Development of a Reef Fish Biological Condition Gradient Model With Quantitative Decision Rules for the Protection and Restoration of Coral Reef Ecosystems

Authors

Patricia Bradley, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Ben Jessup, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Simon J. Pittman, Seascape Analytics Ltd.
Christopher F. G. Jeffrey, CSS-Inc., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Jerald Ault, University of Miami
Lisamarie Carrubba, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Craig Lilyestrom, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Richard S. Appeldoorn, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Michelle T. Schärer, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Brian K. Walker, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Melanie McField, Smithsonian Marine Station
Deborah Santavy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Tyler B. Smith, University of the Virgin Islands
Graciela Garcia-Moliner, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Steven G. Smith, University of Miami
Evelyn Huertas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jeroen Gerritsen, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Leah M. Oliver, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Christina Horstmann, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Susan K. Jackson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ORCID

0000-0001-8385-7066

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

ISSN

0025-326X

Publication Date

10-2020

Keywords

Biological attributes, Biocriteria, Thresholds, Sustainability

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems are declining due to multiple interacting stressors. A bioassessment framework focused on stressor-response associations was developed to help organize and communicate complex ecological information to support coral reef conservation. This study applied the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG), initially developed for freshwater ecosystems, to fish assemblages of U.S. Caribbean coral reef ecosystems. The reef fish BCG describes how biological conditions changed incrementally along a gradient of increasing anthropogenic stress. Coupled with physical and chemical water quality data, the BGC forms a scientifically defensible basis to prioritize, protect and restore water bodies containing coral reefs. Through an iterative process, scientists from across the U.S. Caribbean used fishery-independent survey data and expert knowledge to develop quantitative decision rules to describe six levels of coral reef ecosystem condition. The resultant reef fish BCG provides an effective tool for identifying healthy and degraded coral reef ecosystems and has potential for global application.

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111387

Volume

159

First Page

111387

Comments

©2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Additional Comments

US EP contract #s: EP-C-09-001 Work Assignment #3-01, EP-C-14-016 Work Assignment 1-1

NSUWorks Citation

Patricia Bradley, Ben Jessup, Simon J. Pittman, Christopher F. G. Jeffrey, Jerald Ault, Lisamarie Carrubba, Craig Lilyestrom, Richard S. Appeldoorn, Michelle T. Schärer, Brian K. Walker, Melanie McField, Deborah Santavy, Tyler B. Smith, Graciela Garcia-Moliner, Steven G. Smith, Evelyn Huertas, Jeroen Gerritsen, Leah M. Oliver, Christina Horstmann, and Susan K. Jackson. 2020. Development of a Reef Fish Biological Condition Gradient Model With Quantitative Decision Rules for the Protection and Restoration of Coral Reef Ecosystems .Marine Pollution Bulletin : 111387 . https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/1120.