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As marine heatwaves and mass coral bleaching events rise in frequency and severity, there is an increasing need for high-resolution satellite products that accurately predict reef thermal environments over large spatio-temporal scales. Deciding which global sea surface temperature (SST) dataset to use for research or management depends in part on the desired spatial resolution. Here, we evaluate two SST datasets - the lower-resolution CoralTemp v3.1 (0.05° ~ 5 km grid) and the Multiscale Ultra-high Resolution MUR v4.1 (0.01° ~ 1 km grid) - in their ability to predict in situ reef thermal environments (nightly mean and daily maximum) and the severity of past bleaching in Palau, western Pacific Ocean. We expected higher-resolution data to improve prediction accuracy, yet CoralTemp data explained 10% additional variability of in situ temperatures and 70% additional variance in past bleaching. This likely relates to differential data protocols; despite MUR using a higher spatial resolution grid, CoralTemp achieves higher raw satellite observation density in coastal areas by utilising geostationary satellites. MUR SSTs were also consistently more variable. These results reinforce calls to develop more accurate high-resolution SST products for coral reefs. Our paper demonstrates that higher spatial resolution SST data is not necessarily better at predicting in situ thermal environments of coral reefs and local marine heatwave impacts., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Coral reef fishes represent an invaluable source of macro- and micro-nutrients for tropical coastal populations. However, several potentially toxic compounds may jeopardize their contribution to food security. Concentrations of metallic compounds and trace elements (MTEs), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs, including pesticides and polychlorobiphenyls PCBs), totalizing 36 contaminants, were measured in coral reef fish from several Pacific islands. The objective of this study was to describe the spatial distribution of these compounds and contaminants in order to identify potential variables explaining their distribution at a Pacific-wide scale. To achieve this, we applied Boosted Regression Trees to model species-specific and community-level contaminant and inorganic compound concentrations at the scale of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Overall, using 15 easily accessible explanatory variables, we successfully explained between 60 and 87 % of the global variation, with fish body size being the most important correlate of MTEs and POPs concentrations in reef fish. Our modeling approach allowed us to estimate and map the distribution of the community-level concentration of 19 contaminants and inorganic compounds at the scale of the equatorial and south Pacific Ocean. Spatial patterns varied significantly depending on the compound, with modeled quantities per 100 g of fish flesh generally being higher in the central and southwest Pacific than in the eastern part of the basin. These patterns were influenced by a combination of biological, environmental, anthropogenic and biogeographical variables. Overall, this approach represents an important step toward the estimation of concentrations of the main compounds on the basis of species identity and fishing location. Our results enhance our understanding of the extent of contamination in the Pacific while underscoring the urgent need for long-term and large-scale spatial monitoring of diverse compounds in this region., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial and technical interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Coral reefs are maintained by a balance between formation (calcifiers) and destructive processes (dissolution and erosion). In eastern tropical Pacific reefs, Porites genus is the second-largest contributor to CaCO 3 production, but is affected by bioerosion. In this study, we evaluate the interaction between Lithophaga and Porites in an island reef in the Mexican Pacific by quantifying bioerosion rate, its impact on CaCO 3 production, and contrasting growth models. To achieve this, Porites lobata colonies were collected to evaluate calcification and CaCO 3 production. Shells of Lithophaga (Leiosolenus plumula) were extracted from corals, and age and length fed into a growth model. Our results indicate a high bioerosion rate (21.9 ± 4.1 %), representing 8.3 % of overall CaCO 3 production. Bivalves' age (8 y) was less than corals (12.6 y), and cohort analysis indicates an intense recruitment. We associate this with high productivity derived from the island's oceanography, promoting nutrient enrichment, a plausible scenario for reefs under eutrophication conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Reef fish assemblages are exposed to a wide range of anthropogenic threats as well as chronic natural disturbances. In upwelling regions, for example, there is a seasonal influx of cool nutrient-rich waters that may shape the structure and composition of reef fish assemblages. Given that climate change may disrupt the natural oceanographic processes by altering the frequency and strength of natural