Synchronous biological feedbacks in parrotfishes associated with pantropical coral bleaching

Taylor, B.M. and Benkwitt, C.E. and Choat, H. and Clements, K.D. and Graham, N.A.J. and Meekan, M.G. (2020) Synchronous biological feedbacks in parrotfishes associated with pantropical coral bleaching. Global Change Biology, 26 (3). pp. 1285-1294. ISSN 1354-1013

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Abstract

Biological feedbacks generated through patterns of disturbance are vital for sustaining ecosystem states. Recent ocean warming and thermal anomalies have caused pantropical episodes of coral bleaching, which has led to widespread coral mortality and a range of subsequent effects on coral reef communities. Although the response of many reef‐associated fishes to major disturbance events on coral reefs is negative (e.g., reduced abundance and condition), parrotfishes show strong feedbacks after disturbance to living reef structure manifesting as increases in abundance. However, the mechanisms underlying this response are poorly understood. Using biochronological reconstructions of annual otolith (ear stone) growth from two ocean basins, we tested whether parrotfish growth was enhanced following bleaching‐related coral mortality, thus providing an organismal mechanism for demographic changes in populations. Both major feeding guilds of parrotfishes (scrapers and excavators) exhibited enhanced growth of individuals after bleaching that was decoupled from expected thermal performance, a pattern that was not evident in other reef fish taxa from the same environment. These results provide evidence for a more nuanced ecological feedback system—one where disturbance plays a key role in mediating parrotfish–benthos interactions. By influencing the biology of assemblages, disturbance can thereby stimulate change in parrotfish grazing intensity and ultimately reef geomorphology over time. This feedback cycle operated historically at within‐reef scales; however, our results demonstrate that the scale, magnitude, and severity of recent thermal events are entraining the biological responses of disparate communities to respond in synchrony. This may fundamentally alter feedbacks in the relationships between parrotfishes and reef systems.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Global Change Biology
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Taylor, BM, Benkwitt, CE, Choat, H, Clements, KD, Graham, NAJ, Meekan, MG. Synchronous biological feedbacks in parrotfishes associated with pantropical coral bleaching. Glob Change Biol. 2020; 26: 1285– 1294. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14909 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.14909 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2304
Subjects:
?? CLIMATE CHANGECORAL REEFSGROWTHHERBIVORYPRODUCTIONRESILIENCEECOLOGYGLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGEENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE(ALL)ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY ??
ID Code:
139724
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
19 Dec 2019 16:10
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
20 Sep 2023 01:30