Long-term changes in coral communities under stress from sediment

Yeemin, Thamasak; Pengsakun, Sittiporn; Yucharoen, Mathinee; Klinthong, Wanlaya; Sangmanee, Kanwara; Sutthacheep, Makamas

doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.04.019

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand are developed in high turbidity and have experienced severe coral bleaching events during the last two decades. The impacts of coastal development, destructive fishing and the expansion of tourism on coral reefs are documented [12,40]. The coral communities at Ko Losin (West), Ko Losin (East) and Ko Ngam Noi are interesting due to their high percentages of live coral cover and the fact that the dominant corals of these reef sites are several species of Acropora, which are susceptible to abnormal high-temperature-driven coral bleaching [7,45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The benefits include providing food and livelihoods for millions of people in tropical countries and the protection of coastal communities from extreme weather disturbances [1,2]. However, coral reefs around the world are degrading because of natural stressors (bleaching, diseases and heavy storms [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]) and anthropogenic disturbances, particularly coastal development, pollution, sedimentation and overfishing [10][11][12][13]. Human impacts have also reduced the ability of coral recovery and reef resilience after severe disturbances [14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the Resilience Potential of Inshore and Offshore Coral Communities in the Western Gulf of Thailand

Sutthacheep

Chamchoy

Pengsakun

et al. 2019

JMSE

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Coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand have experienced severe coral bleaching events and anthropogenic disturbances during the last two decades. This study assessed the resilience potential of coral communities at Ko Losin offshore reef sites and Mu Ko Chumphon nearshore coral reefs, in the south of Thailand, by conducting field surveys on the live coral cover, hard substratum composition and diversity and density of juvenile corals. Most study sites had higher percentages of live coral cover compared to dead coral cover. Some inshore and offshore reef sites showed low resilience to coral bleaching events. The total densities of juvenile corals at the study sites were in the range of 0.89–3.73 colonies/m2. The density of the juvenile corals at most reef sites was not dependent on the live coral cover of adult colonies in a reef, particularly for the Acropora communities. We suggest that Ko Losin should be established as a marine protected area, and Mu Ko Chumphon National Park should implement its management plans properly to enhance coral recovery and promote marine ecotourism. Other measures, such as shading, should be also applied at some coral reefs during bleaching periods.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Resilience Potential of Inshore and Offshore Coral Communities in the Western Gulf of Thailand

Sutthacheep

Chamchoy

Pengsakun

et al. 2019

JMSE

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“…High rates of sedimentation and low light levels negatively affect coral survival rates (Rogers, ). The combined effects of anthropogenic sedimentation and nutrient enrichment can severely inhibit coral recruitment and settlement, slow coral recovery, reduce resilience, and eventually induce declines in coral coverage and species richness (Abelson et al, ; Birrell et al, ; Naumann et al, ; Nava & Tamírez‐Herrera, ; Wielgus et al, ; Yeemin et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recolonization of Marginal Coral Reef Flats in Response to Recent Sea‐Level Rise

et al. 2018

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In an era of global change and rising sea levels, the capacity for inshore reefs to survive is increasingly unclear. We report on recent colonization of an inshore reef-flat environment at Sanya Bay, northern South China Sea, in shallow, muddy, eutrophic, and turbid conditions, which are widely viewed as marginal for sustained coral growth. U-Th dating of fossil Acropora substrate indicated that the reef flat has existed in a dormant state since~5,400 years BP, with no vertical space available to accommodate coral expansion. Our surveys revealed that populations of free-living Porites compressa have recolonized the reef flat through asexual fragmentation, covering 13.9 ± 1.3% of reef-flat substrates. Age-frequency analysis indicated that the majority (86%) of P. compressa colonies were less than 30 years old. Analysis of long-term sea-level data indicated that recent recolonization of the reef flat occurred in response to a sea-level rise of 16.2 ± 0.6 cm over the past 30 years . Modern sea-level rise at Sanya Bay appears to have turned on reef growth which has existed in a senescent turned off state for over five millennia. The asexual life history strategy of P. compressa colonies, which involves forming free-living colonies (coralliths), allows them to overcome turbid environmental conditions that are otherwise adverse to sexual recruitment. Our results provide novel insight into the response of marginal habitats to sea-level rise, and suggest that coral cover on degraded coral reef flats could increase under future sea-level rise, albeit with assemblages dominated by a few well-adapted species.Plain Language Summary Inshore coral reefs throughout the world are highly susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., increasing pollution and changing land use) and have declined in recent decades. Modern sea-level rises associated with global warming could theoretically increase accommodation space for corals growing on shallow reef flats. Whereas, the potential for degraded inshore coral reefs to respond to increased sea-level rise is as yet unclear. In this study, fringing reefs in Sanya Bay, a typical inshore reef system impacted by severe anthropogenic perturbations, provide a case study of disturbed inshore reefs response modern sea-level rise. With ecological surveys, coral demographic and age-frequency analyses, and high-precision U-Th dating, we provide evidence of a recent switch on of reef growth over the past 50 years in response to rising sea levels that is unprecedented since the mid-Holocene. The unique life history strategy of the dominant coral taxa (free-living Porites) driving this partial recovery allows them to overcome highly turbid and eutrophic environmental conditions that have previously been considered adverse to recovery through sexual recruitment. Our results provide novel insight into the response of marginal habitats to sea-level rise, and a glimpse into a potential future condition, or new state, of heavily disturbed Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

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“…Losin Pinnacle has a much higher species diversity, over 75 species, compared to other Thai reefs; 47 species were recorded from twelve sites in the Andaman Sea (Phongsuwan and Chansang, 2012), and only 44 species were recorded from six sites in the Gulf of Thailand (Yeemin et al, 2009;Sutthacheep et al, 2012Sutthacheep et al, , 2013. Though the overall area of the reef at Losin Pinnacle is relatively small, the coverage of live coral is high relative to other Thai reefs, which typically have live coral cover ranging from approximately 8% to 45% (Phongsuwan et al, 2013;Yeemin et al, 2013a;Sutthacheep et al, 2015). Additionally, Losin reef is rich in fish (111 species, personal communication), and other benthic organisms such as ascidians, octocorals, echinoderms, crustaceans, and sponges (Darumas et al, 2018;Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coral Diversity at Losin Pinnacle, an Offshore Reef in the Gulf of Thailand: Toward a Future MPA

Yucharoen

Chankong²,

Phongsuwan³

et al. 2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Long-term changes in coral communities under stress from sediment

Cited by 16 publications

References 36 publications

Assessing the Resilience Potential of Inshore and Offshore Coral Communities in the Western Gulf of Thailand

Assessing the Resilience Potential of Inshore and Offshore Coral Communities in the Western Gulf of Thailand

Recolonization of Marginal Coral Reef Flats in Response to Recent Sea‐Level Rise

Coral Diversity at Losin Pinnacle, an Offshore Reef in the Gulf of Thailand: Toward a Future MPA

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