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Introduction
[Summary]
[Flyer]
Coral
bleaching is rapidly developing as a major problem for the health
of coral reefs worldwide. Unfortunately, the level of understanding
of this phenomenon is limited. Developing a good understanding of
the phenomenon is important if management practices are to be effective
in minimising the detrimental impacts of coral bleaching as projected
to occur over the next 50 years.
The
IOC/WB Working Group on Coral Bleaching and Local Ecological
Responses was
initiated in September 2000 with the goal to integrate, synthesize
and develop global research on coral bleaching and related ecological
impacts of climate change on coral ecosystems, and further new research
findings into development of tools and techniques for improved observations,
predictions and management interventions at national and global
scales.
Goals:
To fill critical knowledge gaps relating to:
- tolerance
limits and potential mechanisms of corals for adaptation/acclimatization
to thermal stress;
-
long-term responses of coral reefs to large-scale changes in environmental
variables;
- development
of possible molecular, cellular or community indicator tools that
are reliable in their ability to detect environmental stress responses;
and
- scenario-building
regarding the future state of coral reefs and implications for
society [see
concept]
Members
and partners: The study group is
composed of 12 international scientists,
bringing together expertise in specific fields of coral physiology
and coral reef ecology in
a collaborative effort, engaging in discussions, field work and
related activities.
The
effort is being developed in partnership with national research
institutions and a GEF/World Bank Targeted Research
program on coral ecosystems sustainability and capacity building.
Critical
questions:
The group has discussed different aspects of molecular and cellular
responses to heat stress and other stressors disrupting the algal-coral
symbiotic relationship leading to bleaching; the subsequent ecological
impacts, and the potential for developing indicators and tools to
assess changes and predict longer-term impacts of coral bleaching.
An overarching theme to be investigated is the issue of adaptation/acclimatization
to increased sea surface temperature, the ability of corals to recover
from bleaching and the possible new state of coral reefs at increasing
frequency of mass bleaching events, as summarised in the following
broader questions:
Are coral reefs resilient in the face of projected climate
change over the next 100 years?
How is the primary factor temperature affected by other secondary
factors?
Why are some corals more immune than others?
How fast will change occur within coral reefs ecosystems?
Can coral reefs recover and if so, how fast?
What
factors influence the ability of reefs to recover?
Is a phase shift permanent?
What will the final state of the ecosystem be if coral abundance
decreases dramatically?
To
address these and related issues, a set of work hypotheses has been
formulated addressing critical
mechanisms through a series of targeted investigations, spanning
from molecular and cellular to ecological levels.
Outputs:
The
major ambitions of the experimental program will be:
(a)
a series of indicators such as:
Molecular
markers that will rapidly and easily distinguish
heat stress from other types of stresses (e.g. sedimentation,
metal contamination, nutrient stress) on coral reefs.
Cellular
markers that will enable users to accurately anticipate
and monitor the advent of coral bleaching or recovery.
Genetic
markers that will enable insight into the tolerance and
resilience of communities of reef-building corals.
Ecological
markers that
will enable users to monitor impacts of coral bleaching and to
project how the changes are likely to impact on local ecosystem
function.
(b)
a more complete model of the mechanisms that trigger mass coral
bleaching. This will enable better projections of the potential
impact of climate change on coral reefs, and enable better prediction
of the potential impacts to those human communities relying upon
them as sustainable resources.
Activities:
Over the coming years the group is engaging in a series of collaborative
research workshops and seminars,
and training-through-research activities involving researchers and
students across different regions.
A
number of joint field-experiments and training workshops will take
place in the coming years. The activities will be carried out through
a research network bringing together
scientist and students from developing and developed countries to
integrate and disseminate existing knowledge and undertake joint
investigations through a global network. The purpose is to accelerate
global coral bleaching research and transfer of expertise and technologies
to the countries affected by coral bleaching to strengthen their
capacity for research and management of coral bleaching impacts.
The
first pilot research workshop was held 25 Feb-18 Mar 2002 at Heron
Island Research Station, University of Queensland on Southern Great
Barrier Reef, Australia, followed by a workshop in Puerto Morelos,
Mexico, 9-22 Sept 2002. Subsequent workshops are tentatively planned
in Philippines and in East Africa.
Information:
for further information please contact Dr. Christian Wild at
IOC (c.wild@unesco.org)
Address:
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO, 1 Rue Miollis,
75015 Paris, France, Phone: + 33 1 45 68 39 78, Fax: + 33 1 45 68
58 12
More
on related IOC activities
Updated:
20 March 2006
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