Borneo coral reefs subject to high sediment loads show evidence of resilience to various environmental stressors.

ABSTRACT: For reefs in South East Asia the synergistic effects of rapid land development, insufficient environmental policies and a lack of enforcement has led to poor water quality and compromised coral health from increased sediment and pollution. Those inshore turbid coral reefs, subject to significant sediment inputs, may also inherit some resilience to the effects of thermal stress and coral bleaching. We studied the inshore turbid reefs near Miri, in northwest Borneo through a comprehensive assessment of coral cover and health in addition to quantifying sediment-related parameters. Although Miri's Reefs had comparatively low coral species diversity, dominated by massive and encrusting forms of Diploastrea, Porites, Montipora, Favites, Dipsastrea and Pachys

SUBMITTER: Browne N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6698134 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature