1
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Martins CPP, Ziegler M, Schubert P, Wilke T, Wall M. Effects of water flow and ocean acidification on oxygen and pH gradients in coral boundary layer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12757. [PMID: 38830941 PMCID: PMC11148076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63210-9] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Reef-building corals live in highly hydrodynamic environments, where water flow largely controls the complex chemical microenvironments surrounding them-the concentration boundary layer (CBL). The CBL may be key to alleviate ocean acidification (OA) effects on coral colonies by partially isolating them. However, OA effects on coral CBL remain poorly understood, particularly under different flow velocities. Here, we investigated these effects on the reef-building corals Acropora cytherea, Pocillopora verrucosa, and Porites cylindrica. We preconditioned corals to a control (pH 8.0) and OA (pH 7.8) treatment for four months and tested how low flow (2 cm s-1) and moderate flow (6 cm s-1) affected O2 and H+ CBL traits (thickness, surface concentrations, and flux) inside a unidirectional-flow chamber. We found that CBL traits differed between species and flow velocities. Under OA, traits remained generally stable across flows, except surface pH. In all species, the H+ CBL was thin and led to lower surface pH. Still, low flow thickened H+ CBLs and increased light elevation of surface pH. In general, our findings reveal a weak to null OA modulation of the CBL. Moreover, the OA-buffering capacity by the H+ CBL may be limited in coral species, though low flow could enhance CBL sheltering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina P P Martins
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Patrick Schubert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marlene Wall
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148, Kiel, Germany
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2
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Ronglan E, Rubio AP, da Silva AO, Fan D, Gair JL, Stathatou PM, Bastidas C, Strand E, Ferrandis JDA, Gershenfeld N, Triantafyllou MS. Architected materials for artificial reefs to increase storm energy dissipation. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae101. [PMID: 38533109 PMCID: PMC10964131 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Increasing extreme weather events require a corresponding increase in coastal protection. We show that architected materials, which have macroscopic properties that differ from those of their constituent components, can increase wave energy dissipation by more than an order of magnitude over both natural and existing artificial reefs, while providing a biocompatible environment. We present a search that optimized their design through proper hydrodynamic modeling and experimental testing, validated their performance, and characterized sustainable materials for their construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edvard Ronglan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alfonso Parra Rubio
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Dixia Fan
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | | | - Patritsia Maria Stathatou
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Renewable Bioproducts Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Carolina Bastidas
- Sea Grant College Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Erik Strand
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jose del Aguila Ferrandis
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Neil Gershenfeld
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael S Triantafyllou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Sea Grant College Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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3
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Leung SK, Mumby PJ. Mapping the susceptibility of reefs to rubble accumulation across the Great Barrier Reef. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:211. [PMID: 38285268 PMCID: PMC10824869 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12344-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Disturbance-induced rubble accumulations are described as "killing fields" on coral reefs as coral recruits suffer high post-settlement mortality, creating a bottleneck for reef recovery. The increasing frequency of coral bleaching events, that can generate rubble once coral dies, has heightened concerns that rubble beds will become more widespread and persistent. But we currently lack the tools to predict where rubble is most likely to accumulate. Here, we developed a modelling framework to identify areas that are likely to accumulate rubble on forereef slopes across the Great Barrier Reef. The algorithm uses new high-resolution bathymetric and geomorphic datasets from satellite remote sensing. We found that 47 km of reef slope (3% of the entire reef surveyed), primarily in the southern region, could potentially reach 50% rubble cover. Despite being statistically significant (p < 0.001), the effects of depth and aspect on rubble cover were minimal, with a 0.2% difference in rubble cover between deeper and shallower regions, as well as a maximum difference of 0.8% among slopes facing various directions. Therefore, we conclude that the effects of depth and aspect were insufficient to influence ecological processes such as larval recruitment and recovery in different coral communities. Maps of potential rubble accumulation can be used to prioritise surveys and potential restoration, particularly after major disturbances have occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Kiu Leung
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Level 5, Goddard Building, St. Lucia, QLD, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Level 5, Goddard Building, St. Lucia, QLD, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
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4
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Wernberg T, Thomsen MS, Baum JK, Bishop MJ, Bruno JF, Coleman MA, Filbee-Dexter K, Gagnon K, He Q, Murdiyarso D, Rogers K, Silliman BR, Smale DA, Starko S, Vanderklift MA. Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Foundation Species. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2024; 16:247-282. [PMID: 37683273 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-042023-093037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine foundation species are the biotic basis for many of the world's coastal ecosystems, providing structural habitat, food, and protection for myriad plants and animals as well as many ecosystem services. However, climate change poses a significant threat to foundation species and the ecosystems they support. We review the impacts of climate change on common marine foundation species, including corals, kelps, seagrasses, salt marsh plants, mangroves, and bivalves. It is evident that marine foundation species have already been severely impacted by several climate change drivers, often through interactive effects with other human stressors, such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal development. Despite considerable variation in geographical, environmental, and ecological contexts, direct and indirect effects of gradual warming and subsequent heatwaves have emerged as the most pervasive drivers of observed impact and potent threat across all marine foundation species, but effects from sea level rise, ocean acidification, and increased storminess are expected to increase. Documented impacts include changes in the genetic structures, physiology, abundance, and distribution of the foundation species themselves and changes to their interactions with other species, with flow-on effects to associated communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. We discuss strategies to support marine foundation species into the Anthropocene, in order to increase their resilience and ensure the persistence of the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John F Bruno
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- National Marine Science Centre, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Bogor, Indonesia
- Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Kerrylee Rogers
- School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Starko
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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5
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Rovellini A, Mortimer CL, Dunn MR, Fulton EA, Jompa J, Haris A, Bell JJ. Reduced small-scale structural complexity on sponge-dominated areas of Indo-Pacific coral reefs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106254. [PMID: 37979404 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106254] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Corals provide a complex 3D framework that offers habitat to diverse coral reef fauna. However, future reefs are likely to experience reduced coral abundance. Sponges have been proposed as one potential winner on future coral reefs, but little is known of how they contribute to reef 3D structure. Given the ecological importance of structural complexity, it is critical to understand how changes in the abundance of structure-building organisms will affect the three-dimensional properties of coral reefs. To investigate the potentially important functional role of coral reef sponges as providers of structural complexity, we compared the structural complexity of coral- and sponge-dominated areas of an Indonesian coral reef, using 3D photogrammetry at a 4 m2 spatial scale. Structural complexity of 31 4 m2 quadrats was expressed as rugosity indicating reef contour complexity (R), vector dispersion indicating heterogeneity of angles between reef surfaces (1/k), and fractal dimension indicating geometrical complexity at five different spatial scales between 1 and 120 cm (D1-5). Quadrats were identified as high- or low-complexity using hierarchical clustering based on the complexity metrics. At high structural complexity, coral- and sponge-dominated quadrats were similar in terms of R and 1/k. However, smallest-scale refuge spaces (1-5 cm) were more abundant in coral-dominated quadrats, whereas larger scale refuge spaces (30-60 cm) were more abundant in sponge-dominated quadrats. Branching and massive corals contributed the most to structural complexity in coral-dominated quadrats, and barrel sponges in sponge-dominated quadrats. We show that smaller-scale refugia (1-5 cm) are reduced on sponge-dominated reefs at the spatial scale considered here (4 m2), with potential negative implications for smaller reef fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Rovellini
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Charlotte L Mortimer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Matthew R Dunn
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New Zealand.
| | | | - Jamaluddin Jompa
- Universitas Hasanuddin, Department of Marine Science, Makassar, Indonesia.
| | - Abdul Haris
- Universitas Hasanuddin, Department of Marine Science, Makassar, Indonesia.
