Anthropogenic pollution of aquatic ecosystems: Emerging problems with global implications

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 713, С. 136586 - 136586

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2020

Язык: Английский

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Climate Change, Coral Loss, and the Curious Case of the Parrotfish Paradigm: Why Don't Marine Protected Areas Improve Reef Resilience?

Annual Review of Marine Science, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 11(1), С. 307 - 334

Опубликована: Янв. 3, 2019

Scientists have advocated for local interventions, such as creating marine protected areas and implementing fishery restrictions, ways to mitigate stressors limit the effects of climate change on reef-building corals. However, in a literature review, we find little empirical support notion managed resilience. We outline some reasons why protection herbivorous fish (especially parrotfish) had effect coral One key explanation is that impacts (e.g., pollution fishing) are often swamped by much greater ocean warming Another sheer complexity (including numerous context dependencies) five cascading links assumed managed-resilience hypothesis. If reefs cannot be saved actions alone, then it time face reef degradation head-on, directly addressing anthropogenic change—the root cause global decline.

Язык: Английский

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Integrating ecological roles and trophic diversification on coral reefs: multiple lines of evidence identify parrotfishes as microphages

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Год журнала: 2016, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 2016

Coral reef ecosystems are remarkable for their high productivity in nutrient-poor waters. A proportion of primary production is consumed by the dominant herbivore assemblage, teleost fishes, many which product recent and rapid diversification. Our review synthesis trophodynamics herbivorous fishes suggests that current models underestimate level resource partitioning, thus trophic innovation, this diverse assemblage. We examine several lines evidence including feeding observations, anatomy, biochemical analyses diet, tissue composition digestive processes to show prevailing view (including explicit models) parrotfishes as consumers macroscopic algae incompatible with available data. Instead, data consistent hypothesis most microphages target cyanobacteria other protein-rich autotrophic microorganisms live on (epilithic) or within (endolithic) calcareous substrata, epiphytic seagrasses, endosymbiotic sessile invertebrates. This novel parrotfish biology provides a unified explanation apparently disparate range substrata used parrotfishes, integrates nutrition ecological roles bioerosion sediment transport. Accelerated evolution can now be explained result (1) ability utilize food i.e. microscopic autotrophs; (2) partitioning habitat successional stage.

Язык: Английский

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Stony coral tissue loss disease decimated Caribbean coral populations and reshaped reef functionality

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 5(1)

Опубликована: Июнь 9, 2022

Diseases are major drivers of the deterioration coral reefs and linked to declines in abundance, reef functionality, reef-related ecosystems services. An outbreak a new disease is currently rampaging through populations remaining reef-building corals across Caribbean region. The was first reported Florida 2014 reached northern Mesoamerican Reef by summer 2018, where it spread ~450-km system only few months. Rapid generalized all sites mortality rates ranged from 94% <10% among 21 afflicted species. Most species family Meandrinadae (maze corals) subfamily Faviinae (brain sustained losses >50%. This single event further modified communities region increasing relative dominance weedy reducing both terms functional diversity calcium carbonate production. emergent likely become most lethal disturbance ever recorded Caribbean, will result onset regime key complex branching acroporids, an apparently unaffected genus that underwent severe population decades ago retained low levels, once again conspicuous structural features systems with yet even lower levels physical functionality.

Язык: Английский

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A coral-algal phase shift in Mesoamerica not driven by changes in herbivorous fish abundance

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 12(4), С. e0174855 - e0174855

Опубликована: Апрель 26, 2017

Coral-algal phase shifts in which coral cover declines to low levels and is replaced by algae have often been documented on reefs worldwide. This has motivated reef management responses that include restriction regulation of fishing, e.g. herbivorous fish species. However, there evidence eutrophication sedimentation can be at least as important a reduction herbivory causing shifts. These threats arise from coastal development leading increased nutrient sediment loads, stimulate algal growth negatively impact corals respectively. Here, we first present results dynamic process-based model demonstrating addition overharvesting fish, bottom-up processes the potential precipitate coral-algal Mesoamerican reefs. We then provide an empirical example exemplifies this off Mahahual Mexico, where shift dominance occurred over 14 years, during was little change herbivore biomass but considerable tourist infrastructure. Our indicate compromise resilience watershed zone together with maintenance functional are critical for persistence Mesoamerica.

Язык: Английский

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Attenuating effects of ecosystem management on coral reefs

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 4(5)

Опубликована: Май 4, 2018

Local management improves coral reef’s capacity to recover from disturbances, but the signal attenuates unless properly measured.

Язык: Английский

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Overfishing and the ecological impacts of extirpating large parrotfish from Caribbean coral reefs

Ecological Monographs, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 90(2)

Опубликована: Дек. 23, 2019

Abstract The unique traits of large animals often allow them to fulfill functional roles in ecosystems that small cannot. However, are also at greater risk from human activities. Thus, it is critical understand how losing impacts ecosystem function. In the oceans, selective fishing for alters demographics and size structure numerous species. While community‐wide a major theme terrestrial research, ecological consequences removing marine remain understudied. Here, we combine survey data 282 sites across Caribbean with field experiment investigate altering parrotfish populations coral reef communities. We show Caribbean‐wide, skewed toward smaller individuals, fishes <11 cm length comprising nearly 70% population most heavily fished locations vs. ~25% minimally sites. Despite these differences structure, had similar overall biomass. As result, algal cover was unrelated biomass instead, negatively correlated density parrotfishes. To mechanistically explore parrotfishes shape benthic communities, manipulated fishes’ access benthos create three distinct fish communities different structure. found excluding or medium‐sized did not alter grazing rates but caused respective 4‐ 10‐fold increases Unexpectedly, branching corals benefited whereas growth mounding species impaired. Similarly, led unexpected recruitment were absent when both medium bodied excluded. Our highlight driving dynamics on reefs suggests diversity an important component herbivore function reefs. This study adds growing body literature revealing ramifications sheds new light down reshape

Язык: Английский

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Coral reef systems of the Mexican Caribbean: Status, recent trends and conservation

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 140, С. 616 - 625

Опубликована: Июль 11, 2018

Язык: Английский

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Local human activities limit marine protection efficacy on Caribbean coral reefs

Conservation Letters, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 11(5)

Опубликована: Июнь 6, 2018

Abstract Marine ecosystems globally have suffered habitat, biodiversity and function loss in response to human activity. Protected Areas (MPAs) can limit extractive activities enhance ecosystem resilience, but do not directly address external stressors. We surveyed 48 sites within seven MPAs nearby unprotected areas evaluate drivers of coral reef condition the Mexican Caribbean. found that local activity limits protection effectiveness. Coral cover was positively related characteristics, significantly lower at with elevated Furthermore, we predict ongoing coastal development will reduce despite expanded a regionwide MPA if an effective integrated zone management strategy is implemented. Policy makers must acknowledge detrimental impact uncontrolled apply stringent construction wastewater regulations addition marine protection.

Язык: Английский

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Establishment of marine protected areas alone does not restore coral reef communities in Belize

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Год журнала: 2016, Номер 563, С. 65 - 79

Опубликована: Ноя. 25, 2016

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 563:65-79 (2017) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11984 Establishment of marine protected areas alone does not restore coral reef communities in Belize Courtney Cox1,*, Abel Valdivia2, Melanie McField1, Karl Castillo3, John F. Bruno4 1Smithsonian Station, Fort Pierce, FL 34949, USA 2Center for Biological Diversity, Oakland, CA 94612, 3Department Sciences, University North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 4Department Biology, Carolina at Hill 27599-3280, *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT: A variety factors have caused loss corals and fishes on reefs, resulting ecological, social, economic consequences ecosystems people who depend them. widely employed management action is implementation (MPAs). We measured effectiveness MPA network promoting increases fish populations identified key ecological environmental that influence community structure potentially protection success. From 2009 2013, we annually surveyed 16 reefs Belize, including 8 sites (where extractive fishing limited or prohibited) unprotected sites. At each site, quantified biomass fishes, macroalgal cover, several biotic abiotic variables are known affect inhabitants. High predatory parrotfish values were associated with high structural complexity low wave exposure. Mean cover was negatively 1 zone. However, mean remained above 40% across all sites, no change observed during study. Our results indicate fisheries restrictions do lead even when successful fishes. speculate both illegal legal may be compromising Belize’s goals. Furthermore, suggest species composition as well local conditions play roles recovery should considered evaluating strategies. KEY WORDS: Coral · recruitment Trophic cascades Parrotfish MPAs Full text pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Cox C, Valdivia A, McField M, Castillo K, Bruno JF Belize. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 563:65-79. Export citation Tweet linkedIn Cited by Published Vol. 563. Online publication date: January 20, 2017 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599 Copyright © Inter-Research.

Язык: Английский

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