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Understanding differential patterns in coral reef recovery: chronic hydrodynamic disturbance as a limiting mechanism for coral colonization

2018; Inter-Research; Volume: 605; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps12714

1616-1599

TS Viehman, James L. Hench, SP Griffin, Amit Malhotra, Katharine Egan, PN Halpin,

Marine and coastal plant biology

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 605:135-150 (2018) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12714 Understanding differential patterns in coral reef recovery: chronic hydrodynamic disturbance as a limiting mechanism for coral colonization T. Shay Viehman1,2,*, James L. Hench2, Sean P. Griffin3, Amit Malhotra1,4, Katharine Egan1,4, Patrick N. Halpin5 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, USA 2Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, USA 3National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Restoration Center, 260 Guard Road, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 00605, USA 4JHT Inc., 2710 Discovery Drive #600, Orlando, Florida 32826, USA 5Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA *Corresponding author: shay.viehman@noaa.gov ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are subject to numerous physical disturbances, and post-disturbance coral recovery potential depends on subsequent re-colonization of impacted habitat. We examined divergent recovery trajectories at 2 proximal reefs disturbed by ship groundings that resulted in clearly delineated areas of altered substrate. Post-disturbance measurements of coral recruitment, survival, and changes in community structure were made approximately annually from 2009-2013 in undisturbed reference areas as well as disturbed pavement and rubble areas. Despite similar initial physical disturbances, there were marked differences between sites, with higher coral recruitment and survival on disturbed pavement than rubble bottom, reference reef, or restoration structures. Subsequent episodic disturbances from rubble mobilization could be a mechanism driving the divergent recovery patterns. To estimate whether local hydrodynamic conditions were sufficient to mobilize rubble, we used a combination of long-term monitoring, hydrodynamic modeling, and rubble transport mechanics to hindcast the potential for substrate mobility. Long-term model simulations of hydrodynamic forcing at the study sites showed multiple events where bottom-orbital velocities exceeded thresholds required to mobilize rubble via sliding or overturning. Our analyses indicate that wave energy mobilizes rubble substrate multiple times annually and suggests a physical limitation on survival of coral recruits relative to those on pavement substrate. Continued mobilizations may establish a positive feedback loop in which continued rubble clast mobilizations cause additional mechanical erosion or breakage and a shift to smaller rubble sizes that would subsequently mobilize at a lower level of hydrodynamic forcing and thus become subject to more frequent and sustained disturbances. The combination of multiple hydrodynamic disturbances and unstable substrate limits coral recovery and thus contributes to prolonged habitat loss. KEY WORDS: Coral recruitment · Coral reefs · Disturbance recovery · Rubble mobilization · Waves · Ship groundings · Puerto Rico Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Viehman TS, Hench JL, Griffin SP, Malhotra A, Egan K, Halpin PN (2018) Understanding differential patterns in coral reef recovery: chronic hydrodynamic disturbance as a limiting mechanism for coral colonization. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 605:135-150. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12714 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 605. Online publication date: October 26, 2018 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2018 Inter-Research.