@article{fdi:010095293,
  title = {{T}oward a spatialized index of the "benthic ecological state" using a new {C}oral {R}eef {R}apid {A}ssessment {M}ethod ({CORRAM}) : case study at {R}eunion {I}sland},
  author = {{B}roudic, {L}. and {P}inault, {M}. and {C}laud, {R}. and {N}icet, {J}. {B}. and {W}ickel, {J}. and {B}ajjouk, {T}. and {R}ungassamy, {T}. and {B}igot, {L}. and {N}ikolic, {N}. and {C}rochelet, {E}. and {T}hibault, {M}artin and {M}aze, {C}. and {B}ergerot, {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he development of a spatial index that can be used to represent the benthic ecological state of coral reefs is essential for guiding public conservation policies. {W}e propose the spatialization of a new index of "benthic ecological state" using the {C}oral {R}eef {R}apid {A}ssessment {M}ethod ({CORRAM}). {E}ight benthic biodiversity indicators selected from the literature that reflect key resistance and resilience mechanisms were assessed in 786 circular plots on the {S}aint-{P}ierre reef flat of {R}eunion {I}sland. {T}he "benthic ecological state" index was constructed from the eight benthic biodiversity indicators and spatialized using ordinary kriging. {T}o better assess functional mechanisms with respect to environmental pressures, the "benthic ecological state" index can be sub-divided into two indexes. {B}y establishing the associations between these indexes and abiotic environmental variables, the "coral community structure" and "benthic community vitality" showed a differential response sensibility including interaction with abiotic environmental variables studied. {O}ur large dataset enabled us to propose a "benthic ecological state" of reference based on habitat type for the {S}aint-{P}ierre reef flat in 2021. {T}hese indexes highlight areas of high socio-ecological issues and contribute to quantifying the deviation between the "reference ecological state" and the "benthic ecological state" at a given spatio-temporal point. {T}his proof of concept provides a methodological framework that can be replicated at multiple scales (from local to global) in other reefs. {U}sing a field-based method with spatial indexing and pressure data, it is now possible to accurately locate and quantify areas of coral reef are vulnerability and of major concern.},
  keywords = {{C}oral reef health ; {C}ircular plot ; {RAM} ; {C}oral reef index ; {W}estern {I}ndian ; ocean island states ; {REUNION} ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental and {S}ustainability {I}ndicators},
  volume = {27},
  numero = {},
  pages = {100811 [19 ]},
  ISSN = {2665-9727},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.indic.2025.100811},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010095293},
}