Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew G. Bauman, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Aaron Teo, Peter A. Todd
Summary: The increasing incidence of severe coral bleaching caused by climate change is leading to significant coral losses and declines in the physical structure of coral reef ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between coral composition and structural complexity is vital for maintaining ecosystem functions and processes. This study examines the impacts of the 2016 global coral bleaching event on seven coral reefs in Singapore and highlights the importance of structural complexity for reef stability.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Noam T. Altman-Kurosaki, Celia M. Smith, Erik C. Franklin
Summary: Herbivorous fishes and urchins play important roles in protecting coral reef ecosystems. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have some protective effects on herbivorous fish and urchin populations, but differences in benthic communities inside and outside of MPAs may impact the effectiveness of protection.
Article
Ecology
Suchinta Arif, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Shaun Wilson, M. Aaron MacNeil
Summary: This study used structural causal modeling (SCM) and directed acyclic graphs (DAG) to analyze the factors influencing regime shift and recovery potential of Seychelles coral reefs after bleaching events in 1998 and 2016. The results showed that initial macroalgal cover, wave exposure, and branching coral cover were additional causal drivers of regime shifts. Furthermore, reduced depth and structural complexity, as well as increased nutrients, increased the likelihood of regime shifting.
Article
Ecology
Kai L. Kopecky, Adrian C. Stier, Russell J. Schmitt, Sally J. Holbrook, Holly V. Moeller
Summary: Standing dead structures of habitat-forming organisms can affect ecosystem recovery processes. A mathematical model was used to quantify the differential effects of structure-removing and structure-retaining disturbance events on the resilience of coral reef ecosystems. Dead coral skeletons can diminish coral resilience by providing macroalgae refuge from herbivory, altering the underlying relationship between herbivory and coral cover.
Article
Ecology
Sally J. Holbrook, Jean Wencelius, Alexandra K. Dubel, Thomas C. Adam, Dana C. Cook, Chelsea E. Hunter, Matthew Lauer, Sarah E. Lester, Scott D. Miller, Andrew Rassweiler, Russell J. Schmitt
Summary: Both natural and anthropogenic stressors contribute to the changes in coral reef ecosystems, creating spatial variation in vulnerability. The study highlights the importance of spatially explicit management measures such as controlling nutrient inputs and reducing fishing pressure on herbivores.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
William P. Collins, David R. Bellwood, Renato A. Morais
Summary: This study assesses the natural movements of cardinalfishes in coral reef ecosystems, revealing their significant nocturnal foraging behavior extending at least 145 meters from reef structures. Their daily movement distances are 430 times greater than expected based on body size-home range expectations, highlighting their important role in the transfer of energy and nutrients between adjacent coral reefs and soft sediment habitats.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Rovellini, Charlotte L. Mortimer, Matthew R. Dunn, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Jamaluddin Jompa, Abdul Haris, James J. Bell
Summary: This study compared the structural complexity of coral- and sponge-dominated areas of an Indonesian coral reef using 3D photogrammetry. The results showed that smaller-scale refugia were reduced in sponge-dominated reefs, potentially impacting smaller reef fauna.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
G. F. Galbraith, B. J. Cresswell, M. McCormick, T. C. Bridge, G. P. Jones
Summary: The study reveals that coral reefs on submerged pinnacles in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea support high biodiversity despite their small size and relative isolation. Fish community structure shows distinct separation across reef morphologies, with pinnacles most similar to offshore reefs. Benthic habitat complexity does not vary across reef types, while fish assemblages are weakly related to benthic habitat variables, with reef morphology being the most consistent predictor of fish community metrics.
Article
Ecology
Hillary A. Smith, Dylan A. Brown, Chaitanya Arjunwadkar, Stella E. Fulton, Taylor Whitman, Bambang Hermanto, Elissa Mastroianni, Neil Mattocks, Adam K. Smith, Peter L. Harrison, Lisa Bostrom-Einarsson, Ian M. McLeod, David G. Bourne
Summary: Removing macroalgae may be an effective intervention to boost recruitment and facilitate recovery on degraded tropical coral reefs.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Katrina S. Munsterman, Jacob E. Allgeier, Joseph R. Peters, Deron E. Burkepile
Summary: The study examined the impact of changes in herbivore assemblages on top-down and bottom-up processes in coral reef ecosystems. Large excavating parrotfishes and other herbivores play crucial roles in coral health and nutrient recycling in coral-dominated reefs, while detritivorous fishes contribute to algal dominance in algal-dominated reefs. Identifying the unique roles of consumers in maintaining and reinforcing ecosystem states is essential for predicting the effects of shifts in consumer assemblages.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Laura Carreon-Palau, Christopher C. Parrish, Jorge A. Del Angel-Rodriguez, Horacio Perez-Espana
Summary: The study found that seasonal changes can affect the fatty acids and sterol biomarkers of sponges, corals, and bivalves in coral reefs, with different food sources for suspension-feeding animals during the rainy season leading to variations in biomarker proportions.
Article
Ecology
Kelly E. Speare, Alain Duran, Margaret W. Miller, Holly V. Moeller, Deron E. Burkepile
Summary: When selecting habitats, animals integrate positive and negative cues in the environment. In our study, we investigated settlement decisions of coral larvae on Caribbean reefs and found that they make complex decisions at small scales, selecting areas with specific benthic communities and avoiding certain factors. Importantly, coral larvae balance contrasting forces to avoid risks.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Kalel L. Rossi, Roberto C. Budzinski, Bruno R. R. Boaretto, Lyle E. Muller, Ulrike Feudel
Summary: Understanding the sensitivity of system behavior to parameter changes is crucial for various applications. Networks of coupled phase oscillators with nonlinear interactions can acquire a large and complicated sensitivity to changes in their units' parameters or connections. This sensitivity occurs even with modifications made to a single unit's parameter and can significantly alter the global dynamics of the network in an unpredictable manner. This phenomenon is expected to be widespread in real-world systems beyond oscillator networks.
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Business
Mahima Mishra, Justin Paul, Michael Czinkota
Summary: This study revisits theories of internationalization and explores the export commencement processes from emerging market perspectives, combining the concepts of pre-export phase and lateral rigidity for SMEs' internationalization phenomenon. The findings suggest that SMEs in emerging markets require strategic planning and resource-building to overcome lateral rigidity and start internationalization successfully.
THUNDERBIRD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Caitlin D. Kuempel, Vivitskaia J. D. Tulloch, Alyssa L. Giffin, B. Alexander Simmons, Valerie Hagger, Carol Phua, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
Summary: Conserving coral reefs is essential for maintaining marine biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and supporting livelihoods in coastal communities. Climate change poses a threat to coral reefs globally, but researchers have identified a group of coral reefs that are less exposed to climate impacts and strongly connected with other reef systems. By quantifying human impacts and creating management indices, countries can better manage local pressures on coral reefs and work towards a climate-ready future.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brooke A. Williams, James E. M. Watson, Hawthorne L. Beyer, Carissa J. Klein, Jamie Montgomery, Rebecca K. Runting, Leslie A. Roberson, Benjamin S. Halpern, Hedley S. Grantham, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Melanie Frazier, Oscar Venter, Amelia Wenger
Summary: Management of the land-sea interface is crucial for global conservation and sustainability objectives. However, current assessments of coastal regions are limited by their focus on either the terrestrial or marine realm. The global assessment revealed that only 15.5% of coastal regions have low anthropogenic pressure, while 47.9% are heavily affected by human activities. In most countries, more than half of their coastal regions are degraded. Additionally, nearly half of the protected areas in coastal regions are exposed to high human pressures.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caitlin D. Kuempel, B. Alexander Simmons, Madeline Davey
Summary: The study revealed that existing marine natural World Heritage areas face moderate yet increasing human impacts, while most tentative sites experience high or very high impacts. Climate change accounts for nearly 75% of impact scores, and differences between land- and marine-based impacts across sites could help prioritize management decisions. The majority of marine ecoregions and 'at-risk' species considered in this study have no representation within the existing sites.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Gage Clawson, Caitlin D. D. Kuempel, Melanie Frazier, Gordon Blasco, Richard S. Cottrell, Halley E. Froehlich, Marc Metian, Kirsty L. Nash, Johannes Toebben, Juliette Verstaen, David R. Williams, Benjamin S. Halpern
Summary: Mariculture has experienced rapid growth in the past 20 years, but information on its location is limited. Researchers have compiled a global map of mariculture locations, covering 96% of reported fish and invertebrate production. However, there is a need for a standardized global spatial database to better understand production distribution and plan for future growth.
