Dynamics of a coral reef community, Taiwan (2003 -2014)

Recurrent disturbances can have a critical effect on the structure and function of coral reef communities. In this study, long-term changes were examined in the hard coral community at Wanlitung, in southern Taiwan, between 1985 and 2010. In this 26 year interval, the reef has experienced repeated disturbances that include six typhoons and two coral-bleaching events. The frequency of disturbance has meant that species susceptible to disturbance, such as those in the genus Acropora and Montipora have almost disappeared from the reef. Indeed, almost all hard coral species have declined in abundance, with the result that total hard coral cover in 2010 (17.7%) was less than half what it was in 1985 (47.5%). In addition, macro-algal cover has increased from 11.3% in 2003 to 28.5% in 2010. The frequency of disturbance combined with possible chronic influence of a growing human population mean that a diverse reef assemblage is unlikely to persist on this reef into the future
Data sourced from BIOTIME. Dornelas M, Antão LH, Moyes F, Bates, AE, Magurran, AE, et al. BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene. Global Ecol Biogeogr. 2018; 27:760 - 786. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12729

反复扰动会对珊瑚礁群落的结构与功能产生至关重要的影响。本研究针对1985年至2010年间中国台湾南部万利塘（Wanlitung）的石珊瑚群落长期变化展开调查。在这26年的监测周期内，该礁体先后经历了6次台风与2次珊瑚白化等多次扰动事件。
扰动频发导致对干扰敏感的物种几近从该礁体消失，例如鹿角珊瑚属（Acropora）与微孔珊瑚属（Montipora）物种。事实上，几乎所有石珊瑚物种的丰度均出现下降，致使2010年石珊瑚总盖度（17.7%）仅为1985年（47.5%）的一半以下。此外，大型藻类盖度已从2003年的11.3%升至2010年的28.5%。
扰动频发叠加人口增长带来的潜在长期影响，意味着该礁体未来或将难以维持多样的珊瑚礁群落组合。
数据源自BIOTIME数据库：Dornelas M、Antão LH、Moyes F、Bates AE、Magurran AE等. BioTIME：人类世生物多样性时间序列数据库. 《Global Ecol Biogeogr》, 2018; 27:760-786. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12729