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Preliminary identification of key coral species from N ew C aledonia ( S outhwest P acific O cean), their significance to reef formation, and responses to environmental change
Author(s) -
Hongo Chuki,
Wirrmann Denis
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
island arc
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.554
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1440-1738
pISSN - 1038-4871
DOI - 10.1111/iar.12090
Subject(s) - reef , coral reef , coral , ecosystem , key (lock) , ecology , marine ecosystem , biology
The recognition of key coral species ( KCS ) in the geological record, i.e. those that contribute to reef formation and maintenance of coral reef ecosystems, is important for understanding the development and evolution of reef ecosystems and for forecasting their responses to climate change and anthropogenic impacts in the near future. This study examined the contribution to reef formation and maintenance of KCS from Pleistocene and Holocene barrier reefs in N ew C aledonia, based on analyses of six cores retrieved from three different reefs: I slets K endec, A médée, and B ayes. Our results indicate that at least 19 genera and 33 species of corals contributed to reef formation and maintenance during the H olocene in N ew C aledonia. Among them, G oniastrea retiformis , I sopora palifera , D ipsastraea pallida / speciosa complex, corymbose A cropora sp., massive P orites sp., and encrusting P orites sp. were KCS during the H olocene. This observation suggests that KCS will potentially contribute to the formation and persistence of reefs in the near future under conditions of estimated global sea‐level rise of 0.2–0.6 m/100 years. However, the distributions and abundances of these species are currently decreasing. This study emphasizes the need for further research on the restoration and conservation of potential KCS .