Vulnerability to collapse of coral reef ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean

David Obura (), Mishal Gudka, Melita Samoilys, Kennedy Osuka, James Mbugua, David A. Keith, Sean Porter, Ronan Roche, Ruben Hooidonk, Said Ahamada, Armindo Araman, Juliet Karisa, John Komakoma, Mouchtadi Madi, Isabelle Ravinia, Haja Razafindrainibe, Saleh Yahya and Francisco Zivane
Additional contact information
David Obura: CORDIO East Africa
Mishal Gudka: CORDIO East Africa
Melita Samoilys: CORDIO East Africa
Kennedy Osuka: CORDIO East Africa
James Mbugua: CORDIO East Africa
David A. Keith: University of New South Wales
Sean Porter: Oceanographic Research Institute
Ronan Roche: Bangor University
Ruben Hooidonk: University of Miami
Said Ahamada: AIDE
Armindo Araman: Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação (ANAC)
Juliet Karisa: Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
John Komakoma: Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (MPRU)
Mouchtadi Madi: Moheli Marine Park
Isabelle Ravinia: Seychelles National Parks Authority
Haja Razafindrainibe: Centre National de Recherches Océanographiques (CNRO)
Saleh Yahya: Institute of Marine Science (IMS)
Francisco Zivane: National Institute of Fisheries Research

Nature Sustainability, 2022, vol. 5, issue 2, 104-113

Abstract: Abstract Ecosystems worldwide are under increasing threat. We applied a standardized method for assessing the risk of ecosystem collapse, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems, to coral reefs in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), covering 11,919 km2 of reef (~5% of the global total). Our approach combined indicators of change in historic ecosystem extent, ecosystem functioning (hard corals, fleshy algae, herbivores and piscivores) and projected sea temperature warming. We show that WIO coral reefs are vulnerable to collapse at the regional level, while in 11 nested ecoregions they range from critically endangered (islands, driven by future warming) to vulnerable (continental coast and northern Seychelles, driven principally by fishing pressure). Responses to avoid coral reef collapse must include ecosystem-based management of reefs and adjacent systems combined with mitigating and adapting to climate change. Our approach can be replicated across coral reefs globally to help countries and other actors meet conservation and sustainability targets set under multiple global conventions—including the Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00817-0

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