1
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Caldwell IR, McClanahan TR, Oddenyo RM, Graham NAJ, Beger M, Vigliola L, Sandin SA, Friedlander AM, Randriamanantsoa B, Wantiez L, Green AL, Humphries AT, Hardt MJ, Caselle JE, Feary DA, Karkarey R, Jadot C, Hoey AS, Eurich JG, Wilson SK, Crane N, Tupper M, Ferse SCA, Maire E, Mouillot D, Cinner JE. Protection efforts have resulted in ~10% of existing fish biomass on coral reefs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308605121. [PMID: 39374392 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308605121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The amount of ocean protected from fishing and other human impacts has often been used as a metric of conservation progress. However, protection efforts have highly variable outcomes that depend on local conditions, which makes it difficult to quantify what coral reef protection efforts to date have actually achieved at a global scale. Here, we develop a predictive model of how local conditions influence conservation outcomes on ~2,600 coral reef sites across 44 ecoregions, which we used to quantify how much more fish biomass there is on coral reefs compared to a modeled scenario with no protection. Under the assumptions of our model, our study reveals that without existing protection efforts there would be ~10% less fish biomass on coral reefs. Thus, we estimate that coral reef protection efforts have led to approximately 1 in every 10 kg of existing fish biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain R Caldwell
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Tim R McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya Marine Program, Mombasa 80107, Kenya
| | - Remy M Oddenyo
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya Marine Program, Mombasa 80107, Kenya
| | - Nicholas A J Graham
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Écologie Marine Tropicale des Océans Pacifique et Indien research unit, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, CNRS, Nouméa, New Caledonia 98800, France
| | - Stuart A Sandin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC 20036
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744
| | | | - Laurent Wantiez
- Département des Sciences et Techniques, University of New Caledonia, Nouméa 98851, New Caledonia
| | | | - Austin T Humphries
- Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | | | - Jennifer E Caselle
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
| | - David A Feary
- General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, Jeddah 21431, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rucha Karkarey
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore 570017, India
| | | | - Andrew S Hoey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jacob G Eurich
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
- Environmental Defense Fund, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Marine Science Program, Science and Conservation Division, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
| | - Nicole Crane
- Society For Conservation Biology, Smith Fellows Program, Washington, DC 20005
- One People One Reef, Santa Cruz, CA 95076
| | - Mark Tupper
- Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9BB, United Kingdom
- Terra Nexus, Business Center 1, Meydan Hotel, Nad al Sheba, Dubai 34252, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Department of Marine Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
- Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, & Conservation (MARBEC), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier 34090, Cedex5, France
| | - David Mouillot
- Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, & Conservation (MARBEC), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier 34090, Cedex5, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris 75480, France
| | - Joshua E Cinner
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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2
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Hadj-Hammou J, Cinner JE, Barneche DR, Caldwell IR, Mouillot D, Robinson JPW, Schiettekatte NMD, Siqueira AC, Taylor BM, Graham NAJ. Global patterns and drivers of fish reproductive potential on coral reefs. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6105. [PMID: 39030209 PMCID: PMC11271586 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50367-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fish fecundity scales hyperallometrically with body mass, meaning larger females produce disproportionately more eggs than smaller ones. We explore this relationship beyond the species-level to estimate the "reproductive potential" of 1633 coral reef sites distributed globally. We find that, at the site-level, reproductive potential scales hyperallometrically with assemblage biomass, but with a smaller median exponent than at the species-level. Across all families, modelled reproductive potential is greater in fully protected sites versus fished sites. This difference is most pronounced for the important fisheries family, Serranidae. When comparing a scenario where 30% of sites are randomly fully protected to a current protection scenario, we estimate an increase in the reproductive potential of all families, and particularly for Serranidae. Such results point to the possible ecological benefits of the 30 × 30 global conservation target and showcase management options to promote the sustainability of population replenishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeneen Hadj-Hammou
- Lancaster University Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
| | - Joshua E Cinner
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub. School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Caperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Diego R Barneche
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Iain R Caldwell
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, Montpellier, France
| | - James P W Robinson
- Lancaster University Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Alexandre C Siqueira
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Brett M Taylor
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory and UOG Sea Grant, 303 University Drive, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Nicholas A J Graham
- Lancaster University Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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3
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Lin YV, Château PA, Nozawa Y, Wei CL, Wunderlich RF, Denis V. Drivers of coastal benthic communities in a complex environmental setting. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116462. [PMID: 38749153 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Analyzing the environmental factors affecting benthic communities in coastal areas is crucial for uncovering key factors that require conservation action. Here, we collected benthic and environmental (physical-chemical-historical and land-based) data for 433 transects in Taiwan. Using a k-means approach, five communities dominated by crustose coralline algae, turfs, stony corals, digitate, or bushy octocorals were first delineated. Conditional random forest models then identified physical, chemical, and land-based factors (e.g., light intensity, nitrite, and population density) relevant to community delineation and occurrence. Historical factors, including typhoons and temperature anomalies, had only little effect. The prevalent turf community correlated positively with chemical and land-based drivers, which suggests that anthropogenic impacts are causing a benthic homogenization. This mechanism may mask the effects of climate disturbances and regional differentiation of benthic assemblages. Consequently, management of nutrient enrichment and terrestrial runoff is urgently needed to improve community resilience in Taiwan amidst increasing challenges of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Vicky Lin
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Pierre-Alexandre Château
- Department of Marine Environment and Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80420, Taiwan
| | - Yoko Nozawa
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 905-0227, Japan; Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
| | - Chih-Lin Wei
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Rainer Ferdinand Wunderlich
