Importance of live coral habitat for reef fishes

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 24(1), P. 89 - 126

Published: Aug. 1, 2013

Language: Английский

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Evaluating Social and Ecological Vulnerability of Coral Reef Fisheries to Climate Change

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 8(9), P. e74321 - e74321

Published: Sept. 11, 2013

There is an increasing need to evaluate the links between social and ecological dimensions of human vulnerability climate change. We use empirical case study 12 coastal communities associated coral reefs in Kenya assess compare five key components social-ecological systems temperature induced mortality [specifically: 1) environmental exposure; 2) sensitivity; 3) recovery potential; 4) 5) adaptive capacity]. examined whether varied government operated no-take marine reserves, community-based openly fished areas. Overall, sites were marginally more vulnerable than reserves. Social sensitivity was indicated by occupational composition each community, including importance fishing relative other occupations, as well susceptibility different gears effects bleaching on target fish species. Key capacity considerably communities. Together, these results show that have strengths weaknesses terms

Language: Английский

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The Ecosystem Roles of Parrotfishes on Tropical Reefs

CRC Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 81 - 132

Published: Aug. 18, 2014

Global reductions in biodiversity and the accelerating loss degradation of many world's ecosystems have intensified research into roles species ecosystem processes. Within coral-reef systems, parrotfishes (Labridae) are widely viewed as a key functional group facilitating recovery reefs from recurrent disturbances. Although commonly herbivores, exerting top-down control algal communities, their unique jaws allow them to feed on almost all coral- reef substratum types. Consequently, parrotfish primary agents responsible for number ecological processes coral reefs, namely, bioerosion, sediment production transport, provision space settlement, predation live colonies. The parrotfishes, however, cannot be considered uniform group. Their highly dependent feeding mode (scrapers, excavators, browsers) body size, with larger individuals having disproportionately greater effect dynamics benthic communities than smaller conspecifics. Parrotfish ubiquitous tropical worldwide, yet there is strong spatial structuring taxonomic composition This variation has been shaped by biogeographic history, productivity environment, habitat requirements individual taxa. Over recent decades, increasing fishing pressure destruction had dramatic impact structure assemblages, consequence, normal disrupted. Indeed, systems severely depleted less resilient anthropogenic or natural environmental perturbations. Management strategies protection this critical urgently needed if we maintain diversity, resilience, ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Severe Continental-Scale Impacts of Climate Change Are Happening Now: Extreme Climate Events Impact Marine Habitat Forming Communities Along 45% of Australia’s Coast

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: July 24, 2019

Recent increases in the frequency of Extreme Climate Events (ECEs) such as heatwaves and floods have been attributed to climate change, could pronounced ecosystem evolutionary impacts because they provide little opportunity for organisms acclimate or adapt. Here we synthesize information on a series ECEs Australia from 2011-2017 that led well-documented, abrupt extensive mortality key marine habitat-forming – corals, kelps, seagrasses mangroves along nearly more than 45% continental coastline Australia. Coral bleaching occurred across much northern due affecting different regions 2011, 2013, 2016 2017, while seagrass was impacted by anomalously high rainfall events 2011 both east west tropical coasts. A heatwave off western during La Niña extended into temperate subtropical regions, causing widespread kelp forests communities at their distribution limits. Mangrove experienced El Niño coastal areas north-western severe water stress driven drought low mean sea levels. This reflects variety heatwaves, intense storms, drought. Their repeated occurrence wide extent are consistent with projections increased intensity ECEs, broad implications elsewhere similar trends predicted globally. The unprecedented nature these ECE has likely produced substantial ecosystem-wide repercussions. Predictions models suggest taxa will long-term some cases irreversible consequences, especially if continue become frequent severe. ecological changes caused greater slower warming leads gradual reorganisation possible evolution adaptation. an emerging threat ecosystems, require better seasonal prediction mitigation strategies.

Language: Английский

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Mass coral bleaching causes biotic homogenization of reef fish assemblages

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 3117 - 3129

Published: April 6, 2018

Global climate change is altering community composition across many ecosystems due to nonrandom species turnover, typically characterized by the loss of specialist and increasing similarity biological communities spatial scales. As anthropogenic disturbances continue alter globally, there a growing need identify how responses influence establishment distinct assemblages, such that management actions may be appropriately assigned. Here, we use trait-based analyses compare temporal changes in five complementary indices reef fish assemblage structure among six taxonomically coral habitats exposed system-wide thermal stress event. Our results revealed increased taxonomic functional previously assemblages following mass bleaching, with subtle, but significant, shifts toward predominance small-bodied, algal-farming habitat generalists. Furthermore, while or richness did not all habitats, an increase originality indicated overall redundancy. We also found prebleaching better predicted than magnitude loss. These emphasize measures alpha diversity can mask important functioning as reorganize. findings highlight role structuring influencing fishes disturbance. new configurations emerge, their desirability will hinge upon associated capacity maintain key ecological processes spite ongoing disturbances.

