Population dynamics of Siderastrea stellata Verrill, 1868 from Rocas Atoll, RN: implications for predicted climate change impacts at the only South Atlantic atoll
An. acad. bras. ciênc
;
89(2): 873-884, Apr.-June 2017. tab, graf
Artículo
en Inglés
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-886678
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Coral reefs are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to ocean warming and acidification, and it is important to determine the role of reef building species in this environment in order to obtain insight into their susceptibility to expected impacts of global changes. Aspects of the life history of a coral population, such as reproduction, growth and size-frequency can contribute to the production of models that are used to estimate impacts and potential recovery of the population, acting as a powerful tool for the conservation and management of those ecosystems. Here, we present the first evidence of Siderastrea stellata planulation, its early growth, population size-frequency distribution and growth rate of adult colonies in Rocas Atoll. Our results, together with the environmental protection policies and the absence of anthropogenic pressures, suggest that S. stellata population may have a good potential in the maintenance and recovery in the atoll. However, our results also indicate an impact on corals' recruitment, probably as a consequence of the positive temperature anomaly that occurred in 2010. Thus, despite the pristine status of Rocas Atoll, the preservation of its coral community seems to be threatened by current global changes, such as more frequent thermal stress events.
Texto completo:
Disponible
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Asunto principal:
Cambio Climático
/
Antozoos
/
Arrecifes de Coral
Tipo de estudio:
Estudio pronóstico
/
Factores de riesgo
Límite:
Animales
País/Región como asunto:
America del Sur
/
Brasil
Idioma:
Inglés
Revista:
An. acad. bras. ciênc
Asunto de la revista:
Ciencia
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Artículo
País de afiliación:
Brasil
Institución/País de afiliación:
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/BR
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