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Baumann JH, Zhao L, Stier AC, Bruno JF. Remoteness does not enhance coral reef resilience. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:417-428. [PMID: 34668280 PMCID: PMC8671335 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Remote coral reefs are thought to be more resilient to climate change due to their isolation from local stressors like fishing and pollution. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the relationship between local human influence and coral community resilience. Surprisingly, we found no relationship between human influence and resistance to disturbance and some evidence that areas with greater human development may recover from disturbance faster than their more isolated counterparts. Our results suggest remote coral reefs are imperiled by climate change, like so many other geographically isolated ecosystems, and are unlikely to serve as effective biodiversity arks. Only drastic and rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will ensure coral survival. Our results also indicate that some reefs close to large human populations were relatively resilient. Focusing research and conservation resources on these more accessible locations has the potential to provide new insights and maximize conservation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin H. Baumann
- The Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-3280 USA
- Department of Marine Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-3300 USA
- Biology Department, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, 04011 USA
- Correspondence to: or
| | - Lily Zhao
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, The University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA, 93106-9620, USA
| | - Adrian C. Stier
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, The University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA, 93106-9620, USA
| | - John F. Bruno
- The Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-3280 USA
- Correspondence to: or
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2
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He Q, Silliman BR. Climate Change, Human Impacts, and Coastal Ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Curr Biol 2019; 29:R1021-R1035. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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3
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Mendes TC, Quimbayo JP, Bouth HF, Silva LPS, Ferreira CEL. The omnivorous triggerfish Melichthys niger is a functional herbivore on an isolated Atlantic oceanic island. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:812-819. [PMID: 31198985 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated the functional role of the highly generalist omnivore Melichthys niger in the remote St. Peter and St Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), Brazil, where grazing herbivorous fishes are very scarce. We analysed patterns of distribution from zero to 30 m deep during three time intervals during the day and sampled different aspects of their feeding behaviour, including diel feeding rate, feeding substrate and diet. The density of M. niger increased with depth (26-30 m) and decreased by the end of the day. Although M. niger did not present a typical herbivore diel feeding pattern, they targeted the epilithic algal matrix as their primary feeding substrate, ingesting predominantly algae and detritus. The characteristic Caulerpa racemosa var. peltata from SPSPA was ingested only as detached fronds. We suggest that in the isolated SPSPA, the single species M. niger may perform a unique role as a link between benthic primary production and higher levels. Further studies on the trophic ecology of omnivorous species are necessary to better understand their roles in a reef system, especially in impoverished areas where they are likely to play a crucial role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago C Mendes
- Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, 11070-100, Brazil
| | - Juan P Quimbayo
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Macroecology and Biogeographic Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Zoology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Helena F Bouth
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Luana P S Silva
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Carlos E L Ferreira
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
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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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Robinson JPW, Williams ID, Yeager LA, McPherson JM, Clark J, Oliver TA, Baum JK. Environmental conditions and herbivore biomass determine coral reef benthic community composition: implications for quantitative baselines. CORAL REEFS (ONLINE) 2018; 37:1157-1168. [PMID: 30930680 PMCID: PMC6404665 DOI: 10.1007/s00338-018-01737-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Our ability to understand natural constraints on coral reef benthic communities requires quantitative assessment of the relative strengths of abiotic and biotic processes across large spatial scales. Here, we combine underwater images, visual censuses and remote sensing data for 1566 sites across 34 islands spanning the central-western Pacific Ocean, to empirically assess the relative roles of abiotic and grazing processes in determining the prevalence of calcifying organisms and fleshy algae on coral reefs. We used regression trees to identify the major predictors of benthic composition and to test whether anthropogenic stress at inhabited islands decouples natural relationships. We show that sea surface temperature, wave energy, oceanic productivity and aragonite saturation strongly influence benthic community composition; overlooking these factors may bias expectations of calcified reef states. Maintenance of grazing biomass above a relatively low threshold (~ 10-20 kg ha-1) may also prevent transitions to algal-dominated states, providing a tangible management target for rebuilding overexploited herbivore populations. Biophysical relationships did not decouple at inhabited islands, indicating that abiotic influences remain important macroscale processes, even at chronically disturbed reefs. However, spatial autocorrelation among inhabited reefs was substantial and exceeded abiotic and grazing influences, suggesting that natural constraints on reef benthos were superseded by unmeasured anthropogenic impacts. Evidence of strong abiotic influences on reef benthic communities underscores their importance in specifying quantitative targets for coral reef management and restoration that are realistic within the context of local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. W. Robinson
