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Patterns of recruitment and abundance of corals along the Great Barrier Reef

Author

Listed:
  • T. P. Hughes

    (James Cook University)

  • A. H. Baird

    (James Cook University)

  • E. A. Dinsdale

    (James Cook University)

  • N. A. Moltschaniwskyj

    (University of Tasmania)

  • M. S. Pratchett

    (James Cook University)

  • J. E. Tanner

    (James Cook University)

  • B. L. Willis

    (James Cook University)

Abstract

Different physical and biological processes prevail at different scales1,2,3,4. As a consequence, small-scale experiments or local observations provide limited insights into regional or global phenomena5,6,7,8. One solution is to incorporate spatial scale explicitly into the experimental and sampling design of field studies, to provide a broader, landscape view of ecology1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Here we examine spatial patterns in corals on the Great Barrier Reef, across a spectrum of scales ranging from metres to more than 1,700 km. Our study is unusual because we explore large-scale patterns of a process (recruitment by juveniles) as well as patterns of adult abundance, revealing the relationship between the two. We show that coral-reef assemblages that are similar in terms of abundance may nonetheless show profound differences in dynamics and turnover, with major implications for their ecology, evolution and management.

Suggested Citation

  • T. P. Hughes & A. H. Baird & E. A. Dinsdale & N. A. Moltschaniwskyj & M. S. Pratchett & J. E. Tanner & B. L. Willis, 1999. "Patterns of recruitment and abundance of corals along the Great Barrier Reef," Nature, Nature, vol. 397(6714), pages 59-63, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:397:y:1999:i:6714:d:10.1038_16237
    DOI: 10.1038/16237
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    Cited by:

    1. Pol Capdevila & Cristina Linares & Eneko Aspillaga & Joan Lluís Riera & Bernat Hereu, 2018. "Effective dispersal and density-dependence in mesophotic macroalgal forests: Insights from the Mediterranean species Cystoseira zosteroides," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Nelson Valdivia & Ricardo A Scrosati & Markus Molis & Amanda S Knox, 2011. "Variation in Community Structure across Vertical Intertidal Stress Gradients: How Does It Compare with Horizontal Variation at Different Scales?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-8, August.
    3. Patricia Prado & Fiona Tomas & Stefania Pinna & Simone Farina & Guillem Roca & Giulia Ceccherelli & Javier Romero & Teresa Alcoverro, 2012. "Habitat and Scale Shape the Demographic Fate of the Keystone Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus in Mediterranean Macrophyte Communities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-10, April.
    4. Conrad W Speed & Russ C Babcock & Kevin P Bancroft & Lynnath E Beckley & Lynda M Bellchambers & Martial Depczynski & Stuart N Field & Kim J Friedman & James P Gilmour & Jean-Paul A Hobbs & Halina T Ko, 2013. "Dynamic Stability of Coral Reefs on the West Australian Coast," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Kininmonth, Stuart & van Oppen, Madeleine J.H. & Possingham, Hugh P., 2010. "Determining the community structure of the coral Seriatopora hystrix from hydrodynamic and genetic networks," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(24), pages 2870-2880.

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