Click
here to close Hello! We notice that
you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Echinobase
and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a
current version of Chrome,
FireFox,
or Safari.
Glob Chang Biol
2015 Jan 01;211:48-61. doi: 10.1111/gcb.12700.
Show Gene links
Show Anatomy links
Operationalizing resilience for adaptive coral reef management under global environmental change.
Anthony KR
,
Marshall PA
,
Abdulla A
,
Beeden R
,
Bergh C
,
Black R
,
Eakin CM
,
Game ET
,
Gooch M
,
Graham NA
,
Green A
,
Heron SF
,
van Hooidonk R
,
Knowland C
,
Mangubhai S
,
Marshall N
,
Maynard JA
,
McGinnity P
,
McLeod E
,
Mumby PJ
,
Nyström M
,
Obura D
,
Oliver J
,
Possingham HP
,
Pressey RL
,
Rowlands GP
,
Tamelander J
,
Wachenfeld D
,
Wear S
.
???displayArticle.abstract???
Cumulative pressures from global climate and ocean change combined with multiple regional and local-scale stressors pose fundamental challenges to coral reef managers worldwide. Understanding how cumulative stressors affect coral reef vulnerability is critical for successful reef conservation now and in the future. In this review, we present the case that strategically managing for increased ecological resilience (capacity for stress resistance and recovery) can reduce coral reef vulnerability (risk of net decline) up to a point. Specifically, we propose an operational framework for identifying effective management levers to enhance resilience and support management decisions that reduce reef vulnerability. Building on a system understanding of biological and ecological processes that drive resilience of coral reefs in different environmental and socio-economic settings, we present an Adaptive Resilience-Based management (ARBM) framework and suggest a set of guidelines for how and where resilience can be enhanced via management interventions. We argue that press-type stressors (pollution, sedimentation, overfishing, ocean warming and acidification) are key threats to coral reef resilience by affecting processes underpinning resistance and recovery, while pulse-type (acute) stressors (e.g. storms, bleaching events, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks) increase the demand for resilience. We apply the framework to a set of example problems for Caribbean and Indo-Pacific reefs. A combined strategy of active risk reduction and resilience support is needed, informed by key management objectives, knowledge of reef ecosystem processes and consideration of environmental and social drivers. As climate change and ocean acidification erode the resilience and increase the vulnerability of coral reefs globally, successful adaptive management of coral reefs will become increasingly difficult. Given limited resources, on-the-ground solutions are likely to focus increasingly on actions that support resilience at finer spatial scales, and that are tightly linked to ecosystem goods and services.
Fig 2. System diagram outlining the functional linkages within the operational adaptive resilience-based management (ARBM) framework, consisting of a management and research component (left box, A–G) and the stressors/activities/drivers and conditions of the social-ecological systems (right box, H–K). The system is dynamic as information flowing from the ecological and social systems is used to update objectives and specific decisions to intervene and manage drivers, activities or stressors influencing resilience processes.
Fig 3. Two-dimensional conceptual representation of system behaviour for the four environmental scenarios and resilience categories (a–d) in Fig.1, and management actions needed to improve system condition and resilience under mild and severe climate change and ocean acidification. Solid lines represent stable equilibria (basins of attraction) and the dashed line the unstable equilibrium (threshold). Grey arrows indicate perturbations or environmental changes that do not represent immediate risks. Red arrows are perturbations that can potentially lead to an unwanted phase shift or reinforce an already low (or degraded) ecosystem state, and green arrows are resilience-based management actions (see also text). The lengths of arrows indicate the severity of disturbances (press or pulse), propensity for recovery or efficacy of efforts needed to move the system to the safe side of a threshold. The grey areas represent the conditions where a pulse-type disturbance may trigger a phase shift. The figure is modified from Figs1 and 2 in Scheffer et al. (2001). Thresholds for regime shifts under ocean warming and acidification are guided by model simulations using GBR corals (Anthony et al., 2011).
Bellwood,
Confronting the coral reef crisis.
