Dynamics of Coral Reef Benthic Assemblages of the Abrolhos Bank, Eastern Brazil: Inferences on Natural and Anthropogenic Drivers

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. e54260 - e54260

Published: Jan. 24, 2013

The Abrolhos Bank (eastern Brazil) encompasses the largest and richest coral reefs of South Atlantic. Coral reef benthic assemblages region were monitored from 2003 to 2008. Two habitats (pinnacles' tops walls) sampled per site with 3–10 sites within different areas. Different methodologies applied in two distinct sampling periods: 2003–2005 2006–2008. Spatial coverage taxonomic resolution lower former than latter period. Benthic differed markedly smallest spatial scale, greater differences recorded between habitats. Management regimes biomass fish functional groups (roving territorial herbivores) had minor influences on assemblages. These results suggest that local environmental factors such as light, depth substrate inclination exert a stronger influence structure protection fishing. Reef walls unprotected coastal showed highest cover values, major contribution Montastraea cavernosa (a sediment resistant species may benefit low light levels). An overall negative relationship fleshy macroalgae slow-growing reef-building organisms (i.e. scleractinians crustose calcareous algae) was recorded, suggesting competition these organisms. opposite trend positive relationships) for turf algae organisms, beneficial interactions and/or co-occurrence mediated by unexplored factors. Turf increased across 2006 2008, while scleractinian no change. need continued standardized monitoring program, aimed at understanding drivers change community patterns, well subsidize sound adaptive conservation management measures, is highlighted.

Language: Английский

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Multiple Stressors and the Functioning of Coral Reefs

Annual Review of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 9(1), P. 445 - 468

Published: Aug. 30, 2016

Coral reefs provide critical services to coastal communities, and these rely on ecosystem functions threatened by stressors. By summarizing the threats functioning of from fishing, climate change, decreasing water quality, we highlight that stressors have multiple, conflicting effects functionally similar groups species their interactions, overall are often uncertain because a lack data or variability among taxa. The direct links functional groups, such as predator-prey particularly uncertain. Using qualitative modeling, demonstrate this uncertainty stressor impacts (whether they positive, negative, neutral) can significant models stability, reducing is vital for understanding changes reef functioning. This review also provides guidance future functioning, which should include interactions cumulative effect

Language: Английский

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Operationalizing the Resilience of Coral Reefs in an Era of Climate Change

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 7(3), P. 176 - 187

Published: June 7, 2013

Abstract Ecosystem management frequently aims to manage resilience yet measuring has proven difficult. Here, we quantify the ecological of largest reef in Caribbean and map potential benefits marine reserves under two scenarios greenhouse gas emissions. Resilience is calculated using spatial models defined as probability a remaining its coral‐dominated basin attraction such that it does not flip into an alternate, algal‐dominated attractor. In practice, coral populations will maintain ability exhibit recovery trend after acute disturbances hurricanes. The inputs required estimate are reef's initial state, physical environment, disturbance regime. One major driver herbivory by parrotfish recent action protect Belize was found have increased 6‐fold. However, expected protection future cover were relatively modest with only 2‐ 2.6‐fold improvement over business‐as‐usual scenario, demonstrating how ecosystem states decoupled. Global reduce emissions had little impact on average state unless accompanied local controls fishing. combined global reduced rate degradation threefold. Operationalizing explicitly integrates available biophysical data accommodates complex interactions among processes multiple types disturbance.

Language: Английский

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The role of satellite remote sensing in structured ecosystem risk assessments

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 619-620, P. 249 - 257

Published: Nov. 15, 2017

Language: Английский

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Evidence for and against the existence of alternate attractors on coral reefs

Oikos, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 122(4), P. 481 - 491

Published: Dec. 13, 2012

Synthesis Coral reefs are widely thought to exhibit multiple attractors which have profound implications for people that depend on them. If become ‘stuck’ within a self‐reinforcing state dominated by seaweed, it becomes disproportionately difficult and expensive managers shift the system back towards its natural, productive, coral state. The existence of is controversial. We assess various forms evidence conclude there remains no incontrovertible proof reefs. However, most compelling evidence, combines ecological models field data, far more consistent with than competing hypothesis only single, attractor. Managers should exercise caution assume degraded can stuck there. Testing alternate in ecosystems possess slow dynamics frequent pulse perturbation exceptionally challenging. typify such conditions analyse different whether they support or challenge Caribbean reefs, many shown phase shifts community structure from algal dominance. Field studies alone provide insight into because non‐equilibrial nature reef prevents equilibria being observed. Statistical risk failing sample parameter space occur, failed account confounding effects heterogeneous environments, anthropogenic drivers (e.g. fishing), major disturbances hurricanes). Simple complex all find over some – though not regions driver (fishing). Tests model predictions data closely match theory but forward‐leaning monotonic curve single attractor also be fitted these data. Deeper consideration assumptions this relationship reveal significant problems disappear under attractors. To date, against while definitive proof, balance reasoning favours their existence. Theory predicts do natural disease‐induced loss two key functional groups has generated bistability. Whether persistent element brief moment geological history will depend, part, ability recover impacts climate change ocean acidification growth mortality.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying the response of structural complexity and community composition to environmental change in marine communities

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 22(5), P. 1965 - 1975

Published: Dec. 18, 2015

Abstract Habitat structural complexity is a key factor shaping marine communities. However, accurate methods for quantifying underwater are currently lacking. Loss of linked to ecosystem declines in biodiversity and resilience. We developed new using stereo‐imagery spanning 4 years (2010–2013) reconstruct 3D models coral reef areas quantified both at two spatial resolutions (2.5 25 cm) benthic community composition characterize changes after an unprecedented thermal anomaly on the west coast Australia 2011. Structural increased quadrats (4 m 2 ) that bleached, but not those did bleach. Changes were driven by species‐specific responses warming, highlighting importance identifying small‐scale dynamics disentangle ecological disturbance. demonstrate effective, repeatable method relationship among composition, ocean improving predictions response ecosystems environmental change.

