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Featured researches published by Andrew J. Brooks.


PLOS Biology | 2011

Global human footprint on the linkage between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in reef fishes.

Camilo Mora; Octavio Aburto-Oropeza; Arturo Ayala Bocos; Paula M. Ayotte; Stuart Banks; Andrew G. Bauman; Maria Beger; Sandra Bessudo; David J. Booth; Eran Brokovich; Andrew J. Brooks; Pascale Chabanet; Joshua E. Cinner; Jorge Cortés; Juan José Cruz-Motta; Amílcar Leví Cupul Magaña; Edward E. DeMartini; Graham J. Edgar; David A. Feary; Sebastian C. A. Ferse; Alan M. Friedlander; Kevin J. Gaston; Charlotte Gough; Nicholas A. J. Graham; Alison Green; Hector M. Guzman; Marah J. Hardt; Michel Kulbicki; Yves Letourneur; Andres López Pérez

A global survey of reef fishes shows that the consequences of biodiversity loss are greater than previously anticipated as ecosystem functioning remained unsaturated with the addition of new species. Additionally, reefs worldwide, particularly those most diverse, are highly vulnerable to human impacts that are widespread and likely to worsen due to ongoing coastal overpopulation.


PLOS ONE | 2011

Herbivory, Connectivity, and Ecosystem Resilience: Response of a Coral Reef to a Large-Scale Perturbation

Thomas C. Adam; Russell J. Schmitt; Sally J. Holbrook; Andrew J. Brooks; Peter J. Edmunds; Robert C. Carpenter; Giacomo Bernardi

Coral reefs world-wide are threatened by escalating local and global impacts, and some impacted reefs have shifted from coral dominance to a state dominated by macroalgae. Therefore, there is a growing need to understand the processes that affect the capacity of these ecosystems to return to coral dominance following disturbances, including those that prevent the establishment of persistent stands of macroalgae. Unlike many reefs in the Caribbean, over the last several decades, reefs around the Indo-Pacific island of Moorea, French Polynesia have consistently returned to coral dominance following major perturbations without shifting to a macroalgae-dominated state. Here, we present evidence of a rapid increase in populations of herbivorous fishes following the most recent perturbation, and show that grazing by these herbivores has prevented the establishment of macroalgae following near complete loss of coral on offshore reefs. Importantly, we found the positive response of herbivorous fishes to increased benthic primary productivity associated with coral loss was driven largely by parrotfishes that initially recruit to stable nursery habitat within the lagoons before moving to offshore reefs later in life. These results underscore the importance of connectivity between the lagoon and offshore reefs for preventing the establishment of macroalgae following disturbances, and indicate that protecting nearshore nursery habitat of herbivorous fishes is critical for maintaining reef resilience.


Nature | 2016

Bright spots among the world’s coral reefs

Joshua E. Cinner; Cindy Huchery; M.A. MacNeil; Nicholas A. J. Graham; Tim R. McClanahan; Joseph Maina; Eva Maire; John N. Kittinger; Christina C. Hicks; Camilo Mora; Edward H. Allison; Stéphanie D'agata; Andrew S. Hoey; David A. Feary; Larry B. Crowder; Ivor D. Williams; Michel Kulbicki; Laurent Vigliola; Laurent Wantiez; Graham J. Edgar; Rick D. Stuart-Smith; Stuart A. Sandin; Alison Green; Marah J. Hardt; Maria Beger; Alan M. Friedlander; Stuart J. Campbell; K. E. Holmes; Shaun K. Wilson; Eran Brokovich

Ongoing declines in the structure and function of the world’s coral reefs require novel approaches to sustain these ecosystems and the millions of people who depend on them. A presently unexplored approach that draws on theory and practice in human health and rural development is to systematically identify and learn from the ‘outliers’—places where ecosystems are substantially better (‘bright spots’) or worse (‘dark spots’) than expected, given the environmental conditions and socioeconomic drivers they are exposed to. Here we compile data from more than 2,500 reefs worldwide and develop a Bayesian hierarchical model to generate expectations of how standing stocks of reef fish biomass are related to 18 socioeconomic drivers and environmental conditions. We identify 15 bright spots and 35 dark spots among our global survey of coral reefs, defined as sites that have biomass levels more than two standard deviations from expectations. Importantly, bright spots are not simply comprised of remote areas with low fishing pressure; they include localities where human populations and use of ecosystem resources is high, potentially providing insights into how communities have successfully confronted strong drivers of change. Conversely, dark spots are not necessarily the sites with the lowest absolute biomass and even include some remote, uninhabited locations often considered near pristine. We surveyed local experts about social, institutional, and environmental conditions at these sites to reveal that bright spots are characterized by strong sociocultural institutions such as customary taboos and marine tenure, high levels of local engagement in management, high dependence on marine resources, and beneficial environmental conditions such as deep-water refuges. Alternatively, dark spots are characterized by intensive capture and storage technology and a recent history of environmental shocks. Our results suggest that investments in strengthening fisheries governance, particularly aspects such as participation and property rights, could facilitate innovative conservation actions that help communities defy expectations of global reef degradation.


Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science | 2003

Spatio-temporal and interspecific variation in otolith trace-elemental fingerprints in a temperate estuarine fish assemblage

Stephen E. Swearer; Graham E. Forrester; Mark A. Steele; Andrew J. Brooks; David W. Lea

Abstract We tested whether estuarine fishes have site-specific differences in the concentrations of trace elements in their otoliths that can be used as ‘fingerprints’ to identify them to their estuary of origin. To evaluate the robustness of this approach, we tested whether elemental fingerprints were consistent among individuals of five species that were collected in 1996 from three temperate estuaries in southern California. We also tested whether elemental fingerprints were consistent between spring and autumn 1996 for three species in one of the sites, Carpinteria Marsh. The species evaluated comprised a mid-water-dwelling smelt ( Atherinops affinis ), two benthic gobies ( Clevelandia ios and Ilypnus gilberti ), and two flatfish ( Paralichthys californicus and Hypsopsetta guttulata ). The concentrations of six elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were determined in the otoliths using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Within estuaries, the five species exhibited strong variation in elemental concentration, indicating substantial interspecific differences in otolith environmental history. When the five fish species were considered separately, multivariate (MANOVA) and univariate (ANOVA) analyses of variance indicated that the elemental composition of otoliths differed significantly among the estuaries in four of the five species. Based on linear discriminant function analyses (DFA), differences were strong enough that trace element composition could be used to accurately assign fish to their site of origin [mean (range): 93.5% (74–100%)]. However, elemental signatures within Carpinteria Marsh were not consistent between spring and autumn 1996, and this was reflected in a substantial reduction in the accuracy of assigning fish to their true site of origin. When we compared site differences between fish species (site×species interactions), the elemental fingerprints were most similar between closely related species (e.g. the two gobies and the two flatfish) and most dissimilar between distantly related species, both phylogenetically and ecologically. Among the six elements analyzed, Sr and Ba exhibited the most inconsistent pattern among species, with significant differences in 80 and 70% of the pairwise species comparisons, respectively. The remaining four elements showed ≥70% consistency in the pattern of variation among sites for the different species. Thus, while otolith elemental fingerprinting can be a useful tool for inferring estuarine residency, such fingerprints may be temporally variable and species specific.


Oecologia | 2007

Can parasites be indicators of free-living diversity? Relationships between species richness and the abundance of larval trematodes and of local benthos and fishes

Ryan F. Hechinger; Kevin D. Lafferty; Todd C. Huspeni; Andrew J. Brooks; Armand M. Kuris

Measuring biodiversity is difficult. This has led to efforts to seek taxa whose species richness correlates with the species richness of other taxa. Such indicator taxa could then reduce the time and cost of assessing the biodiversity of the more extensive community. The search for species richness correlations has yielded mixed results, however. This may be primarily because of the lack of functional relationships between the taxa studied. Trematode parasites are highly promising bioindicators. Diverse assemblages of larval trematode parasites are easily sampled in intermediate host snails. Through their life cycles these parasites are functionally coupled with the surrounding free-living diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate animals. It has been shown that larval trematodes in snails correlate positively with bird diversity and abundance. Here, we explore whether trematodes also correlate with standard measures of fishes, and large and small benthos, for 32 sites in three wetlands. We found associations between trematodes and benthic communities that were not consistent across wetlands. The associations were, however, consistently positive for large benthic species richness and density. Some of the contrasting associations between trematode and benthos may be explained by negative associations between large and small benthos. We found no associations with fish communities (probably because of the inadequacy of standard “snapshot” sampling methods for highly mobile fishes). The results support further exploration of trematodes as bioindicators of diversity and abundance of animal communities.


Ecology | 2011

Habitat biodiversity as a determinant of fish community structure on coral reefs

Vanessa Messmer; Geoffrey P. Jones; Philip L. Munday; Sally J. Holbrook; Russell J. Schmitt; Andrew J. Brooks

Increased habitat diversity is often predicted to promote the diversity of animal communities because a greater variety of habitats increases the opportunities for species to specialize on different resources and coexist. Although positive correlations between the diversities of habitat and associated animals are often observed, the underlying mechanisms are only now starting to emerge, and none have been tested specifically in the marine environment. Scleractinian corals constitute the primary habitat-forming organisms on coral reefs and, as such, play an important role in structuring associated reef fish communities. Using the same field experimental design in two geographic localities differing in regional fish species composition, we tested the effects of coral species richness and composition on the diversity, abundance, and structure of the local fish community. Richness of coral species overall had a positive effect on fish species richness but had no effect on total fish abundance or evenness. At both localities, certain individual coral species supported similar levels of fish diversity and abundance as the high coral richness treatments, suggesting that particular coral species are disproportionately important in promoting high local fish diversity. Furthermore, in both localities, different microhabitats (coral species) supported very different fish communities, indicating that most reef fish species distinguish habitat at the level of coral species. Fish communities colonizing treatments of higher coral species richness represented a combination of those inhabiting the constituent coral species. These findings suggest that mechanisms underlying habitat-animal interaction in the terrestrial environment also apply to marine systems and highlight the importance of coral diversity to local fish diversity. The loss of particular key coral species is likely to have a disproportionate impact on the biodiversity of associated fish communities.