Article
Ecology
Maya Almaraz, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Andrew M. Salter, Benjamin S. Halpern
Summary: Protein consumption in the US is among the highest globally, leading to excessive nitrogen losses in the environment. Aligning protein consumption with physiological requirements can reduce nitrogen losses and generate economic and environmental benefits.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Anne E. Adelson, Andrew H. Altieri, Ximena Boza, Rachel Collin, Kristen A. Davis, Alan Gaul, Sarah N. Giddings, Victoria Reed, Geno Pawlak
Summary: Dissolved oxygen (DO) is an important ecological variable, and its levels can be affected by both thermal stress and hypoxia. In this study, we examined the physical processes that regulate hypoxia and temperature inversions in Bahia Almirante, a tropical embayment in Panama. We found that seasonal temperature inversions and hypoxia frequently co-occur, with more severe impacts in the back bay. High freshwater input and salinity stratification were identified as important factors contributing to these events. Understanding the dynamics of these stressors is crucial for marine organisms in similar shallow, tropical estuaries.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gail Ashton, Amy L. Freestone, J. Emmett Duffy, Mark E. Torchin, Brent J. Sewall, Brianna Tracy, Mariano Albano, Andrew H. Altieri, Luciana Altvater, Rolando Bastida-Zavala, Alejandro Bortolus, Antonio Brante, Viviana Bravo, Norah Brown, Alejandro H. Buschmann, Edward Buskey, Rosita Calderon Barrera, Brian Cheng, Rachel Collin, Ricardo Coutinho, Luis De Gracia, Gustavo M. Dias, Claudio DiBacco, Augusto A. Flores, Maria Angelica Haddad, Zvi Hoffman, Bruno Ibanez Erquiaga, Dean Janiak, Anali Jimenez Campean, Inti Keith, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Orlando Pedro Lecompte-Perez, Guilherme Ortigara Longo, Helena Matthews-Cascon, Cynthia H. McKenzie, Jessica Miller, Martin Munizaga, Lais P. D. Naval-Xavier, Sergio A. Navarrete, Carlos Otalora, Lilian A. Palomino-Alvarez, Maria Gabriela Palomo, Chris Patrick, Cormack Pegau, Sandra Pereda, Rosana M. Rocha, Carlos Rumbold, Carlos Sanchez, Adolfo Sanjuan-Munoz, Carmen Schloder, Evangelina Schwindt, Janina Seemann, Alan Shanks, Nuno Simoes, Luis Skinner, Nancy Yolimar Suarez-Mozo, Martin Thiel, Nelson Valdivia, Ximena Velez-Zuazo, Edson A. Vieira, Bruno Vildoso, Ingo S. Wehrtmann, Matt Whalen, Lynn Wilbur, Gregory M. Ruiz
Summary: A study found that marine predators in tropical waters have higher consumption rates and stronger impacts on the biomass and species composition of marine invertebrate communities, possibly due to the presence of fish predators.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carissa J. Klein, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Reg A. Watson, Lida Teneva, Marta Coll, Camilo Mora
Summary: The global demand for seafood is increasing, but unsustainable fishing practices are being used by some countries to meet this demand. When countries fish outside their own jurisdiction, any negative social and environmental impacts associated with fishing are displaced to the fished location. This study found that up to 23% of seafood was unequally displaced annually between 1976-2015, with most of it caught in the high seas. Several countries, including China, India, Japan, and Russia, were responsible for the majority of this unequal seafood displacement. Improving international fishing and trade policies targeted at these countries is essential for achieving sustainable food provision and ocean health.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caitlin D. Kuempel, Melanie Frazier, Juliette Verstaen, Paul-Eric Rayner, Julia L. Blanchard, Richard S. Cottrell, Halley E. Froehlich, Jessica A. Gephart, Nis Sand Jacobsen, Peter B. McIntyre, Marc Metian, Daniel Moran, Kirsty L. Nash, Johannes Toebben, David R. Williams, Benjamin S. Halpern
Summary: Food production, especially of fed animals, is a major cause of global environmental degradation. Understanding the environmental pressures of different fed animal products is crucial for implementing effective food policies that promote sustainability. This study compares the environmental footprint of farming industrial broiler chickens and farmed salmonids and identifies feed ingredients as a key leverage point to reduce environmental footprints. The study also highlights the importance of integrating food policies across realms and sectors to advance food system sustainability.
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caitlin D. Kuempel
Article
Fisheries
Halley E. Froehlich, Jamie C. Montgomery, David R. Williams, Casey O'Hara, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Benjamin S. Halpern
Summary: Aquaculture has the potential to reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks, but current practices are not effectively achieving this. By reducing reliance on wild seed inputs and increasing production of overexploited species through domesticated aquaculture, the balance between wild fisheries and aquaculture can be improved to support sustainable fishing levels.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Letter
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Benjamin S. Halpern, Melanie Frazier, Paul-Eric Rayner, Gage Clawson, Julia L. Blanchard, Richard S. Cottrell, Halley E. Froehlich, Jessica A. Gephart, Nis Sand Jacobsen, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Daniel Moran, Kirsty L. Nash, David R. Williams
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Vanessa M. Adams, Alienor L. M. Chauvenet, Natasha Stoudmann, Georgina G. Gurney, Dan Brockington, Caitlin D. Kuempel
Summary: Multiple-use protected areas are effective in conserving biodiversity and are more likely to operate under equitable governance arrangements, playing a crucial role in achieving the 2030 conservation targets.
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.
Correction
Biodiversity Conservation
L. A. Roberson, H. L. Beyer, C. O'Hara, J. E. M. Watson, D. C. Dunn, B. S. Halpern, C. J. Klein, M. R. Frazier, C. D. Kuempel, B. Williams, H. S. Grantham, J. C. Montgomery, S. Kark, R. K. Runting
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)