River discharge reduces reef coral diversity in Palau |
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Authors: | Golbuu Yimnang van Woesik Robert Richmond Robert H Harrison Peter Fabricius Katharina E |
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Affiliation: | a Palau International Coral Reef Center, 1 M-Dock Road, P.O. Box 7086, Koror 96940, Palau b Coral Reef Research Center, Southern Cross University, P.O. Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia c Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901-6975, USA d Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 41 Ahui Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA e Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, Qld 4810, Australia |
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Abstract: | Coral community structure is often governed by a suite of processes that are becoming increasingly influenced by land-use changes and related terrestrial discharges. We studied sites along a watershed gradient to examine both the physical environment and the associated biological communities. Transplanted corals showed no differences in growth rates and mortality along the watershed gradient. However, coral cover, coral richness, and coral colony density increased with increasing distance from the mouth of the bay. There was a negative relationship between coral cover and mean suspended solids concentration. Negative relationships were also found between terrigenous sedimentation rates and the richness of adult and juvenile corals. These results have major implications not only for Pacific islands but for all countries with reef systems downstream of rivers. Land development very often leads to increases in river runoff and suspended solids concentrations that reduce coral cover and coral diversity on adjacent reefs. |
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Keywords: | Palau Micronesia Coral reefs Coral transplant Coral diversity Sedimentation |
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