Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: Confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions

Bellwood, David R.; Pratchett, Morgan S.; Morrison, Tiffany H.; Gurney, Georgina G.; Hughes, Terry P.; Álvarez‐Romero, Jorge G.; Day, Jon C.; Grantham, Ruby; Grech, Alana; Hoey, Andrew S.; Jones, Geoffrey P.; Pandolfi, John M.; Tebbett, Sterling B.; Techera, Erika; Weeks, Rebecca; Cumming, Graeme S.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.056

Cited by 185 publications

(157 citation statements)

References 118 publications

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“…Moving forward, there is a need to accept degradation as part of the new configuration of Anthropocene coral reef systems. Marine scientists are beginning to explore the functioning of these transitioning ecosystems (Bellwood et al, ; Hughes et al, ; Mellin et al, ; Norström et al, ). By bridging the gap between ecological and fisheries theory and coral reef empirical research, we point to an ecological mechanism that can potentially explain how, despite widespread depletion, coral reef fisheries continue to sustain the livelihoods of people.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human exploitation shapes productivity–biomass relationships on coral reefs

Morais

Connolly

Bellwood

2020

Global Change Biology

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Coral reef fisheries support the livelihoods of millions of people in tropical countries, despite large‐scale depletion of fish biomass. While human adaptability can help to explain the resistance of fisheries to biomass depletion, compensatory ecological mechanisms may also be involved. If this is the case, high productivity should coexist with low biomass under relatively high exploitation. Here we integrate large spatial scale empirical data analysis and a theory‐driven modelling approach to unveil the effects of human exploitation on reef fish productivity–biomass relationships. We show that differences in how productivity and biomass respond to overexploitation can decouple their relationship. As size‐selective exploitation depletes fish biomass, it triggers increased production per unit biomass, averting immediate productivity collapse in both the modelling and the empirical systems. This ‘buffering productivity’ exposes the danger of assuming resource production–biomass equivalence, but may help to explain why some biomass‐depleted fish assemblages still provide ecosystem goods under continued global fishing exploitation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human exploitation shapes productivity–biomass relationships on coral reefs

Morais

Connolly

Bellwood

2020

Global Change Biology

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“…Consequently, despite “ecosystem functioning” being at the center of present‐day management objectives (Bellwood et al . ) and its extensive and increasing use in the coral reef literature, it is unclear what criteria reefs must satisfy in order to be considered functional (WebFigure 1).…”

Section: Ecosystem Functioning On Coral Reefs: a Process‐based Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our systematic review (Figure 2; WebPanel 2), most studies referred to ecosystem functioning in the context of community structure (66.2% of 234 studies), one-quarter measured ecological processes to infer functioning (25.2%), a few used the term to describe the availability of ecosystem services (1.3%), and some presented no identifiable measures of functioning (7.3%). Consequently, des pite "ecosystem functioning" being at the center of present-day management objectives (Bellwood et al 2019) and its extensive and increasing use in the coral reef literature, it is unclear what criteria reefs must satisfy in order to be considered functional (WebFigure 1).…”

Section: Ecosystem Functioning On Coral Reefs: a Process-based Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coral reef ecosystem functioning: eight core processes and the role of biodiversity

Brandl

Rasher

Côté

et al. 2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

189

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Coral reefs are in global decline. Reversing this trend is a primary management objective but doing so depends on understanding what keeps reefs in desirable states (ie “functional”). Although there is evidence that coral reefs thrive under certain conditions (eg moderate water temperatures, limited fishing pressure), the dynamic processes that promote ecosystem functioning and its internal drivers (ie community structure) are poorly defined and explored. Specifically, despite decades of research suggesting a positive relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across biomes, few studies have explored this relationship in coral reef systems. We propose a practical definition of coral reef functioning, centered on eight complementary ecological processes: calcium carbonate production and bioerosion, primary production and herbivory, secondary production and predation, and nutrient uptake and release. Connecting research on species niches, functional diversity of communities, and rates of the eight key processes can provide a novel, quantitative understanding of reef functioning and its dependence on coral reef communities that will chart the transition of coral reefs in the Anthropocene. This will contribute urgently needed guidance for the management of these important ecosystems.

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“…, Bellwood et al. ). Herbivory is strongly linked to the integrity, stability, and resilience of coral reefs to disturbances (Burkepile and Hay , Adam et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under escalating levels of stress, securing functions that facilitate ecosystem recovery is particularly important (Hoegh-Guldberg et al 2008, Bellwood et al 2019a. Herbivory is strongly linked to the integrity, stability, and resilience of coral reefs to disturbances Hay 2008, Adam et al 2011), and is primarily sustained by fishes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbivorous fish rise as a destructive fishing practice falls in an Indonesian marine national park

Bejarano

Pardede

Campbell

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Securing ecosystem functions is challenging, yet common priority in conservation efforts. While marine parks aim to meet this challenge by regulating fishing through zoning plans, their effectiveness hinges on compliance levels and may respond to changes in fishing practices. Here we use a speciose assemblage of nominally herbivorous reef fish in Karimunjawa National Park (zoned since 1989) to investigate whether areas subject to a restrictive management regime sustained higher biomass over seven years compared to areas where moderate and permissive regulations apply. Using a trait-based approach we characterize the functional space of the entire species pool and ask whether changes in biomass translate into changes in functional structure. We track changes in predator biomass, benthic community structure, and fishing practices that could influence herbivore trajectories. Overall herbivore biomass doubled in 2012 compared to 2006-2009 and remained high in 2013 across all management regimes. We found no evidence that this biomass build-up resulted from predator depletion or increased food availability but suggest it emerged in response to a park-wide cessation of fishing with large drive nets known as muroami. The biomass increase was accompanied by a modest increase in taxonomic richness and a slight decrease in community-scale rarity that did not alter functional redundancy levels. Subtle changes in both functional specialization and identity of assemblages emerged as generalist species with low intrinsic vulnerability to fishing recovered sooner than more vulnerable specialists. While this implies a recovery of mechanisms responsible for the grazing of algal turfs and detritus, restoring other facets of herbivory (e.g., macroalgal consumption) may require more time. An increase in the cost-benefit ratio per journey of muroami fishing facilitated a ban on muroami nets that met minimal resistance. Similar windows of opportunity may emerge elsewhere in which gear-based regulations can supplement zoning plans, especially when compliance is low. This does not advocate for implementing such regulations once a fishery has become unprofitable. Rather, it underlines their importance for breaking the cycle of resource depletion and low compliance to zoning, thus alleviating the resulting threats to food security and ecosystem integrity.

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Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: Confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions

Cited by 185 publications

References 118 publications

Human exploitation shapes productivity–biomass relationships on coral reefs

Human exploitation shapes productivity–biomass relationships on coral reefs

Coral reef ecosystem functioning: eight core processes and the role of biodiversity

Herbivorous fish rise as a destructive fishing practice falls in an Indonesian marine national park

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