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Ecological persistence interrupted in Caribbean coral reefs
Article first published online: 25 MAY 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00933.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Pandolfi, J. M. and Jackson, J. B.C. (2006), Ecological persistence interrupted in Caribbean coral reefs. Ecology Letters, 9: 818–826. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00933.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 25 MAY 2006
- Article first published online: 25 MAY 2006
- Editor, Helmut Hillebrand Manuscript received 21 December 2005 First decision made 25 January 2006 Second decision made 22 March 2006 Manuscript accepted 24 March 2006
Keywords:
- Barbados;
- Caribbean Sea;
- community ecology;
- community structure;
- Coral reefs;
- corals;
- ecosystem stability;
- habitat degradation;
- Pleistocene;
- rare species
Abstract
The recent mass mortality of Caribbean reef corals dramatically altered reef community structure and begs the question of the past stability and persistence of coral assemblages before human disturbance began. We report within habitat stability in coral community composition in the Pleistocene fossil record of Barbados for at least 95 000 years despite marked variability in global sea level and climate. Results were consistent for surveys of both common and rare taxa. Comparison of Pleistocene and modern community structure shows that Recent human impacts have changed coral community structure in ways not observed in the preceding 220 000 years.