Coral reefs benefit from reduced land–sea impacts under ocean warming

Jamison M. Gove (), Gareth J. Williams (), Joey Lecky, Eric Brown, Eric Conklin, Chelsie Counsell, Gerald Davis, Mary K. Donovan, Kim Falinski, Lindsey Kramer, Kelly Kozar, Ning Li, Jeffrey A. Maynard, Amanda McCutcheon, Sheila A. McKenna, Brian J. Neilson, Aryan Safaie, Christopher Teague, Robert Whittier and Gregory P. Asner
Additional contact information
Jamison M. Gove: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Gareth J. Williams: Bangor University
Joey Lecky: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Eric Brown: National Park of American Samoa
Eric Conklin: The Nature Conservancy
Chelsie Counsell: Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research
Gerald Davis: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Mary K. Donovan: Arizona State University
Kim Falinski: The Nature Conservancy
Lindsey Kramer: Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund
Kelly Kozar: Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring
Ning Li: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Jeffrey A. Maynard: SymbioSeas
Amanda McCutcheon: Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring
Sheila A. McKenna: Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring
Brian J. Neilson: Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources
Aryan Safaie: University of Rhode Island
Christopher Teague: Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources
Robert Whittier: Hawai‘i Department of Health
Gregory P. Asner: Arizona State University

Nature, 2023, vol. 621, issue 7979, 536-542

Abstract: Abstract Coral reef ecosystems are being fundamentally restructured by local human impacts and climate-driven marine heatwaves that trigger mass coral bleaching and mortality1. Reducing local impacts can increase reef resistance to and recovery from bleaching2. However, resource managers lack clear advice on targeted actions that best support coral reefs under climate change3 and sector-based governance means most land- and sea-based management efforts remain siloed4. Here we combine surveys of reef change with a unique 20-year time series of land–sea human impacts that encompassed an unprecedented marine heatwave in Hawai‘i. Reefs with increased herbivorous fish populations and reduced land-based impacts, such as wastewater pollution and urban runoff, had positive coral cover trajectories predisturbance. These reefs also experienced a modest reduction in coral mortality following severe heat stress compared to reefs with reduced fish populations and enhanced land-based impacts. Scenario modelling indicated that simultaneously reducing land–sea human impacts results in a three- to sixfold greater probability of a reef having high reef-builder cover four years postdisturbance than if either occurred in isolation. International efforts to protect 30% of Earth’s land and ocean ecosystems by 2030 are underway5. Our results reveal that integrated land–sea management could help achieve coastal ocean conservation goals and provide coral reefs with the best opportunity to persist in our changing climate.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06394-w

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