Complex drivers of invasive macroalgae boom and bust in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i

Details

• Journal Title:
  Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Personal Author:
  Winston, Morgan ; Fuller, Kimberly ; Neilson, Brian J. ; Donovan, Mary K.
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NOAA General Documents
• Description:
  Invasive macroalgae Eucheuma sp. and Kappaphycus spp. (E/K) became a dominant benthic feature in Kāne'ohe Bay throughout the past four decades - occurring on up to 74 ha of reef area and growing up to three meters thick, which prompted intensive management action. In 2013, E/K cover began decreasing at managed and unmanaged sites. This study examined the extent and timing of the E/K decline and evaluated environmental and ecological drivers beyond management contributing to the decline. E/K continued to recede into 2017 and remains sparse in Kāne'ohe Bay today. Increasing over the sampling period, herbivore biomass was negatively correlated with E/K cover, and other significant, non-linear relationships emerged between E/K cover and coral cover, sea surface temperature, wind, and rainfall. This study uncovers several possible mechanisms explaining a boom and bust in E/K abundance, emphasizes the importance of herbivory, and highlights the resilience of coral reefs in Kāne'ohe Bay.
• Keywords:
  Aquatic Science Oceanography Pollution
• Source:
  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 197, 115744
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115744
• ISSN:
  0025-326X
• Format:
  PDF
• Publisher:
  Elsevier BV
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• License:
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Rights Information:
  CC BY-NC-ND
• Compliance:
  Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:fa2812e29c2233541f4f67e918d8d0329e36a432b5229c91d03139439af41ab2
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/59437/noaa_59437_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.68 MB ]