Managing resilience to reverse phase shifts in coral reefs

Graham, Nicholas A. J. and Bellwood, David R. and Cinner, Joshua E. and Hughes, Terry P. and Norstrom, Albert V. and Nystrom, Magnus (2013) Managing resilience to reverse phase shifts in coral reefs. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11 (10). pp. 541-548. ISSN 1540-9295

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Abstract

Both coral-dominated and degraded reef ecosystems can be resistant to change. Typically, research and management have focused on maintaining coral dominance and avoiding phase shifts to other species compositions, rather than on weakening the resilience of already degraded reefs to re-establish coral dominance. Reversing degraded coral-reef states will involve reducing local chronic drivers like fishing pressure and poor water quality. Reversals will also require management of key ecological processes - such as those performed by different functional groups of marine herbivores - that both weaken the resilience of the degraded state and strengthen the coral-dominated state. If detrimental human impacts are reduced and key ecological processes are enhanced, pulse disturbances, such as extreme weather events, and ecological variability may provide opportunities for a return to a coral-dominated state. Critically, achieving these outcomes will necessitate a diverse range of integrated approaches to alter human interactions with reef ecosystems.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303
Subjects:
?? social-ecological systemsgreat-barrier-reefmarine reserveclimate-changered-seafisheriesrecruitmentecosystemsmanagementresponsesecologyecology, evolution, behavior and systematics ??
ID Code:
81021
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
30 Aug 2016 12:46
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 16:04