Coral reef ecosystem services in the Anthropocene

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 33(6), P. 1023 - 1034

Published: March 19, 2019

Abstract Coral reefs underpin a range of ecosystem goods and services that contribute to the well‐being millions people. However, tropical coral in Anthropocene are likely be functionally different from past. In this perspective piece, we ask, what does mean for provision reefs? First, provide examples provisioning, regulating, cultural supporting underpinned by reef ecosystems. We conclude service research has lagged behind multidisciplinary advances broader science, such as an explicit recognition interactions between social ecological systems services. Second, drawing on tools functional ecology, outline how these social–ecological relationships can incorporated into mechanistic understanding might used anticipate future changes Finally, explore emergence novel services, example tropicalized coastlines, or through changing technological connections reefs. Indeed, when conceived coming system dynamics, novelty emerge elements people ecosystem. This synthesis literature suggests field is poorly prepared understand anticipated Anthropocene. A new agenda needed better connects ecology provision. should embrace more holistic approaches research, recognizing them co‐produced ecosystems society. Importantly, likelihood configurations requires further conceptualization empirical assessment. As with current loss gain will not affect all equally must understood context which they occur. With uncertainty surrounding Anthropocene, exploring benefits change great importance. plain language summary available article.

Language: Английский

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Relationships between structural complexity, coral traits, and reef fish assemblages

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 36(2), P. 561 - 575

Published: Jan. 12, 2017

Language: Английский

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Climate Change, Coral Loss, and the Curious Case of the Parrotfish Paradigm: Why Don't Marine Protected Areas Improve Reef Resilience?

Annual Review of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 11(1), P. 307 - 334

Published: Jan. 3, 2019

Scientists have advocated for local interventions, such as creating marine protected areas and implementing fishery restrictions, ways to mitigate stressors limit the effects of climate change on reef-building corals. However, in a literature review, we find little empirical support notion managed resilience. We outline some reasons why protection herbivorous fish (especially parrotfish) had effect coral One key explanation is that impacts (e.g., pollution fishing) are often swamped by much greater ocean warming Another sheer complexity (including numerous context dependencies) five cascading links assumed managed-resilience hypothesis. If reefs cannot be saved actions alone, then it time face reef degradation head-on, directly addressing anthropogenic change—the root cause global decline.

Language: Английский

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Social–environmental drivers inform strategic management of coral reefs in the Anthropocene

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(9), P. 1341 - 1350

Published: Aug. 12, 2019

Language: Английский

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Coral reef structural complexity provides important coastal protection from waves under rising sea levels

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 4(2)

Published: Feb. 2, 2018

Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems that support millions of people worldwide by providing coastal protection from waves. Climate change and human impacts leading to degraded coral rising sea levels, posing concerns for the tropical regions in near future. We use a wave dissipation model calibrated with empirical data calculate future increase back-reef height. show that, future, structural complexity is more important than sea-level rise determining provided average also significant heights could occur at present level if there sustained degradation benthic complexity. Our results highlight maintaining key ensure on coastlines

Language: Английский

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The future of resilience-based management in coral reef ecosystems

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 233, P. 291 - 301

Published: Dec. 21, 2018

Resilience underpins the sustainability of both ecological and social systems. Extensive loss reef corals following recent mass bleaching events have challenged notion that support system resilience is a viable management strategy. While resilience-based (RBM) cannot prevent damaging effects major disturbances, such as events, it can natural processes promote resistance recovery. Here, we review potential RBM to help sustain coral reefs in 21st century. We explore scope for supporting through existing approaches emerging technologies discuss their opportunities limitations changing climate. argue be effective world, strategies need involve new interventions together reduce stress, fitness populations species, people economies adapt highly altered ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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Changing geo‐ecological functions of coral reefs in the Anthropocene

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 33(6), P. 976 - 988

Published: Nov. 23, 2018

Abstract The ecology of many coral reefs has changed markedly over recent decades in response to various combinations local and global stressors. These ecological changes have important implications for the abundance taxa that regulate production erosion skeletal carbonates, thus geo‐ecological functions provide, including reef framework sediment generation, maintenance habitat complexity growth potential. functional attributes underpin ecosystem goods services provide society. Rapidly changing conditions Anthropocene are likely significantly impact capacity sustain these functions. Although footprint disturbance will be expressed differently across ecoregions habitats, end point may broadly similar: (a) progressively shifting towards net neutral or negative carbonate budget states; (b) becoming structurally flatter; (c) having lower vertical rates. It is also a progressive depth‐homogenisation occur terms processes. defined by an increasing disconnect between processes drive on surface, geological outcome production, is, accumulation underlying structure. Reef structures become increasingly relict senescent features, which reduce generation rates, limit potential accrete vertically at rates can track rising sea levels. In absence pervasive stressors, recovery degraded communities been observed, resulting high net‐positive budgets being regained. However, frequency intensity climate‐driven bleaching events predicted increase next decades. This would spatial disturbances exacerbate magnitude described here, limiting maintain their enforcement effective marine protection benefits geographic isolation favourable environmental (“refugia” sites) offer hope more optimistic futures some locations. A >plain language summary available this article.

Language: Английский

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Mass coral bleaching causes biotic homogenization of reef fish assemblages

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 3117 - 3129

Published: April 6, 2018

Global climate change is altering community composition across many ecosystems due to nonrandom species turnover, typically characterized by the loss of specialist and increasing similarity biological communities spatial scales. As anthropogenic disturbances continue alter globally, there a growing need identify how responses influence establishment distinct assemblages, such that management actions may be appropriately assigned. Here, we use trait-based analyses compare temporal changes in five complementary indices reef fish assemblage structure among six taxonomically coral habitats exposed system-wide thermal stress event. Our results revealed increased taxonomic functional previously assemblages following mass bleaching, with subtle, but significant, shifts toward predominance small-bodied, algal-farming habitat generalists. Furthermore, while or richness did not all habitats, an increase originality indicated overall redundancy. We also found prebleaching better predicted than magnitude loss. These emphasize measures alpha diversity can mask important functioning as reorganize. findings highlight role structuring influencing fishes disturbance. new configurations emerge, their desirability will hinge upon associated capacity maintain key ecological processes spite ongoing disturbances.

Language: Английский

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A rapid spread of the stony coral tissue loss disease outbreak in the Mexican Caribbean

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 7, P. e8069 - e8069

Published: Nov. 26, 2019

Caribbean reef corals have experienced unprecedented declines from climate change, anthropogenic stressors and infectious diseases in recent decades. Since 2014, a highly lethal, new disease, called stony coral tissue loss has impacted many reef-coral species Florida. During the summer of 2018, we noticed an anomalously high disease prevalence affecting different northern portion Mexican Caribbean. We assessed severity this outbreak 2018/2019 using AGRRA protocol to survey 82 sites across Then, subset 14 sites, detailed information before (2016/2017) explore consequences on condition composition communities. Our findings show that already spread entire region by similar (with patterns) those previously described for However, observed great variability mortality was not attributable any geographical gradient. Using long-term data, determined there is no evidence such anywhere which suggests afflicted within few months. The analysis contained pre-outbreak showed event considerably increased severely changed structure communities region. Given lethality number susceptible species, encourage researchers, managers stakeholders Western Atlantic accord it highest priority near future.

Language: Английский

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Comparing Chemistry and Census-Based Estimates of Net Ecosystem Calcification on a Rim Reef in Bermuda

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 3

Published: Sept. 22, 2016

Coral reef net ecosystem calcification (NEC) has decreased for many Caribbean reefs over recent decades primarily due to a combination of declining coral cover and changing benthic community composition. Chemistry-based approaches calculate NEC utilize the drawdown seawater total alkalinity (TA) combined with residence time an instantaneous measurement NEC. Census-based combine annual growth rates structural complexity estimate occurring timescales. Here, was calculated Hog Reef in Bermuda using both chemistry census-based techniques compare mass-balance generated by two methods identify dominant biocalcifiers at Reef. Our findings indicate close agreement between 2011 2.35±1.01 kg CaCO3•m-2•y-1 chemistry-based 2.23±1.02 An additional record TA data from autonomous CO2 mooring measuring pCO2 modeled pHtotal every 3-hours highlights dynamic temporal variability This ability capture higher frequency allows mechanisms driving be explored tested. Just four species, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Pseudodiploria strigosa, Millepora alcicornis, Orbicella franksi, were identified as contributing 94±19% calcium carbonate production suggesting these species should highlighted conservation preserve current As continues decline globally, estimates suggest that either method, but ideally methods, may serve useful tool managers scientists monitor maintenance structure services.

Language: Английский

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