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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
Dynamic fragility of oceanic coral reef ecosystems
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 103, No. 22, Year 2006
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Description
As one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems known, and one of the first ecosystems to exhibit major climate-warming impacts (coral bleaching), coral reefs have drawn much scientific attention to what may prove to be their Achilles heel, the thermal sensitivity of reef-building corals. Here we show that climate change-driven loss of live coral, and ultimately structural complexity, in the Seychelles results in local extinctions, substantial reductions in species richness, reduced taxonomic distinctness, and a loss of species within key functional groups of reef fish. The importance of deteriorating physical structure to these patterns demonstrates the longer-term impacts of bleaching on reefs and raises questions over the potential for recovery. We suggest that isolated reef systems may be more susceptible to climate change, despite escaping many of the stressors impacting continental reefs. © 2006 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA.
Authors & Co-Authors
Graham, Nicholas Anthony James
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Wilson, Shaun K.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Australia, Townsville
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Jennings, Simon
United Kingdom, Lowestoft
Centre for the Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Polunin, N. V.C.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Bijoux, Jude P.
Seychelles
Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology-marine Parks Authority
Robinson, Jan
Seychelles
Seychelles Fishing Authority
Statistics
Citations: 707
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1073/pnas.0600693103
ISSN:
00278424
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Locations
Seychelles