Algal blooms on coral reefs: What are the causes?

Hughes, Terry P.; Szmant, Alina M.; Steneck, Robert S.; Carpenter, Robert C.; Miller, Steven L.

doi:10.4319/lo.1999.44.6.1583

Cited by 173 publications

(118 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…Similar changes, albeit somewhat different in timing and extent, have occurred elsewhere (62). The general consensus is that the die-off of such an important herbivore, particularly in the context of low abundance of herbivorous fishes due to overfishing, was the primary cause of the shift from a coraldominated to an algal-dominated reef (37,75,77).…”

Section: Shifting Ecological Balances: Competitors and Predators Of Cmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…There is general agreement that the competitive balance between corals and macroalgae is shaped primarily by the magnitude of herbivory and nutrient availability, but their relative importance and how they interact continues to be the subject of debate (75)(76)(77). Small-scale experiments suggest, however, that herbivory is often likely to be much more important than nutrients in limiting algal growth (78).…”

Section: Shifting Ecological Balances: Competitors and Predators Of Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The future of coral reefs

Knowlton

2001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

514

400

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Coral reefs, with their millions of species, have changed profoundly because of the effects of people, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Reefs are subject to many of the same processes that affect other human-dominated ecosystems, but some special features merit emphasis: ( The fossil record suggests that corals as a group are more likely to suffer extinctions than some of the groups that associate with them, whose habitat requirements may be less stringent.

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Section: Shifting Ecological Balances: Competitors and Predators Of Cmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Shifting Ecological Balances: Competitors and Predators Of Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

The future of coral reefs

Knowlton

2001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

514

400

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“…As argued by Hughes et al (1999), a reef community cannot be structured only by the influence of nutrient-loading. The competition-based Relative Dominance Model (RDM) (Fig.…”

Section: Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fringing Reefs of Reunion Island and Eutrophication Effects - Part 2: Long-Term Monitoring of Primary Producers

Naim¹,

Tourrand²,

Ballesteros³

et al. 2013

Atoll Research Bulletin

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No . 5 9 6 P AR T 1 : L o n g -T e r m Mo n i t o r i n g o f T wo S h a l l o w Co r a l Re e f Co mmu n i t i e s C a t h e r i n e T o u r r a n d , Od i l e N a i m, L i o n e l B i g o t , C h r i s t o p h e C a d e t , B r u c e C a u v i n , S t u a r t S e mp l e , L u c i e n F . Mo n t a g g i o n i , P a s c a l e C h a b a n e t a n d He n r i c h B r u g g e ma n nNo . 5 9 7 No . 5 9 7 P AR T 2 : L o n g -T e r m Mo n i t o r i n g o f P r i ma r y P r o d u c e r s Od i l e N a i m, C a t h e r i n e T o u r r a n d , E n r i c B a l l e s t e r o s , S t u a r t S e mp l e , L i o n e l B i g o t , B r u c e C a u v i n , P a s c a l e C u e t , a n d L u c i e n F . Mo n t a g g i o n i No . 5 9 8 P AR T 3 : L o n g -T e r m Mo n i t o r i n g o f L i v i n g Co r a l s Od i l e N a i m, C a t h e r i n e T o u r r a n d , Ge r a r d F . F a u r e , L i o n e l B i g o t , B r u c e C a u v i n , S t u a r t S e mp l e a n d L u c i e n F . Mo n t a g g i o n iA T OL L R E S E AR C H B UL L E T I N NOS . 5 9 6 -5 9 8 FRINGING REEFS OF REUNION ISLAND AND EUTROPHICATION EFFECTS ABSTRACTStudies on the reef flat of Saint-Gilles La Saline between 1987 and 2009 compared spatio-temporal variations of primary producers on two sites, Toboggan and Planch'Alizés. Toboggan (Site-T) is an oligotrophic site characterized by Acropora corals, abundant sea urchins and few primary producers. Planch'Alizés (Site-P) is a heterotrophic site, characterized by massive corals, abundant primary producers and occasional sea urchins. From shore to outer reef front, the reef flat comprises three parts: the back reef (B), the coral zone with Large coral strips (L) and the coral zone with Narrow coral strips (N). This paper (which is Part 2 in a three part series) is divided into four sections. The first (1993, 1996, and 2002) focuses on four groups of primary producers: cyanophytes; turfs (including Stegastes epilithic algal communities); encrusting coralline algae; macroalgae. Their abundance and dominant species were recorded in the three subzones, B, L and N, using 50m-line intercept transects (LITs). The second section (1998 to 2009 inclusive, on the two same sites), reports on annually monitored turfs, encrusting coralline and macroalgae on two permanent 20m LITs. These annual records extend periodic records from these same LITs from 1987LITs from , 1993LITs from , 1996LITs from and 2002. The third section describes species richness of primary producers at the infracentimetric level in zones B, L and N in 1994. In the final section, seasonal variability is documented as changes in the biomass of dominant macroalgae reported monthly over a period of seven months (1993-94).In 1993-2002, primary producers were dominant at P (average ~ 60%) but inconspicuous at T (~5%). In terms of relative cover, turfs and macroalgae were the dominant forms at both sites (75% turfs, 10% macroalgae at T ; 24% t. and 52% m. at P). On both sites, cyanophytes significantly decreased over time. Among turfs, fine filamentous turfs were pr...

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“…coral-to-seaweed shifts) have also led researchers to focus on either alterations to consumption or production in isolation, thereby causing discussion to be polarised (e.g. Hughes et al, 1999v. Lapointe, 1999.…”

Section: Consumer Vs Producer Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kelp forests, coral reefs and seagrass meadows have been the focus of heated controversy about the relative strength of these alternate drivers (e.g. Hughes et al, 1999v. Lapointe, 1999 and recent calls for critical reassessments of the generality of phase-shifts and their mechanisms (e.g.…”

Section: Consumer Vs Producer Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%