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Climate change and coral reef connectivity
Citation
Munday, PL and Leis, JM and Lough, JM and Paris, CB and Kingsford, MJ and Berumen, ML and Lambrechts, J, Climate change and coral reef connectivity, Coral Reefs, 28, (2) pp. 379-395. ISSN 0722-4028 (2009) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2009 Springer-Verlag
DOI: doi:10.1007/s00338-008-0461-9
Abstract
This review assesses and predicts the impacts that rapid climate change will have on population connectivity in coral reef ecosystems, using fishes as a model group. Increased ocean temperatures are expected to accelerate larval development, potentially leading to reduced pelagic durations and earlier reef-seeking behaviour. Depending on the spatial arrangement of reefs, the expectation would be a reduction in dispersal distances and the spatial scale of connectivity. Small increase in temperature might enhance the number of larvae surviving the pelagic phase, but larger increases are likely to reduce reproductive output and increase larval mortality. Changes to ocean currents could alter the dynamics of larval supply and changes to planktonic productivity could affect how many larvae survive the pelagic stage and their condition at settlement; however, these patterns are likely to vary greatly from place-to-place and projections of how oceanographic features will change in the future lack sufficient certainty and resolution to make robust predictions. Connectivity could also be compromised by the increased fragmentation of reef habitat due to the effects of coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Changes to the spatial and temporal scales of connectivity have implications for the management of coral reef ecosystems, especially the design and placement of marine-protected areas. The size and spacing of protected areas may need to be strategically adjusted if reserve networks are to retain their efficacy in the future.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | climate change, population connectivity, global warming, larval dispersal, habitat fragmentation, marine-protected areas |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Marine systems and management |
Objective Field: | Marine biodiversity |
UTAS Author: | Leis, JM (Dr Jeff Leis) |
ID Code: | 94180 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 199 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-09-02 |
Last Modified: | 2014-09-05 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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