Pandolfi, John M., Bradbury, Roger H., Sala, Enric, Hughes, Terrence P., 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) Response to Causes of coral reef degradation [Aronson et al. (2003) Causes of coral reef degradation]. Science, 302 (5650). pp. 1502-1503.

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Abstract

[Extract] In our Report, we showed that coral reef ecosystems were degraded long before more recent changes attributable to climate change or disease. Aronson et al. appear to discount historical data, preferring instead to assume that reefs were pristine until recently. Their comments focus on corals, which we show to have changed more recently than six other ecological guilds (categories of biota). Yet even for corals, there is clear evidence that recent changes represent an ongoing degradation that long predates modern ecological studies. While Aronson et al. attribute loss of coral cover in the Caribbean partially to hurricanes, it is the recent lack of recovery of contemporary Caribbean reefs following hurricanes that is the issue.

Item ID:	26648
Item Type:	Article (Short Note)
ISSN:	1095-9203
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2013 22:50
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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