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Palau’s coral reefs show differential habitat recovery following the 1998-bleaching event

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Abstract

Documenting successional dynamics of coral communities following large-scale bleaching events is necessary to predict coral population responses to global climate change. In 1998, high sea surface temperatures and low cloud cover in the western Pacific Ocean caused high coral mortality on the outer exposed reefs of Palau (Micronesia), while coral mortality in sheltered bays was low. Recovery was examined from 2001 to 2005 at 13 sites stratified by habitat (outer reefs, patch reefs and bays) and depth (3 and 10 m). Two hypotheses were tested: (1) rates of change of coral cover vary in accordance with habitat, and (2) recovery rates depend on recruitment. Coral cover increased most in the sheltered bays, despite a low recruitment rate, suggesting that recovery in bays was primarily a consequence of remnant regrowth. Recruitment densities were consistently high on the wave-exposed reefs, particularly the western slopes, where recovery was attributed to both recruitment and regrowth of remnants. Recovery was initially more rapid at 10 m than 3 m on outer reefs, but in 2004, recovery rates were similar at both depths. Rapid recovery was possible because Palau’s coral reefs were buffered by remnant survival and recruitment from the less impacted habitats.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the following research assistants: Jim Kloulechad, Teri Brugh, Arius Merep, Irvin Dwight, Gerda Ucharm, Masao Udui, Jeff Michael, Asap Bukurrow, and Geory Mereb. Funding for the Palau International Coral Reef Center’s long-term coral reef monitoring program was provided by the JICA Technical Assistance Program (PICRC strengthening project) and the NOAA-Coral Reef Conservation Program. The David & Lucile Packard Foundation supported the initial design and setup of the monitoring program at PICRC. Our sincere thanks extend to Dan Wagner and Sandra van Woesik for editorial comments. Three reviewers provided several insightful comments, particularly one reviewer that made us revisit earlier publications on coral bleaching and carefully reassess our interpretation of those papers. Research of RVW supported, in part, by the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility through the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management program, Coral Bleaching and Local Environmental Responses working group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palau International Coral Reef Center, PO Box 7086, Koror, PW, 96940, Republic of Palau

    Y. Golbuu, S. Victor, L. Penland, D. Idip Jr, C. Emaurois, K. Okaji & H. Yukihira

  2. School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia

    Y. Golbuu

  3. Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422, Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227, Japan

    A. Iwase

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL, 32901-6975, USA

    R. van Woesik

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  1. Y. Golbuu
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  2. S. Victor
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  3. L. Penland
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  9. R. van Woesik
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Correspondence to R. van Woesik.

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Communicated by Editor in Chief B.E. Brown.

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Golbuu, Y., Victor, S., Penland, L. et al. Palau’s coral reefs show differential habitat recovery following the 1998-bleaching event. Coral Reefs 26, 319–332 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0200-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0200-7

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