Am Nat. 2022 Dec;200(6):857-871. doi: 10.1086/721436. Epub 2022 Oct 21.
AbstractHalos around coral reefs are landscape-scale patterns arising from multispecies interactions that collectively structure reefscapes over many thousands of square kilometers. First described in the 1960s, halos are known from a handful of locations and continue to captivate scientists. What remains unknown is how globally widespread, persistent, and dynamic halos are. We examined satellite imagery of reefs globally, coupled with in situ field observations, to show that halos are a globally ubiquitous, persistent, yet dynamic ecological phenomenon spanning vastly different systems. We further document the previously undescribed presence of halos outside the tropics surrounding seagrass "reefs" and highlight the temporal scales over which coral reef halos change, merge, and persist. Specifically, we show that halos can change in size over relatively short temporal scales of months, despite persisting over decades. In doing so, we document patterns suggesting that additional biophysical mechanisms than previously assumed may shape halos. Understanding the full suite of mechanisms governing halo formation and maintenance may enable us to use them as proxies for species interactions. Given the global extent of halos, their role in affecting sedimentary carbon storage, and their relationship with marine reserve existence and maturity, they may ultimately serve as globally relevant indicators of coral reef ecosystem functioning and health.
摘要珊瑚礁周围的光环是由多种物种相互作用引起的景观尺度模式，这些模式共同在数千平方公里的范围内构建珊瑚礁景观。光环于 20 世纪 60 年代首次被描述，仅在少数几个地方被发现，却一直吸引着科学家的注意。目前尚不清楚光环在全球范围内是多么广泛、持久和动态。我们通过全球范围内的卫星图像检查，并结合现场实地观测，结果表明，光环是一种普遍存在、持久且动态的生态现象，跨越了非常不同的系统。我们进一步记录了以前未在热带以外的海草“珊瑚礁”周围发现光环的存在，并强调了珊瑚礁光环变化、合并和持续存在的时间尺度。具体来说，我们表明，尽管光环在几十年内持续存在，但光环的大小可以在相对较短的时间尺度内发生变化。通过这样做，我们记录的模式表明，可能有比以前假设的更多的生物物理机制在塑造光环。了解控制光环形成和维持的全套机制，可能使我们能够将它们用作物种相互作用的代理。鉴于光环的全球范围、它们对沉积碳储存的影响，以及它们与海洋保护区存在和成熟度的关系，它们最终可能成为珊瑚礁生态系统功能和健康的全球相关指标。