Language: Английский

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Multi‐year evaluation of rearing techniques for three sexually propagated Caribbean corals in a restoration setting

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 2, 2025

In response to declining coral populations worldwide, conservation groups are increasingly applying restoration strategies bolster abundance and diversity, including sexual propagation of corals. Collection fertilization gametes as well larval rearing settlement have been successful. However, post‐settlement stages remain a bottleneck (80–100% mortality), which makes this technique costly implement at scale. To address challenge, we compared the survival colony size three sexually propagated Caribbean species, Diploria labyrinthiformis , Pseudodiploria strigosa Orbicella faveolata reared levels investment: direct outplant reef, in situ field nursery rearing, ex aquaculture facility rearing. As part work St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, recruits were for 1 year before being outplanted reef plots monitored annually subsequent years. The cost‐effectiveness each strategy was calculated monitoring time point via seeding unit yield cost per unit. Although low 4 years (0–1.8%), corals displayed significantly higher therefore lower than other two investment strategies. These results highlight benefits an stage increase long‐term juvenile cost‐effectiveness. return on suggests that outplanting may be viable strategy; however, proportion surviving highlights current limitations when degraded reefs.

Language: Английский

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Regional decline in growth rates of massive Porites corals in Southeast Asia

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 19(10), P. 3011 - 3023

Published: June 6, 2013

This study reports the first well-replicated analysis of continuous coral growth records from warmer water reefs (mean annual sea surface temperatures (SST) >28.5 °C) around Thai-Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Based on analyses 70 colonies sampled 15 within six locations, region-wide declines calcification rate (ca. 18.6%), linear extension 15.4%) and skeletal bulk density 3.9%) were observed over a 31-year period 1980 to 2010. Decreases rates at five locations ranged ca. 17.2-21.6% 11.4-19.6%, respectively, whereas decline was consequence significant reductions only two 6.9% 10.7%). A link between average SST found, Porites spp. demonstrated high thermal threshold 29.4 °C before declined. Responses individual region more variable with links being four locations. Rates temperature warming Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) 1.3 per decade) almost twice those South China (Pacific 0.7 decade), but this not reflected magnitude corresponding Considering that massive are major reef builders Asia, is cause for concern future accretion resilience. However, suggests patterns change unlikely be uniform or dependent solely environment.

Language: Английский

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High resilience masks underlying sensitivity to algal phase shifts of Pacific coral reefs

Oikos, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 125(5), P. 644 - 655

Published: July 30, 2015

A single ecosystem can exhibit great biogeographic and environmental variability. While a given ecological driver might have strong impact in one region, it does not necessarily hold that its importance will extend elsewhere. Coral reefs provide striking example coral communities low resilience the Atlantic remarkable parts of species‐rich Pacific. Recent experimental evidence from finds fishing large herbivorous fish be resilience. Here, we repeat experiment highly resilient forereef Moorea (French Polynesia), which has repeatedly recovered disturbances. combination cages, deterrents (FDs), controls allowed us to simulate consequences herbivores on algal assemblages, recruitment, demographic rates juveniles. We find impacts removing reef vary with early ontogeny. Reduced herbivore access led modest macroalgal bloom reduction recruitment. However, larger juvenile corals (> 1 cm diameter) survived better grew faster under these conditions because corallivory. To determine net losing fish, combined results estimated parameters an individual‐based model. Simulating recovery trajectories for five years, protecting 66–99% simulations, depending underlying assumptions (with more credible being associated greater likelihood positive impacts). effects are detrimental both Pacific systems studied, nature interactions varied markedly. In identical previously‐published study Atlantic, macroalgae exhibited rapid caused sufficiently recruitment force predicted shift alternative attractor. The commensurate was weak yet were two orders magnitude sensitive presence. do suggest lead attractors but long‐term risks rate cause concern as mortality projected increase. emerging picture is less likely experience blooms surprisingly such if they occur.

Language: Английский

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Habitat structural complexity metrics improve predictions of fish abundance and distribution

Ecography, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 41(7), P. 1077 - 1091

Published: Sept. 7, 2017

Habitat structural complexity influences biotic diversity and abundance, but its influence on marine ecosystems has not been widely addressed. Recent advances in computer vision robotics allow quantification of at higher‐resolutions than previously achieved. This provides an important opportunity to determine the ecological role habitat ecosystems. We used high‐resolution three‐dimensional (3D) maps test multiple metrics, depth benthic biota as surrogates fish assemblages across hundreds meters subtropical reefs. Non‐parametric multivariate statistics were relationship between these entire assemblage. Fish divided into functional groups, which further investigate abundance using generalized linear models. community composition strongly related depth. Surface rugosity variance had a significant positive piscivores sediment infauna predators, negative effect herbivores, planktivores cleaners. Final models for groups explained up 68% variance. The best metrics explain (25 ±7.5% explained, mean ± SE) (16 ±6.6%, SE). Our results show that 3D derived can predict large percentage potentially serve useful all spatially dynamic

Language: Английский

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