A coral reef refuge in the Red Sea

Fine, Maoz; Gildor, Hezi; Genin, Amatzia

doi:10.1111/gcb.12356

Cited by 224 publications

(241 citation statements)

References 67 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

214

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Beside the value extreme coral environments offer for research, they may also provide additional management options for corals through refuge systems or by providing genetic stocks of corals preconditioned to extreme physicochemical conditions (Camp et al, 2016a). Current information on coral refuge environments remains highly-debated, but evidence suggests the northern Red Sea could provide some refuge for corals in the future (Fine et al, 2013). Reduction of emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, is undoubtedly required to preserve the future form, function and ecosystem services of coral reefs (Gattuso et al, 2015;Hughes et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The PAG is arguably the world's hottest sea supporting coral reefs; however, other hot seas exist (e.g., the Red Sea) that support corals potentially more tolerant of thermal stress events (Fine et al, 2013;Grottoli et al, 2017;Krueger et al, 2017). The hot, southernmost end of the Red Sea acts as a selective thermal barrier favoring heat-resistant genotypes; once these genotypes spread to the northern, cooler Red Sea, they live well below their bleaching threshold (Fine et al, 2013).…”

Section: High Temperature Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The hot, southernmost end of the Red Sea acts as a selective thermal barrier favoring heat-resistant genotypes; once these genotypes spread to the northern, cooler Red Sea, they live well below their bleaching threshold (Fine et al, 2013). Consequently, elevated temperatures of 2 • C above average thermal maxima did not result in any coral bleaching in northern Red Sea corals in laboratory studies (Fine et al, 2013;Krueger et al, 2017), and for three coral species, Stylophora pistillata, Pocillopora damicornis, and Favia favus, coral bleaching did not occur until 6 • C above average thermal maxima (Krueger et al, 2017). Furthermore, the coral S. pistillata has shown resistance to the combined effects of ocean acidification (pH 7.8) and elevated temperatures (Krueger et al, 2017).…”

Section: High Temperature Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The current review shows that there are systems that could off set single stressors; for example, turbid reefs can provide refuge for corals during thermal stress events (van Woesik et al, 2012;Morgan et al, 2017;van Woesik and McCaffrey, 2017) whereas high-latitude reefs can provide refuge from rising ocean temperatures Muir et al, 2015a). However, with the exception of the northern Red Sea (Fine et al, 2013), most refuge environments are highly debated, with inconsistent findings across geographic locations. This, in part, results from the heterogeneity of coral environments on the scale of individual reefs.…”

Section: The Potential Of Refuge Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Global climate change and localized anthropogenic stressors are driving rapid declines in coral reef health. In vitro experiments have been fundamental in providing insight into how reef organisms will potentially respond to future climates. However, such experiments are inevitably limited in their ability to reproduce the complex interactions that govern reef systems. Studies examining coral communities that already persist under naturally-occurring extreme and marginal physicochemical conditions have therefore become increasingly popular to advance ecosystem scale predictions of future reef form and function, although no single site provides a perfect analog to future reefs. Here we review the current state of knowledge that exists on the distribution of corals in marginal and extreme environments, and geographic sites at the latitudinal extremes of reef growth, as well as a variety of shallow reef systems and reef-neighboring environments (including upwelling and CO 2 vent sites). We also conduct a synthesis of the abiotic data that have been collected at these systems, to provide the first collective assessment on the range of extreme conditions under which corals currently persist. We use the review and data synthesis to increase our understanding of the biological and ecological mechanisms that facilitate survival and success under sub-optimal physicochemical conditions. This comprehensive assessment can begin to: (i) highlight the extent of extreme abiotic scenarios under which corals can persist, (ii) explore whether there are commonalities in coral taxa able to persist in such extremes, (iii) provide evidence for key mechanisms required to support survival and/or persistence under sub-optimal environmental conditions, and (iv) evaluate the potential of current sub-optimal coral environments to act as potential refugia under changing environmental conditions. Such a collective approach is critical to better understand the future survival of corals in our changing environment. We finally outline priority areas for future research on extreme and marginal coral environments, and discuss the additional management options they may provide for corals through refuge or by providing genetic stocks of stress tolerant corals to support proactive management strategies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: High Temperature Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: High Temperature Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Potential Of Refuge Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Few refuges have been identified to date. Potential refuges from thermal and irradiance stress have been suggested based on modeling (e.g., Karnauskas and Cohen, 2012;Fine et al, 2013) and field research (van Woesik et al, 2012). In Palau, corals exhibited less bleaching and mortality in bays where the highest temperatures were recorded, because of attenuation of light (shading) by suspended particulate matter (van Woesik et al, 2012).…”

