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González-Barrios FJ, Estrada-Saldívar N, Pérez-Cervantes E, Secaira-Fajardo F, Álvarez-Filip L. Legacy effects of anthropogenic disturbances modulate dynamics in the world's coral reefs. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:3285-3303. [PMID: 36932916 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Rapidly changing conditions alter disturbance patterns, highlighting the need to better understand how the transition from pulse disturbances to more persistent stress will impact ecosystem dynamics. We conducted a global analysis of the impacts of 11 types of disturbances on reef integrity using the rate of change of coral cover as a measure of damage. Then, we evaluated how the magnitude of the damage due to thermal stress, cyclones, and diseases varied among tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific reefs and whether the cumulative impact of thermal stress and cyclones was able to modulate the responses of reefs to future events. We found that reef damage largely depends on the condition of a reef before a disturbance, disturbance intensity, and biogeographic region, regardless of the type of disturbance. Changes in coral cover after thermal stress events were largely influenced by the cumulative stress of past disturbances and did not depend on disturbance intensity or initial coral cover, which suggests that an ecological memory is present within coral communities. In contrast, the effect of cyclones (and likely other physical impacts) was primarily modulated by the initial reef condition and did not appear to be influenced by previous impacts. Our findings also underscore that coral reefs can recover if stressful conditions decrease, yet the lack of action to reduce anthropogenic impacts and greenhouse gas emissions continues to trigger reef degradation. We uphold that evidence-based strategies can guide managers to make better decisions to prepare for future disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier González-Barrios
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Nuria Estrada-Saldívar
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Esmeralda Pérez-Cervantes
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | | | - Lorenzo Álvarez-Filip
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
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2
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Co-occurring anthropogenic stressors reduce the timeframe of environmental viability for the world's coral reefs. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001821. [PMID: 36219619 PMCID: PMC9553053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic disturbances are posing unprecedented challenges to the persistence of ecosystems worldwide. The speed at which these disturbances reach an ecosystem's tolerance thresholds will determine the time available for adaptation and conservation. Here, we aim to calculate the year after which a given environmental stressor permanently exceeds the bounds of an ecosystem's tolerance. Ecosystem thresholds are here defined as limits in a given stressor beyond which ecosystems have showed considerable changes in community assembly and functioning, becoming remnants of what they once were, but not necessarily leading to species extirpation or extinction. Using the world's coral reefs as a case example, we show that the projected effects of marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, storms, land-based pollution, and local human stressors are being underestimated considerably by looking at disturbances independently. Given the spatial complementarity in which numerous disturbances impact the world's coral reefs, we show that the timelines of environmental suitability are halved when all disturbances are analyzed simultaneously, as opposed to independently. Under business-as-usual scenarios, the median year after which environmental conditions become unsuitable for the world's remaining coral reefs was, at worse, 2050 for any one disturbance alone (28 years left); but when analyzed concurrently, this date was shortened to 2035 (13 years left). When analyzed together, disturbances reduced the date of environmental suitability because areas that may remain suitable under one disturbance could become unsuitable by any of several other variables. The significance of co-occurring disturbances at reducing timeframes of environmental suitability was evident even under optimistic scenarios. The best-case scenario, characterized by strong mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and optimistic human development, resulted in 41% of global coral reefs with unsuitable conditions by 2100 under any one disturbance independently; yet when analyzed in combination up to 64% of the world's coral reefs could face unsuitable environmental conditions by one disturbance or another. Under the worst-case scenario, nearly all coral reef ecosystems worldwide (approximately 99%) will permanently face unsuitable conditions by 2055 in at least one of the disturbances analyzed. Prior studies have indicated the projected dire effects of climate change on coral reefs by mid-century; by analyzing a multitude of projected disturbances, our study reveals a much more severe prognosis for the world's coral reefs as they have significantly less time to adapt while highlighting the urgent need to tackle available solutions to human disturbances.
