Tropicalisation of temperate reefs: Implications for ecosystem functions and management actions

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 33(6), P. 1000 - 1013

Published: Feb. 20, 2019

Abstract Temperate reefs from around the world are becoming tropicalised, as warm‐water species shift their distribution towards poles in response to warming. This is already causing profound shifts dominant foundation and associated ecological communities canopy seaweeds such kelp replaced by tropical species. Here, we argue that cascading consequences of tropicalisation for ecosystem properties functions warming temperate depend largely on taxa end up dominating seafloor. We put forward three potential trajectories, differ whether seaweeds, turf or corals become dominant. highlight gains certain some endpoints. For example, local benthic fish productivity may increase tropicalised a higher proportion primary production directly consumed, but this will be at expense other carbon export. understanding these changes flows energy materials essential formulate new conservation strategies management approaches minimise risks well capture opportunities. Regardless which trajectory followed, systems represent novel configurations. poses major challenges traditional environmental approaches, typically focus maintaining returning particular locations. outline practices either mitigate predicted structural functional make most opportunities reefs. These include marine protected areas resilience connectivity, development fisheries target range‐expanding invaders, assisted evolution migration facilitate dominance large habitat formers like seaweeds. important ethical with developing manage reefs, need increasingly interventionist. As technological innovations continue emerge, having clear goals considering ethics surrounding interventions among broader community steps successfully develop approaches. A plain language summary available article.

Language: Английский

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Harnessing ecological processes to facilitate coral restoration

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 16(4), P. 239 - 247

Published: April 4, 2018

Incorporating ecological processes into restoration planning is increasingly recognized as a fundamental component of successful strategies. We outline scientific framework to advance the emerging field coral restoration. advocate for harnessing that drive community dynamics on reefs in way facilitates establishment and growth restored corals. Drawing decades reef ecology research lessons learned from other ecosystems, we posit practitioners can control factors such density, diversity, identity transplanted corals; site selection; transplant design restore positive feedback – or disrupt negative order improve success. Ultimately, argue should explicitly incorporate key natural exploit dynamic forces recovery ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Animal pee in the sea: consumer‐mediated nutrient dynamics in the world's changing oceans

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 23(6), P. 2166 - 2178

Published: Feb. 20, 2017

Abstract Humans have drastically altered the abundance of animals in marine ecosystems via exploitation. Reduced can destabilize food webs, leading to cascading indirect effects that dramatically reorganize community structure and shift ecosystem function. However, additional implications these top‐down changes for biogeochemical cycles consumer‐mediated nutrient dynamics ( CND ) are often overlooked systems, particularly coastal areas. Here, we review research underscores importance this bottom‐up control at local, regional, global scales ecosystems, potential anthropogenic change fundamentally alter processes. We focus attention on two primary ways consumers affect dynamics, with emphasis capacity ecosystems: (1) storage retention nutrients biomass, (2) supply excretion egestion. Nutrient consumer biomass may be especially important many because consumers, as opposed producers, dominate organismal biomass. As supply, emphasize how enhance production through both press pulse dynamics. Looking forward, explore CDN improving theory (e.g., ecological stoichiometry, metabolic theory, biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships), all context environmental change. Increasing will likely transform our perspectives functioning ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Movement‐mediated community assembly and coexistence

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(4), P. 1073 - 1096

Published: April 20, 2020

ABSTRACT Organismal movement is ubiquitous and facilitates important ecological mechanisms that drive community metacommunity composition hence biodiversity. In most existing theories models in biodiversity research, represented simplistically, ignoring the behavioural basis of consequently variation behaviour at species individual levels. However, as human endeavours modify climate land use, processes organisms response to these changes, including movement, become critical understanding resulting loss. Here, we draw together research from different subdisciplines ecology understand impact individual‐level on community‐level patterns coexistence. We join framework with key concepts theory, assembly modern coexistence theory using idea micro–macro links, where various aspects emergent scale up local regional mobility mobile‐link‐generated abiotic biotic environmental conditions. These turn influence both and, timescales, such dispersal limitation, filtering, niche partitioning. conclude by highlighting challenges promising future avenues for data generation, analysis complementary modelling approaches provide a brief outlook how new behaviour‐based view becomes responses communities under ongoing change.

