A maritime accident provides evidence for alternate stable states in benthic communities on coral reefs

Coral Reefs ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Hatcher
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Alternate Stable States

Erratum to: Multiple feedbacks and the prevalence of alternate stable states on coral reefs

Coral Reefs ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 867-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid A. van de Leemput ◽  
Terry P. Hughes ◽  
Egbert H. van Nes ◽  
Marten Scheffer
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Alternate Stable States

Multiple feedbacks and the prevalence of alternate stable states on coral reefs

Coral Reefs ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 857-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid A. van de Leemput ◽  
Terry P. Hughes ◽  
Egbert H. van Nes ◽  
Marten Scheffer
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Alternate Stable States

Alternative Stable States, Coral Reefs, and Smooth Dynamics with a Kick

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Ippolito ◽  
Vincent Naudot ◽  
Erik G. Noonburg
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Alternative Stable States ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Smooth Dynamics

scholarly journals Benthic communities at two remote Pacific coral reefs: effects of reef habitat, depth, and wave energy gradients on spatial patterns

PeerJ ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. e81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth J. Williams ◽  
Jennifer E. Smith ◽  
Eric J. Conklin ◽  
Jamison M. Gove ◽  
Enric Sala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Reef Habitat ◽  
Habitat Depth

scholarly journals Integrating Oceanographic Data and Benthic Community Structure Temporal Series to Assess the Dynamics of a Marginal Reef

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Biscaia Zamoner ◽  
Anaide Wrublevski Aued ◽  
Luis Carlos Pinto Macedo-Soares ◽  
Vitor André Passos Picolotto ◽  
Carlos Alberto Eiras Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Brazilian Province

Reefs are the richest marine ecosystems. Their benthic communities generate structural complexity and participate in nutrient cycles, providing habitat and food for many marine species. These ecosystems have been threatened by local and global anthropogenic impacts and changes in community structure have led to loss of biodiversity, ecosystem function and services worldwide. Most studies about these structural changes have been conducted in Caribbean and Indo-Pacific coral reefs. In the Southwestern Atlantic, where reefs are naturally algae-dominated, these efforts are incipient, especially at oceanic islands where local anthropic impacts tend to be lower, and natural and climate-induced fluctuations might be easily detected. We conducted the first temporal assessment of benthic communities and the influence of oceanographic parameters between 2013 and 2019 in Fernando de Noronha (FNA), the largest Brazilian oceanic archipelago. We annually sampled benthic communities in FNA’s shallow reefs (2–21 m) using photoquadrats, quantified and gathered organisms in major groups according to their functional roles. We also characterized and tested “sea surface temperature,” “marine heatwaves,” “diffuse attenuation coefficient,” and “wave energy” influence for the same period. The most abundant groups were epilithic algal matrix (EAM; mean annual coverage: 23–60%), macroalgae (15–35%) and calcifiers (15–29%), followed by cyanobacteria (1–37%), suspension/filter-feeders (<2%), zoanthids (<1%) and other invertebrates (<0.1%). EAM was negatively correlated with “marine heatwaves” and positively correlated with “wave energy,” while macroalgae and calcifiers showed opposite responses to “marine heatwaves” and “wave energy,” respectively. Cyanobacteria was positively correlated with “marine heatwaves.” The dominance of EAM and macroalgae was already described for reefs along the Brazilian Province and we demonstrated the persistence of this structure over the years in FNA, with the exception of 2019 when there was a substantial increase of cyanobacteria after a strong marine heatwave. Our results suggest a flickering dynamic between EAM and macroalgae, which vary according to the oceanographic conditions, reinforcing its distinct dynamics from most tropical coral reefs. However, the increase of cyanobacteria added to projections of more frequent and stronger marine heatwaves worldwide indicate possible structural changes in this community. Continued monitoring of community and oceanographic drivers is key for better understanding and predicting changes in important marginal reefs.

EVIDENCE FOR TWO ALTERNATE STABLE STATES IN AN UNGULATE GRAZING SYSTEM

1998 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1260-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Augustine ◽  
Lee E. Frelich ◽  
Peter A. Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Stable States ◽  
Alternate Stable States ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Ungulate Grazing

scholarly journals Kelp Forests versus Urchin Barrens: Alternate Stable States and Their Effect on Sea Otter Prey Quality in the Aleutian Islands

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan L. Stewart ◽  
Brenda Konar
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Kelp Forest ◽  
Kelp Forests ◽  
Sea Otter ◽  
Population Status ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Alternate Stable States ◽  
Prey Quality

Macroalgal and urchin barren communities are alternately stable and persist in the Aleutians due to sea otter presence and absence. In the early 1990s a rapid otter population decline released urchins from predation and caused a shift to the urchin-dominated state. Despite increases in urchin abundance, otter numbers continued to decline. Although debated, prey quality changes have been implicated in current otter population status. This study examined otter prey abundance, size, biomass, and potential energy density in remnant kelp forest and urchin-dominated communities to determine if alternate stable states affect prey quality. Findings suggest that although urchin barrens provide more abundant urchin prey, individual urchins are smaller and provide lower biomass and potential energy density compared to kelp forests. Shifts to urchin barrens do affect prey quality but changes are likely compensated by increased prey densities and are insufficient in explaining current otter population status in the Aleutians.

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