What can South African reefs tell us about the future of high-latitude coral systems?

Coral communities are found at high latitude on the East Coast subtropical reefs of South Africa. They are biodiverse, economically important, and afforded World Heritage Site status in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park where some are subjected to recreational use. While the Park's unique coral ree...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 136; pp. 491 - 507
Main Authors: Schleyer, Michael H., Floros, Camilla, Laing, Stuart C.S., Macdonald, Angus H.H., Montoya-Maya, Phanor H., Morris, Tamaryn, Porter, Sean N., Seré, Mathieu G.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2018
Elsevier BV
Subjects:
Acropora
Animals
Anthozoa - genetics
Anthozoa - physiology
Biodiversity
Bleaching
Climate Change
Climate effects
coasts
Coral diseases
Coral Reefs
Corals
Diving
Dynamics
Economic benefits
Economic importance
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental Monitoring
Fish communities
Fisheries - economics
Fishes
Fishing
Genetic Variation
Historic sites
Humans
Latitude
Marine sediments
Nursery grounds
Oceanography
Pesticides
Recreation
Recreational use
Resource economics
Resource evaluation
Scuba diving
sediments
Socioeconomic aspects
socioeconomics
South Africa
Sport fishing
Structural damage
Underwater resources
water pollution
wetlands
World Heritage Areas
South Africa
Coral reefs
Coral diseases
Resource evaluation
Climate change
Marine sediments
Fish communities
Ecosystem services
Resource economics
Oceanography
ISSN:0025-326X, 1879-3363, 1879-3363
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Coral communities are found at high latitude on the East Coast subtropical reefs of South Africa. They are biodiverse, economically important, and afforded World Heritage Site status in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park where some are subjected to recreational use. While the Park's unique coral reefs have, to date, suffered little bleaching from climate change, they are susceptible to the phenomenon and provide a natural laboratory for the study of its effects at high latitude. This review covers recent advances in the regional oceanography; coral community dynamics and the underpinning reef processes, including minor bleaching events; the incidence of coral disease; and coral genetic connectivity. The effects of human activity (SCUBA diving, recreational fishing, pesticide use) were assessed, as well as the nursery benefits of Acropora austera, a coral which provides the reefs with much structure and is vulnerable to damage and climate change. The reefs were valued in terms of human use as well as services such as sediment generation and retention. The results have provided valuable information on relatively pristine, high-latitude reefs, their socio-economic benefits, and the anticipated effects of climate change.
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ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.014