Coral recruitment: patterns and processes determining the dynamics of coral populations

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(6), P. 1862 - 1886

Published: June 20, 2023

Coral recruitment describes the addition of new individuals to populations, and it is one most fundamental demographic processes contributing population size. As many coral reefs around world have experienced large declines in cover abundance, there has been great interest understanding factors causing vary conditions under which can support community resilience. While progress these areas being facilitated by technological scientific advances, best tools quantify remains humble settlement tile, variants use for over a century. Here I review biology ecology recruits process, largely as resolved through tiles, by: (i) defining how terms 'recruit' 'recruitment' used, explaining why loose terminology impeded advancement; (ii) describing measured tiles value this purpose; (iii) summarizing previous efforts quantitative analyses recruitment; (iv) advances from hypothesis-driven studies determining refuges, seawater flow, grazers modulate (v) reviewing small corals (i.e. recruits) understand better they respond environmental conditions; (vi) updating compilation extending 1974 present, thus revealing long-term global density recruits, juxtaposed with apparent resilience bleaching. Finally, future directions study recruitment, highlight need expand deliver taxonomic resolution, explain time series tile deployments are likely remain pivotal quantifying recruitment.

Language: Английский

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Studying functions on coral reefs: past perspectives, current conundrums, and future potential

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.

Language: Английский

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A critical evaluation of benthic phase shift studies on coral reefs

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 178, P. 105667 - 105667

Published: May 25, 2022

Language: Английский

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Differential bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa and colony sizes, relative to bleaching severity across Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Parks

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 191, P. 114907 - 114907

Published: April 18, 2023

Climate-induced coral bleaching represents the foremost threat to assemblages globally, however susceptibility varies among and within taxa. We compared 10 morpho-taxa two colony size classes relative reef-scale severity at 33 reefs across Great Barrier Reef Coral Sea Marine Parks in February-March 2020. Colony caused hierarchy of taxa change considerably. Notably, massive Porites shifted from being least likely exhibit bleaching, most susceptible as overall increased. Juvenile corals (≤5 cm diameter) were generally more resistant except for Montipora Pocillopora colonies, which bleach than adults (>5 cm). These findings suggest that are important determinants provide insights into possible shifts structure by events.

Language: Английский

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Changing dynamics of Great Barrier Reef hard coral cover in the Anthropocene

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(3), P. 747 - 762

Published: May 14, 2024

Language: Английский

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A global synthesis of the current knowledge on the taxonomic and geographic distribution of major coral diseases

Environmental Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8, P. 100231 - 100231

Published: April 26, 2022

Although knowledge on the diseases affecting corals has been accumulating exponentially since 2000s, even more effort is required to summarize and guide further investigation. Here, we used Web of Science database review 226 studies published, between 2000 2020, identify major geographic taxonomic gaps in literature, propose future directions for study coral diseases. We classified according ocean, ecoregion, species, disease types, approach (e.g., observational or experimental), depth. In total, 22 types were reported 165 species. Acropora spp. was most studied taxa with 12 8.2% records. Black band, white plague, syndromes, skeletal eroding, dark spot, yellow band six common diseases, accounting together 76.8% As expected, conducted Caribbean Indo-Pacific (34.0% 28.7%, respectively), but only 44 141 global ecoregions that harbour corals. Observational approaches frequent (75.6% records), while experimental accounted 19.9% mainly done Acropora. The vast majority (∼98%) performed shallow waters (<30 m depth). conclude over past two decades, have assessed a very small fraction few locations around globe, at limited range their depth distribution. While monitoring bleaching mandatory reef ecology conservation, ecoepidemiology deserves space research agenda ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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On the fate of dead coral colonies

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 36(12), P. 3148 - 3160

Published: Sept. 16, 2022

Abstract Carbonate budgets dynamically balance production and loss of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) on coral reefs. To sustain or expand the reef framework, CaCO by calcifying organisms must be higher than erosion. However, global climate change has been negatively impacting production, with bleaching events causing widespread mortality. Although mortality are well documented, fate colonies after their death, including erosion rates, still poorly known. We followed 143 recently dead individual complex growth forms (arborescent, caespitose, corymbose, digitate tabular), whose was triggered two consecutive events. These colonies, spread over 16 km 2 Lizard Island complex, were tracked for up to 5 years, allowing detailed examination rates post‐mortality structural persistence. also tested how variables that commonly used in studies relate spatial temporal variability colonies. revealed rapid an average 79.7% completely disintegrating within 60 months. The predicted half‐life a colony 40 months, limited variation among wave exposure levels. Remarkably, we found no effect estimated parrotfish bioerosion, exposure, nor form, observed rates. Our results suggest our understanding corals may more previously thought. study sites calls re‐evaluation role parrotfishes Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Natural recovery of corals after severe disturbance

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 27(1)

Published: Oct. 18, 2023

Ecosystem recovery from human-induced disturbances, whether through natural processes or restoration, is occurring worldwide. Yet, dynamics, and their implications for broader ecosystem management, remain unclear. We explored dynamics using coral reefs as a case study. tracked the fate of 809 individual recruits that settled after severe bleaching event at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Recruited Acropora corals, first detected in 2020, grew to cover levels were equivalent global average within just 2 years. Furthermore, we found 11.5 per square meter sufficient reach this However, wave exposure, growth form colony density had marked effect on rates. Our results underscore importance considering management restoration highlight how lessons learnt reef can inform our understanding high-diversity climate-disturbed ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Exploring benthic habitat assessments on coral reefs: a comparison of direct field measurements versus remote sensing

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(2), P. 265 - 280

Published: Feb. 6, 2024

Abstract Coral reefs are spatially variable ecosystems that form biogenic structures ranging in size from 10 to 1000s of meters. Their changes response anthropogenic stress occurring across increasingly broad scales, yet our ability detect, understand and respond these at relevant scales is limited. Traditional in-water observation-based coral reef ecology remote sensing-based methods both offer valuable insights into benthic change, but their relative scalability use to-date must be understood inform optimal future research approaches. We conducted a systematic literature review comparing the approaches used quantify habitat, through traditional ecological studies sensing studies, with respect to: (a) geographic distribution, (b) zone selection, c) focal questions. Among 199 reviewed, primarily concentrated on community composition (89%), using high-detail direct measurements, especially slope (80%). By contrast, provided explicit datasets coarser spatial thematic resolutions, predominant focus mapping (72%) entire systems. Only 3% integrated approaches, combining comprehensive in-situ observations broadscale sensing. As stressors continue increase scale, bridging scientific disciplines offers promising way upscale reef-scape scales. identify steps harness strengths fields integrate multiple tools various levels resolution scale. Such forward understanding managing functioning Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Spatial patchiness in change, recruitment, and recovery on coral reefs at Lizard Island following consecutive bleaching events

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 173, P. 105537 - 105537

Published: Nov. 23, 2021

Language: Английский

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