title: Recurrent disturbances and the degradation of hard coral communities in Taiwan.
abstract: Recurrent disturbances can have a critical effect on the structure and function of coral reef communities. In this study, long-term changes were examined in the hard coral community at Wanlitung, in southern Taiwan, between 1985 and 2010. In this 26 year interval, the reef has experienced repeated disturbances that include six typhoons and two coral-bleaching events. The frequency of disturbance has meant that species susceptible to disturbance, such as those in the genus Acropora and Montipora have almost disappeared from the reef. Indeed, almost all hard coral species have declined in abundance, with the result that total hard coral cover in 2010 (17.7%) was less than half what it was in 1985 (47.5%). In addition, macro-algal cover has increased from 11.3% in 2003 to 28.5% in 2010. The frequency of disturbance combined with possible chronic influence of a growing human population mean that a diverse reef assemblage is unlikely to persist on this reef into the future.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Center/Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP), Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Yeong Shyan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Pei-Jie
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Ping-Ho
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Jih-Terng
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pi-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yang-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chang-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Tung-Yung
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hsing-Juh
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Andrew Hamilton
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: Chaolun Allen
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D011157:Population Dynamics; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors