Dynamic fragility of oceanic coral reef ecosystems

被引:515
作者
Graham, NAJ [1 ]
Wilson, SK
Jennings, S
Polunin, NVC
Bijoux, JP
Robinson, J
机构
[1] Univ Newcastle Upon Tyne, Sch Marine Sci & Technol, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, Tyne & Wear, England
[2] Townsville MC, Australian Inst Marine Sci, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
[3] Lowestoft Lab, Ctr Environm Fisheries & Aquaculture Sci, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, Suffolk, England
[4] Seychelles Fishing Author, Mahe, Seychelles
关键词
biodiversity; climate change; coral bleaching; resilience; reef fish;
D O I
10.1073/pnas.0600693103
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
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.
引用
收藏
页码:8425 / 8429
页数:5
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