343
H.-J. Ceccaldi et al. (eds.), Marine Productivity: Perturbations and Resilience of Socio-ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-13878-7_38, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Abstract
Coral reefs are in a crisis. We wonder about their survival in the face of
human demographic pressures and anthropogenic degradation as well as
considering the predictions of climate change. In short, what will happen
to coral reefs under the infl uence of global change?
The main characteristics of the coral reef ecosystem are recalled related
to corals and their association with algae, as builders due to calcifi cation,
on their distribution, biodiversity and biogeography. Services to human
are many with the existence of islands, protection of coastal zones, fi sheries and food security, sources of material, development of tourism, pearl
culture, etc., all services which have been economically evaluated. Coral
reefs suffer from natural events of which they recover since they exist
(cyclones, bleaching and mortality, outbreaks of predators, diseases)
except if these events succeed too frequently. Anthropogenic causes of
degradation increased since half of the last century under the pressure of
demography and development (fi lling, digging, sedimentation, wastewaters with nutrients and pollutants, overfi shing, tourism substructure).
Nevertheless, coral reef health status is variable according to regions.
Factors of climate change will be either benefi cial for coral reefs (sea level
rise), probably with no more impact than today (cyclones), or much
worrying (sea temperature increase, acidifi cation).
We comment predictions on the future of coral reefs which have been
published. Along with time, the threats for the future of coral reefs changed
B. Salvat (*)
CRIOBE Moorea Polynésie Française , USR 3278
EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, Labex Corail, Université de
Perpignan Via Domitia , Perpignan , France
e-mail: bsalvat@univ-perp.fr
Health and Degradation of Coral
Reefs: Assessment and Future
Bernard Salvat
H.-J. Ceccaldi et al. (eds.), Marine Productivity: Perturbations and Resilience of Socio-ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-13878-7_38, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Abstract
Coral reefs are in a crisis. We wonder about their survival in the face of
human demographic pressures and anthropogenic degradation as well as
considering the predictions of climate change. In short, what will happen
to coral reefs under the infl uence of global change?
The main characteristics of the coral reef ecosystem are recalled related
to corals and their association with algae, as builders due to calcifi cation,
on their distribution, biodiversity and biogeography. Services to human
are many with the existence of islands, protection of coastal zones, fi sheries and food security, sources of material, development of tourism, pearl
culture, etc., all services which have been economically evaluated. Coral
reefs suffer from natural events of which they recover since they exist
(cyclones, bleaching and mortality, outbreaks of predators, diseases)
except if these events succeed too frequently. Anthropogenic causes of
degradation increased since half of the last century under the pressure of
demography and development (fi lling, digging, sedimentation, wastewaters with nutrients and pollutants, overfi shing, tourism substructure).
Nevertheless, coral reef health status is variable according to regions.
Factors of climate change will be either benefi cial for coral reefs (sea level
rise), probably with no more impact than today (cyclones), or much
worrying (sea temperature increase, acidifi cation).
We comment predictions on the future of coral reefs which have been
published. Along with time, the threats for the future of coral reefs changed
B. Salvat (*)
CRIOBE Moorea Polynésie Française , USR 3278
EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, Labex Corail, Université de
Perpignan Via Domitia , Perpignan , France
e-mail: bsalvat@univ-perp.fr
Health and Degradation of Coral
Reefs: Assessment and Future
Bernard Salvat