Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching.
Coral bleaching, during which corals lose their symbiotic dinoflagellates, typically corresponds with periods of intense heat stress, and appears to be increasing in frequency and geographic extent as the climate warms. A fundamental question in coral reef ecology is whether chronic local stress red...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2009-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2708352?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1828470221523910656 |
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| author | Jessica E Carilli Richard D Norris Bryan A Black Sheila M Walsh Melanie McField |
| author_facet | Jessica E Carilli Richard D Norris Bryan A Black Sheila M Walsh Melanie McField |
| author_sort | Jessica E Carilli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coral bleaching, during which corals lose their symbiotic dinoflagellates, typically corresponds with periods of intense heat stress, and appears to be increasing in frequency and geographic extent as the climate warms. A fundamental question in coral reef ecology is whether chronic local stress reduces coral resistance and resilience from episodic stress such as bleaching, or alternatively promotes acclimatization, potentially increasing resistance and resilience. Here we show that following a major bleaching event, Montastraea faveolata coral growth rates at sites with higher local anthropogenic stressors remained suppressed for at least 8 years, while coral growth rates at sites with lower stress recovered in 2-3 years. Instead of promoting acclimatization, our data indicate that background stress reduces coral fitness and resilience to episodic events. We also suggest that reducing chronic stress through local coral reef management efforts may increase coral resilience to global climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:49:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e659af82e1384122bd2e7dcce8a32e74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:49:28Z |
| publishDate | 2009-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e659af82e1384122bd2e7dcce8a32e742022-12-22T01:20:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032009-01-0147e632410.1371/journal.pone.0006324Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching.Jessica E CarilliRichard D NorrisBryan A BlackSheila M WalshMelanie McFieldCoral bleaching, during which corals lose their symbiotic dinoflagellates, typically corresponds with periods of intense heat stress, and appears to be increasing in frequency and geographic extent as the climate warms. A fundamental question in coral reef ecology is whether chronic local stress reduces coral resistance and resilience from episodic stress such as bleaching, or alternatively promotes acclimatization, potentially increasing resistance and resilience. Here we show that following a major bleaching event, Montastraea faveolata coral growth rates at sites with higher local anthropogenic stressors remained suppressed for at least 8 years, while coral growth rates at sites with lower stress recovered in 2-3 years. Instead of promoting acclimatization, our data indicate that background stress reduces coral fitness and resilience to episodic events. We also suggest that reducing chronic stress through local coral reef management efforts may increase coral resilience to global climate change.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2708352?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Jessica E Carilli Richard D Norris Bryan A Black Sheila M Walsh Melanie McField Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching. PLoS ONE |
| title | Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching. |
| title_full | Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching. |
| title_fullStr | Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching. |
| title_short | Local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching. |
| title_sort | local stressors reduce coral resilience to bleaching |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2708352?pdf=render |
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