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Randrianarivo M, Botosoamananto RL, Guilhaumon F, Penin L, Todinanahary G, Adjeroud M. Effects of Madagascar marine reserves on juvenile and adult coral abundance, and the implication for population regulation. Mar Environ Res 2023; 190:106080. [PMID: 37422994 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106080] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Recruitment is a critical component in the dynamics of coral assemblages, and a key question is to determine the degree to which spatial heterogeneity of adults is influenced by pre-vs. post-settlement processes. We analyzed the density of juvenile and adult corals among 18 stations located at three regions around Madagascar, and examined the effects of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Our survey did not detect a positive effect of MPAs on juveniles, except for Porites at the study scale. The MPA effect was more pronounced for adults, notably for Acropora, Montipora, Seriatopora, and Porites at the regional scale. For most dominant genera, densities of juveniles and adults were positively correlated at the study scale, and at least at one of the three regions. These outcomes suggest recruitment-limitation relationships for several coral taxa, although differences in post-settlement events may be sufficiently strong to distort the pattern established at settlement for other populations. The modest benefits of MPAs on the density of juvenile corals demonstrated here argue in favor of strengthening conservation measures more specifically focused to protect recruitment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahery Randrianarivo
- Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar; ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France
| | - Radonirina Lebely Botosoamananto
- Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar; ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France
| | - François Guilhaumon
- ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France
| | - Lucie Penin
- ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
| | - Gildas Todinanahary
- Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Perpignan, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France; PSL Université Paris, UAR 3278, CRIOBE EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France.
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