Shifts in coral-assemblage composition do not ensure persistence of reef functionality.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Alvarez-Filip L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3860008 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Shifts in coral-assemblage composition do not ensure persistence of reef functionality.
Alvarez-Filip Lorenzo L Carricart-Ganivet Juan P JP Horta-Puga Guillermo G Iglesias-Prieto Roberto R
Scientific reports 20131212
Coral communities are changing rapidly worldwide through loss of coral cover and shifts in species composition. Although many reef-building corals are likely to decline, some weedy opportunistic species might increase in abundance. Here we explore whether the reshuffling of species can maintain ecosystem integrity and functioning. Using four common Caribbean reef-building coral genera we modeled rates of reef construction and complexity. We show that shifting coral assemblages result in rapid lo ...[more]
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