 21, 2023
Millions
of
people
around
the
world
depend
on
ecosystem
services
produced
by
rocky
and
coral
reef
ecosystems,
including
nutrition,
aesthetic
value,
coastal
protection.
Rocky
reefs
also
contribute
to
critical
global
regional
processes
through
cycling
nitrogen,
phosphorus,
carbon.
The
increased
stress
experienced
in
Anthropocene
threatens
their
ability
provide
vital
services.
This
study
investigates
bundles
services,
that
occur
together,
identify
trade-offs
synergies
among
reefs.
To
do
this,
we
bring
together
estimates
seven
services:
productivity,
nitrogen
cycling,
phosphorus
inorganic
carbon
nutritional
We
use
correlations
analysis
understand
between
these
cluster
clusters
with
distinct
suites
or
service
bundles.
Our
reveals
(1)
(2)
three
reefs,
which
differ
basis
overall
relative
delivery
Differences
production
appear
be
linked
differences
key
ecological
traits,
total
fish
biomass
species
richness.
Similar
applications
other
marine
systems
could
result
improved
understanding
spatial
distributions
relationships
is
a
input
policy.
Coral Reefs,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
43(2), P. 281 - 297
Published: Feb. 24, 2024
Abstract
Function-based
studies
have
opened
a
new
chapter
in
our
understanding
of
coral
reefs.
Unfortunately,
we
are
opening
this
as
the
world’s
reefs
rapidly
transform.
In
context,
one
most
important
roles
function-based
is
to
inform
reef
conservation.
At
critical
juncture,
chance
reflect
on
where
come
from,
and
going,
functional
ecology,
with
specific
consideration
what
means
for
approaches
conserving
As
focal
examples,
examine
role
corals
reefs,
practice
culling
crown-of-thorns
starfish,
from
perspective.
We
also
consider
how
papers
special
issue
build
current
understanding.
Ultimately,
highlight
robust
scientific
investigation,
based
an
ecosystem
functions,
will
be
key
helping
us
navigate
through
crisis.
Global Ecology and Biogeography,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
32(8), P. 1336 - 1352
Published: May 9, 2023
Abstract
Aim
Coastal
fishes
have
a
fundamental
role
in
marine
ecosystem
functioning
and
contributions
to
people,
but
face
increasing
threats
due
climate
change,
habitat
degradation
overexploitation.
The
extent
which
human
pressures
are
impacting
coastal
fish
biodiversity
comparison
with
geographic
environmental
factors
at
large
spatial
scale
is
still
under
scrutiny.
Here,
we
took
advantage
of
DNA
(eDNA)
metabarcoding
investigate
the
relationship
between
biodiversity,
including
taxonomic
genetic
components,
also
socio‐economic
factors.
Location
Tropical,
temperate
polar
areas.
Time
period
Present
day.
Major
taxa
studied
Marine
fishes.
Methods
We
analysed
eDNA
263
stations
(samples)
68
sites
distributed
across
polar,
tropical
regions.
modelled
effect
environmental,
on
α‐
β‐diversity.
then
computed
partial
each
factor
several
components
using
molecular
units
(MOTU)
sequences.
investigated
β‐diversity
measured
from
our
barcodes,
phylogenetic
functional
diversity.
Results
show
that
MOTU
sequence
strongest
correlation
ecosystems
worldwide.
However,
models
reveal
negative
dependence
ecosystems.
In
areas
high
dependence,
diversity
all
fish,
cryptobenthic
MOTUs
declined
steeply.
Finally,
index,
accounting
for
distance
pairs
MOTUs,
within
communities,
reliable
proxy
Main
conclusions
Together,
results
demonstrate
short
sequences
can
be
used
assess
direct
impacts
Anthropocene
further
extended
its
dimensions.
Oikos,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
2023(9)
Published: June 9, 2023
Consumers
play
an
important
role
in
biogeochemical
cycles
through
the
consumption
and
release
of
essential
elements
such
as
carbon
(C),
nitrogen
(N),
phosphorus
(P).
Indeed,
a
large
proportion
consumed
are
released
into
environment
inorganic
(i.e.
excretion)
or
organic
form
egestion).
On
coral
reefs,
fishes
represent
bulk
consumer
biomass
thus
key
recycling
nutrients.
