1
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Robinson JPW, Benkwitt CE, Maire E, Morais R, Schiettekatte NMD, Skinner C, Brandl SJ. Quantifying energy and nutrient fluxes in coral reef food webs. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:467-478. [PMID: 38105132 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The movement of energy and nutrients through ecological communities represents the biological 'pulse' underpinning ecosystem functioning and services. However, energy and nutrient fluxes are inherently difficult to observe, particularly in high-diversity systems such as coral reefs. We review advances in the quantification of fluxes in coral reef fishes, focusing on four key frameworks: demographic modelling, bioenergetics, micronutrients, and compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA). Each framework can be integrated with underwater surveys, enabling researchers to scale organismal processes to ecosystem properties. This has revealed how small fish support biomass turnover, pelagic subsidies sustain fisheries, and fisheries benefit human health. Combining frameworks, closing data gaps, and expansion to other aquatic ecosystems can advance understanding of how fishes contribute to ecosystem functions and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P W Robinson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
| | | | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Renato Morais
- Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, École Pratique des Hautes Études, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Perpignan 66860, France
| | | | - Christina Skinner
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon J Brandl
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
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2
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Willer DF, Newton R, Malcorps W, Kok B, Little D, Lofstedt A, de Roos B, Robinson JPW. Wild fish consumption can balance nutrient retention in farmed fish. Nat Food 2024; 5:221-229. [PMID: 38509235 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00932-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Wild fish used as aquafeeds could be redirected towards human consumption to support sustainable marine resource use. Here we use mass-balance fish-in/fish-out ratio approaches to assess nutrient retention in salmon farming and identify scenarios that provide more nutrient-rich food to people. Using data on Norway's salmon farms, our study revealed that six of nine dietary nutrients had higher yields in wild fish used for feeds, such as anchovies and mackerel, than in farmed salmon production. Reallocating one-third of food-grade wild feed fish towards direct human consumption would increase seafood production, while also retaining by-products for use as aquafeeds, thus maximizing nutrient utilization of marine resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- David F Willer
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Richard Newton
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Wesley Malcorps
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Bjorn Kok
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - David Little
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | | | - Baukje de Roos
- The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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3
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Cheung WWL, Maire E, Oyinlola MA, Robinson JPW, Graham NAJ, Lam VWY, MacNeil MA, Hicks CC. Climate change exacerbates nutrient disparities from seafood. Nat Clim Chang 2023; 13:1242-1249. [PMID: 37927330 PMCID: PMC10624626 DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01822-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Seafood is an important source of bioavailable micronutrients supporting human health, yet it is unclear how micronutrient production has changed in the past or how climate change will influence its availability. Here combining reconstructed fisheries databases and predictive models, we assess nutrient availability from fisheries and mariculture in the past and project their futures under climate change. Since the 1990s, availabilities of iron, calcium and omega-3 from seafood for direct human consumption have increased but stagnated for protein. Under climate change, nutrient availability is projected to decrease disproportionately in tropical low-income countries that are already highly dependent on seafood-derived nutrients. At 4 oC of warming, nutrient availability is projected to decline by ~30% by 2100 in low income countries, while at 1.5-2.0 oC warming, decreases are projected to be ~10%. We demonstrate the importance of effective mitigation to support nutritional security of vulnerable nations and global health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W. L. Cheung
- Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Muhammed A. Oyinlola
- Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | | | | | - Vicky W. Y. Lam
- Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - M. Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
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4
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Robinson JPW, Darling ES, Maire E, Hamilton M, Hicks CC, Jupiter SD, Aaron MacNeil M, Mangubhai S, McClanahan T, Nand Y, Graham NAJ. Trophic distribution of nutrient production in coral reef fisheries. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231601. [PMID: 37788704 PMCID: PMC10547557 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reef fisheries supply nutritious catch to tropical coastal communities, where the quality of reef seafood is determined by both the rate of biomass production and nutritional value of reef fishes. Yet our understanding of reef fisheries typically uses targets of total reef fish biomass rather than individual growth (i.e. biomass production) and nutrient content (i.e. nutritional value of reef fish), limiting the ability of management to sustain the productivity of nutritious catches. Here, we use modelled growth coefficients and nutrient concentrations to develop a new metric of nutrient productivity of coral reef fishes. We then evaluate this metric with underwater visual surveys of reef fish assemblages from four tropical countries to examine nutrient productivity of reef fish food webs. Species' growth coefficients were associated with nutrients that vary with body size (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc), but not total nutrient density. When integrated with fish abundance data, we find that herbivorous species typically dominate standing biomass, biomass turnover and nutrient production on coral reefs. Such bottom-heavy trophic distributions of nutrients were consistent across gradients of fishing pressure and benthic composition. We conclude that management restrictions that promote sustainability of herbivores and other low trophic-level species can sustain biomass and nutrient production from reef fisheries that is critical to the food security of over 500 million people in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily S. Darling
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Mark Hamilton
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Christina C. Hicks
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Stacy D. Jupiter
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
| | - M. Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Canada B3H 4R2
| | - Sangeeta Mangubhai
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
| | - Tim McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Yashika Nand
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 11 Ma'afu St, Suva, Fiji
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Mellin C, Hicks CC, Fordham DA, Golden CD, Kjellevold M, MacNeil MA, Maire E, Mangubhai S, Mouillot D, Nash KL, Omukoto JO, Robinson JPW, Stuart-Smith RD, Zamborain-Mason J, Edgar GJ, Graham NAJ. Safeguarding nutrients from coral reefs under climate change. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1808-1817. [PMID: 36192542 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01878-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The sustainability of coral reef fisheries is jeopardized by complex and interacting socio-ecological stressors that undermine their contribution to food and nutrition security. Climate change has emerged as one of the key stressors threatening coral reefs and their fish-associated services. How fish nutrient concentrations respond to warming oceans remains unclear but these responses are probably affected by both direct (metabolism and trophodynamics) and indirect (habitat and species range shifts) effects. Climate-driven coral habitat loss can cause changes in fish abundance and biomass, revealing potential winners and losers among major fisheries targets that can be predicted using ecological indicators and biological traits. A critical next step is to extend research focused on the quantity of available food (fish biomass) to also consider its nutritional quality, which is relevant to progress in the fields of food security and malnutrition. Biological traits are robust predictors of fish nutrient content and thus potentially indicate how climate-driven changes are expected to impact nutrient availability within future food webs on coral reefs. Here, we outline future research priorities and an anticipatory framework towards sustainable reef fisheries contributing to nutrition-sensitive food systems in a warming ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Mellin
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | | | - Damien A Fordham
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher D Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, MARBEC, Montpellier, France
| | - Kirsty L Nash
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Johnstone O Omukoto
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | | | - Rick D Stuart-Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jessica Zamborain-Mason
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham J Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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Robinson JPW, Mills DJ, Asiedu GA, Byrd K, Mancha Cisneros MDM, Cohen PJ, Fiorella KJ, Graham NAJ, MacNeil MA, Maire E, Mbaru EK, Nico G, Omukoto JO, Simmance F, Hicks CC. Small pelagic fish supply abundant and affordable micronutrients to low- and middle-income countries. Nat Food 2022; 3:1075-1084. [PMID: 37118295 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00643-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Wild-caught fish provide an irreplaceable source of essential nutrients in food-insecure places. Fishers catch thousands of species, yet the diversity of aquatic foods is often categorized homogeneously as 'fish', obscuring an understanding of which species supply affordable, nutritious and abundant food. Here, we use catch, economic and nutrient data on 2,348 species to identify the most affordable and nutritious fish in 39 low- and middle-income countries. We find that a 100 g portion of fish cost between 10 and 30% of the cheapest daily diet, with small pelagic fish (herring, sardine, anchovy) being the cheapest nutritious fish in 72% of countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, where nutrient deficiencies are rising, <20% of small pelagic catch would meet recommended dietary fish intakes for all children (6 months to 4 years old) living near to water bodies. Nutrition-sensitive policies that ensure local supplies and promote consumption of wild-caught fish could help address nutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David J Mills
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Kendra Byrd
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, UK
| | - Maria Del Mar Mancha Cisneros
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Philippa J Cohen
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn J Fiorella
- Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Emmanuel K Mbaru
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Gianluigi Nico
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | - Johnstone O Omukoto
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Fiona Simmance
- WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
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7
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Semmler RF, Sanders NJ, CaraDonna PJ, Baird A, Jing X, Robinson JPW, Graham NAJ, Keith S. Reef fishes weaken dietary preferences after coral mortality, altering resource overlap. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:2125-2134. [PMID: 35974677 PMCID: PMC9804366 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The direct and indirect effects of climate change can affect, and are mediated by, changes in animal behaviour. However, we often lack sufficient empirical data to assess how large-scale disturbances affect the behaviour of individuals, which scales up to influence communities. Here, we investigate these patterns by focusing on the foraging behaviour of butterflyfishes, prominent coral-feeding fishes on coral reefs, before and after a mass coral bleaching event in Iriomote, Japan. In response to 65% coral mortality, coral-feeding fishes broadened their diets, showing a significant weakening of dietary preferences across species. Multiple species reduced their consumption of bleaching-sensitive Acropora corals, while expanding their diets to consume a variety of other coral genera. This resulted in decreased dietary overlap among butterflyfishes. Behavioural changes in response to bleaching may increase resilience of coral reef fishes in the short term. However, coral mortality has reduced populations of coral-feeders world-wide, indicating the changes in feeding behaviour we document here may not be sufficient to ensure long-term resilience of butterflyfishes on coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F. Semmler
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK,University of Texas Marine Science InstitutePort AransasTexasUSA
| | - Nathan J. Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | | | - Andrew H. Baird
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Xin Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐Ecosystems and College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | | | | | - Sally A. Keith
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
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8
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Cheutin MC, Villéger S, Hicks CC, Robinson JPW, Graham NAJ, Marconnet C, Restrepo CXO, Bettarel Y, Bouvier T, Auguet JC. Microbial Shift in the Enteric Bacteriome of Coral Reef Fish Following Climate-Driven Regime Shifts. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081711. [PMID: 34442789 PMCID: PMC8398123 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Replacement of coral by macroalgae in post-disturbance reefs, also called a “coral-macroalgal regime shift”, is increasing in response to climate-driven ocean warming. Such ecosystem change is known to impact planktonic and benthic reef microbial communities but few studies have examined the effect on animal microbiota. In order to understand the consequence of coral-macroalgal shifts on the coral reef fish enteric bacteriome, we used a metabarcoding approach to examine the gut bacteriomes of 99 individual fish representing 36 species collected on reefs of the Inner Seychelles islands that, following bleaching, had either recovered to coral domination, or shifted to macroalgae. While the coral-macroalgal shift did not influence the diversity, richness or variability of fish gut bacteriomes, we observed a significant effect on the composition (R2 = 0.02; p = 0.001), especially in herbivorous fishes (R2 = 0.07; p = 0.001). This change is accompanied by a significant increase in the proportion of fermentative bacteria (Rikenella, Akkermensia, Desulfovibrio, Brachyspira) and associated metabolisms (carbohydrates metabolism, DNA replication, and nitrogen metabolism) in relation to the strong turnover of Scarinae and Siganidae fishes. Predominance of fermentative metabolisms in fish found on macroalgal dominated reefs indicates that regime shifts not only affect the taxonomic composition of fish bacteriomes, but also have the potential to affect ecosystem functioning through microbial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Charlotte Cheutin
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Sébastien Villéger
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
| | - Christina C. Hicks
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK; (C.C.H.); (J.P.W.R.); (N.A.J.G.)
| | - James P. W. Robinson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK; (C.C.H.); (J.P.W.R.); (N.A.J.G.)
| | - Nicholas A. J. Graham
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK; (C.C.H.); (J.P.W.R.); (N.A.J.G.)
| | - Clémence Marconnet
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
| | - Claudia Ximena Ortiz Restrepo
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
| | - Yvan Bettarel
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
| | - Thierry Bouvier
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
| | - Jean-Christophe Auguet
- UMR MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, 34095 Montpellier, France; (S.V.); (C.M.); (C.X.O.R.); (Y.B.); (T.B.); (J.-C.A.)
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9
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Woodhead AJ, Graham NAJ, Robinson JPW, Norström AV, Bodin N, Marie S, Balett M, Hicks CC. Fishers perceptions of ecosystem service change associated with climate‐disturbed coral reefs. People and Nature 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Woodhead
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity University of York York UK
- Department of Environment and Geography University of York York UK
| | | | | | - Albert V. Norström
- Stockholm Resilience Centre Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
- Global Resilience Partnership Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Nathalie Bodin
- Seychelles Fishing Authority Victoria Seychelles
- Sustainable Ocean Seychelles BeauBelle Seychelles
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10
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França FM, Benkwitt CE, Peralta G, Robinson JPW, Graham NAJ, Tylianakis JM, Berenguer E, Lees AC, Ferreira J, Louzada J, Barlow J. Climatic and local stressor interactions threaten tropical forests and coral reefs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190116. [PMID: 31983328 PMCID: PMC7017775 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical forests and coral reefs host a disproportionately large share of global biodiversity and provide ecosystem functions and services used by millions of people. Yet, ongoing climate change is leading to an increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events in the tropics, which, in combination with other local human disturbances, is leading to unprecedented negative ecological consequences for tropical forests and coral reefs. Here, we provide an overview of how and where climate extremes are affecting the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and summarize how interactions between global, regional and local stressors are affecting tropical forest and coral reef systems through impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. We also discuss some key challenges and opportunities to promote mitigation and adaptation to a changing climate at local and global scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe M. França
- Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Trav. Dr. Enéas Pinheiro, s/n, CP 48, 66095-100 Belém, PA, Brazil
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | | | - Guadalupe Peralta
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Jason M. Tylianakis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Erika Berenguer
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Alexander C. Lees
- School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Joice Ferreira
- Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Trav. Dr. Enéas Pinheiro, s/n, CP 48, 66095-100 Belém, PA, Brazil
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Pará, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Júlio Louzada
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil
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11
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Robinson JPW, Robinson J, Gerry C, Govinden R, Freshwater C, Graham NAJ. Diversification insulates fisher catch and revenue in heavily exploited tropical fisheries. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaaz0587. [PMID: 32128420 PMCID: PMC7034998 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Declines in commercial landings and increases in fishing fleet power have raised concerns over the continued provisioning of nutritional and economic services by tropical wild fisheries. Yet, because tropical fisheries are often data-poor, mechanisms that might buffer fishers to declines are not understood. This data scarcity undermines fisheries management, making tropical fishing livelihoods particularly vulnerable to changes in marine resources. We use high-resolution fisheries data from Seychelles to understand how fishing strategy (catch diversification) influences catch rates and revenues of individual fishing vessels. We show that average catch weight decreased by 65% over 27 years, with declines in all nine species groups coinciding with increases in fishing effort. However, for individual vessels, catch diversity was associated with larger catches and higher fishing revenues and with slower catch declines from 1990 to 2016. Management strategies should maximize catch diversity in data-poor tropical fisheries to help secure nutritional security while protecting fishing livelihoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. W. Robinson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
- Corresponding author.
| | - Jan Robinson
- Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning, Victoria, Seychelles
| | - Calvin Gerry
- Seychelles Fishing Authority, Fishing Port, P.O. Box 449, Mahe, Seychelles
| | - Rodney Govinden
- Seychelles Fishing Authority, Fishing Port, P.O. Box 449, Mahe, Seychelles
| | - Cameron Freshwater
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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Robinson JPW, McDevitt‐Irwin JM, Dajka J, Hadj‐Hammou J, Howlett S, Graba‐Landry A, Hoey AS, Nash KL, Wilson SK, Graham NAJ. Habitat and fishing control grazing potential on coral reefs. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan‐Claas Dajka
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster UK
| | | | | | - Alexia Graba‐Landry
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Andrew S. Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Kirsty L. Nash
- Centre for Marine Socioecology University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia
- Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia
| | - Shaun K. Wilson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions: Marine Science Program Kensington WA Australia
- Oceans Institute University of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
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Robinson JPW, Wilson SK, Jennings S, Graham NAJ. Thermal stress induces persistently altered coral reef fish assemblages. Glob Chang Biol 2019; 25:2739-2750. [PMID: 31210001 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Ecological communities are reorganizing in response to warming temperatures. For continuous ocean habitats this reorganization is characterized by large-scale species redistribution, but for tropical discontinuous habitats such as coral reefs, spatial isolation coupled with strong habitat dependence of fish species imply that turnover and local extinctions are more significant mechanisms. In these systems, transient marine heatwaves are causing coral bleaching and profoundly altering habitat structure, yet despite severe bleaching events becoming more frequent and projections indicating annual severe bleaching by the 2050s at most reefs, long-term effects on the diversity and structure of fish assemblages remain unclear. Using a 23-year time series spanning a thermal stress event, we describe and model structural changes and recovery trajectories of fish communities after mass bleaching. Communities changed fundamentally, with the new emergent communities dominated by herbivores and persisting for >15 years, a period exceeding realized and projected intervals between thermal stress events on coral reefs. Reefs which shifted to macroalgal states had the lowest species richness and highest compositional dissimilarity, whereas reefs where live coral recovered exceeded prebleaching fish richness, but remained dissimilar to prebleaching compositions. Given realized and projected frequencies of bleaching events, our results show that fish communities historically associated with coral reefs will not re-establish, requiring substantial adaptation by managers and resource users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Simon Jennings
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen V, Denmark
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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 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Robinson JPW, Williams ID, Edwards AM, McPherson J, Yeager L, Vigliola L, Brainard RE, Baum JK. Fishing degrades size structure of coral reef fish communities. Glob Chang Biol 2017; 23:1009-1022. [PMID: 27564866 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Fishing pressure on coral reef ecosystems has been frequently linked to reductions of large fishes and reef fish biomass. Associated impacts on overall community structure are, however, less clear. In size-structured aquatic ecosystems, fishing impacts are commonly quantified using size spectra, which describe the distribution of individual body sizes within a community. We examined the size spectra and biomass of coral reef fish communities at 38 US-affiliated Pacific islands that ranged in human presence from near pristine to human population centers. Size spectra 'steepened' steadily with increasing human population and proximity to market due to a reduction in the relative biomass of large fishes and an increase in the dominance of small fishes. Reef fish biomass was substantially lower on inhabited islands than uninhabited ones, even at inhabited islands with the lowest levels of human presence. We found that on populated islands size spectra exponents decreased (analogous to size spectra steepening) linearly with declining biomass, whereas on uninhabited islands there was no relationship. Size spectra were steeper in regions of low sea surface temperature but were insensitive to variation in other environmental and geomorphic covariates. In contrast, reef fish biomass was highly sensitive to oceanographic conditions, being influenced by both oceanic productivity and sea surface temperature. Our results suggest that community size structure may be a more robust indicator than fish biomass to increasing human presence and that size spectra are reliable indicators of exploitation impacts across regions of different fish community compositions, environmental drivers, and fisheries types. Size-based approaches that link directly to functional properties of fish communities, and are relatively insensitive to abiotic variation across biogeographic regions, offer great potential for developing our understanding of fishing impacts in coral reef ecosystems.
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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
| | - Ivor D Williams
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Andrew M Edwards
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - Jana McPherson
- Centre for Conservation Research, Calgary Zoological Society, 1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 7V6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lauren Yeager
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, 1 Park Place Suite 300, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR ENTROPIE, Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, BP A5, Noumea, New Caledonia, 98848, France
| | - Russell E Brainard
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, 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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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Edwards
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 3190 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo BC V9T 6N7 Canada
- Department of Biology University of Victoria PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
| | - James P. W. Robinson
- Department of Biology University of Victoria PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
| | - Michael J. Plank
- School of Mathematics and Statistics University of Canterbury Christchurch 8140 New Zealand
- Te Pūnaha Matatini, a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence University of Auckland Auckland 1011 New Zealand
| | - Julia K. Baum
- Department of Biology University of Victoria PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 Canada
| | - Julia L. Blanchard
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Private Bag 129 Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
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Robinson JPW, Dornelas M, Ojanguren AF. Interspecific synchrony of seabird population growth rate and breeding success. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:2013-9. [PMID: 23919147 PMCID: PMC3728942 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental variability can destabilize communities by causing correlated interspecific fluctuations that weaken the portfolio effect, yet evidence of such a mechanism is rare in natural systems. Here, we ask whether the population dynamics of similar sympatric species of a seabird breeding community are synchronized, and if these species have similar exceptional responses to environmental variation. We used a 24-year time series of the breeding success and population growth rate of a marine top predator species group to assess the degree of synchrony between species demography. We then developed a novel method to examine the species group – all species combined – response to environmental variability, in particular, whether multiple species experience similar, pronounced fluctuations in their demography. Multiple species were positively correlated in breeding success and growth rate. Evidence of “exceptional” years was found, where the species group experienced pronounced fluctuations in their demography. The synchronous response of the species group was negatively correlated with winter sea surface temperature of the preceding year for both growth rate and breeding success. We present evidence for synchronous, exceptional responses of a species group that are driven by environmental variation. Such species covariation destabilizes communities by reducing the portfolio effect, and such exceptional responses may increase the risk of a state change in this community. Our understanding of the future responses to environmental change requires an increased focus on the short-term fluctuations in demography that are driven by extreme environmental variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P W Robinson
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia, Canada ; Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews St Andrews, Fife, U.K
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