Edmunds PJ, Lasker HR

Cryptic regime shift in benthic community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands

Dramatic declines in the abundance of stony corals and concomitant increases in macroalgae have been characterized as the “coral reef crisis.” In contrast to that pattern, Edmunds & Lasker describe changes in benthic community structure over 23 yr for shallow coral reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands, which conform to a “cryptic regime change” model involving subtle covariation in abundance of scleractinian species, octocoral genera, and macroalgae. The changes are most strongly associated with chronic disturbances and provide a glimpse of one potential future state for shallow Caribbean reefs.

Abstract   Back to contents page   Link to full PDF