In
recent
years,
excretion
rates
have
been
studied
intensively,
but
less
is
known
about
rate
quality
reef
fish
egestion.
this
study,
we
quantify
elemental
contents
feces,
estimate
absorption
efficiencies
compare
egestion
for
51
species.
We
show
that
concentrations
decrease
remarkably
little
from
food
to
feces.
This
due
extremely
low
efficiencies,
resulting
amounts
energy
Moreover,
while
feces
varies
across
trophic
guilds,
it
remains
highly
variable
within
guilds.
Finally,
demonstrate
N
P
outweighs
amount
nutrients
recycled
excretion.
Our
study
highlights
need
incorporate
animal
assessments
ecosystem
functioning
web
structure.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
290(2008)
Published: Oct. 3, 2023
Coral
reef
fisheries
supply
nutritious
catch
to
tropical
coastal
communities,
where
the
quality
of
seafood
is
determined
by
both
rate
biomass
production
and
nutritional
value
fishes.
Yet
our
understanding
typically
uses
targets
total
fish
rather
than
individual
growth
(i.e.
production)
nutrient
content
fish),
limiting
ability
management
sustain
productivity
catches.
Here,
we
use
modelled
coefficients
concentrations
develop
a
new
metric
coral
We
then
evaluate
this
with
underwater
visual
surveys
assemblages
from
four
countries
examine
food
webs.
Species'
were
associated
nutrients
that
vary
body
size
(calcium,
iron,
selenium
zinc),
but
not
density.
When
integrated
abundance
data,
find
herbivorous
species
dominate
standing
biomass,
turnover
on
reefs.
Such
bottom-heavy
trophic
distributions
consistent
across
gradients
fishing
pressure
benthic
composition.
conclude
restrictions
promote
sustainability
herbivores
other
low
trophic-level
can
critical
security
over
500
million
people
in
tropics.
Functional Ecology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
37(12), P. 3091 - 3110
Published: Oct. 19, 2023
Abstract
The
emergence
of
functional
ecology
has
changed
the
focus
ecological
research
from
investigating
patterns
species
diversity
to
understanding
how
traits
relate
specific
processes
generating
these
patterns.
Traits,
and
can
be
shared
driven
by
distantly
related
taxonomic
groups.
Crossing
boundaries
among
groups
is
still
a
challenge
critical
knowledge
frontier
in
ecology.
A
cross‐taxa
approach,
merging
trait
data
across
groups,
could
fill
this
gap.
In
context,
functionally
analogous
traits,
that
may
have
distinct
ontogenetic
origins
yet
represent
similar
processes,
comprise
an
important
recent
advance
However,
which
taxa
(be
them
or
not)
been
used
with
multiple
taxa,
whether
(and
how)
combined,
needs
elucidated.
We
reviewed
articles
published
last
75
years
investigate
use
involving
taxa.
Our
search
returned
1006
articles,
subset
96
was
filtered
for
extraction.
Studies
covered
total
134
491
different
traits;
they
were
predominantly
observational,
focussed
on
community
ecosystem
monitoring.
review
showed
current
field
relies
limited
number
response
variables,
particularly
(e.g.
richness
abundance
within
groups).
Also,
plants,
birds
mammals)
types
(diet,
size,
habitat
dispersal).
Two‐thirds
(
n
=
72)
one‐third
32)
employed
approach.
mapped
limitations
presented
questions
directions
pushing
limits
field.
aimed
encourage
researchers
move
beyond
single
integrate
more
branches
dimensions
Tree
Life
their
research.
Read
free
Plain
Language
Summary
article
Journal
blog.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(42)
Published: Oct. 7, 2024
The
amount
of
ocean
protected
from
fishing
and
other
human
impacts
has
often
been
used
as
a
metric
conservation
progress.
However,
protection
efforts
have
highly
variable
outcomes
that
depend
on
local
conditions,
which
makes
it
difficult
to
quantify
what
coral
reef
date
actually
achieved
at
global
scale.
Here,
we
develop
predictive
model
how
conditions
influence
~2,600
sites
across
44
ecoregions,
much
more
fish
biomass
there
is
reefs
compared
modeled
scenario
with
no
protection.
Under
the
assumptions
our
model,
study
reveals
without
existing
would
be
~10%
less
reefs.
Thus,
estimate
led
approximately
1
in
every
10
kg
biomass.