Pratchett, Morgan S., Bay, Line K., Coker, Darren J., Cole, Andrew J., and Lawton, Rebecca J. (2012) Effects of coral bleaching on coral habitats and associated fishes. In: Lunney, Daniel, and Hutchings, Pat, (eds.) Wildlife and Climate Change: towards robust conservation strategies for Australian fauna. RZS Forum Series . Royal Zoological Society New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, pp. 59-67.

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Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to global climate change, owing to extreme environmental sensitivities and consequent bleaching of reef-building scleractinian corals. Severe coral bleaching often kills scleractinian coral, leading to longer-term declines in habitat and topographic complexity. The loss of corals, and corresponding changes in habitat quality, also has a significant effect on coral reef fishes. Coral loss has the greatest and most immediate effect on fishes that depend on live corals for food or shelter. Many coral-reef fishes that do not depend directly on live coral are nonetheless dependent on the topographic complexity provided by healthy coral growth. Sustained and ongoing climate change thus poses a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems and urgent action is required to minimize future effects of climate change and maximize resilience of coral reef ecosystems.

Item ID:	25570
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	978-0-9803272-5-0
Keywords:	climate change, coral reefs, disturbance, resilience
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2013 06:27
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960802 Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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