Re-evaluating the health of coral reef communities: baselines and evidence for human impacts across the central Pacific

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 283(1822), P. 20151985 - 20151985

Published: Jan. 7, 2016

Numerous studies have documented declines in the abundance of reef-building corals over last several decades and some but not all cases, phase shifts to dominance by macroalgae occurred. These assessments, however, often ignore remainder benthos thus provide limited information on present-day structure function coral reef communities. Here, using an unprecedentedly large dataset collected within 10 years across 56 islands spanning five archipelagos central Pacific, we examine how benthic communities differ presence absence human populations. Using as replicates, whether community is associated with habitation among latitude. While there was no evidence for macroalgal our did find that majority reefs inhabited were dominated fleshy non-reef-building organisms (turf algae, non-calcifying invertebrates). By contrast, from uninhabited more variable general supported calcifiers active builders (stony crustose coralline algae). Our results suggest cumulative impacts Pacific may be causing a reduction resulting island scale organisms.

Language: Английский

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Suppression of herbivory by macroalgal density: a critical feedback on coral reefs?

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 14(3), P. 267 - 273

Published: Jan. 26, 2011

Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 267–273 Abstract Coral reefs globally are in decline, with some undergoing phase shifts from coral-dominance to degraded states dominated by large fleshy macroalgae. These have been underpinned the overharvesting of herbivorous fishes and represent a fundamental change physical structure these reefs. Although provided corals is regarded as key feature that facilitates herbivore activity, influence macroalgal stands largely unknown. Using transplanted Sargassum, largest coral reef macroalga, we created habitat patches predetermined density (0.25–6.23 kg m−2). Remote video cameras revealed both grazing browsing avoided high patches, preferring relatively open areas low cover. This behaviour may provide positive feedback leading growth persistence stands; increasing stability

Language: Английский

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Temporal changes in benthic assemblages on Florida Keys reefs 11 years after the 1997/1998 El Niño

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 489, P. 125 - 141

Published: June 13, 2013

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 489:125-141 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10427 Temporal changes in benthic assemblages on Florida Keys reefs 11 years after 1997/1998 El Niño R. Ruzicka1,*, M. A. Colella1, J. W. Porter2, Morrison3, Kidney1, V. Brinkhuis1, K. S. Lunz1, Macaulay1, L. Bartlett1, Meyers2, Colee4 1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Research Institute, 100 8th Avenue SE, Saint Petersburg, 33701, USA 2Odum School of Ecology, University Georgia, 140 East Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, 3US Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal Science Center, 600 4th Street S, 4Institute Food Agricultural Services, Florida, 406 McCarty Hall C, PO Box 110339, Gainesville, 32611, *Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT: Disturbances that result mass mortality reef-building corals are changing appearance worldwide. Many transitioning away from scleractinian-coral-dominated communities composed primarily non-scleractinian taxa. This study evaluated recovery patterns reef following associated with Niño. We examined temporal trends among 5 most spatially abundant taxa stony coral species 1999 2009 at 3 spatial scales, applied a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) determine whether their cover resulted shift community structure. Trends decreasing were not identified Keys-wide between 2009, but 2 habitats examined—shallow deep forereefs—did show significant decline cover. Concomitantly, octocoral significantly increased all habitats. The transition octocorals was evident shallow forereefs, where 9 12 overwhelmingly influenced PCoA. On sponge did increase, impart clearly defined structure like observed forereefs. Community composition patch relatively consistent during study, increase may accelerate further cold-water event 2010. These results demonstrate emerging as predominant Keys. Although have started long ago, apparent resilience present-day stressors will likely allow this continue into foreseeable future. KEY WORDS: Coral · Stony Octocorals Macroalgae Phase shifts Full text pdf format PreviousNextCite article as: Ruzicka RR, Colella MA, Porter JW, Morrison JM others Mar Ecol Prog Ser 489:125-141. Export citation Tweet linkedIn Cited by Published Vol. 489. Online publication date: August 28, 2013 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599 Copyright © Inter-Research.

Language: Английский

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Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: Confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 236, P. 604 - 615

Published: June 7, 2019

Language: Английский

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Confronting Feedbacks of Degraded Marine Ecosystems

Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 15(5), P. 695 - 710

Published: March 13, 2012

Language: Английский

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