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Coral communities are regionally enriched along an oceanic biodiversity gradient

Nature volume 429, pages 867–870 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Ecological communities are influenced by processes operating at multiple scales1,2,3,4,5. Thus, a better understanding of how broad- as well as local-scale processes affect species diversity and richness is increasingly becoming a central focus in modern community ecology6,7,8,9. Here, in a study of unprecedented geographical scope, we show significant regional and local variation in the species richness of coral assemblages across an oceanic biodiversity gradient. The gradient that we sampled extends 10,000 km eastwards from the world's richest coral biodiversity hotspot in the central Indo-Pacific10. Local richness and the size of regional species pools decline significantly across 15 islands spanning the gradient. In addition, richness declines across three adjacent habitats (reef slopes, crests and flats). In each habitat, a highly consistent linear relationship between local and regional species richness indicates strong regional enrichment. Thus, even on the most diverse coral reefs in the world, local coral assemblages are profoundly affected by regional-scale processes. Understanding these historical and biogeographical influences is essential for the effective management and preservation of these endangered communities.

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Figure 1: Fifteen island locations distributed across five Indo-Pacific regions.
Figure 2: Local species richness across regions and habitats.
Figure 3: Observed species accumulation curves across regions and habitats.
Figure 4: The relationship between local and regional species richness in corals.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge J. Wolstenholme and C. Wallace of the Museum of Tropical Queensland for taxonomic training. We also thank J. Wolstenholme, M. J. Boyle, L. Dinsdale, A. Green, A. Baird, S. Connolly, M. Kospartov, P. Osmond and K. Osmond for their assistance in the field. Funding was provided by grants from the Australian Research Council, the National Science Foundation (International Programs and the Ocean Sciences Division) and the National Geographic Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, USA

    Ronald H. Karlson & Howard V. Cornell

  2. Centre for Coral Reef Biodiversity, Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia

    Terence P. Hughes

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  1. Ronald H. Karlson
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Correspondence to Ronald H. Karlson.

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Karlson, R., Cornell, H. & Hughes, T. Coral communities are regionally enriched along an oceanic biodiversity gradient. Nature 429, 867–870 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02685

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