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Overfishing and nutrient pollution interact with temperature to disrupt coral reefs down to microbial scales

Author

Listed:
  • Jesse R. Zaneveld

    (Oregon State University)

  • Deron E. Burkepile

    (Florida International University
    Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Andrew A. Shantz

    (Florida International University)

  • Catharine E. Pritchard

    (Florida International University
    Penn State University)

  • Ryan McMinds

    (Oregon State University)

  • Jérôme P. Payet

    (Oregon State University)

  • Rory Welsh

    (Oregon State University)

  • Adrienne M. S. Correa

    (Oregon State University
    Rice University)

  • Nathan P. Lemoine

    (Florida International University)

  • Stephanie Rosales

    (Oregon State University)

  • Corinne Fuchs

    (University of Florida)

  • Jeffrey A. Maynard

    (SymbioSeas and Marine Applied Research Center
    Laboratoire d’Excellence «CORAIL» USR 3278 CNRS – EPHE, CRIOBE)

  • Rebecca Vega Thurber

    (Oregon State University)

Abstract

Losses of corals worldwide emphasize the need to understand what drives reef decline. Stressors such as overfishing and nutrient pollution may reduce resilience of coral reefs by increasing coral–algal competition and reducing coral recruitment, growth and survivorship. Such effects may themselves develop via several mechanisms, including disruption of coral microbiomes. Here we report the results of a 3-year field experiment simulating overfishing and nutrient pollution. These stressors increase turf and macroalgal cover, destabilizing microbiomes, elevating putative pathogen loads, increasing disease more than twofold and increasing mortality up to eightfold. Above-average temperatures exacerbate these effects, further disrupting microbiomes of unhealthy corals and concentrating 80% of mortality in the warmest seasons. Surprisingly, nutrients also increase bacterial opportunism and mortality in corals bitten by parrotfish, turning normal trophic interactions deadly for corals. Thus, overfishing and nutrient pollution impact reefs down to microbial scales, killing corals by sensitizing them to predation, above-average temperatures and bacterial opportunism.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesse R. Zaneveld & Deron E. Burkepile & Andrew A. Shantz & Catharine E. Pritchard & Ryan McMinds & Jérôme P. Payet & Rory Welsh & Adrienne M. S. Correa & Nathan P. Lemoine & Stephanie Rosales & Corin, 2016. "Overfishing and nutrient pollution interact with temperature to disrupt coral reefs down to microbial scales," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11833
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11833
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael-Bitton, Geula & Gal, Gideon & Corrales, Xavier & Ofir, Eyal & Shechter, Mordechai & Zemah-Shamir, Shiri, 2022. "Economic aspects of fish stock accounting as a renewable marine natural capital: The Eastern Mediterranean continental shelf ecosystem as a case study," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    2. Milne, Russell & Anand, Madhur & Bauch, Chris T., 2023. "Preparing for and managing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on reefs under threat from interacting anthropogenic stressors," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 484(C).

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