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700, Station CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | - Ivor D. Williams
- Ecosystem Science Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI USA
| | - Lauren A. Yeager
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX 78373 USA
| | - Jana M. McPherson
- Center for Conservation Research, Calgary Zoological Society, 1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6 Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Jeanette Clark
- Ecosystem Science Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI USA
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaìi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI USA
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California Santa Barbara, 735 State St #300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 USA
| | - Thomas A. Oliver
- Ecosystem Science Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI USA
| | - Julia K. Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700, Station CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
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Strain EMA, Edgar GJ, Ceccarelli D, Stuart‐Smith RD, Hosack GR, Thomson RJ. A global assessment of the direct and indirect benefits of marine protected areas for coral reef conservation. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M. A. Strain
- School of Bioscience University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Graham J. Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Daniela Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Rick D. Stuart‐Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Geoffrey R. Hosack
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Russell J. Thomson
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
- School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics Centre for Research in Mathematics Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia
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7
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Ruppert JLW, Vigliola L, Kulbicki M, Labrosse P, Fortin MJ, Meekan MG. Human activities as a driver of spatial variation in the trophic structure of fish communities on Pacific coral reefs. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:e67-e79. [PMID: 28944520 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities such as land-use change, pollution and fishing impact the trophic structure of coral reef fishes, which can influence ecosystem health and function. Although these impacts may be ubiquitous, they are not consistent across the tropical Pacific Ocean. Using an extensive database of fish biomass sampled using underwater visual transects on coral reefs, we modelled the impact of human activities on food webs at Pacific-wide and regional (1,000s-10,000s km) scales. We found significantly lower biomass of sharks and carnivores, where there were higher densities of human populations (hereafter referred to as human activity); however, these patterns were not spatially consistent as there were significant differences in the trophic structures of fishes among biogeographic regions. Additionally, we found significant changes in the benthic structure of reef environments, notably a decline in coral cover where there was more human activity. Direct human impacts were the strongest in the upper part of the food web, where we found that in a majority of the Pacific, the biomass of reef sharks and carnivores were significantly and negatively associated with human activity. Finally, although human-induced stressors varied in strength and significance throughout the coral reef food web across the Pacific, socioeconomic variables explained more variation in reef fish trophic structure than habitat variables in a majority of the biogeographic regions. Notably, economic development (measured as GDP per capita) did not guarantee healthy reef ecosystems (high coral cover and greater fish biomass). Our results indicate that human activities are significantly shaping patterns of trophic structure of reef fishes in a spatially nonuniform manner across the Pacific Ocean, by altering processes that organize communities in both "top-down" (fishing of predators) and "bottom-up" (degradation of benthic communities) contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L W Ruppert
- Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), UMR 250 ENTROPIE, Nouméa, France
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, c/o UWA Oceans Institute (MO96), Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), UMR 250 ENTROPIE, Nouméa, France
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), UMR 250 ENTROPIE, Perpignan, France
| | - Pierre Labrosse
- Haut-Commissariat de la République en Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, France
| | - Marie-Josée Fortin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark G Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, c/o UWA Oceans Institute (MO96), Crawley, WA, Australia
