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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Climate change impedes scleractinian corals as primary reef ecosystem engineers
Marine and Freshwater Research, Volume 62, No. 2, Year 2011
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Description
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on our planet. Scleractinian corals function as the primary reef ecosystem engineers, constructing the framework that serves as a habitat for all other coral reef-associated organisms. However, the coral's engineering role is particularly susceptible to global climate change. Ocean warming can cause extensive mass coral bleaching, which triggers dysfunction of major engineering processes. Sub-lethal bleaching results in the reduction of both primary productivity and coral calcification. This may lead to changes in the release of organic and inorganic products, thereby altering critical biogeochemical and recycling processes in reef ecosystems. Thermal stress-induced bleaching and subsequent coral mortality, along with ocean acidification, further lead to long-term shifts in benthic community structure, changes in topographic reef complexity, and the modification of reef functioning. Such shifts may cause negative feedback loops and further modification of coral-derived inorganic and organic products. This review emphasises the critical role of scleractinian corals as reef ecosystem engineers and highlights the control of corals over key reef ecosystem goods and services, including high biodiversity, coastal protection, fishing, and tourism. Thus, climate change by impeding coral ecosystem engineers will impair the ecosystem functioning of entire reefs. © CSIRO 2011.
Authors & Co-Authors
Wild, Christian
Germany, Bremen
Universität Bremen
Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove I.
Australia, Brisbane
The University of Queensland
Naumann, Malik S.
Monaco, Monte Carlo
Centre Scientifique de Monaco
Colombo-Pallotta, María Florencia
Mexico, Cuernavaca
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Campus Morelos
Ateweberhan, Mebrahtu
Kenya
Coral Reef Conservation Project
United Kingdom, Coventry
University of Warwick
Fitt, William K.
United States, Athens
University of Georgia
Iglesias Prieto, Roberto
Mexico, Cuernavaca
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Campus Morelos
Palmer, Caroline V.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Australia, Townsville
James Cook University
Bythell, John Christopher
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Bravo-Ortiz, Juan Carlos
Australia, Brisbane
The University of Queensland
Loya, Yossi
Israel, Tel Aviv-yafo
Tel Aviv University
van Woesik, Robert
United States, Melbourne
Florida Institute of Technology
Statistics
Citations: 247
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 11
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1071/MF10254
Research Areas
Environmental