St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Terrestrial degradation impacts on coral reef health : evidence from the Caribbean

Thumbnail
View/Open
Roberts_2017_Terrestrial_degradation_O_CM_AAM.pdf (1.102Mb)
Date
15/11/2017
Author
Roberts, Michaela Holly
Hanley, Nick
Williams, Sam
Cresswell, Will
Keywords
Sediment
Environmental conservation
Dry forest
Island ecosystems
Bonaire
GC Oceanography
QH301 Biology
NDAS
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
Coral reefs are in decline worldwide. While coral reef managers are limited in their ability to tackle global challenges, such as ocean warming, managing local threats can increase the resilience of coral reefs to these global threats. One such local threat is high sediment inputs to coastal waters due to terrestrial over-grazing. Increases in terrestrial sediment input into coral reefs are associated with increased coral mortality, reduced growth rates, and changes in species composition, as well as alterations to fish communities. We used general linear models to investigate the link between vegetation ground cover and tree biomass index, within a dry-forest ecosystem, to coral cover, fish communities and visibility in the case study site of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. We found a positive relationship between ground cover and coral cover below 10m depth, and a negative relationship between tree biomass index and coral cover below 10m. Greater ground cover is associated to sediment anchored through root systems, and higher surface complexity, slowing water flow, which would otherwise transport sediment. The negative relationship between tree biomass index and coral cover is unexpected, and may be a result of the deep roots associated with dry-forest trees, due to limited availability of water, which therefore do not anchor surface sediment, or contribute to surface complexity. Our analysis provides evidence that coral reef managers could improve reef health through engaging in terrestrial ecosystem protection, for example by taking steps to reduce grazing pressures, or in restoring degraded forest ecosystems.
Citation
Roberts , M H , Hanley , N , Williams , S & Cresswell , W 2017 , ' Terrestrial degradation impacts on coral reef health : evidence from the Caribbean ' , Ocean and Coastal Management , vol. 149 , pp. 52-68 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.09.005
Publication
Ocean and Coastal Management
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.09.005
ISSN
0964-5691
Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.09.005
Description
Funding: University of St Andrews, School of Geography and Geosciences; Van Eeden Foundation [Project number: 201505]; and the Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund.
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/16077

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter