title: Evaluating social and ecological vulnerability of coral reef fisheries to climate change.
abstract: There is an increasing need to evaluate the links between the social and ecological dimensions of human vulnerability to climate change. We use an empirical case study of 12 coastal communities and associated coral reefs in Kenya to assess and compare five key ecological and social components of the vulnerability of coastal social-ecological systems to temperature induced coral mortality [specifically: 1) environmental exposure; 2) ecological sensitivity; 3) ecological recovery potential; 4) social sensitivity; and 5) social adaptive capacity]. We examined whether ecological components of vulnerability varied between government operated no-take marine reserves, community-based reserves, and openly fished areas. Overall, fished sites were marginally more vulnerable than community-based and government marine reserves. Social sensitivity was indicated by the occupational composition of each community, including the importance of fishing relative to other occupations, as well as the susceptibility of different fishing gears to the effects of coral bleaching on target fish species. Key components of social adaptive capacity varied considerably between the communities. Together, these results show that different communities have relative strengths and weaknesses in terms of social-ecological vulnerability to climate change.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cinner
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huchery
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: Austin T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Humphries
authors.forename: Nicholas A J
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Christina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Tim R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: McClanahan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D057231:Climate Change / Q000191:economics*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D011156:Population Density; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
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