title: The coral sea: physical environment, ecosystem status and biodiversity assets.
abstract: The Coral Sea, located at the southwestern rim of the Pacific Ocean, is the only tropical marginal sea where human impacts remain relatively minor. Patterns and processes identified within the region have global relevance as a baseline for understanding impacts in more disturbed tropical locations. Despite 70 years of documented research, the Coral Sea has been relatively neglected, with a slower rate of increase in publications over the past 20 years than total marine research globally. We review current knowledge of the Coral Sea to provide an overview of regional geology, oceanography, ecology and fisheries. Interactions between physical features and biological assemblages influence ecological processes and the direction and strength of connectivity among Coral Sea ecosystems. To inform management effectively, we will need to fill some major knowledge gaps, including geographic gaps in sampling and a lack of integration of research themes, which hinder the understanding of most ecosystem processes.
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecology Consultant, PO Box 215, Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: dmcecca@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniela M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andréfouët
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allain
authors.forename: Jock
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gledhill
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beaman
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borsa
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brinkman
authors.forename: Rodrigo H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappo
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cravatte
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Agata
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dichmont
authors.forename: Piers K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dunstan
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dupouy
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farman
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furnas
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garrigue
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hutton
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulbicki
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Letourneur
authors.forename: Dhugal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menkes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mouillot
authors.forename: Valeriano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parravicini
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Payri
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richer de Forges
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodier
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samadi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schoeman
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skewes
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swearer
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vigliola
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wantiez
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D057231:Climate Change; D003710:Demography; D020387:Food Chain; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014876:Water Pollution
keywords: Collaborative research; Connectivity; Ecosystem function; Food web; Pristine ecosystems; Tropical sea