Regime shifts of coral reefs due to envinromental stressors

On coral reefs, interactions between species can have long-lasting effects on the health and balance of the ecosystem. For example, benthic algae can quickly grow on disturbed areas of the reef and prevent coral from growing back. This can cause a shift towards an algae-dominated reef, which is not as healthy for the coral reef ecosystem.

However, when the researchers added juvenile corals to an area first it corals were able to suppress the growth of algae, even without the help of herbivores. This is an important finding because it suggests that the timing of if algae or coral arrive first following a disturbance matters.

Interestingly, the study also found that fish that normally help control algae on the reef can sometimes have a negative effect on juvenile corals, as they also eat coral. This highlights the need to consider multiple ecological factors when trying to predict and manage coral reef dynamics.

Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of understanding how different species interact and how these interactions can impact the health and balance of coral reef ecosystems.

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Adam et al. 2022