Confronting the coral reef crisis

Nature, Journal Year: 2004, Volume and Issue: 429(6994), P. 827 - 833

Published: June 1, 2004

Language: Английский

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Beyond species: functional diversity and the maintenance of ecological processes and services

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 48(5), P. 1079 - 1087

Published: Aug. 19, 2011

Summary 1. The goal of conservation and restoration activities is to maintain biological diversity the ecosystem services that this provides. These traditionally focus on measures species include only information presence abundance species. Yet how influences function depends traits niches filled by 2. Biological can be quantified in ways account for functional phenotypic differences. A number such (FD) have been created, quantifying distribution a community or relative magnitude similarities We review FD why they are intuitively useful understanding ecological patterns important management. 3. In order meaningful worth measuring, it must correlated with function, should provide above beyond what richness explain. these two propositions, examining whether strength correlation between varies across differing environmental gradients offers greater explanatory power than richness. 4. Previous research shows relationship complex context dependent. Different show individual responses different gradients, meaning changes occur minimal change Further, explain variation even when does not. 5. Synthesis applications . those aspects potentially affect assembly function. Given power, incorporated into decision‐making, especially efforts attempting reconstruct preserve healthy, functioning ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Kelp forest ecosystems: biodiversity, stability, resilience and future

Environmental Conservation, Journal Year: 2002, Volume and Issue: 29(4), P. 436 - 459

Published: Dec. 1, 2002

Kelp forests are phyletically diverse, structurally complex and highly productive components of coldwater rocky marine coastlines. This paper reviews the conditions in which kelp develop globally where, why at what rate they become deforested. The ecology long archaeological history examined through case studies from southern California, Aleutian Islands western North Atlantic, well-studied locations that represent widest possible range forest biodiversity. Global distribution is physiologically constrained by light high latitudes nutrients, warm temperatures other macrophytes low latitudes. Within mid-latitude belts (roughly 40–60° latitude both hemispheres) well-developed most threatened herbivory, usually sea urchins. Overfishing extirpation valued vertebrate apex predators often triggered herbivore population increases, leading to widespread deforestation. Such deforestations have profound lasting impacts on species-depauperate systems, such as those Alaska Atlantic. Globally urchin-induced deforestation has been increasing over past 2–3 decades. Continued fishing down coastal food webs resulted shifting harvesting targets their invertebrate prey, including kelp-grazing herbivores. recent global expansion urchin led this herbivore, returned some but, for first time, these devoid predators. In large predatory crabs recently filled void new predator system. Similar shifts fish- crab-dominance may occurred zones United Kingdom Japan, where finfish were extirpated ago. Three American determine with humans project status future year 2025. Fishing systems much longer duration than previously thought. Archaeological data suggest peoples exploited organisms thousands years, occasionally resulting localized losses predators, outbreaks populations probably small-scale Over two centuries, commercial exploitation export otter Pacific fishes like cod large-scale removal markets increased abundances promoted decline vast areas. Despite California having one longest known associations forests, rare. It functional redundancies among herbivores make diverse system stable. biodiverse also resist invasion non-native species. introduced algal competitors carpet benthos threaten dominance. There, established dominant Climate changes had measurable ecosystems efforts control emission greenhouse gasses should be a priority. However, overfishing appears greatest manageable threat 2025 time horizon. Management focus minimizing restoring functionally important species systems.

Language: Английский

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Landscape Filters and Species Traits: Towards Mechanistic Understanding and Prediction in Stream Ecology

Journal of the North American Benthological Society, Journal Year: 1997, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 391 - 409

Published: June 1, 1997

A heuristic framework for understanding and predicting the distribution categorical abundance of species in stream communities is presented. The requires that be described terms their functional relationships to habitat selective forces or surrogates, which constitute "filters" occurring at hierarchical landscape scales (ranging from microhabitats watersheds basins). Large-scale filters are viewed as causative mechanistic agents constrain expression local biotic potential lower scales. To join a community, regional pool must possess appropriate attributes (species traits) "pass" through nested filters. Biotic interactions also filter on community composition, they invoked levels, after have passed physicochemical Potential associated properties identified, prospective traits (for invertebrates fish) correspond with niche model used illustrate how relative abundances might predicted data collected different emphasizes biologically based approach composition by explicitly considering environmental constraints imposed As such, it can complement non-mechanistic, correlative approaches prediction often lack generality. Operationalizing will require additional research specify more clearly 1) degree features linked functionally statistically, 2) what possessed strongly interactive (e.g., keystones) most these species, 3) significance range extent correlated hence respond concert presence, modification, particular filter. Multi-scale, species-environment relations likely contribute better predictions about large scale problems, such establishment spread exotic alterations changing land use climate.

Language: Английский

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Biological effects within no-take marine reserves: a global synthesis

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 384, P. 33 - 46

Published: April 6, 2009

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 384:33-46 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08029 Biological effects within no-take marine reserves: a global synthesis Sarah E. Lester1,*, Benjamin S. Halpern2, Kirsten Grorud-Colvert3, Jane Lubchenco3, I. Ruttenberg4, Steven D. Gaines5, Satie Airamé1, Robert R. Warner5 1Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-6150, USA 2National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State Street, Suite 300, 93101, 3Department Zoology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon University, Corvallis, 97331-2914, 4National Fisheries Service, Southeast Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida 33149, 5Department Ecology, Evolution, Biology 93106-9610, *Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT: The study implementation reserves have increased rapidly over past decade, providing ample data on biological reserve protection wide range geographic locations organisms. plethora new studies affords opportunity re-evaluate previous findings address formerly unanswered questions with extensive syntheses. Our results show, average, positive biomass, numerical density, species richness, size organisms their boundaries which are remarkably similar those syntheses despite near doubling data. New analyses indicate that (1) these do not appear be an artifact being sited in better locations; (2) driven by displaced fishing effort outside reserves; (3) contrary often-made assertions, if greater temperate settings, at least reef ecosystems; (4) even small can produce significant responses irrespective latitude, although more needed test whether scale size; (5) vary different taxonomic groups taxa various characteristics, all increase response protection. There is considerable variation documented across set—variability cannot entirely explained were studied. We suggest characteristics context, particularly intensity inside before implementation, play key roles determining direction magnitude response. However, variability, far common than no differences or negative responses, validating potential well designed enforced serve as globally important conservation management tools. KEY WORDS: · Temperate Tropical Fishes Invertebrates Algae Protected Area Conservation Full text pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Lester SE, Halpern BS, Grorud-Colvert K, Lubchenco J others synthesis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 384:33-46. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08029Export citation Tweet linkedIn Cited Published Vol. 384. Online publication date: May 29, 2009 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599 Copyright © Inter-Research.

Language: Английский

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Rising to the challenge of sustaining coral reef resilience

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 25(11), P. 633 - 642

Published: Aug. 27, 2010

Language: Английский

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Submerged aquatic vegetation in relation to different nutrient regimes

Ophelia, Journal Year: 1995, Volume and Issue: 41(1), P. 87 - 112

Published: Feb. 1, 1995

Abstract Submerged vegetation respond to increased nutrient loading through a shift from slow-growing seagrasses and large macroalgae fast-growing macroalgae, the ultimate dominance of phytoplankton at high loadings. This reflects change light limitation along eutrophication gradient. Slow-growing are good competitors when nutrients limiting because they have relatively low requirements, able efficient internal recycling, can access elevated pools in sediment. Fast-growing superior is positioned closer water surface, capture use more efficiently. The important ecosystem consequences altered regimes derive dominant types. longevous, decompose slowly, experience only moderate grazing losses, whereas production fast growing transferred faster heterotrophs, decomposition rates. Recovery submerged following reduction plans very slow process, which involves replacement for plants. Simulation models predict recovery times oscillate between few years centuries plans.

Language: Английский

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Sea Otters and Kelp Forests in Alaska: Generality and Variation in a Community Ecological Paradigm

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 1995, Volume and Issue: 65(1), P. 75 - 100

Published: Feb. 1, 1995

Multiscale patterns of spatial and temporal variation in density population structure were used to evaluate the generality a three—trophic—level cascade among sea otters (Enhydra lutris), invertebrate herbivores, macroalgae Alaska. The paradigm holds that where occur herbivores are rare plants abundant, whereas when absent relatively common rare. Spatial based on 20 randomly placed quadrats at 153 selected sites distributed five locations with four without otters. Both urchin kelp abundance differed significantly vs. Aleutian Islands southeast There was little (Aleutian Islands) or no (southeast Alaska) overlap between otters, plots against biomass. Despite intersite kelps these analyses demonstrate otter predation has predictable broadly generalizable influence Alaskan forests. percent cover algal turf suspension feeder assemblages also (although less dramatically) Temporal community assessed over periods from 3 15 yr Alaska 1) continuously present, 2) absent, 3) becoming reestablished because natural range expansion. Kelp remained largely unchanged most present one exception being Torch Bay Alaska), varied through time episodic patchy disturbances. In contrast, abundances changed significantly, expected directions, recolonized by Sea biomass declined 50% nearly 100% following spread into previously unoccupied habitats. response different rates magnitudes reduction predation, increases abrupt highly significant but much smaller slower similar Islands. colonization appear be caused large—scale differences echinoid recruitment coupled size—selective for larger urchins. length jaws (correlated test diameter, r 2 = 0.968) scats indicates urchins <15—20 mm diameter rarely eaten foraging populations included high densities small individuals (<20 diameter) all during years sampled, similarly sized years. Small (<30—35 tetracycline—marked grew maximum rate °10 mm/yr; thus must have annually, least every several more episodic, many perhaps decades separating events. Our findings help explain regional recovery forests recolonization

Language: Английский

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Coral reef management and conservation in light of rapidly evolving ecological paradigms

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2008, Volume and Issue: 23(10), P. 555 - 563

Published: Aug. 22, 2008

Language: Английский

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Nutrient enrichment on coral reefs: Is it a major cause of coral reef decline?

Estuaries, Journal Year: 2002, Volume and Issue: 25(4), P. 743 - 766

Published: Aug. 1, 2002

Language: Английский

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