| | - James J Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
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6
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Ferreira SB, Burns JHR, Pascoe KH, Kapono CA, Reyes AJ, Fukunaga A. Prediction of habitat complexity using a trait-based approach on coral reefs in Guam. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11095. [PMID: 37422484 PMCID: PMC10329656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38138-1] [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: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are primary contributors to the structural complexity of coral reef ecosystems. The structure derived from their carbonate skeletons underpins the biodiversity and myriad of ecosystem services provided by coral reefs. This study used a trait-based approach to provide new insights into the relationships between habitat complexity and coral morphology. Three-Dimensional (3D) photogrammetry techniques were used to survey 208 study plots on the island of Guam, from which structural complexity metrics were derived and physical traits of corals were quantified. Three traits at the individual colony level (e.g., morphology, size, and genera) and two site-level environmental characteristics (e.g., wave exposure and substratum-habitat type) were examined. Standard taxonomy-based metrics were also included at the reef-plot level (e.g., coral abundance, richness, and diversity). Different traits disproportionately contributed to 3D metrics of habitat complexity. Larger colonies with a columnar morphology have the highest contribution to surface complexity, slope, and vector ruggedness measure, whereas branching and encrusting columnar colonies have the highest contribution to planform and profile curvature. These results highlight the importance of considering colony morphology and size in addition to conventional taxonomic metrics for the understanding and monitoring reef structural complexity. The approach presented here provides a framework for studies in other locations to predict the trajectory of reefs under changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia B Ferreira
- MEGA Lab, College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
| | - John H R Burns
- MEGA Lab, College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
| | - Kailey H Pascoe
- MEGA Lab, College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
| | - Clifford A Kapono
- MEGA Lab, College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
| | - Andres J Reyes
- Marine Scientist, NAVFAC Systems Command Marianas, Joint Region Marianas, Santa Rita, GU, 96915, USA
| | - Atsuko Fukunaga
- MEGA Lab, College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
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7
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Toth LT, Storlazzi CD, Kuffner IB, Quataert E, Reyns J, McCall R, Stathakopoulos A, Hillis-Starr Z, Holloway NH, Ewen KA, Pollock CG, Code T, Aronson RB. The potential for coral reef restoration to mitigate coastal flooding as sea levels rise. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2313. [PMID: 37085476 PMCID: PMC10121583 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37858-2] [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: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of reefs to protect coastlines from storm-driven flooding hinges on their capacity to keep pace with sea-level rise. Here, we show how and whether coral restoration could achieve the often-cited goal of reversing the impacts of coral-reef degradation to preserve this essential function. We combined coral-growth measurements and carbonate-budget assessments of reef-accretion potential at Buck Island Reef, U.S. Virgin Islands, with hydrodynamic modeling to quantify future coastal flooding under various coral-restoration, sea-level rise, and storm scenarios. Our results provide guidance on how restoration of Acropora palmata, if successful, could mitigate the most extreme impacts of coastal flooding by reversing projected trajectories of reef erosion and allowing reefs to keep pace with the ~0.5 m of sea-level rise expected by 2100 with moderate carbon-emissions reductions. This highlights the potential long-term benefits of pursuing coral-reef restoration alongside climate-change mitigation to support the persistence of essential coral-reef ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren T Toth
- U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
| | - Curt D Storlazzi
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Ilsa B Kuffner
- U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | | | - Johan Reyns
- Deltares, Delft, Netherlands
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tessa Code
- National Park Service, Christiansted, VI, USA
| | - Richard B Aronson
- Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Melbourne, FL, USA
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8
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Thomas BEO, Roger J, Gunnell Y, Ashraf S. A method for evaluating population and infrastructure exposed to natural hazards: tests and results for two recent Tonga tsunamis. GEOENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS 2023; 10:4. [PMID: 36811079 PMCID: PMC9934511 DOI: 10.1186/s40677-023-00235-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coastal communities are highly exposed to ocean- and -related hazards but often lack an accurate population and infrastructure database. On January 15, 2022 and for many days thereafter, the Kingdom of Tonga was cut off from the rest of the world by a destructive tsunami associated with the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption. This situation was made worse by COVID-19-related lockdowns and no precise idea of the magnitude and pattern of destruction incurred, confirming Tonga's position as second out of 172 countries ranked by the World Risk Index 2018. The occurrence of such events in remote island communities highlights the need for (1) precisely knowing the distribution of buildings, and (2) evaluating what proportion of those would be vulnerable to a tsunami. METHODS AND RESULTS A GIS-based dasymetric mapping method, previously tested in New Caledonia for assessing and calibrating population distribution at high resolution, is improved and implemented in less than a day to jointly map population clusters and critical elevation contours based on runup scenarios, and is tested against destruction patterns independently recorded in Tonga after the two recent tsunamis of 2009 and 2022. Results show that ~ 62% of the population of Tonga lives in well-defined clusters between sea level and the 15 m elevation contour. The patterns of vulnerability thus obtained for each island of the archipelago allow exposure and potential for cumulative damage to be ranked as a function of tsunami magnitude and source area. CONCLUSIONS By relying on low-cost tools and incomplete datasets for rapid implementation in the context of natural disasters, this approach works for all types of natural hazards, is easily transferable to other insular settings, can assist in guiding emergency rescue targets, and can help to elaborate future land-use planning priorities for disaster risk reduction purposes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40677-023-00235-8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean Roger
- Earth Structure and Processes, GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Yanni Gunnell
- Université Lumière Lyon 2, CNRS UMR 5600, Bron, France
| | - Salman Ashraf
- Data Science and Geohazards Monitoring, GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
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9
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Carlot J, Vousdoukas M, Rovere A, Karambas T, Lenihan HS, Kayal M, Adjeroud M, Pérez-Rosales G, Hedouin L, Parravicini V. Coral reef structural complexity loss exposes coastlines to waves. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1683. [PMID: 36717604 PMCID: PMC9887012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28945-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs offer natural coastal protection by attenuating incoming waves. Here we combine unique coral disturbance-recovery observations with hydrodynamic models to quantify how structural complexity dissipates incoming wave energy. We find that if the structural complexity of healthy coral reefs conditions is halved, extreme wave run-up heights that occur once in a 100-years will become 50 times more frequent, threatening reef-backed coastal communities with increased waves, erosion, and flooding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Carlot
- PSL Université Paris, UAR 3278 CRIOBE-EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, 52 Av. Paul Alduy, 66000, Perpignan, France. .,Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France. .,CESAB-FRB, Montpellier, France.
| | - Michalis Vousdoukas
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Alessio Rovere
- Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM), Bremen, Germany.,Dipartimento di Scienze AmbientaliInformatica e Statistica (DAIS), Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | - Theofanis Karambas
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Hunter S Lenihan
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
| | - Mohsen Kayal
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France.,9ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, CNRS, Perpignan, France
| | - Gonzalo Pérez-Rosales
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France.,PSL Université - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, French Polynesia
| | - Laetitia Hedouin
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France.,PSL Université - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, French Polynesia
| | - Valeriano Parravicini
- PSL Université Paris, UAR 3278 CRIOBE-EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, 52 Av. Paul Alduy, 66000, Perpignan, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France.,CESAB-FRB, Montpellier, France
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10
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Pomeroy AWM, Ghisalberti M, Peterson M, Farooji VE. A framework to quantify flow through coral reefs of varying coral cover and morphology. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279623. [PMID: 36652422 PMCID: PMC9847983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Flow velocities within coral reefs are greatly reduced relative to those at the water surface. The in-reef flow controls key processes that flush heat, cycle nutrients and transport sediment from the reef to adjacent beaches, all key considerations in assessments of reef resilience and restoration interventions. An analytical framework is proposed and tested with a suite of high-resolution numerical experiments. We demonstrate a single parameter that describes the total coral frontal area explains variation of horizontally averaged velocity within a reef canopy across morphologies, densities, and flow depths. With the integration of existing data of coral cover and geometry, this framework is a practical step towards the prediction of near-bed flows in diverse reef environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W. M. Pomeroy
- Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Marco Ghisalberti
- Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael Peterson
- School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Vahid Etminan Farooji
- Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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11
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Castro-Cadenas MD, Loiseau C, Reimer JM, Claudet J. Tracking changes in social-ecological systems along environmental disturbances with the ocean health index. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156423. [PMID: 35660614 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156423] [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: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The well-being of coastal communities is intimately tied to a healthy ocean, but coastal social-ecological systems are among the most vulnerable to global change. Improving the resilience of coastal communities requires an understanding of how local social-ecological systems respond to shocks to better inform decision-making and adapt local management interventions. However, assessments of social-ecological changes throughout a disturbance regime are scarce at the local level, although critical for efficient natural resource management and sustainable use of ocean ecosystem services. Here, we apply the Ocean Health Index (OHI) to assess the status of the marine social-ecological system of a tropical island (Moorea, French Polynesia), and track changes of the system before, during and after a disturbance regime. Our results show that while there are signs of social-ecological recovery, coastal protection was most affected along the disturbance, and that there is room for improvement toward biodiversity conservation. In addition, our study highlights some context-specific challenges associated with local OHI assessments, particularly those driven by limited fisheries data and appropriate reference point selection for coastal protection. Our results demonstrate the value of localized, regular OHI assessments through time to track changes in marine social-ecological systems, while uncovering important data gaps, to inform management at appropriate scales for decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- María D Castro-Cadenas
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison de l'Océan, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Charles Loiseau
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison de l'Océan, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Julie M Reimer
- Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison de l'Océan, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
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12
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Abstract
An explosive volcanic eruption occurred in the Ogasawara Islands on 13-15 August 2021, bringing unprecedented amounts of floating pumice to the coast of Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, 1300 km west of the volcano, approximately 2 months later. The coast of Okinawa Island, especially along the northern part, is home to many typical subtropical seascapes, including coral reefs and mangrove forests, so the possible impact of the large amount of pumice is attracting attention. Here, we report early evidence of ecosystem changes as a result of large-scale pumice stranding on coastal beaches, in estuaries and mangrove forests and passage across fringing coral reefs. Massive pumice drifts are major obstacles to fishing activities and ship traffic, but short and long-term changes in coastal ecosystems can also occur. The phenomena observed on Okinawa Island can be a preview of coastal impacts for the Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu Islands, where pumice has subsequently washed ashore.