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; INRAE, UR EABX, 33612 Cestas, France
| | - Vianney Denis
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
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4
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Robinson JPW, Benkwitt CE, Maire E, Morais R, Schiettekatte NMD, Skinner C, Brandl SJ. Quantifying energy and nutrient fluxes in coral reef food webs. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:467-478. [PMID: 38105132 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The movement of energy and nutrients through ecological communities represents the biological 'pulse' underpinning ecosystem functioning and services. However, energy and nutrient fluxes are inherently difficult to observe, particularly in high-diversity systems such as coral reefs. We review advances in the quantification of fluxes in coral reef fishes, focusing on four key frameworks: demographic modelling, bioenergetics, micronutrients, and compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA). Each framework can be integrated with underwater surveys, enabling researchers to scale organismal processes to ecosystem properties. This has revealed how small fish support biomass turnover, pelagic subsidies sustain fisheries, and fisheries benefit human health. Combining frameworks, closing data gaps, and expansion to other aquatic ecosystems can advance understanding of how fishes contribute to ecosystem functions and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P W Robinson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
| | | | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Renato Morais
- Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, École Pratique des Hautes Études, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Perpignan 66860, France
| | | | - Christina Skinner
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon J Brandl
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
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5
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Tebbett SB, Faul SI, Bellwood DR. Quantum of fear: Herbivore grazing rates not affected by reef shark presence. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106442. [PMID: 38484651 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Grazing by nominally herbivorous fishes is widely recognised as a critical ecosystem function on coral reefs. However, several studies have suggested that herbivory is reduced in the presence of predators, especially sharks. Nevertheless, the effects of shark presence on grazing, under natural settings, remains poorly resolved. Using ∼200 h of video footage, we quantify the extent of direct disturbance by reef sharks on grazing fishes. Contrary to expectations, grazing rate was not significantly suppressed due to sharks, with fishes resuming feeding in as little as 4 s after sharks passed. Based on our observations, we estimate that an average m2 area of reef at our study locations would be subjected to ∼5 s of acute shark disturbance during daylight hours. It appears the short-term impact of reef shark presence has a negligible effect on herbivore grazing rates, with the variable nature of grazing under natural conditions overwhelming any fear effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - Sasha I Faul
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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6
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Johnson JV, Chequer AD, Goodbody-Gringley G. Insights from the 2-year-long human confinement experiment in Grand Cayman reveal the resilience of coral reef fish communities. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21806. [PMID: 38071390 PMCID: PMC10710434 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49221-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In March 2020, the world went into lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), with immediate impacts on wildlife across ecosystems. The strict 2-year long lockdown in Grand Cayman provided an unprecedented opportunity to assess how the 'human confinement experiment' influenced the community composition of reef fish. Using a suite of multivariate statistics, our findings revealed a stark increase in reef fish biomass during the 2 years of lockdown, especially among herbivores, including parrotfish, with drastic increases in juvenile parrotfishes identified. Additionally, when comparing baseline data of the community from 2018 to the 2 years during lockdown, over a three-fold significant increase in mean reef fish biomass was observed, with a clear shift in community composition. Our findings provide unique insights into the resilience of reef fish communities when local anthropogenic stressors are removed for an unprecedented length of time. Given the functional role of herbivores including parrotfish, our results suggest that reductions in human water-based activities have positive implications for coral reef ecosystems and should be considered in future management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack V Johnson
- Reef Ecology and Evolution Lab, Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands.
| | - Alex D Chequer
- Reef Ecology and Evolution Lab, Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
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7
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Robinson JPW, Darling ES, Maire E, Hamilton M, Hicks CC, Jupiter SD, Aaron MacNeil M, Mangubhai S, McClanahan T, Nand Y, Graham NAJ. Trophic distribution of nutrient production in coral reef fisheries. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231601. [PMID: 37788704 PMCID: PMC10547557 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reef fisheries supply nutritious catch to tropical coastal communities, where the quality of reef seafood is determined by both the rate of biomass production and nutritional value of reef fishes. Yet our understanding of reef fisheries typically uses targets of total reef fish biomass rather than individual growth (i.e. biomass production) and nutrient content (i.e. nutritional value of reef fish), limiting the ability of management to sustain the productivity of nutritious catches. Here, we use modelled growth coefficients and nutrient concentrations to develop a new metric of nutrient productivity of coral reef fishes. We then evaluate this metric with underwater visual surveys of reef fish assemblages from four tropical countries to examine nutrient productivity of reef fish food webs. Species' growth coefficients were associated with nutrients that vary with body size (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc), but not total nutrient density. When integrated with fish abundance data, we find that herbivorous species typically dominate standing biomass, biomass turnover and nutrient production on coral reefs. Such bottom-heavy trophic distributions of nutrients were consistent across gradients of fishing pressure and benthic composition. We conclude that management restrictions that promote sustainability of herbivores and other low trophic-level species can sustain biomass and nutrient production from reef fisheries that is critical to the food security of over 500 million people in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily S. Darling
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Mark Hamilton
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Christina C. Hicks
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Stacy D. Jupiter
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
| | - M. Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Canada B3H 4R2
| | - Sangeeta Mangubhai
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
| | - Tim McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Yashika Nand
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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8
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McLean M. Functional trade-offs in fish communities. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:669-670. [PMID: 35379938 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01706-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew McLean
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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