Coral Reefs | 2006

Symbiotic crabs maintain coral health by clearing sediments

Hannah L. Stewart; Sally J. Holbrook; Russell J. Schmitt; Andrew J. Brooks

Stony corals are the foundation of coral reef ecosystems and form associations with other reef species. Many of these associations may be ecologically important and play a role in maintaining the health and diversity of reef systems, rendering it critical to understand the influence of symbiotic organisms in mediating responses to perturbation. This study demonstrates the importance of an association with trapeziid crabs in reducing adverse effects of sediments deposited on corals. In a field experiment, mortality rates of two species of branching corals were significantly lowered by the presence of crabs. All outplanted corals with crabs survived whereas 45–80% of corals without crabs died within a month. For surviving corals that lacked crabs, growth was slower and tissue bleaching and sediment load were higher. Laboratory experiments revealed that corals with crabs shed substantially more of the sediments deposited on coral surfaces, but also that crabs were most effective at removing grain sizes that were most damaging to coral tissues. The mechanism underlying this symbiotic relationship has not been recognized previously, and its role in maintaining coral health is likely to become even more critical as reefs worldwide experience increasing sedimentation.


Marine and Freshwater Research | 2002

Variation in structural attributes of patch-forming corals and in patterns of abundance of associated fishes

Sally J. Holbrook; Andrew J. Brooks; Russell J. Schmitt

There is increasing evidence that some of the spatial variation in characteristics of local assemblages of reef fish can be explained by variation in measurable features of the habitat. At Moorea, French Polynesia, several species of the coral genus Porites form patch reefs and provide an important source of habitat structure within the lagoons. One species, Porites rus, forms structurally complex patch reefs with surface branches and numerous holes and interior cavities. In contrast, reefs composed of colonies of Porites lobata-like species are less complex; they always lack branches and interior cavities and frequently lack holes. Surveys of these reefs revealed that, as expected, abundance and species richness of fish scaled with the size of the patch reef. However, for a given size, P. rus reefs had significantly higher species richness and overall abundance than P. lobata reefs. Further, abundances of fish, at the family level, varied among sets of reefs that had different combinations of key shelter microhabitats (i.e. holes, cavities, branches). This variation in relative abundances of fish families was predictable based on the microhabitat-use patterns of the fish; the greater the utilization of a microhabitat when available, the greater the difference in abundance between those reefs and others that lacked that microhabitat. Thus, spatial variation in the structure of the fish assemblages was strongly associated with variation among the types of patch-forming corals in the variety of microhabitat features each provided.


Marine and Freshwater Research | 2002

Predictability of fish assemblages on coral patch reefs

Sally J. Holbrook; Andrew J. Brooks; Russell J. Schmitt

Fish associated with the common patch-forming coral, Porites rus, were surveyed in lagoons of Moorea, French Polynesia, to examine the degree to which attributes of the coral predicted aspects of the fish assemblage. Physical characteristics of the colonies such as size, morphology, and degree of isolation from other patch reefs varied greatly, as did species richness, total abundance and composition of the fish assemblage. Multiple-regression analyses revealed that variation in potential living space (live surface area; number of holes; amount of interior empty space) accounted for over half of the variation in species richness and total abundance of fish on a coral. In contrast, species composition appeared to be influenced more by the physical setting within the lagoon (water depth; distance to deep water; degree of isolation). Relationships derived from the initial analyses predicted 65-78% of the variation in species richness among a different set of corals. Together, the results indicate that physical attributes of the corals can help account for spatial variation in fish assemblage structure and provide a starting point for studies of the underlying mechanisms.


Pacific Conservation Biology | 2011

Ecosystem-based adaptation in marine ecosystems of tropical Oceania in response to climate change

Hedley Grantham; E. McLeod; Andrew J. Brooks; Stacy D. Jupiter; J. Hardcastle; Anthony J. Richardson; Elvira S. Poloczanska; T. Hills; James E. M. Watson

Tropical Oceania, including Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia and northern Australia, is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. Climate change impacts have already occurred in the region and will become one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and people. Climate projections indicate that sea levels will rise in many places but not uniformly. Islands will warm and annual rainfall will increase and exhibit strong decadal variations. Increases in global atmospheric CO2 concentration are causing ocean acidification, compromising the ability of organisms such as corals to maintain their calcium carbonate skeletons. We discuss these climate threats and their implications for the biodiversity of several ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves) in the region. We highlight current adaptation approaches designed to address these threats, including efforts to integrate ecosystem and community-based approaches. Finally, we identify guiding principles for developing effective ecosystem-based adaptation strategies. Despite broad differences in governance and social systems within the region, particularly between Australia and the rest of the Pacific, threats and planning objectives are similar. Ensuring community awareness and participation are essential everywhere. The science underpinning ecosystem-based adaptation strategies is in its infancy but there is great opportunity for communicating approaches and lessons learnt between developing and developed nations in tropical Oceania.

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Thomas C. Adam

University of California

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Marah J. Hardt

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

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