Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration
Ecosystems are intrinsically linked, such that management actions in one ecosystem can influence adjacent ecosystems. However, adequate data, and even protocols, for monitoring cross-ecosystem responses to conservation initiatives are lacking. Here, we evaluate potential indicators, operating on dif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014997 |
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| author | Cassandra E. Benkwitt Kalia S.I. Bistolas Jayna L. DeVore Simon Ducatez Jazmín Prado Gómez Rosalie Wright Mayalen Zubia Pierrick Harnay Teva Beguet Lisa M. Wedding Deron E. Burkepile Frank Murphy Nicholas A.J. Graham Rebecca Vega Thurber Hannah E. Epstein |
| author_facet | Cassandra E. Benkwitt Kalia S.I. Bistolas Jayna L. DeVore Simon Ducatez Jazmín Prado Gómez Rosalie Wright Mayalen Zubia Pierrick Harnay Teva Beguet Lisa M. Wedding Deron E. Burkepile Frank Murphy Nicholas A.J. Graham Rebecca Vega Thurber Hannah E. Epstein |
| author_sort | Cassandra E. Benkwitt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecosystems are intrinsically linked, such that management actions in one ecosystem can influence adjacent ecosystems. However, adequate data, and even protocols, for monitoring cross-ecosystem responses to conservation initiatives are lacking. Here, we evaluate potential indicators, operating on different spatial, temporal, and biological scales, for measuring the effects of island-based restoration on coral reef ecosystems. We show that island restoration status had consistent effects on populations of tropical seabirds across spatial scales from 100 m to entire islands. Seabirds, in turn, provided nutrient subsidies that were incorporated by marine algae and coral-reef fishes, with the most pronounced effects closer to shore, at leeward sites, and at low trophic levels. Microbes and macroalgae exhibited assemblage-level responses to seabird-derived nutrients entering the marine environment, but there were few differences in coral reef benthic and fish assemblages. By identifying and focusing on specific indicators such as macroalgal nutrients, managers can better monitor cross-ecosystem responses to conservation interventions with limited resources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72004eebd3dd444eb3eebb6817033aeb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-72004eebd3dd444eb3eebb6817033aeb2025-01-31T05:10:38ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170113042Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restorationCassandra E. Benkwitt0Kalia S.I. Bistolas1Jayna L. DeVore2Simon Ducatez3Jazmín Prado Gómez4Rosalie Wright5Mayalen Zubia6Pierrick Harnay7Teva Beguet8Lisa M. Wedding9Deron E. Burkepile10Frank Murphy11Nicholas A.J. Graham12Rebecca Vega Thurber13Hannah E. Epstein14Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United KingdomOregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333, USAUPF, ILM, Ifremer, IRD, UMR 241 SECOPOL, BP 6570 Faa’a, Tahiti, French PolynesiaIRD, ILM, Ifremer, UPF, UMR 241 SECOPOL, BP 6570 Faa’a, Tahiti, French PolynesiaOregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Corvallis, OR 97330, USAOxford Seascape Ecology Lab, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom; Blue Marine Foundation, South Building, Somerset House, London WC2R 1LA, United KingdomUPF, ILM, Ifremer, IRD, UMR 241 SECOPOL, BP 6570 Faa’a, Tahiti, French PolynesiaTetiaroa Society, 10900 NE 4th St Ste 1850, Bellevue, WA, USA; Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USATetiaroa Society, 10900 NE 4th St Ste 1850, Bellevue, WA, USAOxford Seascape Ecology Lab, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, United KingdomUC Santa Barbara, Marine Science Institute, Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USATetiaroa Society, 10900 NE 4th St Ste 1850, Bellevue, WA, USALancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United KingdomOregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; UC Santa Barbara, Marine Science Institute, Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USAOregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Ecosystems are intrinsically linked, such that management actions in one ecosystem can influence adjacent ecosystems. However, adequate data, and even protocols, for monitoring cross-ecosystem responses to conservation initiatives are lacking. Here, we evaluate potential indicators, operating on different spatial, temporal, and biological scales, for measuring the effects of island-based restoration on coral reef ecosystems. We show that island restoration status had consistent effects on populations of tropical seabirds across spatial scales from 100 m to entire islands. Seabirds, in turn, provided nutrient subsidies that were incorporated by marine algae and coral-reef fishes, with the most pronounced effects closer to shore, at leeward sites, and at low trophic levels. Microbes and macroalgae exhibited assemblage-level responses to seabird-derived nutrients entering the marine environment, but there were few differences in coral reef benthic and fish assemblages. By identifying and focusing on specific indicators such as macroalgal nutrients, managers can better monitor cross-ecosystem responses to conservation interventions with limited resources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014997Island restorationRat eradicationCoral reefsCross-ecosystem responseSeabird nutrients |
| spellingShingle | Cassandra E. Benkwitt Kalia S.I. Bistolas Jayna L. DeVore Simon Ducatez Jazmín Prado Gómez Rosalie Wright Mayalen Zubia Pierrick Harnay Teva Beguet Lisa M. Wedding Deron E. Burkepile Frank Murphy Nicholas A.J. Graham Rebecca Vega Thurber Hannah E. Epstein Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration Ecological Indicators Island restoration Rat eradication Coral reefs Cross-ecosystem response Seabird nutrients |
| title | Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration |
| title_full | Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration |
| title_fullStr | Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration |
| title_short | Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration |
| title_sort | re connecting ecosystems integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration |
| topic | Island restoration Rat eradication Coral reefs Cross-ecosystem response Seabird nutrients |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014997 |
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