Review
Ecology
Angelique Brathwaite, Nicolas Pascal, Eric Clua
Summary: The study evaluated the feasibility of using Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for coastal protection derived from coral reefs, and found that there is sufficient scientific knowledge to support the implementation of PES. Key factors in managing stable beaches include enhancing coral reef health and implementing priority management options.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mary E. Allen, Chloe S. Fleming, Sarah B. Gonyo, Erica K. Towle, Maria K. Dillard, Arielle Levine, Matt Gorstein, Jarrod Loerzel, Seann D. Regan, Ben M. Zito, Peter E. T. Edwards
Summary: The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) collects and analyzes data on the social and economic aspects of coral reefs in various U.S. jurisdictions, revealing differences in how residents value reef ecosystems. The results suggest that outreach efforts have effectively communicated the benefits of coral reefs to the public and provide guidance for resource managers on conservation and management initiatives based on the prioritized ecosystem services in each jurisdiction.
Article
Ecology
Carlo Fezzi, Derek J. Ford, Kirsten L. L. Oleson
Summary: We developed a travel-cost random utility model to estimate the value of recreational ecosystem services provided by outdoor sites on Maui Island. Our results show that the coral bleaching event in 2014-2015 caused significant economic losses to Maui's residents and identified areas where coral reef restoration would maximize welfare gains. The study also suggests the use of access fees or green taxes to finance conservation measures.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Di Liu, Hai Chen, Tianwei Geng, Qinqin Shi, Wenting Chen
Summary: Studying the importance and accessibility of ecosystem services to farmers in the Loess Plateau, the research found that local ecological knowledge and socializing abilities are key factors influencing farmers' access to ecosystem services. The study emphasizes the importance of improving individual capabilities, such as ecological knowledge and social skills, to enhance farmers' well-being and access to ecosystem services.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joan Kleypas, Denis Allemand, Ken Anthony, Andrew C. Baker, Michael W. Beck, Lynne Zeitlin Hale, Nathalie Hilmi, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Terry Hughes, Les Kaufman, Hajime Kayanne, Alexandre K. Magnan, Elizabeth Mcleod, Peter Mumby, Stephen Palumbi, Robert H. Richmond, Baruch Rinkevich, Robert S. Steneck, Christian R. Voolstra, David Wachenfeld, Jean-Pierre Gattuso
Summary: Climate change poses a growing threat to coral reefs, highlighting the importance of climate mitigation in preventing ecosystem collapse. Innovative actions are needed to enhance reef resilience, alongside strong political and social commitment as well as sufficient funding for effective protection and conservation measures.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Floortje E. Roelvink, Curt D. Storlazzi, Ap R. van Dongeren, Stuart G. Pearson
Summary: The study shows that broader and shallower coral restoration projects are most effective in reducing wave-driven flooding, such as those on the upper fore reef and between the reef flat and shoreline, compared to deeper locations on the fore reef or at the reef crest. It suggests that planting more physically robust coral species in shallower and more energetic locations can increase the coastal hazard risk reduction potential of reef restoration.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Caroline S. Rogers, Carlos E. Ramos-Scharron
Summary: Coral reefs in the western Atlantic and Caribbean are facing deterioration from sedimentation, resulting in changes in coral cover and community composition, as well as overall degradation of the reefs. The lack of long-term studies on sediment stress and recovery, as well as evidence of watershed management actions on coral reefs, is a major gap in our current knowledge. Understanding erosion and sediment discharge pathways can contribute to potential management interventions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heather A. Stewart, Jennifer L. Wright, Matthew Carrigan, Andrew H. Altieri, David Kline, Rafael J. Araujo
Summary: This study provides a scientific understanding and classification of nested mangrove-coral (CMC) habitats, and reports the discovery of a highly rich CMC habitat type in Panama. Based on literature review and field data, the researchers created a classification framework for CMC habitat categories and used GIS modeling to predict potential global distribution of CMC habitats.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Bing Lin, Yiwen Zeng, Gregory P. P. Asner, David S. S. Wilcove
Summary: By combining Instagram data from tourists and live coral cover maps in Hawaii, this study reveals that coral reefs both attract and suffer from coastal tourism. Higher live coral cover attracts more visitors, but their visitation contributes to subsequent reef degradation. This finding highlights the economic value of coral reefs and the importance of effective conservation management.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Bollati, Yaeli Rosenberg, Noa Simon-Blecher, Raz Tamir, Oren Levy, Danwei Huang
Summary: Urbanized coral reefs are often impacted by sedimentation and reduced light levels, but many coral species can still thrive under these disturbed conditions. A study on the transcriptomic response to sediment stress in corals found that exposure to sediment induced upregulation of genes related to energy metabolism and immune response, with anaerobic glycolysis and glyoxylate bypass enzymes being significantly affected. This suggests that hypoxia may be a driving factor for the molecular response of corals to sediment stress.
