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Dynamics of Coral Reef Benthic Assemblages of the Abrolhos Bank, Eastern Brazil: Inferences on Natural and Anthropogenic Drivers

Author

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  • Ronaldo B Francini-Filho
  • Ericka O C Coni
  • Pedro M Meirelles
  • Gilberto M Amado-Filho
  • Fabiano L Thompson
  • Guilherme H Pereira-Filho
  • Alex C Bastos
  • Douglas P Abrantes
  • Camilo M Ferreira
  • Fernando Z Gibran
  • Arthur Z Güth
  • Paulo Y G Sumida
  • Nara L Oliveira
  • Les Kaufman
  • Carolina V Minte-Vera
  • Rodrigo L Moura

Abstract

The Abrolhos Bank (eastern Brazil) encompasses the largest and richest coral reefs of the South Atlantic. Coral reef benthic assemblages of the region were monitored from 2003 to 2008. Two habitats (pinnacles' tops and walls) were sampled per site with 3–10 sites sampled within different reef areas. Different methodologies were applied in two distinct sampling periods: 2003–2005 and 2006–2008. Spatial coverage and taxonomic resolution were lower in the former than in the latter period. Benthic assemblages differed markedly in the smallest spatial scale, with greater differences recorded between habitats. Management regimes and biomass of fish functional groups (roving and territorial herbivores) had minor influences on benthic assemblages. These results suggest that local environmental factors such as light, depth and substrate inclination exert a stronger influence on the structure of benthic assemblages than protection from fishing. Reef walls of unprotected coastal reefs showed highest coral cover values, with a major contribution of Montastraea cavernosa (a sediment resistant species that may benefit from low light levels). An overall negative relationship between fleshy macroalgae and slow-growing reef-building organisms (i.e. scleractinians and crustose calcareous algae) was recorded, suggesting competition between these organisms. The opposite trend (i.e. positive relationships) was recorded for turf algae and the two reef-building organisms, suggesting beneficial interactions and/or co-occurrence mediated by unexplored factors. Turf algae cover increased across the region between 2006 and 2008, while scleractinian cover showed no change. The need of a continued and standardized monitoring program, aimed at understanding drivers of change in community patterns, as well as to subsidize sound adaptive conservation and management measures, is highlighted.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronaldo B Francini-Filho & Ericka O C Coni & Pedro M Meirelles & Gilberto M Amado-Filho & Fabiano L Thompson & Guilherme H Pereira-Filho & Alex C Bastos & Douglas P Abrantes & Camilo M Ferreira & Fern, 2013. "Dynamics of Coral Reef Benthic Assemblages of the Abrolhos Bank, Eastern Brazil: Inferences on Natural and Anthropogenic Drivers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0054260
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Moberg, Fredrik & Folke, Carl, 1999. "Ecological goods and services of coral reef ecosystems," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 215-233, May.
    2. Mark J A Vermeij & Imke van Moorselaar & Sarah Engelhard & Christine Hörnlein & Sophie M Vonk & Petra M Visser, 2010. "The Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and Herbivore Abundance on the Ability of Turf Algae to Overgrow Coral in the Caribbean," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(12), pages 1-8, December.
    3. John F Bruno & Elizabeth R Selig, 2007. "Regional Decline of Coral Cover in the Indo-Pacific: Timing, Extent, and Subregional Comparisons," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(8), pages 1-8, August.
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    1. Nezha Mejjad & Marzia Rovere, 2021. "Understanding the Impacts of Blue Economy Growth on Deep-Sea Ecosystem Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-26, November.

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