Interannual variability and decadal stability of benthic organisms on an Indonesian coral reef
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 08:47authored byRovellini, A, Dunn, MR, Elizabeth FultonElizabeth Fulton, Woods, L, Jompa, J, Haris, A, Bell, JJ
The availability of colonizable substrate is an important driver of the temporal dynamics of sessile invertebrates on coral reefs. Increased dominance of algae and, in some cases, sponges has been documented on many coral reefs around the world, but how these organisms benefit from non-colonized substrate on the reef is unclear. In this study, we described the temporal dynamics of benthic organisms on an Indonesian coral reef across two time periods between 2006 and 2017 (2006-2008 and 2014-2017), and investigated the effects of colonizable substrate on benthic cover of coral reef organisms at subsequent sampling events. In contrast with other Indonesian reefs where corals have been declining, corals were dominant and stable over time at this location (mean ± SE percentage cover 42.7 ± 1.9%). Percentage cover of turf algae and sponges showed larger interannual variability than corals and crustose coralline algae (CCA) (P < 0.001), indicating that these groups are more dynamic over short temporal scales. Bare substrate was a good predictor of turf cover in the following year (mean effect 0.2, 95% CI: 0-0.4). Algal cover combined with bare space was a good predictor of CCA cover the following year generally, and of sponge cover the following year but only at one of the three sites. These results indicate that turf algae on some Indonesian reefs can rapidly occupy free space when this becomes available, and that other benthic groups are probably not limited by the availability of bare substrate, but may overgrow already fouled substrates.
History
Publication title
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Volume
101
Pagination
221-231
ISSN
0025-3154
Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
Publisher
Cambridge Univ Press
Place of publication
40 West 20Th St, New York, USA, Ny, 10011-4211
Rights statement
Copyright 2021 The Author(s)
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Rehabilitation or conservation of coastal or estuarine environments