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13
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Barnett J, Jarillo S, Swearer SE, Lovelock CE, Pomeroy A, Konlechner T, Waters E, Morris RL, Lowe R. Nature-based solutions for atoll habitability. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210124. [PMID: 35574851 PMCID: PMC9108937 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Atoll societies have adapted their environments and social systems for thousands of years, but the rapid pace of climate change may bring conditions that exceed their adaptive capacities. There is growing interest in the use of ‘nature-based solutions' to facilitate the continuation of dignified and meaningful lives on atolls through a changing climate. However, there remains insufficient evidence to conclude that these can make a significant contribution to adaptation on atolls, let alone to develop standards and guidelines for their implementation. A sustained programme of research to clarify the potential of nature-based solutions to support the habitability of atolls is therefore vital. In this paper, we provide a prospectus to guide this research programme: we explain the challenge climate change poses to atoll societies, discuss past and potential future applications of nature-based solutions and outline an agenda for transdisciplinary research to advance knowledge of the efficacy and feasibility of nature-based solutions to sustain the habitability of atolls. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Nurturing resilient marine ecosystems’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Barnett
- Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sergio Jarillo
- Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Stephen E Swearer
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew Pomeroy
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Teresa Konlechner
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Wildlife Consultants Ltd, 7A Vulcan Place, Middleton, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand
| | - Elissa Waters
- Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Morris
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ryan Lowe
- Oceans Graduate School, and School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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14
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Brathwaite A, Clua E, Roach R, Pascal N. Coral reef restoration for coastal protection: Crafting technical and financial solutions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 310:114718. [PMID: 35192980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Coastal erosion, aggravated by coral reef mortality is a major issue for Small Island Developing States. Traditionally gray infrastructure, financed by public budgets has been used to combat beach loss. We examined if three Nature-based Solutions (NbS): (i) coral restoration (green) (ii) restoration + limestone (hybrid) and (iii) restoration + 3D printed concrete (hybrid) could deliver positive outcomes for coastal protection and further incentivize cost sharing for reef conservation, with private beneficiaries. We modelled the impact of restoration on wave attenuation at two reefs off Barbados and simulated up-front and maintenance costs over a 25-year period. All solutions provide additionality when compared to gray infrastructure, especially in mitigating against Sea Level Rise. Restoration was the least costly with the highest risk of failure. The hybrid solutions, were less risky than the green as they provided immediate wave attenuation, alongside complementary services such as increased attractiveness due to the presence of reef fish. Their costs were however between +80% and +450% higher than gray solutions. While this might initially deter the use of NbS, blended finance and in some cases, Payments for Ecosystem Services, could provide options for governments and private beneficiaries to share costs, with ultimately greater benefits for themselves and coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelique Brathwaite
- Blue Finance ECRE (Economics for Coral Reef Ecosystems), Foster Hall, Barbados; CRIOBE - USR 3278: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD: Bâtiment R et T, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan CEDEX, France.
| | - Eric Clua
- CRIOBE - USR 3278: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD: Bâtiment R et T, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan CEDEX, France; Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l'Environnement (CRIOBE), Moorea, French Polynesia.
| | - Ramon Roach
- Coastal Zone Management Unit, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Warrens Tower II, St. Michael, Barbados.
| | - Nicolas Pascal
- Blue Finance ECRE (Economics for Coral Reef Ecosystems), Foster Hall, Barbados; CRIOBE - USR 3278: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD: Bâtiment R et T, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan CEDEX, France.
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15
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Carlot J, Rouzé H, Barneche DR, Mercière A, Espiau B, Cardini U, Brandl SJ, Casey JM, Pérez‐Rosales G, Adjeroud M, Hédouin L, Parravicini V. Scaling up calcification, respiration, and photosynthesis rates of six prominent coral taxa. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8613. [PMID: 35342609 PMCID: PMC8933251 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Carlot
- PSL Université Paris USR 3278 CRIOBE ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS Perpignan France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- CESAB ‐ FRB Montpellier France
| | - Héloïse Rouzé
- PSL Université Paris USR 3278 CRIOBE ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS Perpignan France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
| | - Diego R. Barneche
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute The University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Alexandre Mercière
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- PSL Université ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS USR 3278 CRIOBE Papetoai French Polynesia
| | - Benoit Espiau
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- PSL Université ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS USR 3278 CRIOBE Papetoai French Polynesia
| | - Ulisse Cardini
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology Napoli Italy
- Marine Research Institute University of Klaipeda Klaipeda Lithuania
| | - Simon J. Brandl
- PSL Université Paris USR 3278 CRIOBE ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS Perpignan France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- CESAB ‐ FRB Montpellier France
- Department of Marine Science The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute Port Aransas Texas USA
| | - Jordan M. Casey
- PSL Université Paris USR 3278 CRIOBE ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS Perpignan France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- Department of Marine Science The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute Port Aransas Texas USA
| | - Gonzalo Pérez‐Rosales
- PSL Université Paris USR 3278 CRIOBE ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS Perpignan France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- PSL Université ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS USR 3278 CRIOBE Papetoai French Polynesia
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- CESAB ‐ FRB Montpellier France
- ENTROPIE, IRD Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle‐Calédonie CNRS, Ifremer Perpignan France
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- PSL Université ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS USR 3278 CRIOBE Papetoai French Polynesia
| | - Valeriano Parravicini
- PSL Université Paris USR 3278 CRIOBE ‐ EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS Perpignan France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL” Paris France
- CESAB ‐ FRB Montpellier France
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16
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Dehnert I, Saponari L, Galli P, Montano S. Comparing different farming habitats for mid-water rope nurseries to advance coral restoration efforts in the Maldives. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12874. [PMID: 35233294 PMCID: PMC8882334 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The need for comprehensive and effective coral restoration projects, as part of a broader conservation management strategy, is accelerating in the face of coral reef ecosystem decline. This study aims to expand the currently limited knowledge base for restoration techniques in the Maldives by testing the performance of mid-water rope nurseries in a lagoon and a reef habitat. We examined whether different coral farming habitats impacted fragment survival, health and growth of two coral genera and how the occurrence of mutualistic fauna, predation and disease influenced coral rearing success. Two nurseries were stocked with a total of 448 Pocillopora verrucosa and 96 Acropora spp. fragments, divided into different groups (four Pocillopora groups: lagoon nursery at 5 m; reef nursery at 5, 10 and 15 m; two Acropora groups: lagoon nursery at 5 m and reef nursery at 5 m). Eight fragment replicates from the same donor colony (Pocillopora genets: N = 14, Acropora genets N = 6) were used in each group and monitored for one year. Our results show that fragment survival was high in both farming habitats (>90%), with P. verrucosa surviving significantly better in the lagoon and Acropora spp. surviving and growing significantly faster in the reef nursery. P. verrucosa growth rates were similar between reef and lagoon habitat. Different rearing depths in the reef nursery had no impact on the survival of P. verrucosa but coral growth decreased considerably with depth, reducing fragments' ecological volume augmentation and growth rates by almost half from 5 to 15 m depth. Further, higher fish predation rates on fragments were recorded on the reef, which did not impact overall nursery performance. Mutualistic fauna, which correlated positively with fragment survival, was more frequently observed in the lagoon nursery. The occurrence of disease was noted in both habitats, even though implications for fragment health were more severe in the lagoon. Overall, our study demonstrates that lagoon and reef nurseries are suitable for rearing large numbers of coral fragments for transplantation. Nevertheless, we recommend considering the specific environmental conditions of the farming habitat, in particular water quality and year-round accessibility, in each case and to adjust the coral farming strategy accordingly. We hope that this novel research encourages the increased application of mid-water rope nurseries for 'coral gardening' to advance coral reef recovery and climate resilience in the Maldives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Dehnert
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives
| | - Luca Saponari
- The Centre for Environment & Education, Nature Seychelles, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles
| | - Paolo Galli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives
| | - Simone Montano
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives
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17
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Mueller JS, Bill N, Reinach MS, Lasut MT, Freund H, Schupp PJ. A comprehensive approach to assess marine macro litter pollution and its impacts on corals in the Bangka Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113369. [PMID: 35144214 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This is a comprehensive study showing the marine anthropogenic litter pollution within North Sulawesi, Indonesia. From an area of 2972 m2 that encompassed five sparsely populated locations, a total of 9421 litter items weighing 137 kg were collected. One location (Talisei North) contributed 50% of all collected litter items. Plastic litter always dominated with 96-99%. Litter was unevenly distributed across investigated areas reaching from the upper beach (3.6-30.1 items/m2) to the reef slope (0-0.03 items/m2). Litter composition and daily accumulation showed spatial-temporal dynamics, with upper beach areas displaying the overall highest accumulation rates. Reef micro-habitats were differently affected, with the reef moat and reef flat showing the highest litter concentrations, although litter amounts were much lower compared to the corresponding beaches. Branching corals, especially Porites cylindrica, were most affected by litter entanglement. Field experiments with P. cylindrica showed that attached plastic induced bleaching, necrosis, and algal overgrowth within five months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin S Mueller
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Nicolas Bill
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Marco S Reinach
- Coral Eye Resort and Research Outpost, 95375 Bangka Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Markus T Lasut
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at the Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT), Jalan Kampus Unsrat Bahu, 95115 Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Holger Freund
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Peter J Schupp
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
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18
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Wangpraseurt D, You S, Sun Y, Chen S. Biomimetic 3D living materials powered by microorganisms. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:843-857. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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19
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Amores A, Marcos M, Le Cozannet G, Hinkel J. Coastal flooding and mean sea-level rise allowances in atoll island. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1281. [PMID: 35075237 PMCID: PMC8786857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Atoll islands are among the places most vulnerable to climate change due to their low elevation above mean sea level. Even today, some of these islands suffer from severe flooding generated by wind-waves, that will be exacerbated with mean sea-level rise. Wave-induced flooding is a complex physical process that requires computationally-expensive numerical models to be reliably estimated, thus limiting its application to single island case studies. Here we present a new model-based parameterisation for wave setup and a set of numerical simulations for the wave-induced flooding in coral reef islands as a function of their morphology, the Manning friction coefficient, wave characteristics and projected mean sea level that can be used for rapid, broad scale (e.g. entire atoll island nations) flood risk assessments. We apply this new approach to the Maldives to compute the increase in wave hazard due to mean sea-level rise, as well as the change in island elevation or coastal protection required to keep wave-induced flooding constant. While future flooding in the Maldives is projected to increase drastically due to sea-level rise, we show that similar impacts in nearby islands can occur decades apart depending on the exposure to waves and the topobathymetry of each island. Such assessment can be useful to determine on which islands adaptation is most urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Amores
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Spain.
| | - Marta Marcos
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Spain.,Departament de Física (UIB), Palma, Spain
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20
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Westphal H, Murphy GN, Doo SS, Mann T, Petrovic A, Schmidt C, Stuhr M. Ecosystem design as an avenue for improving services provided by carbonate producing marine ecosystems. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12785. [PMID: 35116197 PMCID: PMC8784016 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem Design (ED) is an approach for constructing habitats that places human needs for ecosystem services at the center of intervention, with the overarching goal of establishing self-sustaining habitats which require limited management. This concept was originally developed for use in mangrove ecosystems, and is understandably controversial, as it markedly diverges from other protection approaches that assign human use a minor priority or exclude it. However, the advantage of ED lies within the considered implementation of these designed ecosystems, thus preserving human benefits from potential later disturbances. Here, we outline the concept of ED in tropical carbonate depositional systems and discuss potential applications to aid ecosystem services such as beach nourishment and protection of coastlines and reef islands at risk from environmental and climate change, CO2 sequestration, food production, and tourism. Biological carbonate sediment production is a crucial source of stability of reef islands and reef-rimmed coastlines. Careful implementation of designed carbonate depositional ecosystems could help counterbalance sea-level rise and manage documented erosion effects of coastal constructions. Importantly, adhering to the core ethos of ED, careful dynamic assessments which provide a balanced approach to maximizing ecosystem services (e.g., carbonate production), should identify and avoid any potential damages to existing functioning ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildegard Westphal
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany,Geoscience Department, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany,King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gary N. Murphy
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
| | - Steve S. Doo
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany,King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas Mann
- Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Petrovic
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Marleen Stuhr
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany,Inter-University Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel,Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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21
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Dehnert I, Saponari L, Isa V, Seveso D, Galli P, Montano S. Exploring the performance of mid‐water lagoon nurseries for coral restoration in the Maldives. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Inga Dehnert
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
| | - Luca Saponari
- Nature Seychelles The Centre for Environment and Education Roche Caiman, Mahe Republic of Seychelles
| | - Valerio Isa
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Davide Seveso
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
| | - Paolo Galli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
| | - Simone Montano
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
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22
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Castejón‐Silvo I, Terrados J, Nguyen T, Jutfelt F, Infantes E. Increased energy expenditure is an indirect effect of habitat structural complexity loss. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Inés Castejón‐Silvo
- Mediterranean Institute for Advanced StudiesIMEDEA (CSIC‐UIB) Esporles Spain
| | - Jorge Terrados
- Mediterranean Institute for Advanced StudiesIMEDEA (CSIC‐UIB) Esporles Spain
| | - Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Marine Sciences Gothenburg University Kristineberg Sweden
| | - Fredrik Jutfelt
- Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Eduardo Infantes
- Department of Marine Sciences Gothenburg University Kristineberg Sweden
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research Oslo Norway
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23
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Biologia Futura: can co-management protect Saint Martin's corals of Bangladesh? Biol Futur 2021; 72:517-527. [PMID: 34591274 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-021-00101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This study's overarching objective was to assess the effectiveness of co-management in the conservation and responsible extraction of coral resources in Bangladesh. The study examined the existing threats to coral, along with the socio-economic problems of the community. The country boat and rock-added gill nets used for harvesting fishes cause physical damage to the soft corals. The incremental chemical pollutants emanating from agricultural and tourism sources are threatening the existence of the corals. The fishers' community withstands many problems stemming from financial and security mechanisms. The results showed that the co-management could not ensure the community's active participation on an equal basis due to the leading role of the vested interests. By considering various intricate problems, the study recommends adopting a holistic approach that highlight curbing tourist overloads, reducing waste generation, and empowering the community socially and economically.
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24
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Grorud-Colvert K, Sullivan-Stack J, Roberts C, Constant V, Horta E Costa B, Pike EP, Kingston N, Laffoley D, Sala E, Claudet J, Friedlander AM, Gill DA, Lester SE, Day JC, Gonçalves EJ, Ahmadia GN, Rand M, Villagomez A, Ban NC, Gurney GG, Spalding AK, Bennett NJ, Briggs J, Morgan LE, Moffitt R, Deguignet M, Pikitch EK, Darling ES, Jessen S, Hameed SO, Di Carlo G, Guidetti P, Harris JM, Torre J, Kizilkaya Z, Agardy T, Cury P, Shah NJ, Sack K, Cao L, Fernandez M, Lubchenco J. The MPA Guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean. Science 2021; 373:eabf0861. [PMID: 34516798 DOI: 10.1126/science.abf0861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Grorud-Colvert
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Jenna Sullivan-Stack
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Callum Roberts
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Vanessa Constant
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Barbara Horta E Costa
- Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal.,School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Pike
- Marine Protection Atlas, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA, 98103-9090, USA.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Naomi Kingston
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dan Laffoley
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.,School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - Enric Sala
- National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2190, USA
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 75005 Paris, France.,Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA.,Pristine Seas, National Geography Society, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - David A Gill
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Sarah E Lester
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2190, USA
| | - Jon C Day
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Emanuel J Gonçalves
- Pristine Seas, National Geography Society, Washington, DC 20036, USA.,Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.,Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), ISPA-Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal.,Oceano Azul Foundation, Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I,1990-005 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabby N Ahmadia
- Ocean Conservation, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC 20037, USA.,School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Matt Rand
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Angelo Villagomez
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Natalie C Ban
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.,School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Georgina G Gurney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Ana K Spalding
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia.,Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), ISPA-Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal.,School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station (Coiba AIP), Panama City, Panama.,Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Nathan J Bennett
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 75005 Paris, France.,The Peopled Seas Initiative, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Johnny Briggs
- Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | | | - Russell Moffitt
- Marine Protection Atlas, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA, 98103-9090, USA.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Marine Deguignet
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ellen K Pikitch
- National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA.,School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Emily S Darling
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Sabine Jessen
- Marine Protection Atlas, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA, 98103-9090, USA.,National Ocean Program, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa, ON K2P 0A4, Canada
| | - Sarah O Hameed
- The Peopled Seas Initiative, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Blue Parks Program, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | | | - Paolo Guidetti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.,National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), V16149 Genoa, Italy
| | - Jean M Harris
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, Gomeroy Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
| | - Jorge Torre
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C. Isla del Peruano 215, Col. Lomas de Miramar, Guaymas, Sonora, 85454, Mexico
| | - Zafer Kizilkaya
- Mediterranean Conservation Society, Bornova, Izmir 35100 Turkey
| | - Tundi Agardy
- Oceano Azul Foundation, Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I,1990-005 Lisbon, Portugal.,Sound Seas, Colrain, MA 01340, USA
| | - Philippe Cury
- Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal.,MARBEC, Montpellier University, CNRS, IRD, IFREMER, Sète, France
| | - Nirmal J Shah
- School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.,Nature Seychelles, Centre for Environment and Education, Sanctuary at Roche Caiman, Mahe, Seychelles
| | - Karen Sack
- Ocean Conservation, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC 20037, USA.,Ocean Unite, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Ling Cao
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 230000, China
| | - Miriam Fernandez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station (Coiba AIP), Panama City, Panama.,Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas de Las Cruces and Departmento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jane Lubchenco
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
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25
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Ainsworth TD, Leggat W, Silliman BR, Lantz CA, Bergman JL, Fordyce AJ, Page CE, Renzi JJ, Morton J, Eakin CM, Heron SF. Rebuilding relationships on coral reefs: Coral bleaching knowledge-sharing to aid adaptation planning for reef users: Bleaching emergence on reefs demonstrates the need to consider reef scale and accessibility when preparing for, and responding to, coral bleaching. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100048. [PMID: 34351637 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Coral bleaching has impacted reefs worldwide and the predictions of near-annual bleaching from over two decades ago have now been realized. While technology currently provides the means to predict large-scale bleaching, predicting reef-scale and within-reef patterns in real-time for all reef users is limited. In 2020, heat stress across the Great Barrier Reef underpinned the region's third bleaching event in 5 years. Here we review the heterogeneous emergence of bleaching across Heron Island reef habitats and discuss the oceanographic drivers that underpinned variable bleaching emergence. We do so as a case study to highlight how reef end-user groups who engage with coral reefs in different ways require targeted guidance for how, and when, to alter their use of coral reefs in response to bleaching events. Our case study of coral bleaching emergence demonstrates how within-reef scale nowcasting of coral bleaching could aid the development of accessible and equitable bleaching response strategies on coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy D Ainsworth
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - William Leggat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Coulson A Lantz
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Jessica L Bergman
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alexander J Fordyce
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Charlotte E Page
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Juliana J Renzi
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph Morton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - C Mark Eakin
- NOAA Coral Reef Watch, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Global Science and Technology, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Scott F Heron
- Physical Sciences and Marine Geophysics Laboratory, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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26
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Abstract
The Earth’s climate is changing; ice sheets and glaciers are melting and coastal hazards and sea level are rising in response. With a total population of over 300 million people situated on coasts, including 20 of the planet’s 33 megacities (over 10 million people), low-lying coastal areas represent one of the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change. Many of the largest cities along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. are already experiencing frequent high tide flooding, and these events will increase in frequency, depth, duration and extent as sea levels continue to rise at an accelerating rate throughout the 21st century and beyond. Cities in southeast Asia and islands in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean are also suffering the effects of extreme weather events combined with other factors that increase coastal risk. While short-term extreme events such as hurricanes, El Niños and severe storms come and go and will be more damaging in the short term, sea-level rise is a long-term permanent change of state. However, the effects of sea-level rise are compounded with other hazards, such as increased wave action or a loss of ecosystems. As sea-level rise could lead to the displacement of hundreds of millions of people, this may be one of the greatest challenges that human civilization has ever faced, with associated inundation of major cities, loss of coastal infrastructure, increased saltwater intrusion and damage to coastal aquifers among many other global impacts, as well as geopolitical and legal implications. While there are several short-term responses or adaptation options, we need to begin to think longer term for both public infrastructure and private development. This article provides an overview of the status on adaptation to climate change in coastal zones.
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27
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Alemu I JB, Mallela J. Recent dynamics on turbid-water corals reefs following the 2010 mass bleaching event in Tobago. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 170:105411. [PMID: 34298264 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105411] [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: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We detail the benthic compositon of the turbid-water coral reefs of Tobago in 2016 and examine the influence of mass coral bleaching and hydro-geomorphic setting (sheltereted vs. wave-exposed) on benthic community dynamics against the 2007 baseline. In the current assessment mean hard coral cover was 14.83% ± 0.85, which ranged from 2% to 37% with few sites exceeding 20%. Mean macroalgal cover was low (6.04% ± 0.61) with most sites experiencing less than 8% macroalgal cover. Differences in benthic cover between sheltered and wave-exposed settings were mainly driven by contrasts in proportions of sponge, macroalgae and Orbicella faveolata corals. Linear mixed-effects modelling suggests stability in hard coral cover and decline in macroalgal cover across sites against the 2007 baseline. Significant spatio-temporal interactions were observed for soft coral and CTB (crustose coralline algae, turf algae and bare substrate). Overall, hard coral cover appears to have declined at some sites and macroalgal cover to have increased at other, but there is no evidence of widespread regime shift. While the hydro-geomorphic setting had a significant but weak effect (R > 0.3) on observed spatial and temporal patterns, our findings suggest that sheltered settings were less predisposed to macroalgal overgrowth compared to wave-exposed areas. In the era of climate change, targeted management should focus on strategies that mitigate macroalgal overgrowth, promote hard coral stability (or resilience) while preventing further loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahson Berhane Alemu I
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 117570, Singapore; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
| | - Jennie Mallela
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 261, Australia
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28
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Page CE, Leggat W, Heron SF, Fordyce AJ, Ainsworth TD. High flow conditions mediate damaging impacts of sub-lethal thermal stress on corals' endosymbiotic algae. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab046. [PMID: 34188937 PMCID: PMC8226191 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The effects of thermal anomalies on tropical coral endosymbiosis can be mediated by a range of environmental factors, which in turn ultimately influence coral health and survival. One such factor is the water flow conditions over coral reefs and corals. Although the physiological benefits of living under high water flow are well known, there remains a lack of conclusive experimental evidence characterizing how flow mitigates thermal stress responses in corals. Here we use in situ measurements of flow in a variety of reef habitats to constrain the importance of flow speeds on the endosymbiosis of an important reef building species under different thermal regimes. Under high flow speeds (0.15 m s-1) and thermal stress, coral endosymbionts retained photosynthetic function and recovery capacity for longer compared to low flow conditions (0.03 m s-1). We hypothesize that this may be due to increased rates of mass transfer of key metabolites under higher flow, putatively allowing corals to maintain photosynthetic efficiency for longer. We also identified a positive interactive effect between high flow and a pre-stress, sub-lethal pulse in temperature. While higher flow may delay the onset of photosynthetic stress, it does not appear to confer long-term protection; sustained exposure to thermal stress (eDHW accumulation equivalent to 4.9°C weeks) eventually overwhelmed the coral meta-organism as evidenced by eventual declines in photo-physiological function and endosymbiont densities. Investigating flow patterns at the scale of metres within the context of these physiological impacts can reveal interesting avenues for coral reef management. This study increases our understanding of the effects of water flow on coral reef health in an era of climate change and highlights the potential to learn from existing beneficial bio-physical interactions for the effective preservation of coral reefs into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Page
- Life Sciences, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Kensington, High St, New South Wales 2033, Australia
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Dr, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - W Leggat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Dr, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - S F Heron
- Physics and Marine Geophysical Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, James Cook Dr, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- NOAA Coral Reef Watch, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - A J Fordyce
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Dr, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - T D Ainsworth
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Kensington, High St, New South Wales 2033, Australia
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29
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Carlot J, Kayal M, Lenihan HS, Brandl SJ, Casey JM, Adjeroud M, Cardini U, Merciere A, Espiau B, Barneche DR, Rovere A, Hédouin L, Parravicini V. Juvenile corals underpin coral reef carbonate production after disturbance. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2623-2632. [PMID: 33749949 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sea-level rise is predicted to cause major damage to tropical coastlines. While coral reefs can act as natural barriers for ocean waves, their protection hinges on the ability of scleractinian corals to produce enough calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) to keep up with rising sea levels. As a consequence of intensifying disturbances, coral communities are changing rapidly, potentially reducing community-level CaCO3 production. By combining colony-level physiology and long-term monitoring data, we show that reefs recovering from major disturbances can produce 40% more CaCO3 than currently estimated due to the disproportionate contribution of juvenile corals. However, the buffering effect of highly productive juvenile corals is compromised by recruitment failures, which have been more frequently observed after large-scale, repeated bleaching events. While the size structure of corals can bolster a critical ecological function on reefs, climate change impacts on recruitment may undermine this buffering effect, thus further compromising the persistence of reefs and their provision of important ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Carlot
- PSL Université Paris, USR 3278 CRIOBE - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
| | - Mohsen Kayal
- ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Hunter S Lenihan
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Simon J Brandl
- PSL Université Paris, USR 3278 CRIOBE - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
- CESAB - FRB, Montpellier, France
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Jordan M Casey
- PSL Université Paris, USR 3278 CRIOBE - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- PSL Université Paris, USR 3278 CRIOBE - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
- ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, CNRS, Perpignan, France
| | - Ulisse Cardini
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Napoli, Italy
- Marine Research Institute, University of Klaipeda, Klaipeda, Lithuania
| | - Alexandre Merciere
- PSL Université - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, French Polynesia
| | - Benoit Espiau
- PSL Université - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, French Polynesia
| | | | - Alessio Rovere
- Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM, Bremen, Germany
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
- PSL Université - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Papetoai, French Polynesia
| | - Valeriano Parravicini
- PSL Université Paris, USR 3278 CRIOBE - EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
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30
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Sediment supply dampens the erosive effects of sea-level rise on reef islands. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5523. [PMID: 33750877 PMCID: PMC7970901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Large uncertainty surrounds the future physical stability of low-lying coral reef islands due to a limited understanding of the geomorphic response of islands to changing environmental conditions. Physical and numerical modelling efforts have improved understanding of the modes and styles of island change in response to increasing wave and water level conditions. However, the impact of sediment supply on island morphodynamics has not been addressed and remains poorly understood. Here we present evidence from the first physical modelling experiments to explore the effect of storm-derived sediment supply on the geomorphic response of islands to changes in sea level and energetic wave conditions. Results demonstrate that a sediment supply has a substantial influence on island adjustments in response to sea-level rise, promoting the increase of the elevation of the island while dampening island migration and subaerial volume reduction. The implications of sediment supply are significant as it improves the potential of islands to offset the impacts of future flood events, increasing the future physical persistence of reef islands. Results emphasize the urgent need to incorporate the physical response of islands to both physical and ecological processes in future flood risk models.
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31
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Good AM, Bahr KD. The coral conservation crisis: interacting local and global stressors reduce reef resiliency and create challenges for conservation solutions. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-021-04319-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractCoral reefs are one of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Humans rely on these coral reef ecosystems to provide significant ecological and economic resources; however, coral reefs are threatened by numerous local and global anthropogenic factors that cause significant environmental change. The interactions of these local and global human impacts may increase the rate of coral reef degradation. For example, there are many local influences (i.e., sedimentation and submarine groundwater discharge) that may exacerbate coral bleaching and mortality. Therefore, researchers and resource managers cannot limit their narratives and actions to mitigating a sole stressor. With the continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions, management strategies and restoration techniques need to account for the scale at which environmental change occurs. This review aims to outline the various local and global anthropogenic stressors threatening reef resiliency and address the recent disagreements surrounding present-day conservation practices. Unfortunately, there is no one solution to preserve and restore all coral reefs. Each coral reef region is challenged by numerous interactive stressors that affect its ecosystem response, recovery, and services in various ways. This review discusses, while global reef degradation occurs, local solutions should be implemented to efficiently protect the coral reef ecosystem services that are valuable to marine and terrestrial environments.
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32
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Trégarot E, Catry T, Pottier A, El‐Hacen EM, Sidi Cheikh MA, Cornet CC, Maréchal J, Failler P. Coastal protection assessment: a tradeoff between ecological, social, and economic issues. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ewan Trégarot
- Centre for Blue Governance Department of Economics and Finance Portsmouth Business School University of Portsmouth Richmond BuildingPortland Street PortsmouthPO1 3DEUK
| | - Thibault Catry
- ESPACE‐DEV, UMR 228 IRD/UM/UR/UG/UA Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Montpellier France
| | - Auréa Pottier
- ESPACE‐DEV, UMR 228 IRD/UM/UR/UG/UA Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Montpellier France
| | - El‐Hacen M. El‐Hacen
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen P.O. Box 11103 Groningen9700 CCThe Netherlands
- Parc National du Banc d’Arguin (PNBA) Rue Gleiguime Ould HabiboullahB Nord No 100 NouakchottB.P. 5355Mauritania
| | - Mohamed Ahmed Sidi Cheikh
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen P.O. Box 11103 Groningen9700 CCThe Netherlands
| | - Cindy C. Cornet
- Centre for Blue Governance Department of Economics and Finance Portsmouth Business School University of Portsmouth Richmond BuildingPortland Street PortsmouthPO1 3DEUK
| | | | - Pierre Failler
- Centre for Blue Governance Department of Economics and Finance Portsmouth Business School University of Portsmouth Richmond BuildingPortland Street PortsmouthPO1 3DEUK
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33
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Interannual Response of Reef Islands to Climate-Driven Variations in Water Level and Wave Climate. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12244089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Coral reef islands are among the most vulnerable landforms to climate change. However, our understanding of their morphodynamics at intermediate (seasonal to interannual) timescales remains poor, limiting our ability to forecast how they will evolve in the future. Here, we applied a semi-automated shoreline detection technique (CoastSat.islands) to 20 years of publicly available satellite imagery to investigate the evolution of a group of reef islands located in the eastern Indian Ocean. At interannual timescales, island changes were characterized by the cyclical re-organization of island shorelines in response to the variability in water levels and wave conditions. Interannual variability in forcing parameters was driven by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles, causing prolonged changes to water levels and wave conditions that established new equilibrium island morphologies. Our results present a new opportunity to measure intermediate temporal scale changes in island morphology that can complement existing short-term (weekly to seasonal) and long-term (decadal) understanding of reef island evolution.
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34
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Pancrazi I, Ahmed H, Cerrano C, Montefalcone M. Synergic effect of global thermal anomalies and local dredging activities on coral reefs of the Maldives. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111585. [PMID: 32911112 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated possible synergic effects on coral reefs of the local land reclamation activities in the Himmafushi Island (North Malè atoll, Maldives) and the global bleaching event that affected the Maldives in 2016. A BACI (Before-After Control-Impact) sampling design was adopted to contrast effects of dredging activities before and after the occurrence of both dredging and bleaching. The Reef Check protocol, a standardised and worldwide survey method, was applied to collect data through underwater visual surveys on corals, macro-zoobenthos, and fish communities. The bleaching in 2016 hit all the reefs investigated, but only in the reefs around Himmafushi (i.e., the impact sites) the live hard coral reduced significantly its cover and the sand deposited on reefs showed a fourfold increase. Substrate indicators (i.e., coral community and abiotic components) turned out to be more effective than macro-zoobenthos and fish in this short-term environmental impact study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pancrazi
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Hassan Ahmed
- Save the Beach Maldives, address Boakeyo Goalhi, K. Villingili, Maldives
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60131, Italy
| | - Monica Montefalcone
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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35
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Coral Reef Community Changes in Karimunjawa National Park, Indonesia: Assessing the Efficacy of Management in the Face of Local and Global Stressors. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse8100760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Karimunjawa National Park is one of Indonesia’s oldest established marine parks. Coral reefs across the park are being impacted by fishing, tourism and declining water quality (local stressors), as well as climate change (global pressures). In this study, we apply a multivariate statistical model to detailed benthic ecological datasets collected across Karimunjawa’s coral reefs, to explore drivers of community change at the park level. Eighteen sites were surveyed in 2014 and 2018, before and after the 2016 global mass coral bleaching event. Analyses revealed that average coral cover declined slightly from 29.2 ± 0.12% (Standard Deviation, SD) to 26.3 ± 0.10% SD, with bleaching driving declines in most corals. Management zone was unrelated to coral decline, but shifts from massive morphologies toward more complex foliose and branching corals were apparent across all zones, reflecting a park-wide reduction in damaging fishing practises. A doubling of sponges and associated declines in massive corals could not be related to bleaching, suggesting another driver, likely declining water quality associated with tourism and mariculture. Further investigation of this potentially emerging threat is needed. Monitoring and management of water quality across Karimunjawa may be critical to improving resilience of reef communities to future coral bleaching.
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36
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Wenger AS, Harris D, Weber S, Vaghi F, Nand Y, Naisilisili W, Hughes A, Delevaux J, Klein CJ, Watson J, Mumby PJ, Jupiter SD. Best‐practice forestry management delivers diminishing returns for coral reefs with increased land‐clearing. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia S. Wenger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
| | - Daniel Harris
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
| | - Samuel Weber
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine CA USA
| | - Ferguson Vaghi
- Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation AssociationKolombangara Island Solomon Islands
| | | | | | | | - Jade Delevaux
- Department of Earth Sciences School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa HI USA
| | - Carissa J. Klein
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
| | - James Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Qld Australia
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37
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Multi-Temporal UAV Data and Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) for Estimation of Substrate Changes in a Post-Bleaching Scenario on a Maldivian Reef. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12132093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Coral reefs are declining worldwide as a result of the effects of multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors, including regional-scale temperature-induced coral bleaching. Such events have caused significant coral mortality, leading to an evident structural collapse of reefs and shifts in associated benthic communities. In this scenario, reasonable mapping techniques and best practices are critical to improving data collection to describe spatial and temporal patterns of coral reefs after a significant bleaching impact. Our study employed the potential of a consumer-grade drone, coupled with structure from motion and object-based image analysis to investigate for the first time a tool to monitor changes in substrate composition and the associated deterioration in reef environments in a Maldivian shallow-water coral reef. Three key substrate types (hard coral, coral rubble and sand) were detected with high accuracy on high-resolution orthomosaics collected from four sub-areas. Multi-temporal acquisition of UAV data allowed us to compare the classified maps over time (February 2017, November 2018) and obtain evidence of the relevant deterioration in structural complexity of flat reef environments that occurred after the 2016 mass bleaching event. We believe that our proposed methodology offers a cost-effective procedure that is well suited to generate maps for the long-term monitoring of changes in substrate type and reef complexity in shallow water.
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38
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Significant differences in invertebrate assemblages between low- and high-uplifted intertidal shores in the Simeulue Island, Indonesia, after a megathrust earthquake of 2004 and 2005. COMMUNITY ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42974-020-00009-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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39
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de Bakker DM, van Duyl FC, Perry CT, Meesters EH. Extreme spatial heterogeneity in carbonate accretion potential on a Caribbean fringing reef linked to local human disturbance gradients. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:4092-4104. [PMID: 31566878 PMCID: PMC6899606 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of coral reefs to maintain their structurally complex frameworks and to retain the potential for vertical accretion is vitally important to the persistence of their ecological functioning and the ecosystem services they sustain. However, datasets to support detailed along-coast assessments of framework production rates and accretion potential do not presently exist. Here, we estimate, based on gross bioaccretion and bioerosion measures, the carbonate budgets and resultant estimated accretion rates (EAR) of the shallow reef zone of leeward Bonaire - between 5 and 12 m depth - at unique fine spatial resolution along this coast (115 sites). Whilst the fringing reef of Bonaire is often reported to be in a better ecological condition than most sites throughout the wider Caribbean region, our data show that the carbonate budgets of the reefs and derived EAR varied considerably across this ~58 km long fringing reef complex. Some areas, in particular the marine reserves, were indeed still dominated by structurally complex coral communities with high net carbonate production (>10 kg CaCO3 m-2 year-1 ), high live coral cover and complex structural topography. The majority of the studied sites, however, were defined by relatively low budget states (<2 kg CaCO3 m-2 year-1 ) or were in a state of net erosion. These data highlight the marked spatial heterogeneity that can occur in budget states, and thus in reef accretion potential, even between quite closely spaced areas of individual reef complexes. This heterogeneity is linked strongly to the degree of localized land-based impacts along the coast, and resultant differences in the abundance of reef framework building coral species. The major impact of this variability is that those sections of reef defined by low-accretion rates will have limited capacity to maintain their structural integrity and to keep pace with current projections of climate change induced sea-level rise (SLR), thus posing a threat to reef functioning and biodiversity, potentially leading to trophic cascades. Since many Caribbean reefs are more severely degraded than those found around Bonaire, it is to be expected that the findings presented here are rather the rule than the exception, but the study also highlights the need for similar high spatial resolution (along-coast) assessments of budget states and accretion rates to meaningfully explore increasing coastal risk at the country level. The findings also more generally underline the significance of reducing local anthropogenic disturbance and restoring framework building coral assemblages. Appropriately focussed local preservation efforts may aid in averting future large-scale above reef water depth increases on Caribbean coral reefs and will limit the social and economic implications associated with the loss of reef goods and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier M. de Bakker
- Wageningen Marine ResearchDen HelderThe Netherlands
- Marine Microbiology and BiogeochemistryNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityTexelThe Netherlands
| | - Fleur C. van Duyl
- Marine Microbiology and BiogeochemistryNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityTexelThe Netherlands
| | - Chris T. Perry
- GeographyCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
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40
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Rapid human-driven undermining of atoll island capacity to adjust to ocean climate-related pressures. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15129. [PMID: 31641143 PMCID: PMC6805953 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51468-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Most studies addressing the future of atoll islands focused on ocean-climate drivers of risk, especially sea-level rise, and disregarded the role of local human disturbances. However, the future habitability of these countries will critically depend on the response of inhabited and exploited islands to ocean-climate pressures. Here, using the Maldives as a case study and based on a database including 608 islands (representing 56.8% and 86.0% of the country’s land area and population, respectively), we assess the influence of human disturbances on island natural response capacity over the last decade. We show that over the last decade, island change was rapid and primarily controlled by anthropogenic drivers. The great majority of inhabited and exploited islands now exhibit an altered-to-annihilated capacity to respond to ocean-climate pressures, which has major implications for future research and adaptation strategies. First, future studies should consider not only climate, but also anthropogenic tipping points (in contrast to climate tipping points). Second, adaptation strategies must be implemented without delay, despite climate uncertainties, in order to contain any additional detrimental path-dependency effects. This study provides critical information for better addressing the attribution issue under climate change, and a replicable rapid assessment frame.
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41
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Estrada-Saldívar N, Jordán-Dalhgren E, Rodríguez-Martínez RE, Perry C, Alvarez-Filip L. Functional consequences of the long-term decline of reef-building corals in the Caribbean: evidence of across-reef functional convergence. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190298. [PMID: 31824686 PMCID: PMC6837220 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Functional integrity on coral reefs is strongly dependent upon coral cover and coral carbonate production rate being sufficient to maintain three-dimensional reef structures. Increasing environmental and anthropogenic pressures in recent decades have reduced the cover of key reef-building species, producing a shift towards the relative dominance of more stress-tolerant taxa and leading to a reduction in the physical functional integrity. Understanding how changes in coral community composition influence the potential of reefs to maintain their physical reef functioning is a priority for their conservation and management. Here, we evaluate how coral communities have changed in the northern sector of the Mexican Caribbean between 1985 and 2016, and the implications for the maintenance of physical reef functions in the back- and fore-reef zones. We used the cover of coral species to explore changes in four morpho-functional groups, coral community composition, coral community calcification, the reef functional index and the reef carbonate budget. Over a period of 31 years, ecological homogenization occurred between the two reef zones mostly due to a reduction in the cover of framework-building branching (Acropora spp.) and foliose-digitiform (Porites porites and Agaricia tenuifolia) coral species in the back-reef, and a relative increase in non-framework species in the fore-reef (Agaricia agaricites and Porites astreoides). This resulted in a significant decrease in the physical functionality of the back-reef zone. At present, both reef zones have negative carbonate budgets, and thus limited capacity to sustain reef accretion, compromising the existing reef structure and its future capacity to provide habitat and environmental services.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, Quintana Roo, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Ciudad Universitaria 3000, CP 04510 Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Eric Jordán-Dalhgren
- Coral Ecology Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Rosa E. Rodríguez-Martínez
- Coral Ecology Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Chris Perry
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
| | - Lorenzo Alvarez-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, Quintana Roo, México
- Author for correspondence: Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip e-mail:
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42
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Ryan EJ, Hanmer K, Kench PS. Massive corals maintain a positive carbonate budget of a Maldivian upper reef platform despite major bleaching event. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6515. [PMID: 31019243 PMCID: PMC6482145 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42985-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs experienced the third global bleaching event in 2015–2016 due to high sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Declines in net carbonate production associated with coral bleaching are implicated in reef structural collapse and cascading impacts for adjacent coral reef islands. We present the first carbonate budget study of a reef platform surface (reef crest and reef flat) in the southern Maldives and the first record of upper reef flat condition in the central Indian Ocean post the 2015–2016 coral bleaching event. Scleractinian corals were the primary carbonate producers, with live coral cover averaging between 11.1 ± 6.5 and 31.2 ± 21.8% and dominated by massive corals. Gross carbonate production rates averaged 5.9 ± 2.5 G (kg CaCO3 m2 yr−1). Bioerosion was estimated at 3.4 ± 0.4 G, resulting in an average net carbonate production rate of 2.5 ± 2.4 G. Comparison of results with a study of the fore-reef slope highlights major differences in post-bleaching carbonate budget state between the fore-reef slope and the reef platform surface. The positive reef flat carbonate budget is attributed to the persistence of massive corals (Porites spp. and Heliopora spp.) through the bleaching event.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Ryan
- School of Environment, the University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
| | - K Hanmer
- School of Environment, the University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - P S Kench
