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Defining the biological integrity of coral reefs using a biological condition gradient framework
Citation:
Santavy, Debbie, P. Bradley, J. Gerritsen, S. Jackson, AND W. Fisher. Defining the biological integrity of coral reefs using a biological condition gradient framework. Presented at ASLO 2013 Aquatic Sciences Meeting, February 17 - 22, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
Abstract to present results of our BCG workshop at ASLO meeting, at session entitled: Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization
Description:
Under authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the US EPA is committed to protecting the biological integrity of tropical ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs that lie within the 3-mile limit of the territorial seas. The biological condition gradient (BCG) was adopted as a conceptual, narrative model that describes how biological attributes of coral reefs change along a gradient of increasing anthropogenic stress. A panel of coral reef experts considered traits of community structure, organism condition, ecosystem function and connectivity of reefs in relationship to CWA goals for 'natural' or minimally-impaired conditions. The long-term goal is to derive scientifically defensible thresholds for different levels of coral reef condition with a well-defined narrative for each level. The BCG will serve as an interpretative framework to link science and monitoring information to management and decision-making. Explicit characterization of biological changes with increasing levels of human disturbance will provide decision makers with a better understanding of intended and unintended consequences of alternative scenarios in watershed and coastal zones. The presentation will provide an overview of the workshop and results.