Article
Ecology
Pak-Yin Cheung, Yoko Nozawa, Takeshi Miki
Summary: Ecosystem engineers, such as corals, play a crucial role in enhancing ecosystem resilience by creating and maintaining habitat complexity. The presence of engineered structures, like coral skeletons, has a greater impact on ecosystem dynamics and recovery than the loss of the engineers themselves, highlighting the importance of preserving habitat complexity for ecosystem stability.
ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Catherine E. E. Sheppard, Gareth J. J. Williams, Dan A. A. Exton, Sally A. A. Keith
Summary: Biodiversity loss is negatively impacting ecosystem functions and services globally. This study focuses on the importance of co-occurrence of different functional groups in addition to functional diversity for the coral reef benthic state. The results suggest that protecting specific herbivorous fish functional groups is crucial for promoting coral accretion.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Craig E. Nelson, Linda Wegley Kelly, Andreas F. Haas
Summary: To survive in nutrient-poor waters, coral reefs depend on efficient retention and recycling of materials. This review focuses on microbial processes that contribute to the persistence and stability of coral reefs, particularly the transformation and recycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Microbial processing of DOM plays a crucial role in reef production, nutrient exchange, and organismal interactions, which are fundamental to the characteristics of coral reefs such as high productivity, balanced metabolism, biodiversity, nutrient retention, and structural complexity. The review summarizes the composition of microbes and DOM in reefs and explores the spatial and temporal dynamics of biogeochemical processes carried out by microorganisms in various reef habitats.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joshua S. Madin, Michael McWilliam, Kate Quigley, Line K. Bay, David Bellwood, Christopher Doropoulos, Leanne Fernandes, Peter Harrison, Andrew S. Hoey, Peter J. Mumby, Juan C. Ortiz, Zoe T. Richards, Cynthia Riginos, Nina M. D. Schiettekatte, David J. Suggett, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Humans have focused on restoring species, but little attention has been given to selecting the best subset of foundation species for maintaining threatened ecosystems. We propose a two-part hedging approach that prioritizes phenotypic traits and ecological characteristics. By applying this approach to reef building corals, we found that current restoration programs could be improved by including species with different traits.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Baruch Rinkevich
Summary: The need to enhance the adaptive potential of corals in the face of unceasing climate change and anthropogenic impacts has led to the successful approach of 'coral gardening' for restoring degraded reefs. This method is structured within a hierarchical list of five encircling tiers, focusing on the nursery phase and including activities such as coral mariculture and ecological engineering. The key importance of adaptation-based reef restoration (ABRR), which includes phenotypic plasticity and assisted migration among other classes, is emphasized for enhancing coral adaptation to climate change.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
John Zachary Koehn, Edward H. Allison, Karen Villeda, Zelin Chen, Marisa Nixon, Emily Crigler, Lily Zhao, Michelle Chow, Bapu Vaitla, Shakuntala H. Thilsted, Joeri Scholtens, Christina C. Hicks, Neil Andrew
Summary: It has been found that some countries have good alignment between their fisheries policies and public health nutrition policies in terms of dietary nutrition, while others do not. Recent policies and involvement of international organizations may contribute to increased coherence among different policies.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Julia G. Mason, Jacob G. Eurich, Jacqueline D. Lau, Willow Battista, Christopher M. Free, Katherine E. Mills, Kanae Tokunaga, Lily Z. Zhao, Mark Dickey-Collas, Mireia Valle, Gretta T. Pecl, Joshua E. Cinner, Tim R. McClanahan, Edward H. Allison, Whitney R. Friedman, Claudio Silva, Eleuterio Yanez, Maria A. Barbieri, Kristin M. Kleisner
Summary: This study develops a comprehensive resilience framework to examine fishery systems across ecological, socio-economic, and governance dimensions, distilling and defining 38 attributes that confer climate resilience. The directionality and mechanism of these attributes depend on specific context, capacities, and scale, with evidence of interdependencies among them. However, meaningful quantification of the attributes' contributions to resilience in fisheries remains a challenge, as most studies focus on the ecological dimension.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
James P. W. Robinson, Kirsty L. Nash, Julia L. Blanchard, Nis S. Jacobsen, Eva Maire, Nicholas A. J. Graham, M. Aaron MacNeil, Jessica Zamborain-Mason, Edward H. Allison, Christina C. Hicks
