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Caribbean reefs have suffered unprecedented declines over the last several decades due to a variety of factors. Some of the most rapid and dramatic changes occurred following the region-wide die-off of the sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, in the mid-1980s, which resulted in the proliferation of algae on many reefs, especially those with few herbivorous fishes. Thirty years later, Diadema remain rare in most locations, algae are abundant on many reefs, and there is concern that fisheries targeting herbivorous fishes, especially parrotfishes, are compromising the function of many reef ecosystems. In some locations, such as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas, robust populations of herbivorous fishes have been associated with elevated coral recruitment and positive reef trajectories. Yet other reefs, such as those in the Florida Keys, show no signs of recovery despite abundant herbivore populations. The emerging picture suggests that impacts of herbivores on coral recovery are likely to be highly context-dependent, and that management actions targeting herbivores will vary in their ability to facilitate coral persistence and recovery. This report, which summarizes information from a larger scientific review (Adam et al. 2015), is intended to serve as a guide on how to manage herbivore populations to facilitate healthy, resilient coral reefs.

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Acrobat Portable Document Format

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NOAA Institutional Repository (REPOS)
noaa.repository@noaa.gov

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National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD)
(301) 713-3277

Item Identification

Title: Managing herbivores for their impacts on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems: A summary report for managers and practitioners
Short Name: Managing herbivores for their impacts on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems: A summary report for managers and practitioners
Status: Completed
Abstract:

Caribbean reefs have suffered unprecedented declines over the last several decades due to a variety of factors. Some of the most rapid and dramatic changes occurred following the region-wide die-off of the sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, in the mid-1980s, which resulted in the proliferation of algae on many reefs, especially those with few herbivorous fishes. Thirty years later, Diadema remain rare in most locations, algae are abundant on many reefs, and there is concern that fisheries targeting herbivorous fishes, especially parrotfishes, are compromising the function of many reef ecosystems. In some locations, such as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas, robust populations of herbivorous fishes have been associated with elevated coral recruitment and positive reef trajectories. Yet other reefs, such as those in the Florida Keys, show no signs of recovery despite abundant herbivore populations. The emerging picture suggests that impacts of herbivores on coral recovery are likely to be highly context-dependent, and that management actions targeting herbivores will vary in their ability to facilitate coral persistence and recovery. This report, which summarizes information from a larger scientific review (Adam et al. 2015), is intended to serve as a guide on how to manage herbivore populations to facilitate healthy, resilient coral reefs.

Other Citation Details:

TY -

A2 - United States, National Marine Fisheries Service

A2 - Southeast Fisheries Science Center (U.S.), Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division

A2 - United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

A2 - Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.)

AB - "Caribbean reefs have suffered unprecedented declines over the last several decades due to a variety of factors. Some of the most rapid and dramatic changes occurred following the region-wide die-off of the sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, in the mid-1980s, which resulted in the proliferation of algae on many reefs, especially those with few herbivorous fishes. Thirty years later, Diadema remain rare in most locations, algae are abundant on many reefs, and there is concern that fisheries targeting herbivorous fishes, especially parrotfishes, are compromising the function of many reef ecosystems. In some locations, such as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas, robust populations of herbivorous fishes have been associated with elevated coral recruitment and positive reef trajectories. Yet other reefs, such as those in the Florida Keys, show no signs of recovery despite abundant herbivore populations. The emerging picture suggests that impacts of herbivores on coral recovery are likely to be highly context-dependent, and that management actions targeting herbivores will vary in their ability to facilitate coral persistence and recovery. This document is intended to serve as a guide on how to manage herbivore populations to facilitate healthy, resilient coral reefs. It is based on our current understanding of the processes that structure reef ecosystems, and summarizes information from a larger scientific review"--Preface.

AU - Adam, Thomas C.

AU - Burkepile, Deron E.

AU - Ruttenberg, Benjamin I. (Benjamin Isaac)

AU - Paddack, Michelle J.

AN - noaa:8958

KW - Algae

KW - Biological control

KW - Coral reef ecology

KW - Coral reef fisheries

KW - Coral reef fishes

KW - Coral reef management

KW - Coral reef restoration

KW - Management

PY - 2015

T3 - Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division report ; PRBD-2015-1

TI - Managing herbivores for their impacts on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems : a summary report for managers and practitioners

M3 - Miscellaneous

UR - https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/8958

ER -

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NOAA Institutional Repository 8958

Document Information

Format: Acrobat Portable Document Format
Status Code: Final

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CC ID: 1192475
Date Effective From: 2015
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Institutional Repository (REPOS)
Email Address: noaa.repository@noaa.gov
URL: NOAA Institutional Repository Home Page

Distributor

CC ID: 1094560
Date Effective From: 2015
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD)
Address: NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282
Phone: (301) 713-3277

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Distribution 1

CC ID: 1094558
Start Date: 2015
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/8958
Distributor: NOAA Institutional Repository (REPOS) (2015 - Present)
Description:

Report As Available in NOAA Institutional Repository

File Type (Deprecated): pdf
Distribution Format: PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format
File Size: 453.55 KB

Distribution 2

CC ID: 1094559
Start Date: 2015
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/coris/library/NOAA/CRCP/project/182/Caribbean_herbivore_report_Final.pdf
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2015 - Present)
File Name: Caribbean_herbivore_report_Final.pdf
Description:

Managing herbivores for their impacts on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems:

A summary report for managers and practitioners

Prepared for NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program

File Type (Deprecated): pdf
Distribution Format: PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format
File Size: 453.55 KB

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 24969
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:24969
Metadata Record Created By: Sarah A O'Connor
Metadata Record Created: 2015-05-08 16:04+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2023-10-17 16:12+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2022-04-27
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2022-04-27
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2023-04-27