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Heenan A, Hoey AS, Williams GJ, Williams ID. Natural bounds on herbivorous coral reef fishes. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.1716. [PMID: 27881745 PMCID: PMC5136584 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are an increasingly dominant driver of Earth's biological communities, but differentiating human impacts from natural drivers of ecosystem state is crucial. Herbivorous fish play a key role in maintaining coral dominance on coral reefs, and are widely affected by human activities, principally fishing. We assess the relative importance of human and biophysical (habitat and oceanographic) drivers on the biomass of five herbivorous functional groups among 33 islands in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Human impacts were clear for some, but not all, herbivore groups. Biomass of browsers, large excavators, and of all herbivores combined declined rapidly with increasing human population density, whereas grazers, scrapers, and detritivores displayed no relationship. Sea-surface temperature had significant but opposing effects on the biomass of detritivores (positive) and browsers (negative). Similarly, the biomass of scrapers, grazers, and detritivores correlated with habitat structural complexity; however, relationships were group specific. Finally, the biomass of browsers and large excavators was related to island geomorphology, both peaking on low-lying islands and atolls. The substantial variability in herbivore populations explained by natural biophysical drivers highlights the need for locally appropriate management targets on coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Heenan
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai'i, Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA .,NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | | | - Ivor D Williams
- NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
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Casey JM, Baird AH, Brandl SJ, Hoogenboom MO, Rizzari JR, Frisch AJ, Mirbach CE, Connolly SR. A test of trophic cascade theory: fish and benthic assemblages across a predator density gradient on coral reefs. Oecologia 2016; 183:161-175. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Williams ID, White DJ, Sparks RT, Lino KC, Zamzow JP, Kelly ELA, Ramey HL. Responses of Herbivorous Fishes and Benthos to 6 Years of Protection at the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area, Maui. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159100. [PMID: 27462981 PMCID: PMC4963024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to concerns about declining coral cover and recurring macroalgal blooms, in 2009 the State of Hawaii established the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA). Within the KHFMA, herbivorous fishes and sea urchins are protected, but other fishing is allowed. As part of a multi-agency monitoring effort, we conducted surveys at KHFMA and comparison sites around Maui starting 19 months before closure, and over the six years since implementation of herbivore protection. Mean parrotfish and surgeonfish biomass both increased within the KHFMA (by 139% [95%QR (quantile range): 98–181%] and 28% [95%QR: 3–52%] respectively). Most of those gains were of small-to-medium sized species, whereas large-bodied species have not recovered, likely due to low levels of poaching on what are preferred fishery targets in Hawaii. Nevertheless, coincident with greater biomass of herbivores within the KHFMA, cover of crustose coralline algae (CCA) has increased from ~2% before closure to ~ 15% in 2015, and macroalgal cover has remained low throughout the monitoring period. Strong evidence that changes in the KHFMA were a consequence of herbivore management are that (i) there were no changes in biomass of unprotected fish families within the KHFMA; and that (ii) there were no similar changes in parrotfish or CCA at comparison sites around Maui. It is not yet clear how effective herbivore protection might eventually be for the KHFMA’s ultimate goal of coral recovery. Coral cover declined over the first few years of surveys–from 39.6% (SE 1.4%) in 2008, to 32.9% (SE 0.8%) in 2012, with almost all of that loss occurring by 2010 (1 year after closure), i.e. before meaningful herbivore recovery had occurred. Coral cover subsequently stabilized and may have slightly increased from 2012 through early 2015. However, a region-wide bleaching event in 2015 had already led to some coral mortality by the time surveys were conducted in late 2015, at which time cover had dropped back to levels recorded in the KHFMA in 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivor D. Williams
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Darla J. White
- Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Maui Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Russell T. Sparks
- Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Maui Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Kevin C. Lino
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Jill P. Zamzow
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Emily L. A. Kelly
- Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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11
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Cordeiro CAMM, Mendes TC, Harborne AR, Ferreira CEL. Spatial distribution of nominally herbivorous fishes across environmental gradients on Brazilian rocky reefs. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2016; 89:939-958. [PMID: 26669810 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Assemblages of roving herbivores were consistently different between eastern, warmer, sheltered sites and western, colder, more wave-exposed sites. At eastern sites, detritivorous-herbivorous species dominated while omnivores had the highest biomass and were dominant at western sites. Macroalgivores did not show any trends related to location. These distributional patterns, at relatively small spatial scales of a few kilometres, mirror large-scale latitudinal patterns observed for the studied species along the entire Brazilian coast, where cold water associated species are abundant on south-eastern rocky reefs (analogous to the western sites of this study), and tropical species are dominant on north-eastern coral reefs (analogous to the eastern sites). Species-level analyses demonstrated that depth was an important factor correlated with biomasses of Diplodus argenteus, Sparisoma axillare and Sparisoma tuiupiranga, probably due to resource availability and interspecific competition. Herbivorous fish assemblages in the study area have been historically affected by fishing, and combined with the variation in assemblage structure, this is likely to have important, spatially variable effects on the dynamics of benthic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A M M Cordeiro