Summary: Wild-caught fish are a nutritious source of food that can enhance diet quality for billions of people if strategically managed. This study presents a conceptual foundation for managing fisheries to maximize nutrient yield, and empirically tests the approach using models of North Sea and Baltic Sea fisheries. The research shows that nutrient yield can be enhanced through nutrient-sensitive fisheries management, and highlights the potential for closing nutrient gaps in coastal populations.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Cristina Ruano-Chamorro, Georgina G. Gurney, Joshua E. Cinner
Summary: Participation in conservation decision-making is crucial, and understanding of just decision-making process needs to be enhanced. By integrating key literature, 11 procedural justice criteria were identified and organized into three key domains. Policy levers can be used to enhance procedural justice, but challenges related to power inequalities and plural conceptions need to be addressed.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tomas Chaigneau, Sarah Coulthard, Tim M. Daw, Lucy Szaboova, Laura Camfield, F. Stuart I. I. I. I. I. I. Chapin, Des Gasper, Georgina G. Gurney, Christina C. Hicks, Maggie Ibrahim, Thomas James, Lindsey Jones, Nathanial Matthews, Colin McQuistan, Belinda Reyers, Katrina Brown
Summary: Well-being and resilience are considered to be related or even synergistic dimensions of sustainable development, but evidence suggests that they may actually work against each other in practice, highlighting potential trade-offs that could threaten sustainable development outcomes.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Megan Meacham, Albert Norstrom, Garry D. Peterson, Erik Andersson, Elena M. Bennett, Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs, Emilie Crouzat, Anna F. Cord, Elin Enfors, Maria R. Felipe-Lucia, Joern Fischer, Maike Hamann, Jan Hanspach, Christina Hicks, Sander Jacobs, Sandra Lavorel, Bruno Locatelli, Berta Martin-Lopez, Tobias Plieninger, Cibele Queiroz
Summary: This paper discusses the different conceptualizations of ecosystem service bundles and showcases the range of benefits of using a bundles approach. It also explores key issues for improving research on ecosystem service bundles and outlines priorities for the future by facilitating comparisons of ecosystem service bundle research.
ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joshua E. Cinner, Jessica Zamborain-Mason, Eva Maire, Andrew S. Hoey, Nicholas A. J. Graham, David Mouillot, Sebastien Villeger, Sebastian Ferse, Stewart Lockie
Summary: Effective solutions to the ongoing coral reef crisis will remain limited until the underlying drivers of coral reef degradation are better understood. This global-scale study reveals the relationships between key metrics of ecosystem states and processes on coral reefs and indicators based on key human-environment theories. The proximity of the nearest market has the strongest and most consistent relationships with these ecosystem metrics, and resource conditions tend to display an n-shaped relationship with socioeconomic development. The integration of different human-environment theories provides the best explanation for the ecosystem metrics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kirsty L. Nash, M. Aaron MacNeil, Julia L. Blanchard, Philippa J. Cohen, Anna K. Farmery, N. A. J. Graham, Andrew L. Thorne-Lyman, Reg A. Watson, Christina C. Hicks
Summary: Fish are an important source of nutrients, and the fishing industry has the potential to reduce dietary deficiencies. Foreign fishing relocates more nutrients than international trade in fish. Small island developing states and African nations currently benefit from trade and foreign fishing, but they are also the most vulnerable to future changes in nutrient supplies. Climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities for these countries. Addressing dietary deficiencies requires greater attention to nutrition objectives in fisheries' licensing deals and trade negotiations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joshua E. Cinner, Iain R. Caldwell, Lauric Thiault, John Ben, Julia L. Blanchard, Marta Coll, Amy Diedrich, Tyler D. Eddy, Jason D. Everett, Christian Folberth, Didier Gascuel, Jerome Guiet, Georgina G. Gurney, Ryan F. Heneghan, Jonas Jagermeyr, Narriman Jiddawi, Rachael Lahari, John Kuange, Wenfeng Liu, Olivier Maury, Christoph Muller, Camilla Novaglio, Juliano Palacios-Abrantes, Colleen M. Petrik, Ando Rabearisoa, Derek P. Tittensor, Andrew Wamukota, Richard Pollnac
Summary: This study examines the potential impacts of climate change on fisheries and agriculture in coastal communities across five Indo-Pacific countries. The findings show that while both sectors are at risk, fisheries are projected to suffer higher losses. Most locations will experience simultaneous losses in both fisheries and agriculture, but climate change mitigation measures could help reduce this double burden. Lower socioeconomic status communities are more likely to be affected.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Raphael Seguin, David Mouillot, Joshua E. Cinner, Rick D. Stuart Smith, Eva Maire, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Matthew McLean, Laurent Vigliola, Nicolas Loiseau
