Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Carroll A. G., Harrison P. L., Adjeroud Mehdi. (2017). Susceptibility of coral assemblages to successive bleaching events at Moorea, French Polynesia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 68 (4), p. 760-771. ISSN 1323-1650.

Titre du document
Susceptibility of coral assemblages to successive bleaching events at Moorea, French Polynesia
Année de publication
2017
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000398531000013
Auteurs
Carroll A. G., Harrison P. L., Adjeroud Mehdi
Source
Marine and Freshwater Research, 2017, 68 (4), p. 760-771 ISSN 1323-1650
In 2002, bleaching was reported throughout many Indo-Pacific coral-reef regions, including French Polynesia. Bleaching occurred again in French Polynesia in 2003, providing an opportunity to compare the effects of successive bleaching events on coral susceptibility. During 2002 and 2003, underwater video surveys were completed in stations at four depths (lagoon: 0-2, 2-4 m; outer reef slope: 6-8, 12-14 m) at two locations on the northern and northwestern coast of Moorea (Society Archipelago) to compare the cover of healthy-appearing, the cover of partially bleached and the cover of fully bleached coral. Bleaching patterns were genus specific and differences in susceptibility among major genera were generally consistent between 2002 and 2003, with Acropora showing the greatest susceptibility. Some genera exhibited substantial spatial variability in bleaching susceptibility between years (e.g. Pocillopora, Montipora); however, this variability was significant only for fully bleached and partially bleached Acropora. Multivariate analyses showed that spatial patterns in the proportion of healthy-appearing coral were similar over time within the assemblages, whereas the cover of partially bleached and the cover of fully bleached coral were more variable among depths and locations. This variability has important implications for assessing changes to coral community structure over time and for estimating coral-reef resistance and resilience to future bleaching disturbance.
Plan de classement
Limnologie biologique / Océanographie biologique [034] ; Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]
Description Géographique
POLYNESIE FRANCAISE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010069527]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010069527
Contact