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Caixa Postal 100644, CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR "Entropie", Labex Corail, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, 66000, France
| | - T C Mendes
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Caixa Postal 100644, CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR "Entropie", Labex Corail, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, 66000, France
| | - A R Harborne
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - C E L Ferreira
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Caixa Postal 100644, CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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Suchley A, McField MD, Alvarez-Filip L. Rapidly increasing macroalgal cover not related to herbivorous fishes on Mesoamerican reefs. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2084. [PMID: 27280075 PMCID: PMC4893329 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term phase shifts from coral to macroalgal dominated reef systems are well documented in the Caribbean. Although the impact of coral diseases, climate change and other factors is acknowledged, major herbivore loss through disease and overfishing is often assigned a primary role. However, direct evidence for the link between herbivore abundance, macroalgal and coral cover is sparse, particularly over broad spatial scales. In this study we use a database of coral reef surveys performed at 85 sites along the Mesoamerican Reef of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, to examine potential ecological links by tracking site trajectories over the period 2005–2014. Despite the long-term reduction of herbivory capacity reported across the Caribbean, the Mesoamerican Reef region displayed relatively low macroalgal cover at the onset of the study. Subsequently, increasing fleshy macroalgal cover was pervasive. Herbivorous fish populations were not responsible for this trend as fleshy macroalgal cover change was not correlated with initial herbivorous fish biomass or change, and the majority of sites experienced increases in macroalgae browser biomass. This contrasts the coral reef top-down herbivore control paradigm and suggests the role of external factors in making environmental conditions more favourable for algae. Increasing macroalgal cover typically suppresses ecosystem services and leads to degraded reef systems. Consequently, policy makers and local coral reef managers should reassess the focus on herbivorous fish protection and consider complementary measures such as watershed management in order to arrest this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Suchley
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México; Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Melanie D McField
- Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, Smithsonian Institution , Ft Lauderdale, Florida , USA
| | - Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo , México
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13
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Jolivet A, Chauvaud L, Thébault J, Robson AA, Dumas P, Amos G, Lorrain A. Circadian behaviour of Tectus (Trochus) niloticus in the southwest Pacific inferred from accelerometry. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2015; 3:26. [PMID: 26380713 PMCID: PMC4572623 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-015-0054-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behaviour and time spent active and inactive are key factors in animal ecology, with important consequences for bioenergetics. For the first time, here, we equipped the gastropod Tectus (= Trochus) niloticus with accelerometers to describe activity rhythms at two sites in the Southwest Pacific with different temperature regimes: New Caledonia and Vanuatu. RESULTS Based on a 24-hour cycle, T. niloticus activity began at dusk and gradually stopped during the night, before sunrise. This nocturnal behaviour was characterised by short (duration <30 s), low intensity (acceleration < 0.12 ɡ) movements and was probably associated with foraging behaviour. We assumed that activity ceased once the animal was satiated. Our analysis of two size groups in Vanuatu (80-90 mm vs. 120-140 mm, basal shell diameter) revealed a size effect; smaller specimens displayed greater activity, reflected by more intense and longer movements while migrating at night toward the edge of the reef. This nocturnal behaviour is not uncommon for grazing gastropods and is mainly associated with attempting to avoid visual predators whilst feeding. CONCLUSIONS The use of accelerometers coupled with light and temperature sensors provided detailed information on topshell behaviour and physiology under natural conditions. These data provide a foundation for identifying potential changes in the fine-scale behaviour of T. niloticus in response to environmental changes, which is essential in animal ecology and stock conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Jolivet
- />Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (UMR CNRS 6539), Université de Bretagne Occidentale, rue Dumont d’Urville, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Laurent Chauvaud
- />Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (UMR CNRS 6539), Université de Bretagne Occidentale, rue Dumont d’Urville, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Julien Thébault
