Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas
Abstract Coral reefs in the Central Indo-Pacific region comprise some of the most diverse and yet threatened marine habitats. While reef monitoring has grown throughout the region in recent years, studies of coral reef benthic cover remain limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here, we analysed 24...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05000-z |
| _version_ | 1797806613538537472 |
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| author | Y. K. S. Chan Y. A. Affendi P. O. Ang M. V. Baria-Rodriguez C. A. Chen A. P. Y. Chui Giyanto M. Glue H. Huang C-Y. Kuo S. W. Kim V. Y. Y. Lam D. J. W. Lane J. S. Lian S. M. N. N. Lin Z. Lunn C. L. Nañola V. L. Nguyen H. S. Park Suharsono M. Sutthacheep S. T. Vo O. Vibol Z. Waheed H. Yamano T. Yeemin E. Yong T. Kimura K. Tun L. M. Chou D. Huang |
| author_facet | Y. K. S. Chan Y. A. Affendi P. O. Ang M. V. Baria-Rodriguez C. A. Chen A. P. Y. Chui Giyanto M. Glue H. Huang C-Y. Kuo S. W. Kim V. Y. Y. Lam D. J. W. Lane J. S. Lian S. M. N. N. Lin Z. Lunn C. L. Nañola V. L. Nguyen H. S. Park Suharsono M. Sutthacheep S. T. Vo O. Vibol Z. Waheed H. Yamano T. Yeemin E. Yong T. Kimura K. Tun L. M. Chou D. Huang |
| author_sort | Y. K. S. Chan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Coral reefs in the Central Indo-Pacific region comprise some of the most diverse and yet threatened marine habitats. While reef monitoring has grown throughout the region in recent years, studies of coral reef benthic cover remain limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here, we analysed 24,365 reef surveys performed over 37 years at 1972 sites throughout East Asia by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network using Bayesian approaches. Our results show that overall coral cover at surveyed reefs has not declined as suggested in previous studies and compared to reef regions like the Caribbean. Concurrently, macroalgal cover has not increased, with no indications of phase shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on reefs. Yet, models incorporating socio-economic and environmental variables reveal negative associations of coral cover with coastal urbanisation and sea surface temperature. The diversity of reef assemblages may have mitigated cover declines thus far, but climate change could threaten reef resilience. We recommend prioritisation of regionally coordinated, locally collaborative long-term studies for better contextualisation of monitoring data and analyses, which are essential for achieving reef conservation goals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:09:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed0b2b6fb3844ffb8cad9df137eb8998 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:09:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed0b2b6fb3844ffb8cad9df137eb89982023-06-11T11:22:36ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422023-06-016111110.1038/s42003-023-05000-zDecadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian SeasY. K. S. Chan0Y. A. Affendi1P. O. Ang2M. V. Baria-Rodriguez3C. A. Chen4A. P. Y. Chui5Giyanto6M. Glue7H. Huang8C-Y. Kuo9S. W. Kim10V. Y. Y. Lam11D. J. W. Lane12J. S. Lian13S. M. N. N. Lin14Z. Lunn15C. L. Nañola16V. L. Nguyen17H. S. Park18Suharsono19M. Sutthacheep20S. T. Vo21O. Vibol22Z. Waheed23H. Yamano24T. Yeemin25E. Yong26T. Kimura27K. Tun28L. M. Chou29D. Huang30Department of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeInstitute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti MalayaInstitute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong KongMarine Science Institute, University of the Philippines DilimanBiodiversity Research Centre, Academia SinicaInstitute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong KongResearch Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)Fauna & Flora InternationalSouth China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBiodiversity Research Centre, Academia SinicaSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandGlobal Coral Reef Monitoring Network, International Union for the Conservation of NatureLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of SingaporeSouth China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesFauna & Flora InternationalFauna & Flora InternationalUniversity of the Philippines MindanaoInstitute of Oceanography, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyKorean Institute of Ocean Science and TechnologyResearch Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)Department of Biological Sciences, Ramkhamhaeng UniversityInstitute of Oceanography, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Fisheries Conservation, Ministry of AgricultureBorneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia SabahNational Institute for Environmental StudiesFaculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng UniversityReef Check BruneiGlobal Coral Reef Monitoring Network East Asia RegionGlobal Coral Reef Monitoring Network East Asia RegionDepartment of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Biological Sciences, National University of SingaporeAbstract Coral reefs in the Central Indo-Pacific region comprise some of the most diverse and yet threatened marine habitats. While reef monitoring has grown throughout the region in recent years, studies of coral reef benthic cover remain limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here, we analysed 24,365 reef surveys performed over 37 years at 1972 sites throughout East Asia by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network using Bayesian approaches. Our results show that overall coral cover at surveyed reefs has not declined as suggested in previous studies and compared to reef regions like the Caribbean. Concurrently, macroalgal cover has not increased, with no indications of phase shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on reefs. Yet, models incorporating socio-economic and environmental variables reveal negative associations of coral cover with coastal urbanisation and sea surface temperature. The diversity of reef assemblages may have mitigated cover declines thus far, but climate change could threaten reef resilience. We recommend prioritisation of regionally coordinated, locally collaborative long-term studies for better contextualisation of monitoring data and analyses, which are essential for achieving reef conservation goals.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05000-z |
| spellingShingle | Y. K. S. Chan Y. A. Affendi P. O. Ang M. V. Baria-Rodriguez C. A. Chen A. P. Y. Chui Giyanto M. Glue H. Huang C-Y. Kuo S. W. Kim V. Y. Y. Lam D. J. W. Lane J. S. Lian S. M. N. N. Lin Z. Lunn C. L. Nañola V. L. Nguyen H. S. Park Suharsono M. Sutthacheep S. T. Vo O. Vibol Z. Waheed H. Yamano T. Yeemin E. Yong T. Kimura K. Tun L. M. Chou D. Huang Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas Communications Biology |
| title | Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas |
| title_full | Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas |
| title_fullStr | Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas |
| title_short | Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas |
| title_sort | decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the east asian seas |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05000-z |
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