2004, Pubmed
Bellwood,
Confronting the coral reef crisis.
2004,
Pubmed
Brodie,
Terrestrial pollutant runoff to the Great Barrier Reef: An update of issues, priorities and management responses.
2012,
Pubmed
Brodie,
Are increased nutrient inputs responsible for more outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish? An appraisal of the evidence.
2005,
Pubmed
,
Echinobase
Brooks,
Global biodiversity conservation priorities.
2006,
Pubmed
Chapin,
Consequences of changing biodiversity.
2000,
Pubmed
Chapin,
Ecosystem stewardship: sustainability strategies for a rapidly changing planet.
2010,
Pubmed
Cheal,
Spatial variation in the functional characteristics of herbivorous fish communities and the resilience of coral reefs.
2013,
Pubmed
Cinner,
Linking social and ecological systems to sustain coral reef fisheries.
2009,
Pubmed
De'ath,
Declining coral calcification on the Great Barrier Reef.
2009,
Pubmed
De'ath,
The 27-year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes.
2012,
Pubmed
,
Echinobase
Diaz-Pulido,
High CO2 enhances the competitive strength of seaweeds over corals.
2011,
Pubmed
Emanuel,
Downscaling CMIP5 climate models shows increased tropical cyclone activity over the 21st century.
2013,
Pubmed
Erftemeijer,
Environmental impacts of dredging and other sediment disturbances on corals: a review.
2012,
Pubmed
Game,
Should we protect the strong or the weak? Risk, resilience, and the selection of marine protected areas.
2008,
Pubmed
Harvell,
Climate warming and disease risks for terrestrial and marine biota.
2002,
Pubmed
Hoegh-Guldberg,
Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification.
2007,
Pubmed
Hughes,
Rising to the challenge of sustaining coral reef resilience.
2010,
Pubmed
Hughes,
Catastrophes, phase shifts, and large-scale degradation of a Caribbean coral reef.
1994,
Pubmed
Jones,
Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves.
2004,
Pubmed
Kennedy,
Avoiding coral reef functional collapse requires local and global action.
2013,
Pubmed
Knowlton,
Shifting baselines, local impacts, and global change on coral reefs.
2008,
Pubmed
Madin,
Climate-mediated mechanical changes to post-disturbance coral assemblages.
2008,
Pubmed
McClanahan,
Prioritizing key resilience indicators to support coral reef management in a changing climate.
2012,
Pubmed
McCook,
Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef: a globally significant demonstration of the benefits of networks of marine reserves.
2010,
Pubmed
,
Echinobase
McDole,
Assessing coral reefs on a Pacific-wide scale using the microbialization score.
2012,
Pubmed
Moss,
The next generation of scenarios for climate change research and assessment.
2010,
Pubmed
Mumby,
Thresholds and the resilience of Caribbean coral reefs.
2007,
Pubmed
,
Echinobase
Mumby,
Fishing, trophic cascades, and the process of grazing on coral reefs.
2006,
Pubmed
,
Echinobase
Mumby,
Coral reef management and conservation in light of rapidly evolving ecological paradigms.
2008,
Pubmed
Nichols,
Monitoring for conservation.
2006,
Pubmed
Rinkevich,
Conservation of coral reefs through active restoration measures: recent approaches and last decade progress.
2005,
Pubmed
Roff,
Global disparity in the resilience of coral reefs.
2012,
Pubmed
Sarkar,
Operationalizing biodiversity for conservation planning.
2002,
Pubmed
Schaffelke,
Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management.
2012,
Pubmed
Scheffer,
Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems.
2001,
Pubmed
Scheffer,
Anticipating critical transitions.
2012,
Pubmed
Thrush,
Forecasting the limits of resilience: integrating empirical research with theory.
2009,
Pubmed
Weeks,
Adaptive comanagement of a marine protected area network in Fiji.
2013,
Pubmed
Wooldridge,
Improved water quality can ameliorate effects of climate change on corals.
2009,
Pubmed