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3
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Tsai CH, Sweatman HPA, Thibaut LM, Connolly SR. Volatility in coral cover erodes niche structure, but not diversity, in reef fish assemblages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm6858. [PMID: 35704577 PMCID: PMC9200288 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm6858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The world's coral reefs are experiencing increasing volatility in coral cover, largely because of anthropogenic environmental change, highlighting the need to understand how such volatility will influence the structure and dynamics of reef assemblages. These changes may influence not only richness or evenness but also the temporal stability of species' relative abundances (temporal beta-diversity). Here, we analyzed reef fish assemblage time series from the Great Barrier Reef to show that, overall, 75% of the variance in abundance among species was attributable to persistent differences in species' long-term mean abundances. However, the relative importance of stochastic fluctuations in abundance was higher on reefs that experienced greater volatility in coral cover, whereas it did not vary with drivers of alpha-diversity. These findings imply that increased coral cover volatility decreases temporal stability in relative abundances of fishes, a transformation that is not detectable from static measures of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Han Tsai
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | | | - Loïc M. Thibaut
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Centre for Population Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Population Genomics, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sean R. Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, Republic of Panama
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4
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Castro-Sanguino C, Bozec YM, Callaghan D, Vercelloni J, Rodriguez-Ramirez A, Lopez-Marcano S, Gonzalez-Marrero Y, Puotinen M, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Gonzalez-Rivero M. Coral composition and bottom-wave metrics improve understanding of the patchiness of cyclone damage on reefs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 804:150178. [PMID: 34798733 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150178] [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: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are likely to be exposed to more intense cyclones under climate change. Cyclone impacts are spatially highly variable given complex hydrodynamics, and coral-specific sensitivity to wave impacts. Predicting reef vulnerability to cyclones is critical to management but requires high resolution environmental data that are difficult to obtain over broad spatial scales. Using 30m-resolution wave modelling, we tested cyclonic and non-cyclonic wave metrics as predictors of coral damage on 22 reefs after severe cyclone Ita impacted the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia in 2014. Analyses of coral cover change accounting for the type of coral along a gradient of vulnerability to wave damage (e.g., massive, branching, Acroporids) excluded cyclone-generated surface wave metrics (derived from wave height) as important predictors. Increased bottom stress wave environment (near-bed wave orbital velocity) due to Ita (Ita-Ub) explained spatial patterns of 17% to 46% total coral cover loss only when the initial abundance of Acroporids was accounted for, and only when exceeding 35% cover. Greater coral losses occurred closer to the cyclone path irrespective of coral type. Massive and encrusting corals, however, had losses exacerbated in higher non-cyclonic bottom-wave energy environments (nc-Ub). The effect of community composition on structural vulnerability to wave damage was more important predicting damage that the magnitude of the cyclone-generated waves, especially when reefs are surveyed well beyond where damaging waves are expected to occur. Exposure to Ita-Ub was greater in typically high nc-Ub environments with relatively low cover of the most fragile morphologies explaining why these were the least affected overall. We reveal that the common surface-wave metrics of cyclone intensity may not always be able to predict spatial impacts and conclude that reef vulnerability assessments need to account for chronic wave patterns and differences in community composition in order to provide predictive tools for future conservation and restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Castro-Sanguino
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Y-M Bozec
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Brisbane, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - D Callaghan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - J Vercelloni
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - A Rodriguez-Ramirez
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - S Lopez-Marcano
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Y Gonzalez-Marrero
- Canary Islands Oceanographic Center, The Spanish National Research Council, Tenerife, Spain
| | - M Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, WA, Australia
| | - O Hoegh-Guldberg
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - M Gonzalez-Rivero
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia; Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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5
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Bozec Y, Hock K, Mason RAB, Baird ME, Castro‐Sanguino C, Condie SA, Puotinen M, Thompson A, Mumby PJ. Cumulative impacts across Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: a mechanistic evaluation. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yves‐Marie Bozec
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Karlo Hock
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Robert A. B. Mason
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Mark E. Baird
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Carolina Castro‐Sanguino
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | | | - Marji Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science & Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Angus Thompson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
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6
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Bergstrom DM, Wienecke BC, van den Hoff J, Hughes L, Lindenmayer DB, Ainsworth TD, Baker CM, Bland L, Bowman DMJS, Brooks ST, Canadell JG, Constable AJ, Dafforn KA, Depledge MH, Dickson CR, Duke NC, Helmstedt KJ, Holz A, Johnson CR, McGeoch MA, Melbourne-Thomas J, Morgain R, Nicholson E, Prober SM, Raymond B, Ritchie EG, Robinson SA, Ruthrof KX, Setterfield SA, Sgrò CM, Stark JS, Travers T, Trebilco R, Ward DFL, Wardle GM, Williams KJ, Zylstra PJ, Shaw JD. Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:1692-1703. [PMID: 33629799 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Globally, collapse of ecosystems-potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function-imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km2 , from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic 'presses' and/or acute 'pulses', drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 5-17 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles-abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three-step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness, Anticipation and Action) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana M Bergstrom
- Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Kingston, Tas., Australia
- Global Challenges Program, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Barbara C Wienecke
- Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Kingston, Tas., Australia
| | - John van den Hoff
- Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Kingston, Tas., Australia
| | | | - David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Christopher M Baker
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Data Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Lucie Bland
- Eureka Publishing, Thornbury, Vic., Australia
| | - David M J S Bowman
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia
| | - Shaun T Brooks
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Josep G Canadell
- Climate Science Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - Andrew J Constable
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | | | - Michael H Depledge
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK
| | | | - Norman C Duke
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Kate J Helmstedt
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Andrés Holz
- Department of Geography, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Craig R Johnson
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Melodie A McGeoch
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - Jessica Melbourne-Thomas
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Rachel Morgain
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Emily Nicholson
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia
| | - Suzanne M Prober
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Wembley, WA, Australia
| | - Ben Raymond
- Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Kingston, Tas., Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Euan G Ritchie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- Global Challenges Program, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Katinka X Ruthrof
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, Australia
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | | | - Carla M Sgrò
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - Jonathan S Stark
- Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Kingston, Tas., Australia
| | - Toby Travers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Rowan Trebilco
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Delphi F L Ward
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tas., Australia
| | - Glenda M Wardle
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristen J Williams
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Phillip J Zylstra
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - Justine D Shaw
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
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7
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Lam VYY, Doropoulos C, Bozec YM, Mumby PJ. Resilience Concepts and Their Application to Coral Reefs. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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8
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França FM, Benkwitt CE, Peralta G, Robinson JPW, Graham NAJ, Tylianakis JM, Berenguer E, Lees AC, Ferreira J, Louzada J, Barlow J. Climatic and local stressor interactions threaten tropical forests and coral reefs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190116. [PMID: 31983328 PMCID: PMC7017775 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical forests and coral reefs host a disproportionately large share of global biodiversity and provide ecosystem functions and services used by millions of people. Yet, ongoing climate change is leading to an increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events in the tropics, which, in combination with other local human disturbances, is leading to unprecedented negative ecological consequences for tropical forests and coral reefs. Here, we provide an overview of how and where climate extremes are affecting the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and summarize how interactions between global, regional and local stressors are affecting tropical forest and coral reef systems through impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. We also discuss some key challenges and opportunities to promote mitigation and adaptation to a changing climate at local and global scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe M. França
- Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Trav. Dr. Enéas Pinheiro, s/n, CP 48, 66095-100 Belém, PA, Brazil
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | | | - Guadalupe Peralta
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Jason M. Tylianakis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Erika Berenguer
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Alexander C. Lees
- School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Joice Ferreira
- Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Trav. Dr. Enéas Pinheiro, s/n, CP 48, 66095-100 Belém, PA, Brazil
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Pará, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Júlio Louzada
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil
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9
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Ceccarelli DM, Evans RD, Logan M, Mantel P, Puotinen M, Petus C, Russ GR, Williamson DH. Long-term dynamics and drivers of coral and macroalgal cover on inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02008. [PMID: 31550393 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the role of biophysical and anthropogenic drivers of coral reef ecosystem processes can inform management strategies that aim to maintain or restore ecosystem structure and productivity. However, few studies have examined the combined effects of multiple drivers, partitioned their impacts, or established threshold values that may trigger shifts in benthic cover. Inshore fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) occur in high-sediment, high-nutrient environments and are under increasing pressure from multiple acute and chronic stressors. Despite world-leading management, including networks of no-take marine reserves, relative declines in hard coral cover of 40-50% have occurred in recent years, with localized but persistent shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on some reefs. Here we use boosted regression tree analyses to test the relative importance of multiple biophysical drivers on coral and macroalgal cover using a long-term (12-18 yr) data set collected from reefs at four island groups. Coral and macroalgal cover were negatively correlated at all island groups, and particularly when macroalgal cover was above 20%. Although reefs at each island group had different disturbance-and-recovery histories, degree heating weeks (DHW) and routine wave exposure consistently emerged as common drivers of coral and macroalgal cover. In addition, different combinations of sea-surface temperature, nutrient and turbidity parameters, exposure to high turbidity (primary) floodwater, depth, grazing fish density, farming damselfish density, and management zoning variously contributed to changes in coral and macroalgal cover at each island group. Clear threshold values were apparent for multiple drivers including wave exposure, depth, and degree heating weeks for coral cover, and depth, degree heating weeks, chlorophyll a, and cyclone exposure for macroalgal cover, however, all threshold values were variable among island groups. Our findings demonstrate that inshore coral reef communities are typically structured by broadscale climatic perturbations, superimposed upon unique sets of local-scale drivers. Although rapidly escalating climate change impacts are the largest threat to coral reefs of the GBRMP and globally, our findings suggest that proactive management actions that effectively reduce chronic stressors at local scales should contribute to improved reef resistance and recovery potential following acute climatic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Richard D Evans
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, 6151, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Murray Logan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Philippa Mantel
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Marji Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Caroline Petus
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Garry R Russ
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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10
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Fine M, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Meroz-Fine E, Dove S. Ecological changes over 90 years at Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4409. [PMID: 31562327 PMCID: PMC6765017 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12431-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are under increasing stress from local and global factors. Long-term perspectives are becoming increasingly important for understanding ecosystem responses. Here, we provide insights from a 91-year study of the Low Isles on the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) that begins with the pioneering Great Barrier Reef Expedition (1928-29). We show that intertidal communities have experienced major phase-shifts since 1928, with few signs of a return to the initial state. Coral communities demolished by cyclones 50 years ago and exposed to multiple stressors have yet to recover. Richness and diversity of these communities systematically declined for corals and other invertebrates. Specifically, massive corals have replaced branching corals, and soft corals have become much more numerous. The long-term perspective of this study illustrates the importance of considering multiple factors in reef decline, and potential recovery, of coral reefs, and the importance of tracking changes in community structure as well as coral abundance over long periods. Predictions of coral reef dynamics under climate change are hindered by lack of long-term records. Here the authors couple historical and re-survey data from the Great Barrier Reef to show major phase-shifts in the coral and non-coral community over the last 90 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoz Fine
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900, Ramat-Gan, Israel. .,The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Science, P.O. Box 469, 8810300, Eilat, Israel.
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Efrat Meroz-Fine
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Science, P.O. Box 469, 8810300, Eilat, Israel
| | - Sophie Dove
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
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