Title
Natural History of Coral-Algae Competition across a Gradient of Human Activity in the Line Islands
Document Type
Technical Report
Date of this Version
7-24-2012
Publication Source
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
460
Start Page
1
Last Page
12
DOI
10.3354/meps09874
Abstract
Competition between corals and benthic algae is prevalent on coral reefs worldwide and has the potential to influence the structure of the reef benthos. Human activities may influence the outcome of these interactions by favoring algae to become the superior competitor, and this type of change in competitive dynamics is a potential mechanism driving coral-algal phase shifts. Here we surveyed the types and outcomes of coral-algal interactions varied across reefs on the different islands. On reefs surrounding inhabited islands, however, turf algae were generally the superior competitors. When corals were broken down by size class, we found that the smallest and the largest coral colonies were the best competitors against algae; the former successfully fought off algae while being completely surrounded, and the latter generally avoided algal overgrowth by growing up above the benthos. Our data suggest that human disruption of the reef ecosystem may lead to a building pattern of competitive disadvantage for corals against encroaching algae, potentially initiating a transition towards algal dominance.
Copyright/Permission Statement
This article is a Feature Article in the publication Marine Ecology Progress Series, meaning that it is published under a Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY).
Keywords
crustose coralline algae, turf algae, macroalgae, coral reef, interaction, Line Islands
Recommended Citation
Barott, K., Williams, G. J., Vermeij, M. J., Harris, J., Smith, J. E., Rohwer, F., & Sandin, S. A. (2012). Natural History of Coral-Algae Competition across a Gradient of Human Activity in the Line Islands. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 460 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps09874
Additional Files
Supp Material_Natural history of coral-algae competition across a gradient of human activity in the Line Islands.pdf (431 kB)Included in
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons, Biology Commons, Marine Biology Commons
Date Posted: 04 October 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.
Comments
At the time of this publication, Dr. Barott was affiliated with San Diego State University, but she is now affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania.