Global trajectories of the long-term decline of coral reef ecosystems

Pandolfi, John M., Bradbury, Roger H., Sala, Enric, Hughes, Terry, Bjorndal, Karen A., Cooke, Richard G., McArdle, Deborah, McClenachan, Loren, Newman, Marah J.H., Paredes, Gustavo, Warner, Robert R., and Jackson, Jeremy B.C. (2003) Global trajectories of the long-term decline of coral reef ecosystems. Science, 301 (5635). pp. 955-958.

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Abstract

Degradation of coral reef ecosystems began centuries ago, but there is no global summary of the magnitude of change. We compiled records, extending back thousands of years, of the status and trends of seven major guilds of carnivores, herbivores, and architectural species from 14 regions. Large animals declined before small animals and architectural species, and Atlantic reefs declined before reefs in the Red Sea and Australia, but the trajectories of decline were markedly similar worldwide. All reefs were substantially degraded long before outbreaks of coral disease and bleaching. Regardless of these new threats, reefs will not survive without immediate protection from human exploitation over large spatial scales.

Item ID: 1542
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1095-9203
Keywords: coral reefs, degradation, trajectories, ecological change, fossil record, herbivores, carnivores, suspension feeders, seagrass
Date Deposited: 01 Jun 2007
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0699 Other Biological Sciences > 069999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 100%
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