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A coral-algal phase shift in Mesoamerica not driven by changes in herbivorous fish abundance
Citation
Arias-Gonzalez, JE and Fung, T and Seymour, RM and Garza-Perez, JR and Acosta-Gonzalez, G and Bozec, Y-M and Johnson, CR, A coral-algal phase shift in Mesoamerica not driven by changes in herbivorous fish abundance, PLoS One, 12, (4) Article e0174855. ISSN 1932-6203 (2017) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright: © 2017 Arias-GonzaÂlez et al. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0174855
Abstract
Coral-algal phase shifts in which coral cover declines to low levels and is replaced by algae
have often been documented on coral reefs worldwide. This has motivated coral reef management
responses that include restriction and regulation of fishing, e.g. herbivorous fish
species. However, there is evidence that eutrophication and sedimentation can be at least
as important as a reduction in herbivory in causing phase shifts. These threats arise from
coastal development leading to increased nutrient and sediment loads, which stimulate
algal growth and negatively impact corals respectively. Here, we first present results of a
dynamic process-based model demonstrating that in addition to overharvesting of herbivorous
fish, bottom-up processes have the potential to precipitate coral-algal phase shifts on
Mesoamerican reefs. We then provide an empirical example that exemplifies this on coral
reefs off Mahahual in Mexico, where a shift from coral to algal dominance occurred over 14
years, during which there was little change in herbivore biomass but considerable development
of tourist infrastructure. Our results indicate that coastal development can compromise
the resilience of coral reefs and that watershed and coastal zone management together with
the maintenance of functional levels of fish herbivory are critical for the persistence of coral
reefs in Mesoamerica.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Phase shift, coral cover, reef management, algae, reefs, Mesoamerica |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
| Objective Group: | Adaptation to climate change |
| Objective Field: | Ecosystem adaptation to climate change |
| UTAS Author: | Johnson, CR (Professor Craig Johnson) |
| ID Code: | 116066 |
| Year Published: | 2017 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 57 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2017-05-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-04-24 |
| Downloads: | 111 View Download Statistics |
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