disturbances, understanding how fish assemblages respond to upwelling events is essential to effectively manage reef ecosystems under changing ocean conditions. This study used the baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) and the traditional underwater visual census (UVC) to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of reef fish assemblages in an upwelling region in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. A total of 183 reef fish species from 60 families were recorded, of which 166 species were detected using BRUVS and 122 using UVC. Only 66% of all species were detected using both methods. This study showed that the upwelling had an important role in shaping reef fish assemblages in this region, but there was also a significant interaction between upwelling and location. In addition, other drivers such as habitat complexity and habitat composition had an effect on reef fish abundances and species. To authors' knowledge, this is the first study in the Eastern Tropical Pacific that combines BRUVS and UVC to monitor reef fish assemblages in an upwelling region, which provides more detailed information to assess the state of reef ecosystems in response to multiple threats and changing ocean conditions., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Back-reef habitats are important and fragile transition zones acting as nurseries for many coral reef fishes. In this framework, Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) can be an important tool to evaluate the diversity and dynamics of sonic fish community. Here, we investigated the diversity, spatial and diel dynamics of fish sounds in back-reef habitats at Makogai Island in Fiji, South Pacific. Synchronized underwater recorders were deployed in 4 bays collecting data for about 4 days. The abundance of 12 different sub-categories of fish sounds were quantified. Signals were acoustically characterized and the level of discrimination between the sub-categories was evaluated by Discrimination Function Analysis. Generalized Additive Models showed that the abundance of signals was related to the bay and the hour. Moreover, the Shannon Diversity and Equitability Indices were calculated using acoustic and visual census data to describe fish biodiversity of each bay. The two bays with greater biodiversity based on visual census also showed a greater acoustic diversity at dawn and night. Our results highlight the importance of PAM to reveal the diversity of fish community in back-reef habitats, providing a baseline to understand future changes in these crucial environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The coral predators, crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster spp.) remain a major cause of extensive and widespread coral loss in Indo-Pacific coral reefs. With increased phylogenetic understanding of these seastars, at least five species appear to be present across different regions. We compare the feeding ecology of these species. Where acroporid corals are prevalent, Acanthaster spp. often exhibit a preference for these corals, with Porites being least preferred, as seen in most species including Acanthaster planci in the northern Indian Ocean and Acanthaster cf. solaris in the west Pacific. In the eastern Pacific, where Acropora is largely absent, Acanthaster cf. ellisii prey on a range of coral species, including Porites. Coral predation by COTS is influenced by several factors including food availability, coral nutritional value, protective crustaceans and coral defenses, with differences in feeding ecology and behaviour emerging across the different COTS species. Feeding behaviour of COTS can act to increase coral species richness by reducing the dominance of fast-growing species. In outbreaking populations, COTS impacts reef systems by reducing live coral cover, eroding reef complexity and causing shifts in reef trophic structure. Where data are available, we synthesise and contrast the feeding preferences and foraging behaviour of Acanthaster species, and their impact on coral assemblages across the different species and regions. For areas where focal predation on Acropora occurs, also the fastest growing coral with the greatest recovery potential following mass mortality events, the combination of climate change and COTS outbreaks presents an imminent threat to coral reefs. This is exacerbated by the dietary flexibility of Acanthaster species. The impacts of heatwaves, COTS and other stressors are creating a negative feedback loop accelerating coral reef decline., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this paper we describe the construction of an online GIS database system, hosted by WorldFish, which stores bio-physical, ecological and socio-economic data for the 'Coral Triangle Area' in South-east Asia and the Pacific. The database has been built in partnership with all six (Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea) of the Coral Triangle countries, and represents a valuable source of information for natural resource managers at the regional scale. Its utility is demonstrated using biophysical data, data summarising marine habitats, and data describing the extent of marine protected areas in the region.

The economic valuation of coral reefs ecosystem services is currently seen as a promising approach to demonstrate the benefits of sustainable management of coral ecosystems to policymakers and to provide useful information for improved decisions. Most coral reefs economic studies have been conducted in the United States, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, and only a few have covered the South Pacific region. In this region, coral reefs are essential assets for small island developing states as well as for developed countries. Accordingly, a series of ecosystem services valuations has been carried out recently in the South Pacific, to try and supply decision-makers with new information. Applying ecosystem services valuation to the specific ecological, social, economic and cultural contexts of the South Pacific is however not straightforward. This paper analyses how extant valuations address the various management challenges of coral reef regions in general and more specifically for the South Pacific. Bearing in mind that economic valuation has to match policy-making contexts, we emphasize a series of specific considerations when conducting and applying ecosystem services valuation in South Pacific ecological and social contexts. Finally, the paper examines the decision-making situations in which extant valuations took place. We conclude that, although ecosystem valuations have been effectively used as a means to raise awareness with respect to coral reef conservation, methodologies will have to be further developed, with multidisciplinary inputs, if they are to provide valuable inputs in local and technical decision-making., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS, 2003) argues that further investments in Earth Observation information are required to improve coral reef protection worldwide. The IGOS Strategy does not specify what levels of investments are needed nor does it quantify the benefits associated with better-protected reefs. Evaluating costs and benefits is important for determining optimal investment levels and for convincing policy-makers that investments are required indeed. Few studies have quantitatively assessed the economic benefits of Earth Observation information or evaluated the economic value of information for environmental management. This paper uses an expert elicitation approach based on Bayesian Decision Theory to estimate the possible contribution of global Earth Observation to the management of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef including its lagoon is a World Heritage Area affected by anthropogenic changes in land-use as well as climate change resulting in increased flows of sediments, nutrients and carbon to the GBR lagoon. Since European settlement, nutrient and sediment loads having increased 5-10 times and the change in water quality is causing damages to the reef. Earth Observation information from ocean and coastal color satellite sensors can provide spatially and temporally dense information on sediment flows. We hypothesize that Earth Observation improves decision-making by enabling better-targeted run-off reduction measures and we assess the benefits (cost savings) of this improved targeting by optimizing run-off reductions under different states of the world. The analysis suggests that the benefits of Earth Observation can indeed be substantial, depending on the perceived accuracy of the information and on the prior beliefs of decision-makers. The results indicate that increasing informational accuracy is the most effective way for developers of Earth Observation information to increase the added value of Earth Observation for managing coral reefs., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Significant coral reef decline has been observed in Colombia during the last three decades. However, due to the lack of monitoring activities, most of the information about health and changes was fragmentary or inadequate. To develop an expanded nation-wide reef-monitoring program, in 1998 INVEMAR (Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras: "Colombian Institute of Marine and Coastal Research") designed and implemented SIMAC (Sistema Nacional de Monitorco de Arrecifes Coralinos en Colombia: "National Monitoring System of Coral Reefs in Colombia") with the participation of other institutions. By the end of 2003 the SIMAC network reached more than twice its initial size, covering ten reef areas (seven in the Caribbean and three in the Pacific), 63 reef sites and 263 permanent transects. SIMAC monitoring continued without interruption until 2008 and should persist in the long-term. The SIMAC has a large database and consists basically of water quality measurements (temperature, salinity, turbidity) and a yearly estimation of benthic reef cover, coral disease prevalence, gorgonian density, abundance of important mobile invertebrates, fish diversity and abundance of important fish species. A methods manual is available in the Internet. Data and results of SIMAC have been widely circulated through a summary report published annually since 2000 for the Colombian environmental agencies and the general public, as well as numerous national and international scientific papers and presentations at meetings. SIMAC information has contributed to support regional and global reef monitoring networks and databases (i.e. CARICOMP, GCRMN, ReefBase).