Section: Alternative Refuges and Resiliency Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Risk analyses indicate that more than 90 % of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business-asusual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of reef structure. Management strategies include establishment of marine protected areas with environmental conditions that promote reef resiliency. However, few resilient reefs have been identified, and resiliency factors are poorly defined.Here we characterize the first natural, non-reef coral refuge from thermal stress and ocean acidification and identify resiliency factors for mangrove-coral habitats. We measured diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, salinity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and seawater chemistry; characterized substrate parameters; and examined water circulation patterns in mangrove communities where scleractinian corals are growing attached to and under mangrove prop roots in Hurricane Hole, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Additionally, we inventoried the coral species and quantified incidences of coral bleaching, mortality, and recovery for two major reef-building corals, Colpophyllia natans and Diploria labyrinthiformis, growing in mangroveshaded and exposed (unshaded) areas.Over 30 species of scleractinian corals were growing in association with mangroves. Corals were thriving in low-light (more than 70 % attenuation of incident PAR) from mangrove shading and at higher temperatures than nearby reef tract corals. A higher percentage of C. natans colonies were living shaded by mangroves, and no shaded colonies were bleached. Fewer D. labyrinthiformis colonies were shaded by mangroves, however more unshaded colonies were bleached. A combination of substrate and habitat heterogeneity, proximity of different habitat types, hydrographic conditions, and biological influences on seawater chemistry generate chemical conditions that buffer against ocean acidification. This previously undocumented refuge for corals provides evidence for adaptation of coastal organisms and ecosystem transition due to recent climate change. Identifying and protecting other natural, non-reef coral refuges is critical for sustaining corals and other reef species into the future.

show abstract

A low cost field‐survey method for mapping seagrasses and their potential threats: an example from the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Winters

Edelist

Shem-Tov

et al. 2016

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. In the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA), coral reefs are considered the dominating ecosystem, while seagrass meadows, recognized worldwide as important ecosystems, have received little attention. Absence of comprehensive seagrass maps limits awareness, evaluations of associated ecosystem services, and implementation of conservation and management tools.2. Presented here are the first detailed maps of seagrass meadows along the Israeli coast of the northern GoA. Mapping was performed by snorkelling along transects perpendicular to the shore above meadows growing at 15-25 m. Measurements along these transects included position, meadow depth and visual estimations of seagrass cover. Shallow boundaries of meadows, parallel to shore, were recorded by GPS tracking. Supplementary work included drop-camera boat surveys to determine the position of the deeper edge of meadows. In addition, GIS layers were created that indicated shoreline infrastructures, near-shore human activities and potential pollution threats. Ecosystem services of seagrass meadows mapped were valuated using a benefit transfer approach.3. In total, 9.7 km of the 11 km shoreline were surveyed and 2830 data points collected. Seagrasses were growing along 7.5 km of the shoreline, with shallow (15-25 m) meadows found to cover an area of 707 000 m 2 and valued at more than US$ 2 000 000 yr -1 in associated ecosystem services. Pilot drop-camera surveys (additional 283 data points) indicated that meadows can extend down to 50 m in some places. Coastal uses and threats varied in character and location. A municipality runoff point and drainage canal located close to the largest meadow were identified as the main threats to local seagrasses. 4. These low-cost methods enhance our understanding of seagrass distribution in the northern GoA. They demonstrate a GIS-based tool for assessing how environmental changes might affect the cover and state of seagrasses, improving efforts to conserve seagrass, and have particular relevance to seagrass mapping in developing countries and/or island nations.

show abstract

A coral reef refuge in the Red Sea

Cited by 224 publications

References 67 publications

The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments

The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments

Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change

A low cost field‐survey method for mapping seagrasses and their potential threats: an example from the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About