Conservation Biology - A Coral Reef Example

1. General issues facing natural scientists wanting to make a contribution

2. A brief introduction to coral reefs and the threats they face

3. Natural science examples of questions needing answersa. simple questionsb. hard questions

4. Some examples of applied natural science - World Bank Targeted Research

General Issues

1. Some challenges are fundamentally more about social sciences than natural sciences (5% science, 95% politics??)

2. But changes in objectives are posing new scientific questions, e.g.a. Single-species >>> Ecosystem-based management (EBM)b. Managing for resilience

3. This does not, however, mean that scientists should return to hiding in their ivory towers!!

Why Coral Reefs?

1. Highly diverse and economically important

2. Highly threatened

3. Good examples of poorly understood and sometimes complex science

DISCOVERY BAY, JAMAICA IN 1975

DISCOVERY BAY, JAMAICA IN 1975

GONE

Anthropogenic Effects on Coral ReefsPhysical Impacts on Corals

Destructive fishing (cyanide, dynamite)Coral miningStorms ~ global warmingSedimentation ~ deforestationBleaching ~ global warmingReduced calcification ~ higher CO2 >> acidity

Biological Impacts on CoralsDisease (corals, grazers) ~ global warming, water qualityOvergrowth by algae (eutrophication, overfishing)Predator outbreaks ~ enhanced survival of larvae/juveniles/adultsReduced reproduction (Allee effects)

Other Biological ImpactsOverfishing (spawning aggregations, aquarium fish)

Riegl and Luke 1998

Hurricane Allen 1980

Sedimentation

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1

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5

6

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8

9

10

1974197619781980198219841986198819901992199419961998200020022004

Year

Regions reporting bleaching

Hoegh-Guldberg Bleaching group

Coral Bleaching Trends

Effects of changing ocean chemistryKleypas et al. 1999, Science

Sea urchin die-off1982

Disease ofBranching corals

1971

1988

Other Coral Diseases

Crown of thorns starfish - Acanthaster planci

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10

20

30

40

50

60

0 100 200 300

Time from first spawning colony

Average fertilization potential...

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Number of spawning corals/diver

Peak fertilization potential

R2 = 0.88

B

Lewis 2002

“Simple” Questions

1. Where/when does fish spawning occur?2. How far do fish/coral larvae travel and where do they settle?3. What causes predator populations to explode?4. What pathogens are responsible for different diseases?5. What are the temperature tolerances of corals and their symbionts?6. What is the relationship between ocean acidity and calcification rates?

Harder Questions

1. How do different stresses interact (negative synergies)?2. What affects the dynamics of recovery/extinction (non-linearities,

meta-population dynamics)?

20 Million Dollar World Bank Project

Working Groups Bleaching Disease Connectivity Remote Sensing Restoration Modelling

Centers of Excellence Australia Philippines Mexico Zanzibar

Exercise for the Afternoon (imagine you are a senate aide)

What Natural Science Knowledge is Needed for the Following Topics and How Would You Obtain It?

1) Climate Change and Arctic Ecosystems2) Marine Invasive Species Risks on the US West Coast3) Wetlands Restoration4) Deep Sea Dumping5) Offshore Drilling in Florida6) Otter Restoration for Southern California