The implications of recurrent disturbances within the world’s hottest coral reefs

Authors

Rita Bento, Porto University; Emirates Diving Association
Andrew S. Hoey, James Cook University
Andrew G. Bauman, National University of SingaporeFollow
David A. Feary, University of Nottingham
John Burt, New York University Abu Dhabi

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-30-2016

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Keywords

Coral composition, Stress-tolerant, Environmental variation, Resilience, Stability, Novel ecosystems

ISSN

0025-326X

Volume

105

Issue/No.

2

First Page

466

Last Page

472

Abstract

Determining how coral ecosystems are structured within extreme environments may provide insights into how coral reefs are impacted by future climate change. Benthic community structure was examined within the Persian Gulf, and adjacent Musandam and northern Oman regions across a 3-year period (2008–2011) in which all regions were exposed to major disturbances. Although there was evidence of temporal switching in coral composition within regions, communities predominantly reflected local environmental conditions and the disturbance history of each region. Gulf reefs showed little change in coral composition, being dominated by stress-tolerant Faviidae and Poritidae across the 3 years. In comparison, Musandam and Oman coral communities were comprised of stress-sensitive Acroporidae and Pocilloporidae; Oman communities showed substantial declines in such taxa and increased cover of stress-tolerant communities. Our results suggest that coral communities may persist within an increasingly disturbed future environment, albeit in a much more structurally simple configuration.

Comments

Appendix A. Supplementary data

Additional Comments

This research was supported by the Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants (RB), Biosphere Expeditions (RB), and New York University Abu Dhabi Institute Vice Chancellors Research Fund (JAB).

NSUWorks Citation

Rita Bento, Andrew S. Hoey, Andrew G. Bauman, David A. Feary, and John Burt. 2016. The implications of recurrent disturbances within the world’s hottest coral reefs .Marine Pollution Bulletin , (2) : 466 -472. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/1326.

ORCID ID

0000-0001-9260-2153

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.006