Disturbance and the Dynamics of Coral Cover on the Great Barrier Reef (1995–2009)

Osborne, Kate; Dolman, Andrew M.; Burgess, Scott C.; Johns, Kerryn

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017516

Cited by 215 publications

(217 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…The rate of decline has also increased substantially, and has averaged ∼1.45% y −1 since ∼2006. Both the overall and more recent rates of decline are higher than previous estimates (13,14), which were either based on time series that ended in 2005 (14) or covered a shorter period (1995-2009) and surveyed far fewer reefs using a different survey method (13). The disturbance data for COTS or cyclones show periodic and random fluctuations but no systematic long-term variation over the 27-y observation period, and given that GBR coral cover was likely higher than 28% before 1985 (2), the decline in coral cover may have started long before then.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

“…The recent frequency and intensity of mass coral bleaching are of major concern, and are directly attributable to rising atmospheric greenhouse gases (3). To date, the GBR has lost fewer corals to bleaching and diseases than many other regions in the world (13,24), but bleaching mortality will almost certainly increase in the GBR, given the upward trend in temperatures (25).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fishing, although intense near the coast and urban centers, is banned in 33% of the GBR and is regulated elsewhere (11). Nonetheless, the GBR has been subject to severe disturbances, including COTS outbreaks, mass coral bleaching and declining growth rates of coral due to increasing seawater temperatures, terrestrial runoff, tropical cyclones, and coral diseases (2,3,(12)(13)(14). The runoff of soils, fertilizers, and pesticides from agricultural and coastal development has significantly affected inshore coral reefs (12,(15)(16)(17), and has likely increased COTS outbreak frequencies (5,18).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The runoff of soils, fertilizers, and pesticides from agricultural and coastal development has significantly affected inshore coral reefs (12,(15)(16)(17), and has likely increased COTS outbreak frequencies (5,18). Conclusions of scientific studies on the condition of the GBR, based on different datasets and various time periods, have ranged from evidence for fluctuations from localized disturbances (13,14) to ecosystem-wide declines (1,2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The 27–year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes

De’ath

Fabricius

Sweatman

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,527

1,191

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The world's coral reefs are being degraded, and the need to reduce local pressures to offset the effects of increasing global pressures is now widely recognized. This study investigates the spatial and temporal dynamics of coral cover, identifies the main drivers of coral mortality, and quantifies the rates of potential recovery of the Great Barrier Reef. Based on the world's most extensive time series data on reef condition (2,258 surveys of 214 reefs over 1985-2012), we show a major decline in coral cover from 28.0% to 13.8% (0.53% y −1 ), a loss of 50.7% of initial coral cover. Tropical cyclones, coral predation by crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), and coral bleaching accounted for 48%, 42%, and 10% of the respective estimated losses, amounting to 3.38% y −1 mortality rate. Importantly, the relatively pristine northern region showed no overall decline. The estimated rate of increase in coral cover in the absence of cyclones, COTS, and bleaching was 2.85% y −1 , demonstrating substantial capacity for recovery of reefs. In the absence of COTS, coral cover would increase at 0.89% y −1 , despite ongoing losses due to cyclones and bleaching. Thus, reducing COTS populations, by improving water quality and developing alternative control measures, could prevent further coral decline and improve the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef. Such strategies can, however, only be successful if climatic conditions are stabilized, as losses due to bleaching and cyclones will otherwise increase.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The 27–year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes

De’ath

Fabricius

Sweatman

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,527

1,191

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“…Halford et al [107] found complete recovery of corals and nearly total recovery of �sh assemblages over 80 km of the Great Barrier Reef about a decade aer major storm damage. Monitoring of sites across 1300 km of the Great Barrier Reef (1995 to 2009) indicated increases in coral cover for some reefs but decreases for others [115]. Recently, De'ath et al [9] reported a loss of over 50% coral cover along the Great Barrier Reef from 1985 to 2012 based on surveys of 214 reefs, attributing the decline to cyclones (48%), Crown-of orns star�sh (42%), and bleaching (10%).…”

Section: Where In the World Have Reefs Recovered?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

Rogers

2013

ISRN Oceanography

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Irrefutable evidence of coral reef degradation worldwide and increasing pressure from rising seawater temperatures and ocean acidification associated with climate change have led to a focus on reef resilience and a call to “manage” coral reefs for resilience. Ideally, global action to reduce emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be accompanied by local action. Effective management requires reduction of local stressors, identification of the characteristics of resilient reefs, and design of marine protected area networks that include potentially resilient reefs. Future research is needed on how stressors interact, on how climate change will affect corals, fish, and other reef organisms as well as overall biodiversity, and on basic ecological processes such as connectivity. Not all reef species and reefs will respond similarly to local and global stressors. Because reef-building corals and other organisms have some potential to adapt to environmental changes, coral reefs will likely persist in spite of the unprecedented combination of stressors currently affecting them. The biodiversity of coral reefs is the basis for their remarkable beauty and for the benefits they provide to society. The extraordinary complexity of these ecosystems makes it both more difficult to predict their future and more likely they will have a future.

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Prevalence and severity of sublethal injuries in crown‐of‐thorns starfish relative to marine reserves in the Great Barrier Reef

Caballes

Messmer

Raymundo

et al. 2022

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Spatial and temporal stochasticity in the abundance and population dynamics of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster spp.) highlight the critical need for improved knowledge of demographic variability within and among populations.2. This study compared the prevalence (proportion of individuals) and severity (extent of damage) of injuries in adult COTS between contrasting fisheries management zones in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, explicitly testing whether injuries are more prevalent or severe on reefs where fishing is not permitted.3. Prevalence of sublethal injuries was significantly higher for COTS collected from reefs within Marine National Park Zones, where fishing is effectively prohibited, versus Conservation Park Zones or Habitat Protection Zones, where fishing is permitted, but regulated. This finding is consistent with the notion that predation rates on COTS are higher within reef habitats where fishing is prohibited, presumably due to the bigger size or higher abundance of predatory fishes. 4. Severity was predominantly low among the injured starfish and there was no significant difference between management zones. Nevertheless, there was a higher frequency of individuals with between one and three injured arms in notake reefs compared to those from reefs that were open to fishing. 5. Prevalence and severity of sublethal injuries was higher in medium-sized COTS (11-30 cm diameter) compared to larger COTS (>30 cm diameter).6. This study adds to existing evidence that established networks of marine reserves can have benefits beyond conservation and fisheries management, including potential reductions in the likelihood of devastating population irruptions of COTS and mitigation of further coral loss.

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Disturbance and the Dynamics of Coral Cover on the Great Barrier Reef (1995–2009)

Cited by 215 publications

References 54 publications

The 27–year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes

The 27–year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes

Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

Prevalence and severity of sublethal injuries in crown‐of‐thorns starfish relative to marine reserves in the Great Barrier Reef

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