scholarly journals Temporal patterns in coral assemblages on the Great Barrier Reef from local to large spatial scales

2000 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Ninio ◽  
M Meekan ◽  
T Done ◽  
H Sweatman
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Barrier Reef

scholarly journals Spatio-temporal patterns in the postglacial flooding of the Great Barrier Reef shelf, Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 13-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Hinestrosa ◽  
Jody M. Webster ◽  
Robin J. Beaman
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Spatio Temporal

scholarly journals Long-term shifts in the colony size structure of coral populations along the Great Barrier Reef

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1936) ◽  
pp. 20201432
Author(s):  
Andreas Dietzel ◽  
Michael Bode ◽  
Sean R. Connolly ◽  
Terry P. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Colony Size ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Size Frequency Distribution ◽  
Coral Colony ◽  
Recovery Potential

The age or size structure of a population has a marked influence on its demography and reproductive capacity. While declines in coral cover are well documented, concomitant shifts in the size-frequency distribution of coral colonies are rarely measured at large spatial scales. Here, we document major shifts in the colony size structure of coral populations along the 2300 km length of the Great Barrier Reef relative to historical baselines (1995/1996). Coral colony abundances on reef crests and slopes have declined sharply across all colony size classes and in all coral taxa compared to historical baselines. Declines were particularly pronounced in the northern and central regions of the Great Barrier Reef, following mass coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017. The relative abundances of large colonies remained relatively stable, but this apparent stability masks steep declines in absolute abundance. The potential for recovery of older fecund corals is uncertain given the increasing frequency and intensity of disturbance events. The systematic decline in smaller colonies across regions, habitats and taxa, suggests that a decline in recruitment has further eroded the recovery potential and resilience of coral populations.

Benthic community composition influences within-habitat variation in macroalgal browsing on the Great Barrier Reef

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 999 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cvitanovic ◽  
A. S. Hoey
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Benthic Community ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Habitat Variation ◽  
Benthic Composition

The removal of macroalgae by herbivores is fundamental to the long-term persistence of coral reefs. Variation in macroalgal browsing has been documented across a range of spatial scales on coral reefs; however, few studies have examined the factors that influence within-habitat rates of herbivory. The aim of the present study was to quantify herbivory on two species of Sargassum across three bays on an inshore island in the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR), and to determine whether these removal rates were related to the benthic composition or herbivorous fish communities. Removal rates of Sargassum differed significantly among bays, with removal rates in the southern bay (66.9–83.0% per 3 h) being approximately double that of the two other bays (29.2–38.5% per 3 h). The removal rates displayed a direct relationship with the benthic community structure, in particular the cover of macroalgae and live plate corals. Although it is difficult to determine whether these relationships are related to the availability of food resources or the structural complexity of the substratum, they highlight the potential influence of benthic composition on ecological processes. Quantifying and understanding the drivers of herbivory across a range of spatial scales is essential to the future management of coral reefs.

Patterns of recruitment of polychaetes to coral substrates at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef - an experimental approach

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Hutchings ◽  
A Murray
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
The Other ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Lizard Island

The spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment of seven species in six families of polychaete to coral substrates at two sites at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, are described. Four species exhibit similar patterns of recruitment to both sites, and another species exhibits a similar pattern to both sites but with different intensities. The other two species recruit in different patterns to the two sites. All species exhibit peaks of recruitment, most during mid-summer. Recruitment during 1977 was significantly greater than during 1976 for five of the seven species. Factors responsible for this variation and the patchiness of successful settlement are discussed.

Geographic variation in the sex ratio, sex specific size, and age structure of Plectropomus leopardus (Serranidae) between reefs open and closed to fishing on the Great Barrier Reef

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1448-1458 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Adams ◽  
B D Mapstone ◽  
G R Russ ◽  
C R Davies
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Size And Age Structure ◽  
Plectropomus Leopardus

Variation in reproductive parameters of Plectropomus leopardus populations between coral reefs open and closed to fishing was examined in two geographic regions (off Townsville (19°S) and in the Swains (22°S)) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The reproductive parameters that were examined included the operational (reproductive) sex ratio and size and age structure of mature females, sex-changing individuals (transitionals), and mature males. There was a greater proportion of males above the minimum size and age of harvest on reefs closed to fishing for 8-10 years than on reefs open to fishing, although the effect varied with geographic region. Nevertheless, neither the sex ratio, mean age, nor mean size of males or transitionals varied significantly with reef closure status. Females, however, were significantly older and larger on closed than on open reefs in both regions. Marked regional variations in the sex ratio and average age of transitionals were found independent of reef closure status, suggesting regional variation in reproductive strategies. Controlled manipulations, inclusion of broad spatial scales, and detailed studies of intra- and inter-specific variation in serranid reproductive biology are necessary to resolve such complexities in the responses of protogynous serranids to fishing pressure and management strategies.

Patterns of zonation of assemblages of the Lutjanidae, Lethrinidae and Serranidae (Epinephelinae) within and among mid-shelf and outer-shelf reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Newman ◽  
David McB. Williams ◽  
Garry R. Russ
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Outer Shelf ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Fishing Pressure ◽  
Back Reef ◽  
Outer Continental Shelf ◽  
Spatial Differences ◽  
Reef Zones

Visual censuses were used to quantify the distribution and abundance of the Lutjanidae, Lethrinidae and Serranidae in three reef zones (windward reef slope, lagoon, back reef) of three reefs on the mid shelf and three reefs on the outer continental shelf in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef. Significant spatial variability was identified in the abundances of many species between locations (outer-shelf and mid-shelf communities), between reefs (high-abundance v. low-abundance reefs), and within reefs (characteristic communities within zones on individual reefs). Species of the Lutjanidae, Lethrinidae and Serranidae were found to occur in assemblages that were characteristic of major zones (windward reef slopes, lagoons and leeward back reefs), this pattern being consistent within and among shelf locations. Care will need to be taken in determining the appropriate spatial scales of sampling in any future experiments (e.g. manipulations of fishing pressure) to ensure that the effects of smaller-scale spatial differences are not confounded when larger-scale comparisons are made.

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