Summary: This study estimates fish standing biomass, biomass production, and biomass turnover for 1,979 tropical reef sites spanning 39 tropical countries. Based on these metrics, the study proposes a conceptual framework to guide spatial management interventions and optimize conservation efforts. The study finds that high turnover is associated with high human pressure and low primary productivity, while high biomass is associated with low human pressure and high primary productivity.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Zamborain-Mason, Joshua E. Cinner, M. Aaron Macneil, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Andrew S. Hoey, Maria Beger, Andrew J. Brooks, David J. Booth, Graham J. Edgar, David A. Feary, Sebastian C. A. Ferse, Alan M. Friedlander, Charlotte L. A. Gough, Alison L. Green, David Mouillot, Nicholas V. C. Polunin, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Laurent Wantiez, Ivor D. Williams, Shaun K. Wilson, Sean R. Connolly
Summary: Sustainably managing fisheries requires evaluation of stock status, but many multispecies reef fisheries lack research and monitoring capacity to assess stocks against sustainable reference points. In this study, fish biomass data from >2000 coral reefs were used to estimate site-specific sustainable reference points for coral reef fisheries. The results show that >50% of sites and jurisdictions with available information have stocks of conservation concern. The study highlights the ecological benefits of increasing sustainability and provides a promising means for enhancing the sustainability of global coral reef fisheries.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Christina C. Hicks, Jessica A. Gephart, J. Zachary Koehn, Shinnosuke Nakayama, Hanna J. Payne, Edward H. Allison, Dyhia Belhbib, Ling Cao, Philippa J. Cohen, Jessica Fanzo, Etienne Fluet-Chouinard, Stefan Gelcich, Christopher D. Golden, Kelvin D. Gorospe, Moenieba Isaacs, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Kai N. Lee, M. Aaron MacNeil, Eva Maire, Jemimah Njuki, Nitya Rao, U. Rashid Sumaila, Elizabeth R. Selig, Shakuntala H. Thilsted, Colette C. C. Wabnitz, Rosamond L. Naylor
Summary: This study finds that economic and political barriers are associated with lower wealth-based benefits, while social barriers are associated with lower welfare-based benefits. The analysis of policy documents reveals a frequent failure to address political and gender-based barriers. However, more just food system outcomes can be achieved by focusing on principles of human rights and inclusive decision-making processes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michele L. Barnes, Lorien Jasny, Andrew Bauman, Jon Ben, Ramiro Berardo, Orjan Bodin, Joshua Cinner, David A. Feary, Angela M. Guerrero, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, John T. Kuange, Jacqueline D. Lau, Peng Wang, Jessica Zamborain-Mason
Summary: This study examines the evolution of a social-ecological network in a common-pool resource system over the past two decades. The results show that the community members are increasingly forming bonding social-ecological network structures and interacting with like-minded others, but there is limited evidence supporting the presence of resourceful actors that can promote innovation.
Article
Ecology
Patrick F. Smallhorn-West, Philippa J. Cohen, Renato A. Morais, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Daniela Ceccarelli, Siola'a Malimali, Karen Stone, Regon Warren, Joshua E. Cinner
Summary: Partially protected areas have become the primary form of spatial management globally for preserving ecosystem integrity and managing human use. This paper examines three case studies of partially protected coral reef fishery systems to evaluate the benefits and risks of using them as a management tool. The findings show that partial protection can enhance fisheries production, improve catchability, and alter the composition of fisheries yields. However, without adaptive management to ensure short to medium term benefits without compromising long-term sustainability, these changes also carry significant risks for ecosystems and fisheries livelihoods.
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
James P. W. Robinson, Eva Maire, Nathalie Bodin, Tessa N. Hempson, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Shaun K. Wilson, M. Aaron MacNeil, Christina C. Hicks
Summary: Climate change has significant impacts on coral reefs, posing a threat to the supply of essential dietary micronutrients from small-scale fisheries to tropical coastal communities. However, the nutritional value of reef fisheries and the effects of climate change on micronutrient availability remain uncertain. In this study, nutrient content in coral reef fishes in Seychelles was measured, revealing that reef fish are important sources of selenium and zinc, and contain levels of calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids comparable to other animal-source foods. Furthermore, experimental fishing showed that iron and zinc are enriched in fishes caught on regime-shifted macroalgal habitats, while selenium and omega-3 fatty acids varied among species. The findings suggest that, if sustainably managed, coral reef fisheries could continue to be significant sources of micronutrients along tropical coastlines despite the escalating climate impacts.
