by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
The authors of this paper outline the grim state and future of coral reef ecosystems, and the consequential domino effects to follow for other systems associated with reefs. Mass bleaching and mortality are identified as the current crisis to corals, and based on the...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
This study used marine ecosystem models (Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace modeling software) to assess MPA effectiveness in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The authors took field data from this site in the heart of the Coral Triangle and found many trade-offs between MPAs that...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
This editorial, by the US Environmental Protection Agency, calls attention to the Clean Water Act (CWA), which can provide an opportunity to incorporate scientific knowledge into the management of coral reefs in for US waters. While MPAs are the dominant approach to...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
Coral reef fisheries management lacks an accurate estimate of reef fishers regionally and globally. In a study to address this data gap, Teh et al. estimated that there are 6 million reef fishers in 99 countries and territories. About 25% of all small-scale fishing...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
The Adaptive Bleaching Hypothesis is a controversial theory that states that stress resistant coral-zooxanthellae associations can develop from frequent and severe environmental stress. This hypothesis is reviewed and future directions for research are suggested....
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
The authors of this paper compiled a global database of 8534 live coral surveys from 1969-2006 to compare annual changes in coral cover inside 310 MPAs to unprotected areas. The results showed that on average, coral cover within MPAs remained constant, while coral...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
Coastal marine fisheries are under an ever-increasing risk of collapse due to over-exploitation and human-caused degradation of coastal marine habitats and ecosystems. No-take fishery reserves can be an effective management tool to mitigate these problems. This...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
The authors examine fish replenishment areas (FRAs) in the context of Hawaii’s MPA system. Because the FRAs (which restrict aquarium fishing for one target species, yellow tang fish) on 35% of West Hawaii’s coastline) are often highlighted as an example of a...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
The article reviews whether current knowledge of coral reef resilience, as it has historically been researched specifically in the Caribbean region, is transferrable to Indo-Pacific coral reefs. The authors hypothesize that the Caribbean may be predisposed to low...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
This article has received significant attention from researchers, managers, and the public. It is a bit controversial and the doom and gloom picture presented may or may not most accurately describe the current state of affairs. Regardless, the paper draws attention...
by reefres | Apr 2, 2014
Pandolfi and Jackson quantify the habitat stability in Caribbean coral communities during the Pleistocene, comparing records from several hundred thousand years ago to modern community structure. Pleistocene coral communities demonstrate persistence with similar...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
This paper compiles historical records extending back several thousand years to construct a global summary (from 14 regions) of changes in seven major guilds of carnivores, herbivores, and architectural species. The time periods are divided up into cultural periods;...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
While differences in thermal tolerance among regions with distinct annual mean temperatures were first recognized as evidence of coral thermal adaptation or acclimatization, thermal variation on much smaller spatial and temporal scales also appears to affect coral...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
This study relates coral reef condition to human modifications of the landscape. Stony coral community richness, cover, colony size, and density were assessed along with 3-dimensional coral cover in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, in 2006 and 2007. Land use/land cover...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
Authors of this study examine effects of spatial zoning and management of the Saba Marine Park (Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean) on coral reef communities over 21 years of MPA establishment. Results of the MPA are mixed for effects on fish density, biomass and species...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
The authors examined the metabolism of coral larvae under different pH conditions to explain the observed, uniform, survival rate of coral larvae under different pH conditions: pH 8.0 (control), pH 7.6, and pH 7.3. Larvae of Acropora digitifera was used in the study...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
The results of this study demonstrate that reserves can enhance coral recovery. In this study, the authors evaluated coral population dynamics to determine if reductions in macroalgal cover, caused by recovery of herbivorous parrotfishes in a reserve result in a...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
This study examined whether or not grazing by fishes determined macroalgal cover, which in turn influences the recruitment of coral species on Caribbean reefs. The authors based their study in the Bahamas and included the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP). The...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
Mumby and others examine the critical question, “How does predation impact herbivorous fish populations and subsequent grazing intensity within non-fished marine reserves?” Using the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, with a fishing ban enforced since 1986, the authors...
by reefres | Apr 1, 2014
Mora et al. provide a critique of MPA networks globally. Based on prior work that suggests MPAs be at least 10km2 in area and 15km apart, we need 2559 additional MPAs. These results demonstrate the need for more MPAs of quality that can help protect species within...
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