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Urban coral reefs: Degradation and resilience of hard coral assemblages in coastal cities of East and Southeast Asia

Heery EC 1 , Hoeksema BW 2 , Browne NK 3 , Reimer JD 4 , Ang PO 5 , Huang D 6 Show all authors , Friess DA 7 , Chou LM 8 , Loke LHL 1 , Saksena-Taylor P 1 , Alsagoff N 1 , Yeemin T 9 , Sutthacheep M 9 , Vo ST 10 , Bos AR 11 , Gumanao GS 12 , Syed Hussein MA 13 , Waheed Z 13 , Lane DJW 14 , Johan O 15 , Kunzmann A 16 , Jompa J 17 , Suharsono 18 , Taira D 1 , Bauman AG 1 , Todd PA 19

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
  • 2 Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 3 Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bentley Campus, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
  • 4 Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
  • 5 Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
  • 6 Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore
  • 7 Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117570, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
  • 8 Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore
  • 9 Marine Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Huamark, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
  • 10 Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1 Cau Da, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Viet Nam
  • 11 Department of Biology, The American University in Cairo, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo 11835, Egypt; Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
  • 12 Marine Biology Department, Davao del Norte State College, New Visayas, 8105 Panabo City, the Philippines
  • 13 Endangered Marine Species Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • 14 Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Singapore
  • 15 Research Institute for Ornamental Fish Culture, Jl. Perikanan No. 13, Pancoran Mas, Kota Depok, Jawa Barat 16436, Indonesia
  • 16 Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstr. 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany
  • 17 Department of Marine Science, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
  • 18 Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jl. Pasir Putih I, Ancol Timur, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia
  • 19 Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore. Electronic address: [email protected]
Mar Pollut Bull, 2018 Oct;135:654-681.
PMID: 30301085 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.041

Abstract

Given predicted increases in urbanization in tropical and subtropical regions, understanding the processes shaping urban coral reefs may be essential for anticipating future conservation challenges. We used a case study approach to identify unifying patterns of urban coral reefs and clarify the effects of urbanization on hard coral assemblages. Data were compiled from 11 cities throughout East and Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Naha (Okinawa). Our review highlights several key characteristics of urban coral reefs, including "reef compression" (a decline in bathymetric range with increasing turbidity and decreasing water clarity over time and relative to shore), dominance by domed coral growth forms and low reef complexity, variable city-specific inshore-offshore gradients, early declines in coral cover with recent fluctuating periods of acute impacts and rapid recovery, and colonization of urban infrastructure by hard corals. We present hypotheses for urban reef community dynamics and discuss potential of ecological engineering for corals in urban areas.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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