Marine reserves, fisheries ban, and 20 years of positive change in a coral reef ecosystem

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 35(5), P. 1473 - 1483

Published: April 28, 2021

Abstract By 2004, Belize was exhibiting classic fishing down of the food web. Groupers (Serranidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) were scarce fisheries turned to parrotfishes (Scarinae), leading a 41% decline in their biomass. Several policies enacted 2009–2010, including moratorium on parrotfish new marine park with no‐take areas. Using 20‐year time series reef fish benthos, we evaluated impact these approximately 10 years after implementation. Establishment Southwater Caye Marine Reserve led recovery snapper at 2 out 3 sites, but there no evidence outside reserve. Snapper populations an older reserve continued increase, implying that least 9 is required for recovery. Despite concerns over feasibility banning harvest once it has become dominant fin fishery, returned exceeded biomass levels prior fishery. The majority changes involved increase density; species composition adult body size generally exhibited little change. Recovery occurred equally well reserves areas open other forms fishing, strong compliance. Temporal trends grazing intensity strongly negatively associated cover macroalgae, which by 2018 had fallen lowest observed since measurements began 1998. Coral remained resilient exhibit periods net disturbance. We found harvesting feasible appears help constrain can otherwise impede coral resilience.

Language: Английский

---

Uncovering drivers of juvenile coral density following mass bleaching

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 38(4), P. 637 - 649

Published: March 6, 2019

Thermally induced mass coral bleaching is globally responsible for major losses of cover. Coral recovery from disturbances like the 2016 event hinges on successful recruitment new colonies to existing population. Juvenile corals as a life history stage represent survival and growth recruits. As such, habitat preferences juvenile how environmental parameters interact drive following disturbance are important research areas. To expand our knowledge this topic, we compared densities before with those after identified abiotic biotic characteristics 21 reefs in inner Seychelles that predict densities. Our results show event, were significantly reduced by about 70%, particularly large decline Acropora. Macroalgae present obstacle post-bleaching setting, but their influence varies function herbivore biomass, reef structure, type. Higher biomass herbivorous fish weakens negative effect macroalgae corals, structural complexity granitic strong positive predictor density. However, carbonate or patch was negatively related density, highlighting importance considering interactive terms analyses. study emphasises abundance at both fine seascape scales, adding literature drivers rebound potential severe bleaching.

Language: Английский

---

A 3D perspective on sediment accumulation in algal turfs: Implications of coral reef flattening

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 108(1), P. 70 - 80

Published: June 29, 2019

Abstract Globally, coral reefs are being transformed by a suite of stressors, the foremost climate change. Increasingly, it is expected that these reconfigured reef systems will emerge with lower‐complexity and be dominated algal turfs. Understanding this new operating space vital if we to maintain services, such as fishable biomass production, provide. However, functionality appears depend on nature turfs themselves, which in‐turn, intimately linked sediments they contain. As losing complexity, need understand if, what extent, turf condition complex structure connected. To address issue took advantage recent developments in 3D structure‐from‐motion technology examine how complexity metrics (elevation surface angle) related heavily climate‐impacted reef. This represents novel application context ecosystems. We found both elevation angle decreased, nutritional value epilithic matrix also decreased while sediment accumulation increased. Furthermore, showed elevated surfaces were characterized far shorter turfs, potentially herbivory hotspots, offering fertile grounds for further exploration dynamics at sub‐metre spatial scales. Synthesis. study yields insights into operating‐space future reefs, suggests flatten, likely increase even inputs remain unchanged, altering fundamentally. Maintaining key services provided climate‐transformed, low‐complexity turf‐dominated future, managing interactions between herbivory, sediments, structural complexity.

Language: Английский

---

Sediments ratchet-down coral reef algal turf productivity

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 713, P. 136709 - 136709

Published: Jan. 15, 2020

Language: Английский

---

Important ecosystem function, low redundancy and high vulnerability: The trifecta argument for protecting the Great Barrier Reef's tabular Acropora

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 14(5)

Published: June 1, 2021

Abstract Identifying organisms that play an important role in maintaining ecosystem function is a key aspect of resilience‐based management. For Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR), we found the recovery ability shallow exposed fore‐reefs more than 14 times higher when tabular Acropora are present. The disproportionate appears to be driven by combination traits including high recruitment, growth rate and, importantly, large maximum colony sizes. Despite this role, highly sensitive most pressures. We compile evidence suggesting if corals were decline or disappear on GBR, potential for reef would considerably slowed. then consider merits placing special emphasis protection within management GBR. Importantly, recognise analysis costs and benefits such recognition vital before any change implemented. Actions might include targeted crown‐of‐thorns starfish control, anchoring restrictions reefs identified as essential their larval dispersal. In addition, communications about critical importance these recognisable may boost community support participation protection.

