High macroalgal cover and low coral recruitment undermines the potential resilience of the world's southernmost coral reef assemblages.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic and climate-induced stressors. The ability of reefs to reassemble and regenerate after disturbances (i.e., resilience) is largely dependent on the capacity of herbivores to prevent macroalgal expansion, and the replenishment of coral populations through larval recruitment. Currently there is a paucity of this information for higher latitude, subtropical reefs. To assess the potential resilience of the benthic reef assemblages of Lord Howe Island (31°32'S, 159°04'E), the worlds' southernmost coral reef, we quantified the benthic composition, densities of juvenile corals (as a proxy for coral recruitment), and herbivorous fish communities. Despite some variation among habitats and sites, benthic communities were dominated by live s

SUBMITTER: Hoey AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3185058 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature