Coral reef annihilation, persistence and recovery at Earth’s youngest volcanic island

P F Smallhorn-West; J B Garvin; D A Slayback; T M DeCarlo; Sophie E Gordon; S H Fitzgerald; T Halafihi; G P Jones; T C L Bridge

doi:10.1007/s00338-019-01868-8

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Coral reef annihilation, persistence and recovery at Earth’s youngest volcanic island

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Coral reef annihilation, persistence and recovery at Earth’s youngest volcanic island

P F Smallhorn-West, J B Garvin, D A Slayback, T M DeCarlo, Sophie E Gordon, S H Fitzgerald, T Halafihi, G P Jones and T C L Bridge

Coral Reefs, Vol.39(3), pp.529-536

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01868-8

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Abstract

refuge population

ecosystem resilience

coral reef

volcanic eruption

reef recovery

The structure and function of coral reef ecosystems is increasingly compromised by multiple stressors, even in the most remote locations. Severe, acute disturbances such as volcanic eruptions represent extreme events that can annihilate entire reef ecosystems, but also provide unique opportunities to examine ecosystem resilience and recovery. Here, we examine the destruction, persistence and initial recovery of reefs associated with the hydro-magmatic eruption that created Earth's newest landmass, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic island. Despite extreme conditions associated with the eruption, impacts on nearby reefs were spatially variable. Importantly, even heavily affected reefs showed signs of rapid recovery driven by high recruitment, likely from local refuges. The remote location and corresponding lack of additional stressors likely contribute to the resilience of Hunga's reefs, suggesting that in the absence of chronic anthropogenic stressors, coral reefs can be resilient to one of the largest physical disturbances on Earth.

Details

Title: Coral reef annihilation, persistence and recovery at Earth’s youngest volcanic island
Authors: P F Smallhorn-West (Author) - James Cook University
J B Garvin (Author) - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
D A Slayback (Author) - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
T M DeCarlo (Author) - University of Western Australia
Sophie E Gordon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
S H Fitzgerald (Author) - James Cook University
T Halafihi (Author) - Ministry of Fisheries
G P Jones (Author) - James Cook University
T C L Bridge (Author) - James Cook University
Publication details: Coral Reefs, Vol.39(3), pp.529-536
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1007/s00338-019-01868-8
ISSN: 0722-4028
Organisation Unit: Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450821902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology

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