- />Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (UMR CNRS 6539), Université de Bretagne Occidentale, rue Dumont d’Urville, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Anthony A. Robson
- />LabexMER, UMS 3113 CNRS, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Université de Brest, Rue Dumont D’Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France
- />Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564 Japan
| | - Pascal Dumas
- />Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (UR 227 CoReUs), 2, Fisheries Department of Vanuatu, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - George Amos
- />SANMA Fisheries Department of Vanuatu, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Anne Lorrain
- />Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (UMR 6539 CNRS/UBO/IRD/IFREMER), BPA5, 98848 Nouméa cedex, Nouvelle Calédonie
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14
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Ainsworth CH, Mumby PJ. Coral-algal phase shifts alter fish communities and reduce fisheries production. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:165-172. [PMID: 24953835 PMCID: PMC4310290 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic stress has been shown to reduce coral coverage in ecosystems all over the world. A phase shift towards an algae-dominated system may accompany coral loss. In this case, the composition of the reef-associated fish assemblage will change and human communities relying on reef fisheries for income and food security may be negatively impacted. We present a case study based on the Raja Ampat Archipelago in Eastern Indonesia. Using a dynamic food web model, we simulate the loss of coral reefs with accompanied transition towards an algae-dominated state and quantify the likely change in fish populations and fisheries productivity. One set of simulations represents extreme scenarios, including 100% loss of coral. In this experiment, ecosystem changes are driven by coral loss itself and a degree of habitat dependency by reef fish is assumed. An alternative simulation is presented without assumed habitat dependency, where changes to the ecosystem are driven by historical observations of reef fish communities when coral is lost. The coral-algal phase shift results in reduced biodiversity and ecosystem maturity. Relative increases in the biomass of small-bodied fish species mean higher productivity on reefs overall, but much reduced landings of traditionally targeted species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron H Ainsworth
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
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15
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Alva-Basurto JC, Arias-González JE. Modelling the effects of climate change on a Caribbean coral reef food web. Ecol Modell 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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16
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Risk MJ, Burchell M, Brunton DA, McCord MR. Health of the coral reefs at the US Navy Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba: a preliminary report based on isotopic records from gorgonians. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 83:282-289. [PMID: 24735775 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Specimens of the gorgonian Plexaura homomalla were sampled from several areas along the fringing reefs fronting the United States Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Sample coverage extended from apparently healthy reefs in oceanic waters to declining reefs located in the plume of the drainage from upper parts of Guantánamo Bay. Tentacle tips were excised, and trunk sections were cut and polished. Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ(15)N) and carbon indicate a strong correlation of reef health with proximity to the plume of the river. Of all the worldwide cases in which land-based sources of pollution have impacted reefs, this one may well be the most intractable. The US Navy has jurisdiction over the reefs, with the obligation to protect them, yet the threat comes down the river from Cuba.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meghan Burchell
- Dep't. of Archeology, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland, Canada.
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17
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McClanahan TR, Muthiga NA. Community change and evidence for variable warm-water temperature adaptation of corals in Northern Male Atoll, Maldives. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 80:107-113. [PMID: 24486038 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study provides a descriptive analysis of the North Male, Maldives seven years after the 1998 bleaching disturbance to determine the state of the coral community composition, the recruitment community, evidence for recovery, and adaptation to thermal stress. Overall, hard coral cover recovered at a rate commonly reported in the literature but with high spatial variability and shifts in taxonomic composition. Massive Porites, Pavona, Synarea, and Goniopora were unusually common in both the recruit and adult communities. Coral recruitment was low and some coral taxa, namely Tubipora, Seriatopora, and Stylophora, were rarer than expected. A study of the bleaching response to a thermal anomaly in 2005 indicated that some taxa, including Leptoria, Platygyra, Favites, Fungia, Hydnophora, and Galaxea astreata, bleached as predicted while others, including Acropora, Pocillopora, branching Porites, Montipora, Stylophora, and Alveopora, bleached less than predicted. This indicates variable-adaptation potentials among the taxa and considerable potential for ecological reorganization of the coral community.
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Affiliation(s)
- T R McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Bronx, NY, United States.
| | - N A Muthiga
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Bronx, NY, United States
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