Marine reserves help coastal ecosystems cope with extreme weather

Andrew D Olds; Kylie A Pitt; Paul S Maxwell; Russell C Babcock; David Rissik; R M Connolly

doi:10.1111/gcb.12606

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Marine reserves help coastal ecosystems cope with extreme weather

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Marine reserves help coastal ecosystems cope with extreme weather

Andrew D Olds, Kylie A Pitt, Paul S Maxwell, Russell C Babcock, David Rissik and R M Connolly

Global Change Biology, Vol.20(10), pp.3050-3058

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12606

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Abstract

Biological Sciences

Environmental Sciences

Australia

coral reefs

disturbance

ecological resilience

flood impacts

herbivory

marine reserves

seascape

connectivity

Natural ecosystems have experienced widespread degradation due to human activities. Consequently, enhancing resilience has become a primary objective for conservation. Nature reserves are a favored management tool, but we need clearer empirical tests of whether they can impart resilience. Catastrophic flooding in early 2011 impacted coastal ecosystems across eastern Australia. We demonstrate that marine reserves enhanced the capacity of coral reefs to withstand flood impacts. Reserve reefs resisted the impact of perturbation, whilst fished reefs did not. Changes on fished reefs were correlated with the magnitude of flood impact, whereas variation on reserve reefs was related to ecological variables. Herbivory and coral recruitment are critical ecological processes that underpin reef resilience, and were greater in reserves and further enhanced on reserve reefs near mangroves. The capacity of reserves to mitigate external disturbances and promote ecological resilience will be critical to resisting an increased frequency of climate-related disturbance.

Details

Title: Marine reserves help coastal ecosystems cope with extreme weather
Authors: Andrew D Olds (Author) - Griffith University
Kylie A Pitt (Author) - Griffith University
Paul S Maxwell (Author) - Griffith University
Russell C Babcock (Author) - CSIRO, Marine and Atmospheric Research
David Rissik (Author) - Griffith University
R M Connolly (Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: Global Change Biology, Vol.20(10), pp.3050-3058
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12606
ISSN: 1354-1013
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448746802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences

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