Local conditions magnify coral loss after marine heatwaves

Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 372(6545), P. 977 - 980

Published: May 27, 2021

Climate change threatens coral reefs by causing heat stress events that lead to widespread bleaching and mortality. Given the global nature of these mass mortality events, recent studies argue mitigating climate is only path conserve reefs. Using a analysis 223 sites, we show local stressors act synergistically with kill corals. Local factors such as high abundance macroalgae or urchins magnified loss in year after bleaching. Notably, combined effects increasing intensified loss. Our results offer an optimistic premise effective management, alongside efforts mitigate change, can help survive Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic pressures and life history predict trajectories of seagrass meadow extent at a global scale

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

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A global horizon scan of issues impacting marine and coastal biodiversity conservation

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(9), P. 1262 - 1270

Published: July 7, 2022

Language: Английский

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South Atlantic Coral Reefs Are Major Global Warming Refugia and Less Susceptible to Bleaching

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: June 25, 2020

Mass coral bleaching has increased in intensity and frequency severely impacted shallow tropical reefs worldwide. Although extensive investigation been conducted on the resistance resilience of Indo-Pacific Caribbean, unique South Atlantic remain largely unassessed. Here we compiled primary literature data for from three biogeographical regions: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean performed comparative analyses to investigate whether latter may be more resistant bleaching. Our findings show that corals display critical features make them less susceptible mass bleaching: (i) deeper bathymetric distribution, as species have a mean maximum depth occurrence 70 m; (ii) higher tolerance turbidity, nearly 60% are found turbid conditions; (iii) nutrient enrichment, nitrate concentration is naturally elevated; (iv) morphological resistance, massive growth forms dominant comprise two thirds species; (v) flexible symbiotic associations, 75% symbiont phylotypes generalists. Such were associated with fewer episodes mortality Atlantic, approximately than 50% Caribbean. In addition, no global events reported which suffered considerably These results several remarkable withstanding thermal stress. Together historic experience lower heat stress, our explain why climate change impacts this region intense. Given large extension latitudinal distribution communities, recognized major refugium likely resist effectively reefs.

Language: Английский

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Insights from extreme coral reefs in a changing world

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 39(3), P. 495 - 507

Published: June 1, 2020

Language: Английский

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Turbid Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future—A Review

Diversity, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(6), P. 251 - 251

Published: June 7, 2021

Increasing evidence suggests that coral reefs exposed to elevated turbidity may be more resilient climate change impacts and serve as an important conservation hotspot. However, logistical difficulties in studying turbid environments have led poor representation of these reef types within the scientific literature, with studies using different methods definitions characterize reefs. Here we review geological origins growth histories from Holocene (past), their current ecological environmental states (present), potential responses resilience increasing local global pressures (future). We classify new descriptors based on regime (persistent, fluctuating, transitional) sources sediment input (natural versus anthropogenic). Further, by comparing composition, function two most studied reefs, Paluma Shoals Reef Complex, Australia turbidity) Singapore (anthropogenic turbidity), found them distinct status. As geographic range is expected increase due stressors, improving our understanding will central efforts.

Language: Английский

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Response of large benthic foraminifera to climate and local changes: Implications for future carbonate production

Sedimentology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 69(1), P. 121 - 161

Published: Feb. 27, 2021

Abstract Large benthic foraminifera are major carbonate components in tropical platforms, important producers, stratigraphic tools and powerful bioindicators (proxies) of environmental change. The application large coral reef environments has gained considerable momentum recent years. These modern ecological assessments often carried out by micropalaeontologists or ecologists with expertise the identification foraminifera. However, have been under‐represented favour macro reef‐builders, for example, corals calcareous algae. contribute about 5% to reef‐scale sediment production. Their substantial size abundance reflected their symbiotic association living algae inside tests. When foraminiferal holobiont (the combination between host microalgal photosymbiont) dies, remaining test renourishes supply, which maintains stabilizes shorelines low‐lying islands. Geological records reveal episodes (i.e. late Palaeocene early Eocene epochs) prolific production warmer oceans than today, absence corals. This begs deeper consideration how will respond under future climatic scenarios higher atmospheric carbon dioxide ( p CO 2 ) oceans. In addition, studies highlighting complex evolutionary associations hosts algal photosymbionts, as well associated habitats, suggest potential increased tolerance a wide range conditions. full where currently dwell is not well‐understood terms present production, impact stressors. evidence acclimatization, at least few species well‐studied foraminifera, intensifying climate change within degrading ecosystems, prelude host–symbiont resilience different regimes habitats today. review also highlights knowledge gaps current understanding calcium producers across shallow shelf slope changing ocean