Language: Английский

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Landscape‐scale patterns of nutrient enrichment in a coral reef ecosystem: implications for coral to algae phase shifts

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Sept. 24, 2020

Nutrient pollution is altering coastal ecosystems worldwide. On coral reefs, excess nutrients can favor the production of algae at expense reef-building corals, yet role in driving community changes such as shifts from to macroalgae not well understood. Here we investigate potential anthropogenic nutrient loading recent coral-to-macroalgae phase on reefs lagoons surrounding Pacific island Moorea, French Polynesia. We use nitrogen (N) tissue content and stable isotopes (δ15 N) an abundant macroalga (Turbinaria ornata) together with empirical models discharge describe spatial temporal patterns enrichment lagoons. then employ time series data test whether increases are associated nutrients. Our results revealed that N were linked several factors, including rainfall, wave-driven circulation, distance sources, especially human sewage. Reefs near large watersheds, where inputs sewage agriculture high, have been consistently enriched for least last decade. In many these areas, corals decreased increased, while lower levels input maintained high cover low macroalgae. Importantly, patchy occurred despite substantial island-wide density biomass herbivorous fishes over period. Together, indicate may be important driver Moorea even though harbor diverse herbivore assemblage. These emphasize bottom-up factors play underscore critical importance watershed management reducing other land-based pollutants reef ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Algal turf sediments on coral reefs: what's known and what's next

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 149, P. 110542 - 110542

Published: Sept. 26, 2019

Language: Английский

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Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(11), P. 3515 - 3536

Published: March 16, 2022

Offshore platforms, subsea pipelines, wells and related fixed structures supporting the oil gas (O&G) industry are prevalent in oceans across globe, with many approaching end of their operational life requiring decommissioning. Although can possess high ecological diversity productivity, information on how they interact broader processes remains unclear. Here, we review current state knowledge role O&G infrastructure maintaining, altering or enhancing connectivity natural marine habitats. There is a paucity studies subject only 33 papers specifically targeting structures, although other provide important information. Evidence for facilitating vertical horizontal seascape exists larvae mobile adult invertebrates, fish megafauna; including threatened commercially species. The degree to which these represent beneficial detrimental net impact unclear, complex ultimately needs more research determine extent networks conserved, enhanced disrupted. We discuss potential impacts different decommissioning approaches identify, through expert elicitation, critical gaps that, if addressed, may further inform decision making cycle infrastructure, relevance industries (e.g. renewables). most highly ranked gap was need understand modify influence movement patterns species dispersal stages sessile Understanding options affect survival also ranked, as understanding contribute extending distributions by providing rest stops, foraging habitat, stepping stones. These questions could be addressed dedicated animal relation using telemetry, molecular techniques models. Our priority roadmap advancing needed support evidence-based infrastructure.

Language: Английский

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The functional roles of surgeonfishes on coral reefs: past, present and future

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 387 - 439

Published: Jan. 9, 2022

Language: Английский

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Microbial Interactions with Dissolved Organic Matter Are Central to Coral Reef Ecosystem Function and Resilience

Annual Review of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. 431 - 460

Published: Sept. 13, 2022

To thrive in nutrient-poor waters, coral reefs must retain and recycle materials efficiently. This review centers microbial processes facilitating the persistence stability of reefs, specifically role these transforming recycling dissolved organic matter (DOM) that acts as an invisible currency reef production, nutrient exchange, organismal interactions. The defining characteristics including high productivity, balanced metabolism, biodiversity, retention, structural complexity, are inextricably linked to processing DOM. composition microbes DOM is summarized, spatial temporal dynamics biogeochemical carried out by microorganisms diverse habitats explored a variety key processes, decomposition, accretion, trophictransfer, macronutrient recycling. Finally, we examine how widespread habitat degradation altering important microbe–DOM interactions, creating feedbacks reduce resilience global change.

Language: Английский

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Time to cash in on positive interactions for coral restoration

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 5, P. e3499 - e3499

Published: June 22, 2017

Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth, provide critical ecosystem services such as protein provisioning, coastal protection, tourism revenue. Despite these benefits, coral have been declining precipitously across globe due to human impacts climate change. Recent efforts combat declines increasingly turning restoration help reseed corals speed-up recovery processes. Coastal theory practice has historically favored transplanting designs that reduce potentially harmful negative species interactions, competition between transplants. However, recent research in salt marsh shown shifting this strategically incorporate positive interactions significantly enhances yield with little additional cost or investment. Although some plant protected areas order benefit from facilitative effects of herbivores competitive macroalgae, systematic effort made identify entire suite could promote population enhancement efforts. Here, we highlight key managers practitioners should utilize facilitate corals, including (i) trophic facilitation, (ii) mutualisms, (iii) long-distance (iv) density-dependence, (v) legacy effects, (vi) synergisms biodiversity function. As live cover continues decline resources limited restore populations, innovative solutions increase efficiency will be conserving maintaining healthy reef communities rely them.

Language: Английский

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