The state of Western Australia’s coral reefs

J.P. Gilmour; K.L. Cook; N.M. Ryan; M.L. Puotinen; R.H. Green; G. Shedrawi; J-P.A. Hobbs; D.P. Thomson; R.C. Babcock; J. Buckee; T. Foster; Z.T. Richards; S.K. Wilson; P.B. Barnes; T.B. Coutts; B.T. Radford; C.H. Piggott; M. Depczynski; S.N. Evans; V. Schoepf; R.D. Evans; A.R. Halford; C.D. Nutt; K.P. Bancroft; A.J. Heyward; D. Oades

doi:10.1007/s00338-019-01795-8

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The state of Western Australia’s coral reefs

Journal article

Peer reviewed

The state of Western Australia’s coral reefs

J.P. Gilmour, K.L. Cook, N.M. Ryan, M.L. Puotinen, R.H. Green, G. Shedrawi, J-P.A. Hobbs, D.P. Thomson, R.C. Babcock, J. Buckee, …

Coral Reefs, Vol.38(4), pp.651-667

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01795-8

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Abstract

Western Australia’s coral reefs have largely escaped the chronic pressures affecting other reefs around the world, but are regularly affected by seasonal storms and cyclones, and increasingly by heat stress and coral bleaching. Reef systems north of 18°S have been impacted by heat stress and coral bleaching during strong El Niño phases and those further south during strong La Niña phases. Cumulative heat stress and the extent of bleaching throughout the northern reefs in 2016 were higher than at any other time on record. To assess the changing regime of disturbance to reef systems across Western Australia (WA), we linked their site-specific exposure to damaging waves and heat stress since 1990 with mean changes in coral cover. Since 2010, there has been a noticeable increase in heat stress and coral bleaching across WA. Over half the reef systems have been severely impacted by coral bleaching since 2010, which was further compounded by cyclones at some reefs. For most (75%) reef systems with long-term data (5–26 yrs), mean coral cover is currently at (or near) the lowest on record and a full recovery is unlikely if disturbances continue to intensify with climate change. However, some reefs have not yet experienced severe bleaching and their coral cover has remained relatively stable or increased in recent years. Additionally, within all reef systems the condition of communities and their exposure to disturbances varied spatially. Identifying the communities least susceptible to future disturbances and linking them through networks of protected areas, based on patterns of larval connectivity, are important research and management priorities in coming years while the causes of climate change are addressed.

Details

Title: The state of Western Australia’s coral reefs
Authors/Creators: J.P. Gilmour (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
K.L. Cook (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
N.M. Ryan (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
M.L. Puotinen (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
R.H. Green (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
G. Shedrawi (Author/Creator) - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
J-P.A. Hobbs (Author/Creator) - Curtin University
D.P. Thomson (Author/Creator) - CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
R.C. Babcock (Author/Creator) - CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
J. Buckee (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
T. Foster (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Z.T. Richards (Author/Creator) - Australian Museum
S.K. Wilson (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
P.B. Barnes (Author/Creator) - Parks and Wildlife Service
T.B. Coutts (Author/Creator) - Parks and Wildlife Service
B.T. Radford (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
C.H. Piggott (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
M. Depczynski (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
S.N. Evans (Author/Creator) - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
V. Schoepf (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
R.D. Evans (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
A.R. Halford (Author/Creator) - Pacific Community
C.D. Nutt (Author/Creator) - Parks and Wildlife Service
K.P. Bancroft (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
A.J. Heyward (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
D. Oades (Author/Creator) - Bardi Jawi Rangers, Ardyaloon, Dampier Peninsula, Australia
Publication Details: Coral Reefs, Vol.38(4), pp.651-667
Publisher: Springer
Identifiers: 991005545208507891
Copyright: © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.570 Coral Reef Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science