Applied Environmental Decision Analysis CERF Hub, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Conserv Biol. 2010 Oct;24(5):1316-26. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01487.x.
Most of the world's coral reefs line the coasts of developing nations, where impacts from intense and destructive fishing practices form critical conservation issues for managers. Overfishing of herbivorous fishes can cause phase shifts to macroalgal dominance, and fishers' use of rocks as anchors lowers coral cover, giving further competitive advantage to macroalgae. Overfishing and anchoring have been studied extensively, but the role of their interaction in lowering coral reef resilience has not been quantified formally. We analyzed the combined effects of overfishing and rock anchoring on a range of reef habitat types--varying from high coral and low macroalgae cover to low coral and high macroalgae cover--in a marine park in Indonesia. We parameterized a model of coral and algal dynamics with three intensities of anchoring and fishing pressure. Results of the model indicated that damage caused by rock anchoring was equal to or possibly more devastating to coral reefs in the area than the impact of overfishing. This is an important outcome for local managers, who usually have the funds to distribute less-damaging anchors, but normally are unable to patrol regularly and effectively enough to reduce the impact of overfishing. We translated model results into an interactive visual tool that allows managers to explore the benefits of reducing anchoring frequency and fishing pressure. The potential consequences of inaction were made clear: the likelihood that any of the reef habitats will be dominated in the future by macroalgae rather than corals depends on reducing anchoring frequency, fishing pressure, or both. The tool provides a platform for strengthened relationships between managers and conservationists and can facilitate the uptake of recommendations regarding resource allocation and management actions. Conservation efforts for coral reefs in developing nations are likely to benefit from transforming model projections of habitat condition into tools local managers can understand and interact with.
世界上大多数珊瑚礁都位于发展中国家的海岸线上，在这些地区，高强度和破坏性的捕捞活动对管理者来说是至关重要的保护问题。过度捕捞草食性鱼类会导致大型藻类占优势的阶段转变，而渔民将岩石用作锚点会降低珊瑚覆盖率，从而使大型藻类获得进一步的竞争优势。过度捕捞和锚定已经被广泛研究，但它们相互作用降低珊瑚礁恢复力的作用尚未被正式量化。我们分析了在印度尼西亚的一个海洋公园中，过度捕捞和岩石锚定对一系列不同珊瑚礁生境类型（从高珊瑚和低大型藻类覆盖到低珊瑚和高大型藻类覆盖）的综合影响。我们用三种强度的锚定和捕捞压力来参数化珊瑚和藻类动态的模型。模型的结果表明，岩石锚定造成的破坏对该地区的珊瑚礁的影响与过度捕捞的影响相等，甚至可能更具破坏性。这对当地管理者来说是一个重要的结果，他们通常有资金分发破坏性较小的锚点，但通常无法进行足够定期和有效的巡逻，以减少过度捕捞的影响。我们将模型结果转化为一个交互式可视化工具，使管理者能够探索减少锚定频率和捕捞压力的好处。不作为的潜在后果是明确的：任何珊瑚礁生境在未来被大型藻类而不是珊瑚占据的可能性取决于减少锚定频率、捕捞压力或两者兼而有之。该工具为管理者和保护主义者之间建立更紧密的关系提供了一个平台，并可以促进有关资源分配和管理行动的建议的采纳。发展中国家的珊瑚礁保护工作可能会受益于将栖息地状况的模型预测转化为当地管理者可以理解和互动的工具。
