Regional Decline of Coral Cover in the Indo-Pacific
Author Information
Author(s): Bruno John F., Selig Elizabeth R.
Primary Institution: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hypothesis
What is the timing, extent, and spatial variability of coral cover loss in the Indo-Pacific?
Conclusion
The rate and extent of coral loss in the Indo-Pacific are greater than expected, with coral cover declining decades earlier than previously assumed.
Supporting Evidence
- Coral cover averaged only 22.1% in 2003, with just 7 of 390 reefs surveyed having coral cover greater than 60%.
- Estimated yearly coral cover loss was approximately 1% over the last twenty years.
- The loss of coral cover began earlier than previously assumed, indicating a general global phenomenon.
Takeaway
Coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific are losing their coral cover much faster than we thought, and this has been happening for a long time.
Methodology
The study compiled and analyzed a coral cover database from 6001 quantitative surveys of 2667 Indo-Pacific coral reefs conducted between 1968 and 2004.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include overrepresentation of well-sampled subregions and variability in survey methods.
Limitations
The study's estimates of coral cover loss could be influenced by biases in survey techniques and site selection.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 20.7, 23.4
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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