Overfishing and nutrient pollution interact with temperature to disrupt coral reefs down to microbial scales
Oregon State University · University of California, Santa Barbara · +7 more institutions
Abstract
Losses of corals worldwide emphasize the need to understand what drives reef decline. Stressors such as overfishing and nutrient pollution may reduce resilience of coral reefs by increasing coral-algal competition and reducing coral recruitment, growth and survivorship. Such effects may themselves develop via several mechanisms, including disruption of coral microbiomes. Here we report the results of a 3-year field experiment simulating overfishing and nutrient pollution. These stressors increase turf and macroalgal cover, destabilizing microbiomes, elevating putative pathogen loads, increasing disease more than twofold and increasing mortality up to eightfold. Above-average temperatures exacerbate these…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 43.59
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 67
Authors
13- JZJesse ZaneveldCorresponding
Oregon State University
- DEDeron E. Burkepile
University of California, Santa Barbara, Florida International University
- AAAndrew A. Shantz
Florida International University
- CECatharine E. Pritchard
Pennsylvania State University, Florida International University, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
- RMRyan McMinds
Oregon State University
Topics & keywords
- Overfishing
- Parrotfish
- Coral reef
- Coral
- Reef
- Ecology
- Biology
- Coral bleaching
- Life below water