title: Fringing reefs exposed to different levels of eutrophication and sedimentation can support similar benthic communities.
abstract: Benthic communities are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances which can result in changes in species assemblages. A spatio-temporal survey of environmental parameters was conducted over an 18-month period on four different fringing reefs of Moorea, French Polynesia, with unusual vs. frequent human pressures. This survey included assessment of biological, chemical, and physical parameters. First, the results showed a surprising lack of a seasonal trend, which was likely obscured by short-term variability in lagoons. More frequent sampling periods would likely improve the evaluation of a seasonal effect on biological and ecological processes. Second, the three reef habitats studied that were dominated by corals were highly stable, despite displaying antagonistic environmental conditions through eutrophication and sedimentation gradients, whereas the reef dominated by macroalgae was relatively unstable. Altogether, our data challenge the paradigm of labelling environmental parameters such as turbidity, sedimentation, and nutrient-richness as stress indicators.
authors.affiliation: USR 3278 CRIOBE CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, BP 1013 Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, France. Electronic address: heloise.rouze@gmail.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rouzé
authors.affiliation: USR 3278 CRIOBE CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, BP 1013 Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, France; Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin, 55 Avenue de Paris, 78035 Versailles Cedex, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lecellier
authors.affiliation: MIO CNRS/IRD/AMU UM 110, Université d'Aix Marseille, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Langlade
authors.affiliation: USR 3278 CRIOBE CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, BP 1013 Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Planes
authors.affiliation: USR 3278 CRIOBE CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, BP 1013 Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berteaux-Lecellier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005068:Eutrophication; D011114:Polynesia; D012622:Seat Belts; D012624:Seaweed; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis
keywords: Bio-indicators; Coral reefs; Environmental stress; French Polynesia; Monitoring