Feb

10

2007
 
 

Big fish save coral



Great Barrier ReefHungry herbivores speed reef recovery after bleaching event

Global warming isn’t exactly working in favor of coral reefs, but they’re not without allies, according to a study published this week. Big vegetarian fish, exactly like the ones missing from most over-exploited coastal ecosystems, are an essential part of a reef’s recovery plan. James Cook University marine biologist Terry Hughes and colleagues report this week on an experiment they carried out at the Great Barrier Reef in the aftermath of the 1997—1998 coral bleaching event, which affected 16% of the world’s reefs. Hughes’ team showed that coral recovery depends heavily on algae-grazing fish, which help coral species to re-colonize bleached areas before the seaweed takes over.

Source: Hughes, TP, Rodrigues, MJ, Bellwood, DR, Ceccarelli, D, Hoegh-Guldberg, O, McCook, L, Moltschaniwskyj, N, Pratchett, MS, Steneck, RS & Willis, B (2007) Phase shifts, herbivory, and the resilience of coral reefs to climate change. Current Biology DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2006.12.049

Filed Under Climate change, Restoration, Marine | 

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2 Responses to “Big fish save coral”

  1. Coral wreaths : Journal Watch Online on May 8th, 2007 12:03 am

    […] syndrome, a devastating coral disease, is stretching over the Australian Great Barrier Reef (GBR). And writing in PLoS Biology this week, an international team of marine ecologists, led by […]

  2. Vaughan Domitilla on October 21st, 2007 7:59 pm

    that’s why it will never wor. Vaughan Domitilla.

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