Coral recovery may not herald the return of fishes on damaged coral reefs
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
The dynamic nature of coral reefs offers a rare opportunity to examine the response of ecosystems to disruption due to climate change. In 1998, the Great Barrier Reef experienced widespread coral bleaching and mortality. As a result, cryptobenthic fish assemblages underwent a dramatic phase-shift. Thirteen years, and up to 96 fish generations later, the cryptobenthic fish assemblage has not returned to its pre-bleach configuration. This is despite coral abundances returning to, or exceeding, pre-bleach values. The post-bleach fish assemblage exhibits no evidence of recovery. If these short-lived fish species are a model for their longer-lived counterparts, they suggest that (1) the full effects of the 1998 bleaching event on long-lived fish populations have yet to be seen, (2) it may take decades, or more, before recovery or regeneration of these long-lived species will begin, and (3) fish assemblages may not recover to their previous composition despite the return of corals.
Journal
Oecologia
Publication Name
N/A
Volume
170
ISBN/ISSN
0029-8549
Edition
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Issue
2
Pages Count
7
Location
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Publisher
Springer
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Publisher Location
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Publish Date
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Url
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Date
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EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1007/s00442-012-2306-z