- School of Environment, the University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.,Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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43
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Bruno JF, Côté IM, Toth LT. 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 2019; 11:307-334. [PMID: 30606097 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010318-095300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Scientists have advocated for local interventions, such as creating marine protected areas and implementing fishery restrictions, as ways to mitigate local stressors to limit the effects of climate change on reef-building corals. However, in a literature review, we find little empirical support for the notion of managed resilience. We outline some reasons for why marine protected areas and the protection of herbivorous fish (especially parrotfish) have had little effect on coral resilience. One key explanation is that the impacts of local stressors (e.g., pollution and fishing) are often swamped by the much greater effect of ocean warming on corals. Another is the sheer complexity (including numerous context dependencies) of the five cascading links assumed by the managed-resilience hypothesis. If reefs cannot be saved by local actions alone, then it is time to face reef degradation head-on, by directly addressing anthropogenic climate change-the root cause of global coral decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Bruno
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3280, USA;
| | - Isabelle M Côté
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Lauren T Toth
- St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, US Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA
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44
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Perry CT, Alvarez‐Filip L. Changing geo‐ecological functions of coral reefs in the Anthropocene. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris T. Perry
- Geography College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | - Lorenzo Alvarez‐Filip
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo Mexico
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45
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Montefalcone M, Morri C, Bianchi CN. Long-term change in bioconstruction potential of Maldivian coral reefs following extreme climate anomalies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:5629-5641. [PMID: 30194747 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme heat anomalies and consequent mass coral bleaching events. Long-term dynamics of hard coral cover, bioconstruction potential, carbonate deposition, and reef accretion was monitored over a 20-year period on Maldivian coral reefs in order to investigate the effects of high-temperature anomalies on coral reef accretion and their recovery potential. Changes experienced by shallow reefs between 1997 and 2017 were evaluated by considering five different bioconstructional guilds and the BioConstruction Potential index (BCP), a proxy for the constructional capacity of reefs. Abnormally high temperatures in 1998 and 2016 led to severe coral bleaching and consequent mortality, especially of the primary builders. Renewed carbonate deposition was not documented until 2-3 years after the bleaching, and 6-9 years passed until constratal (i.e., low relief) growth was achieved. Finally, 14-16 years were required to reach accretion rates high enough to ensure superstratal (i.e., high relief) growth. Coral mortality in the Maldives during the 2016 bleaching event was lower than in 1998, and the initial recovery was faster and occurred via a different trajectory than in 1998. Rising levels of anthropogenic carbon emissions are predicted to accelerate sea level rise and trigger severe coral bleaching events at least twice per decade, a frequency that will (a) prevent coral recovery, (b) nullify reef accretion, and consequently, (c) result in the drowning of Maldivian reefs under the worst climate projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Montefalcone
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carla Morri
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carlo Nike Bianchi
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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46
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Heery EC, Hoeksema BW, Browne NK, Reimer JD, Ang PO, Huang D, Friess DA, Chou LM, Loke LHL, Saksena-Taylor P, Alsagoff N, Yeemin T, Sutthacheep M, Vo ST, Bos AR, Gumanao GS, Syed Hussein MA, Waheed Z, Lane DJW, Johan O, Kunzmann A, Jompa J, Taira D, Bauman AG, Todd PA. Urban coral reefs: Degradation and resilience of hard coral assemblages in coastal cities of East and Southeast Asia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 135:654-681. [PMID: 30301085 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Given predicted increases in urbanization in tropical and subtropical regions, understanding the processes shaping urban coral reefs may be essential for anticipating future conservation challenges. We used a case study approach to identify unifying patterns of urban coral reefs and clarify the effects of urbanization on hard coral assemblages. Data were compiled from 11 cities throughout East and Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Naha (Okinawa). Our review highlights several key characteristics of urban coral reefs, including "reef compression" (a decline in bathymetric range with increasing turbidity and decreasing water clarity over time and relative to shore), dominance by domed coral growth forms and low reef complexity, variable city-specific inshore-offshore gradients, early declines in coral cover with recent fluctuating periods of acute impacts and rapid recovery, and colonization of urban infrastructure by hard corals. We present hypotheses for urban reef community dynamics and discuss potential of ecological engineering for corals in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza C Heery
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Bert W Hoeksema
- Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Nicola K Browne
- Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bentley Campus, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - James D Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Put O Ang
- Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Daniel A Friess
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117570, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Loke Ming Chou
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Lynette H L Loke
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Poonam Saksena-Taylor
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Nadia Alsagoff
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Thamasak Yeemin
- Marine Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Huamark, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
| | - Makamas Sutthacheep
- Marine Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Huamark, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
| | - Si Tuan Vo
- Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1 Cau Da, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Viet Nam
| | - Arthur R Bos
- Department of Biology, The American University in Cairo, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo 11835, Egypt; Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Girley S Gumanao
- Marine Biology Department, Davao del Norte State College, New Visayas, 8105 Panabo City, the Philippines
| | - Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein
- Endangered Marine Species Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Zarinah Waheed
- Endangered Marine Species Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - David J W Lane
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Singapore
| | - Ofri Johan
- Research Institute for Ornamental Fish Culture, Jl. Perikanan No. 13, Pancoran Mas, Kota Depok, Jawa Barat 16436, Indonesia
| | - Andreas Kunzmann
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstr. 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Jamaluddin Jompa
- Department of Marine Science, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Daisuke Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Andrew G Bauman
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Peter A Todd
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore.
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47
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Maire E, Villéger S, Graham NAJ, Hoey AS, Cinner J, Ferse SCA, Aliaume C, Booth DJ, Feary DA, Kulbicki M, Sandin SA, Vigliola L, Mouillot D. Community-wide scan identifies fish species associated with coral reef services across the Indo-Pacific. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1167. [PMID: 30051872 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining whether many functionally complementary species or only a subset of key species are necessary to maintain ecosystem functioning and services is a critical question in community ecology and biodiversity conservation. Identifying such key species remains challenging, especially in the tropics where many species co-occur and can potentially support the same or different processes. Here, we developed a new community-wide scan (CWS) approach, analogous to the genome-wide scan, to identify fish species that significantly contribute, beyond the socio-environmental and species richness effects, to the biomass and coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs. We found that only a limited set of species (51 out of approx. 400, approx. 13%), belonging to various functional groups and evolutionary lineages, are strongly and positively associated with fish biomass and live coral cover. Many of these species have not previously been identified as functionally important, and thus may be involved in unknown, yet important, biological mechanisms that help sustain healthy and productive coral reefs. CWS has the potential to reveal species that are key to ecosystem functioning and services and to guide management strategies as well as new experiments to decipher underlying causal ecological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Maire
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Sébastien Villéger
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | | | - Andrew S Hoey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Joshua Cinner
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstrasse 6, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Catherine Aliaume
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | - David J Booth
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - David A Feary
- Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Life Sciences, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- UMR Entropie, Labex Corail, -IRD, Université de Perpignan, 66000 Perpignan, France
| | - Stuart A Sandin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS ENTROPIE, Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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48
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van Woesik R, Cacciapaglia CW. Keeping up with sea-level rise: Carbonate production rates in Palau and Yap, western Pacific Ocean. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197077. [PMID: 29738545 PMCID: PMC5940225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs protect islands from tropical storm waves and provide goods and services for millions of islanders worldwide. Yet it is unknown how coral reefs in general, and carbonate production in particular, will respond to sea-level rise and thermal stress associated with climate change. This study compared the reef-building capacity of different shallow-water habitats at twenty-four sites on each of two islands, Palau and Yap, in the western Pacific Ocean. We were particularly interested in estimating the inverse problem of calculating the value of live coral cover at which net carbonate production becomes negative, and whether that value varied across habitats. Net carbonate production varied among habitats, averaging 10.2 kg CaCO3 m-2 y-1 for outer reefs, 12.7 kg CaCO3 m-2 y-1 for patch reefs, and 7.2 kg CaCO3 m-2 y-1 for inner reefs. The value of live coral cover at which net carbonate production became negative varied across habitats, with highest values on inner reefs. These results suggest that some inner reefs tend to produce less carbonate, and therefore need higher coral cover to produce enough carbonate to keep up with sea-level rise than outer and patch reefs. These results also suggest that inner reefs are more vulnerable to sea-level rise than other habitats, which stresses the need for effective land-use practices as the climate continues to change. Averaging across all reef habitats, the rate of carbonate production was 9.7 kg CaCO3 m-2 y-1, or approximately 7.9 mm y-1 of potential vertical accretion. Such rates of vertical accretion are higher than projected averages of sea-level rise for the representative concentration pathway (RCP) climate-change scenarios 2.6, 4.5, and 6, but lower than for the RCP scenario 8.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert van Woesik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, West University Blvd., Melbourne, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Christopher William Cacciapaglia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, West University Blvd., Melbourne, Florida, United States of America
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