Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Green Reporter
  • Home
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation
No Result
View All Result
Green Reporter
No Result
View All Result
Home Management

Key habitat-building corals’ future at risk due to rise in climate crisis

GrR by GrR
July 24, 2021
in Management
0
58
SHARES
250
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter




ANI |
Updated:
Jul 24, 2021 22:53 IST

Sao Paulo [Brazil], July 24 (ANI): A recent study highlights an urgent need for coral reef management in the Atlantic as it discovered that the deficiency of stony coral species could have devastating ramifications for the marine environments they possess.
The results of a new study show that the loss of stony coral species could have devastating consequences for the marine ecosystems they inhabit. This finding highlights an urgent need for coral reef management in the Atlantic.
The climate crisis will lead to changes in distribution and habitat loss of such corals in the tropical Atlantic shows a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo projected current and future distributions of three key reef-building corals of the tropical Atlantic (Mussismilia hispida, Montastraea cavernosa, and the Siderastrea complex).
They conclude that all three species will experience changes in range due to the climate crisis, which will elicit negative cascading effects on the biodiversity of reef ecosystems.
Mussismilia hispida, Montastraea cavernosa and the Siderastrea complex are stony corals of the eastern and western Atlantic.
They are ecosystem engineers: much like beavers who contribute to the structure of their terrestrial habitats by building dams, stony corals help build reefs by depositing calcium carbonate. They are vital for the health and function of these reefs, which are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
“Coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services such as food provision, coastal protection and nutrient cycling, that benefit millions of people – including those who live far from any coral reef,” says lead author and PhD candidate Silas Principe of the University of Sao Paulo.
“If species that are important in structuring the coral reefs are lost, the provision of all those services is consequently also threatened.”

Human activity has long harmed corals worldwide, and coral reefs are already some of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Intense and long-lasting mass bleaching events, ocean acidification, pollution, urbanization, fisheries, and tourism are all leading to the reduction and loss of coral cover. Now, the climate crisis is adding to those threats.
Climate change leads to changes in coral distribution, with key coral species moving within the tropics or towards temperate waters at higher latitudes. Changes in distributions of these key species may have unprecedented cascading effects on entire marine wildlife communities, such as drastic changes in the structural complexity of reef ecosystems.
Researching possible changes in stony coral distribution is important for the planning and management of coral reef conservation. The researchers collected data on M. hispida, M. cavernosa, and the Siderastrea complex from different databases and used species distribution models to model their suitability on their current habitat.
They also modeled future changes in the range under three different climate change scenarios (most pessimistic, most optimistic, and moderate).
They found that, even in the most optimistic scenario, all three species could experience changes in their distributions. Especially in the western Atlantic, decreases in the abundance of stony corals are expected under all three scenarios. Several areas along the Brazilian coast and the Caribbean will lose habitat suitability. These projections are especially critical for the Brazilian coast, where there are fewer habitat-building coral species.
The researchers urge conservation and management efforts to be focused on regions such as the Abrolhos region, northeast coast of Brazil, western Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
“We show that important reef builder species of the Atlantic will face shifts in its distribution due to climate change,” Principe said.
“Certain areas, such as the Abrolhos region in the coast of Brazil, will completely lose at least one of its species in any of the future scenarios. Major areas in the Caribbean will also lose species in the future, although in the coast of Africa some species may expand their current range.”
But the results also indicate that there is hope for Atlantic stony corals. “Although our results predict major negative impacts on Atlantic shallow reefs, we also identified several areas where none or fewer changes are predicted. Managers and policymakers can use this to support the planning process of conservation areas.”
Principe concludes: “Researchers and conservationists can use these results to focus research efforts on the so-called ‘refuge areas’ that may constitute safe areas for coral species in the future.” (ANI)





Source link

Previous Post

University of Technology Jamaica highlights 10 student projects

Next Post

ESG investing is a sign of protest

GrR

GrR

Green Reporter is a global source for news of sustainability, green industry, green technology, clear energy, sustainable food production, and green investments. Our aim is to deliver the best news and information to you.

Next Post

ESG investing is a sign of protest

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Climate change in our backyard: Manitoba begins to grapple with the consequences – Winnipeg

August 10, 2021

Repsol starts marketing debut sustainability-linked bond sale

June 29, 2021

Sustainability Ambitions Soaring at KCI

December 6, 2021

Chris Pratt explains where the White Spikes originated

July 3, 2021
Stop burning our rights! What governments and corporations must do to protect humanity from the climate crisis – World

Stop burning our rights! What governments and corporations must do to protect humanity from the climate crisis – World

Biden said to mull dropping corporate tax hike to fund jobs plan

Biden said to mull dropping corporate tax hike to fund jobs plan

Global investors pressure Asian utilities to cut emissions

Global investors pressure Asian utilities to cut emissions

Global inequity could derail path to net zero

Global inequity could derail path to net zero

Cape Cod 5 Donates $50K to Climate Change Collaborative

June 28, 2022

LG Chem and GS EPS sign LOI for biomass power plant

June 28, 2022

How Regenerative Farming Moves Beyond Sustainability

June 28, 2022

Improving our climate one plant at a time – Ottawa Valley News

June 28, 2022

Recent News

Cape Cod 5 Donates $50K to Climate Change Collaborative

June 28, 2022

LG Chem and GS EPS sign LOI for biomass power plant

June 28, 2022

How Regenerative Farming Moves Beyond Sustainability

June 28, 2022

Improving our climate one plant at a time – Ottawa Valley News

June 28, 2022

Recent News

Cape Cod 5 Donates $50K to Climate Change Collaborative

June 28, 2022

LG Chem and GS EPS sign LOI for biomass power plant

June 28, 2022

How Regenerative Farming Moves Beyond Sustainability

June 28, 2022

Browse by Category

  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation

Follow Us

  • Privacy & Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

© 2021 Copyright Green Reporter

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation

© 2021 Copyright Green Reporter