Language: Английский

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Synergistic benefits of conserving land-sea ecosystems

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 28, P. e01684 - e01684

Published: June 16, 2021

Mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs interact in tropical regions throughout the world. These ecosystems exhibit strong synergies, as health of each ecosystem supports functioning adjacent habitats. We present a global spatial analysis mangrove, seagrass, reef communities, identifying where these habitats co-occur. While only an estimated 18% interaction zones are covered by protected areas, boundaries between mangroves, represent areas high conservation efficiency, benefits amplify synergistically land-sea jointly managed. discuss four types efficiencies coastal ecosystems: (1) increased resistance to disturbance through inter-ecosystem feedbacks, (2) biodiversity within small geographic (3) habitat portfolio effects giving rise climate refugia, (4) synergistic services, building one service inherently increases others. Given benefits, campaigns expand marine terrestrial protection should focus on tightly connective interface reefs, order more efficiently build resilience

Language: Английский

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Oceanic differences in coral-bleaching responses to marine heatwaves

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 871, P. 162113 - 162113

Published: Feb. 9, 2023

Anomalously high ocean temperatures have increased in frequency, intensity, and duration over the last several decades because of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming marine heatwaves. Reef-building corals are sensitive to such temperature anomalies commonly lead coral bleaching, mortality, changes community structure. Yet, despite these overarching effects, there geographical differences thermal regimes, evolutionary histories, past disturbances may different bleaching responses within among oceans. Here we examined overall Atlantic, Indian, Pacific Oceans, using both a spatially explicit Bayesian mixed-effects model deep-learning neural-network model. We used 40-year dataset encompassing 23,288 coral-reef surveys at 11,058 sites 88 countries, from 1980 2020. Focusing on ocean-wide assessed relationships between percentage bleached temperature-related metrics alongside suite environmental variables. found while sea-surface were consistently, strongly, related all oceans, clear most For instance, was an increase with depth Atlantic Ocean whereas opposite observed Indian Ocean, no trend could be seen Ocean. The standard deviation thermal-stress negatively but not Globally, has progressively occurred higher four although, again, three Together, patterns highlight historical circumstances oceanographic conditions play central role contemporary coral-bleaching responses.

Language: Английский

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Corals at the edge of environmental limits: A new conceptual framework to re-define marginal and extreme coral communities

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 884, P. 163688 - 163688

Published: April 25, 2023

The worldwide decline of coral reefs has renewed interest in communities at the edge environmental limits because they have potential to serve as resilience hotspots and climate change refugia, can provide insights into how might function future ocean conditions. These are often referred marginal or extreme but few definitions exist usage these terms therefore been inconsistent. This creates significant challenges for categorising poorly studied synthesising data across locations. Furthermore, this impedes our understanding persist their lessons reef survival. Here, we propose that related distinct a novel conceptual framework redefine them. Specifically, define extremeness solely based on conditions (i.e., large deviations from optimal mean and/or variance) marginality ecological criteria altered community composition ecosystem functioning). joint independent assessment is critical avoid common pitfalls where existing outside presumed development automatically considered inferior more traditional settings. We further evaluate differential natural laboratories, discuss strategies conservation management well priorities research. Our new classification provides an important tool improve corals leverage knowledge optimise conservation, restoration rapidly changing ocean.

Language: Английский

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