Abstract
A three step decision-making process is advocated for coral reef managers which (1) evaluates an area at risk, (2) quantifies the risk, and (3) assesses recoverability and consequences in terms of ecological succession and bioconstruction. The judgements required at each stage of the decision-making process should be based on a clear understanding of their ecological and geomorphological implications. ‘Biodiversity’ and ‘bioconstruction’ criteria are used to evaluate locations on a five point scale. Ecological risk assessment assigns likelihoods for various damage scenarios. Acceptable change is scale and context dependent and ranges from zero to complete, depending on ecological value and alternate values. Three questions need to be addressed in relation to recoverability of damaged sites: (1) effects on future suitability for settlement, growth and/or repair, (2) certainty of supply of appropriate propagules; and (3) identifiable, ‘on site ecological factors’ (such as predators, competitors, diseases) which may prevent recovery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bell PRF (1991) Status of eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Mar Pollut Bull 23:89–93
Bell PRF (1992) Eutrophication and coral reefs — some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Water Res 26:553–568
Birkeland C (ed) (1987) Comparison between Atlantic and Pacific tropical marine coastal ecosystems: community structure, ecological processess, and productivity. UNESCO Rep Mar Sci 46
Brodie JE (1992) Enhancement of larval and juvenile survival and recruitment in Acanthaster planci from the effects of terrestrial runoff: a review. Aust J Mar Biol Freshwater Res 43:459–54
Buddemeier RW, Hopley D (1988) Turn-ons and turn-offs: causes and mechanisms of initiation and termination of coral reef growth. Proc 6th Int Coral Reef Symp 1:253–261
Burrage DM, Black KP, Ness KF (1994) Long term current prediction in the central Great Barrier Reef. Cont Shelf Res 14:803–829
Connell JH (1978) Diversity in tropical rainforests and coral reefs. Science 199:1302–1310
CRC (1994) Cooperative Research Centre for the Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Great Barrier Reef: Ann Rep 1993–1994, James Cook University, Townsville
Davies PJ (1983) Reef growth. In: Barnes DJ (ed), Perspectives on coral reefs, Brian Clouston Manuka, Australia, pp 69–106
Done TJ (1982) Patterns in the distribution of coral communities across the central Great Barrier Reef Coral Reefs 1:95–107
Done TJ (1987) Simulation of the effects of Acanthaster planci on the population structure of massive corals in the genus Porites: evidence of population resilience? Coral Reefs 6:75–90
Done TJ (1988) Simulation of recovery of pre-disturbance size structure in populations of Porites spp. damaged by the crown-of-thorns starfish. Mar Biol 100:51–61
Done TJ (1992) Phase shifts in coral reef communities and their ecological significance. Hydrobiologia 247:121–132
Done TJ, Osborne K, Navin KF (1989) Recovery of corals post-Acanthaster: progress and prospects. Proc 6th Int Coral Reef Symp 2:137–142
Done TJ,Ogden JC, Wiebe WJ (1995) Biodiversity and eco-system function of coral reefs. Chapter 15. In: Mooney HA, et al. (eds) Biodiversity and ecosystem function: a global perspective. Wiley Interscience, New York (in press)
Done TJ, Potts DC (1992) Influences of habitat and natural disturbances on contributions of massive Porites corals to reef communities. Mar Biol 114:479–493
Driml S (1994) Protection for profit. Economic and financial values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and other protected areas. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Res Publ 35
Endean R, Cameron A (1990a) Acanthaster planci population outbreaks.In: Dubinsky Z (ed) Ecosystems of the world: coral reefs. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 419–437
Endean R, Cameron AM (1990b) Trends and new perspectives in coral reef ecology. In: Dubinsky Z (ed) Ecosystems of the world: coral reefs. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 419–437
Grassle JF, Lasserre P. McIntyre AD, Ray GC (1990) Marine biodiversity and ecosystem function. Biol Internat 23
GBRMPA (1994) Great Barrier Reef, Keeping it Great. A Twenty Five Year Strategic Plan for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area 1994–2019. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Hallock P, Schlager W (1986) Nutrient excess and the demise of coral reefs and carbonate platforms. Palaios 1:389–398.
Hopley D, Parnell KE, Isdale PJ (1989) The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: Dimensions and regional patterns. Aust Geog Studies 27:47–66
Hughes TP (1989) Community structure and diversity of coral reefs: the role of history. Ecology 70:275–279
Hughes TP (1994) Catastrophes, phase shifts and large scale degradation of a Caribbean coral reef. Science 265:1547–1551
Jackson JBC (1994) Constancy and change of life in the sea. Philos Trans R Soc London (B) 344:55–60
James MK, Scandol JP (1992) Larval dispersal simulations: correlations with crown-of-thorns outbreaks database. Aus J Mar Bio Freshwater Res 43:569–582
Kelleher G (1994) Can the Great Barrier Reef model of protected areas save reefs worldwide? In: Ginsburg RN (compiler). Proceedings of the colloquium on global aspects of coral reefs: health, hazards and history, 1993. Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, pp 346–352
Kleypas JA (1995) Coral reef development under naturally turbid conditions: fringing reefs near Broad Sound, Australia. Coral Reefs (in press)
Lough JM (1994) Climate variation and E1 Niño-Southern Oscillation events on the Great Barrier Reef: 1958 to 1987. Coral Reefs 13:181–195
Massel SR, Done TJ (1993) Effects of cyclone waves on massive coral assemblages on the Great Barrier Reef: meteorology, hydrodynamics and demography. Coral Reefs 12:153–166
McClanahan TR (1994) Kenyan coral reef lagoon fish: effects of fishing, substrate complexity and sea urchins. Coral Reefs 13: 231–241
Moran PJ (1986) The Acanthaster phenomenoon. Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 24:379–480
Munro JE, Munro PE (eds) (1994) The Management of Coral Reef Resource Systems. Proc Workshop Aust Inst Mar Sci, Townsville, Australia, 3–5 March 1992 ICLARM Contribution 1061
Ogden JC (1987) Cooperative coastal ecology at Caribbean marine laboratories. Oceanus 30:9–15
Scoffin TP (1987) An introduction to carbonate sediments and rocks. Blackie, Glasgow
Suter GW (ed) (1993) Ecological risk assessment. Lewis Michigan, USA
Van Woesik R (1994) Contemporary disturbances to coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef. J Coast Res Special Issue 12:233–252
Wolanski E (1994) Physical oceanographic processes of the Great Barrier Reef. CRC Press, Boca Raton
Wolanski E, Norro A, King B (1995) Water circulation in the Gulf of Papua. Cont Shelf Res 15:185–212
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Done, T.J. Ecological criteria for evaluating coral reefs and their implications for managers and researchers. Coral Reefs 14, 183–192 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334340
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334340