Language: Английский

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Reef degradation and the loss of critical ecosystem goods and services provided by coral reef fishes

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 7, P. 37 - 43

Published: Dec. 21, 2013

Language: Английский

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Connectivity and systemic resilience of the Great Barrier Reef

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 15(11), P. e2003355 - e2003355

Published: Nov. 28, 2017

Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef (GBR) continues to suffer from repeated impacts of cyclones, coral bleaching, and outbreaks the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), losing much its cover in process. This raises question ecosystem's systemic resilience ability rebound after large-scale population loss. Here, we reveal that around 100 reefs GBR, or 3%, have ideal properties facilitate recovery disturbed areas, thereby imparting a level aiding continued recovery. These (1) are highly connected by ocean currents wider reef network, (2) relatively low risk exposure disturbances so they likely provide replenishment when other depleted, (3) an promote desirable species but unlikely either experience spread COTS outbreaks. The great potential these 'robust source reefs', which may supply 47% ecosystem single dispersal event, emerges interaction between oceanographic conditions geographic location, process is be systems. Such natural systems will become increasingly important as frequency accelerates under climate change.

Language: Английский

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Herbivore cross‐scale redundancy supports response diversity and promotes coral reef resilience

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 53(3), P. 646 - 655

Published: April 23, 2015

Summary Functional redundancy contributes to resilience if different species in the same functional group respond disturbance ways (response diversity). If a perform their role at spatial scales (cross‐scale redundancy), they are expected differently scale‐specific disturbance. Consequently, variance over which may provide proxy for resilience. Coral reefs diverse systems that key ecosystem services and subject increasing anthropogenic disturbances. Algal grazing by herbivorous fish maintenance of coral‐dominated reefs. To date, there has been little evaluation traits driving response diversity among how this relates coral recovery following acute Using body size as scale function, we tested whether cross‐scale herbivores was an effective indicator on 21 monitored through climate‐induced caused bleaching widespread mortality. When assemblages operated broader range were present prior disturbance, more likely recover states after After temperature‐induced loss small compensated increases large herbivores. This indicative high drove overall increase herbivore biomass recovering sites. These compensatory mechanisms not found sites where narrower scales. Synthesis applications . Cross‐scale provides managers with reef resilience, although contribution will vary Maintaining given site requires no classes disproportionately depleted fishing. Balanced harvesting, all fished proportion potential production, would help achieve this.

Language: Английский

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Recent Advances in Understanding the Effects of Climate Change on Coral Reefs

Diversity, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 8(2), P. 12 - 12

Published: May 18, 2016

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to persistence coral reefs. Sustained and ongoing increases in ocean temperatures acidification are altering structure function reefs globally. Here, we summarise recent advances our understanding effects climate on scleractinian corals reef fish. Although there considerable among-species variability responses increasing temperature seawater chemistry, changing regimes likely have influence fish assemblages, at least over short–medium timeframes. Recent evidence bleaching thresholds, local genetic adaptation inheritance heat tolerance suggest that populations may some capacity respond warming, although extent which these changes can keep pace with environmental conditions unknown. For fishes, current indicates will be a major determinant future through both habitat degradation direct physiology behaviour. The are, however, being compounded by range anthropogenic disturbances, undermine organisms acclimate and/or adapt specific conditions.

Language: Английский

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The Influence of Coral Reef Benthic Condition on Associated Fish Assemblages

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 7(8), P. e42167 - e42167

Published: Aug. 1, 2012

Accumulative disturbances can erode a coral reef's resilience, often leading to replacement of scleractinian corals by macroalgae or other non-coral organisms. These degraded reef systems have been mostly described based on changes in the composition benthos, and there is little understanding how such are influenced by, turn influence, components ecosystem. This study investigated spatial variation benthic communities fringing reefs around inner Seychelles islands. Specifically, relationships between underlying substrata, as well associated fish assemblages were assessed. High variability was found among reefs, with gradient from high cover (up 58%) structural complexity 95%) low at extremes. declining species richness fishes, reduced diversity functional groups, lower abundance corallivorous fishes. There no reciprocal increases herbivorous abundances, groups total weak. Reefs grouping extremes complex habitats low-complexity macroalgal displayed markedly different communities, only two invertebrate feeding fishes greater habitat. results negative implications for continuation many ecosystem processes services if more shift extreme conditions dominated macroalgae.

Language: Английский

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