Language: Английский

---

Twenty years of change in benthic communities across the Belizean Barrier Reef

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 17(1), P. e0249155 - e0249155

Published: Jan. 18, 2022

Disease, storms, ocean warming, and pollution have caused the mass mortality of reef-building corals across Caribbean over last four decades. Subsequently, stony been replaced by macroalgae, bacterial mats, invertebrates including soft sponges, causing changes to functioning reef ecosystems. Here we describe in absolute cover benthic taxa, corals, gorgonians, algae, at 15 fore-reef sites (12–15m depth) Belizean Barrier Reef (BBR) from 1997 2016. We also tested whether Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which fishing was prohibited but likely still occurred, mitigated these changes. Additionally, determined ocean-temperature anomalies (measured via satellite) or local human impacts (estimated using Human Influence Index, HII) were related community structure. observed a reduction long-lived, massive Orbicella spp. (from 13 2%), an increase fleshy corticated macroalgae most sites. These other communities unaffected protection. The covers hard-coral Acropora spp., Montastraea cavernosa , Porites negatively frequency anomalies. Only gorgonian related, negatively, our metric magnitude (HII). Our results suggest that along BBR experienced disturbances are beyond capacity current management structure mitigate. recommend managers devote greater resources enforcing expanding existing marine protected areas mitigating stressors, importantly, government, industry, public act immediately reduce global carbon emissions.

Language: Английский

---

Improving estimates of coral reef construction and erosion with in situ measurements

Limnology and Oceanography, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 64(5), P. 2283 - 2294

Published: April 25, 2019

Abstract The decline in living coral since the 1970s has conspicuously slowed reef construction on a global scale, but related process of erosion is less visible and not often quantified. Here, we present new data constructional deconstructional sides carbonate‐budget equation Florida Keys, U.S.A. We documented Orbicella spp. calcification rates at four offshore reefs quantified decadal‐scale ‐reef mid‐shore patch reef. Using heads fitted with permanent markers 1998, measured reef‐elevation loss 28 stations over 17.3 yr to estimate mean rate −5.5 (± 3.2, SD) mm −1 . This equates an −8.2 4.8, kg m −2 dead colonies, or −6.6 when adjusted reef‐wide. Calculating net carbonate production using census‐based approach same 2017, estimated reef‐wide bioerosion −1.9 2.0, , 0.5 0.3, Substituting would suggest that this was lower negative, −4.2 divergence could be function high tops which may preferentially targeted by parrotfish. Nonetheless, our study suggests need for field improve estimates reef‐structure persistence as continue degrade.

Language: Английский

---

Herbivorous Crabs Reverse the Seaweed Dilemma on Coral Reefs

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(4), P. 853 - 859.e3

Published: Dec. 10, 2020

Language: Английский

---

Caribbean reefs of the Anthropocene: Variance in ecosystem metrics indicates bright spots on coral depauperate reefs

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 26(9), P. 4785 - 4799

Published: July 21, 2020

Abstract Dramatic coral loss has significantly altered many Caribbean reefs, with potentially important consequences for the ecological functions and ecosystem services provided by reef systems. Many studies examine its causes—and often presume a universal decline of loss—rather than evaluating range possible outcomes diversity at reefs varying in cover. We evaluate 10 key metrics, relating to variety different services, on 328 focus variability these metrics rather mean responses. In contrast prevailing paradigm, we document high is not related find numerous “bright spots,” where herbivorous fish biomass, density large fishes, fishery value, and/or species richness are high, despite low Although it remains critical protect restore corals, understanding among low‐coral can facilitate maintenance sustained as work degraded This framework be applied other ecosystems Anthropocene better understand variance service identify why bright spots exist.

Language: Английский

---

Algal turf productivity on coral reefs: A meta-analysis

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 168, P. 105311 - 105311

Published: March 24, 2021

Language: Английский

---