title: The Micronesia Challenge: Assessing the Relative Contribution of Stressors on Coral Reefs to Facilitate Science-to-Management Feedback.
abstract: Fishing and pollution are chronic stressors that can prolong recovery of coral reefs and contribute to ecosystem decline. While this premise is generally accepted, management interventions are complicated because the contributions from individual stressors are difficult to distinguish. The present study examined the extent to which fishing pressure and pollution predicted progress towards the Micronesia Challenge, an international conservation strategy initiated by the political leaders of 6 nations to conserve at least 30% of marine resources by 2020. The analyses were rooted in a defined measure of coral-reef-ecosystem condition, comprised of biological metrics that described functional processes on coral reefs. We report that only 42% of the major reef habitats exceeded the ecosystem-condition threshold established by the Micronesia Challenge. Fishing pressure acting alone on outer reefs, or in combination with pollution in some lagoons, best predicted both the decline and variance in ecosystem condition. High variances among ecosystem-condition scores reflected the large gaps between the best and worst reefs, and suggested that the current scores were unlikely to remain stable through time because of low redundancy. Accounting for the presence of marine protected area (MPA) networks in statistical models did little to improve the models' predictive capabilities, suggesting limited efficacy of MPAs when grouped together across the region. Yet, localized benefits of MPAs existed and are expected to increase over time. Sensitivity analyses suggested that (i) grazing by large herbivores, (ii) high functional diversity of herbivores, and (iii) high predator biomass were most sensitive to fishing pressure, and were required for high ecosystem-condition scores. Linking comprehensive fisheries management policies with these sensitive metrics, and targeting the management of pollution, will strengthen the Micronesia Challenge and preserve ecosystem services that coral reefs provide to societies in the face of climate change.
authors.affiliation: University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Houk
authors.affiliation: University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Saipan, Marianas Protectorate.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Kolonia, Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Selino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maxin
authors.affiliation: Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Kolonia, Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anson
authors.affiliation: Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Kolonia, Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization, Lelu, Kosrae State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nedlic
authors.affiliation: Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization, Lelu, Kosrae State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Marston
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luckymis
authors.affiliation: Kosrae Village Resort, Malem, Kosrae State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: College of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kabua
authors.affiliation: Yap Community Action Program, Colonia, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalon
authors.affiliation: Yap Community Action Program, Colonia, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buthung
authors.affiliation: Chuuk Marine Resources Department, Weno, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: The Nature Conservancy Micronesia Program, Guam Field Office, Hagatna, Guam.
authors.forename: Trina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leberer
authors.affiliation: James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Woesik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D018533:Biomass; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D015233:Models, Statistical