Author
Hector M. Guzman
Other affiliations: CINVESTAV, University of Costa Rica, Smithsonian Institution ...read more
Bio: Hector M. Guzman is an academic researcher from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: Coral reef & Reef. The author has an hindex of 47, co-authored 200 publications receiving 8700 citations. Previous affiliations of Hector M. Guzman include CINVESTAV & University of Costa Rica.
Topics: Coral reef, Reef, Coral, Population, Octocorallia
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources1, Indonesian Institute of Sciences2, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration3, Brown University4, University of Costa Rica5, University of Hawaii at Manoa6, University of Tasmania7, Newcastle University8, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute9, National Museum of Natural History10, De La Salle University11, University of the South Pacific12, National Marine Fisheries Service13, Silliman University14, James Cook University15, Zoological Society of London16, University of Warwick17, Conservation International18, Museum of Tropical Queensland19, University of Puerto Rico20, Marine Conservation Society21
TL;DR: The Caribbean has the largest proportion of corals in high extinction risk categories, whereas the Coral Triangle has the highest proportion of species in all categories of elevated extinction risk.
Abstract: The conservation status of 845 zooxanthellate reef-building coral species was assessed by using International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Criteria. Of the 704 species that could be assigned conservation status, 32.8% are in categories with elevated risk of extinction. Declines in abundance are associated with bleaching and diseases driven by elevated sea surface temperatures, with extinction risk further exacerbated by local-scale anthropogenic disturbances. The proportion of corals threatened with extinction has increased dramatically in recent decades and exceeds that of most terrestrial groups. The Caribbean has the largest proportion of corals in high extinction risk categories, whereas the Coral Triangle (western Pacific) has the highest proportion of species in all categories of elevated extinction risk. Our results emphasize the widespread plight of coral reefs and the urgent need to enact conservation measures.
1,272 citations
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration1, Silver Spring Networks2, James Cook University3, University of the Virgin Islands4, University of East Anglia5, Mote Marine Laboratory6, Simón Bolívar University7, University of the French West Indies and Guiana8, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez9, University of North Carolina at Wilmington10, University of Bedfordshire11, University of Havana12, Griffith University13, University of Magdalena14, University of Miami15, Spanish National Research Council16, Nova Southeastern University17, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute18, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory19, University of Puerto Rico20, University of Exeter21, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences22, National Autonomous University of Mexico23, Boston University24, University of Queensland25, The Nature Conservancy26, Australian National University27, University of the West Indies28, Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland29, Florida Institute of Technology30, University of California, Los Angeles31, University of Los Andes32, Central University of Venezuela33, Brown University34, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu35
TL;DR: Comparison of satellite data against field surveys demonstrated a significant predictive relationship between accumulated heat stress (measured using NOAA Coral Reef Watch's Degree Heating Weeks) and bleaching intensity.
Abstract: Background: The rising temperature of the world's oceans has become a major threat to coral reefs globally as the severity and frequency of mass coral bleaching and mortality events increase. In 2005, high ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean resulted in the most severe bleaching event ever recorded in the basin. Methodology/Principal Findings: Satellite-based tools provided warnings for coral reef managers and scientists, guiding both the iming and location of researchers' field observations as anomalously warm conditions developed and spread across the greater Caribbean region from June to October 2005. Field surveys of bleaching and mortality exceeded prior efforts in detail and extent, and provided a new standard for documenting the effects of bleaching and for testing nowcast and forecast products. Collaborators from 22 countries undertook the most comprehensive documentation of basin-scale bleaching to date and found that over 80% of corals bleached and over 40% died at many sites. The most severe bleaching coincided with waters nearest a western Atlantic warm pool that was centered off the northern end of the Lesser Antilles. Conclusions/Significance: Thermal stress during the 2005 event exceeded any observed from the Caribbean in the prior 20 years, and regionally-averaged temperatures were the warmest in over 150 years. Comparison of satellite data against field surveys demonstrated a significant predictive relationship between accumulated heat stress (measured using NOAA Coral Reef Watch's Degree Heating Weeks) and bleaching intensity. This severe, widespread bleaching and mortality will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for reef ecosystems and suggests a troubled future for tropical marine ecosystems under a warming climate.
755 citations
TL;DR: The authors of this paper as discussed by the authors argue that the harmful effects of stressors like overfishing, pollution, poor land-use practices, and global warming are interdependent, and that prompt implementation of proven, practical solutions would lead to both short and long-term benefits.
Abstract: Conservation of U.S. coral reefs has been sidetracked by the partial implementation of management plans without clearly achievable goals. Historical ecology reveals global patterns of coral reef degradation that provide a framework for reversing reef decline with ecologically meaningful metrics for success. The authors of this
Policy Forum
urge action now to address multiple threats simultaneously, because the harmful effects of stressors like overfishing, pollution, poor land-use practices, and global warming are interdependent. Prompt implementation of proven, practical solutions would lead to both short- and long-term benefits, including the return of keystone species and the economic benefits they entail.
405 citations
Dalhousie University1, Scripps Institution of Oceanography2, Autonomous University of Baja California3, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research4, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration5, Charles Darwin Foundation6, United Nations University7, James Cook University8, University of Queensland9, University of Technology, Sydney10, Tel Aviv University11, University of California, Santa Barbara12, Institut de recherche pour le développement13, University of Costa Rica14, Simón Bolívar University15, University of Guadalajara16, University of Hawaii17, University of Tasmania18, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology19, University of Sheffield20, Blue Ventures21, The Nature Conservancy22, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute23, University of La Réunion24, McGill University25, Wildlife Conservation Society26, Kōchi University27, Newcastle University28, Microsoft29, United Nations Environment Programme30, WorldFish31, Department of Environment and Conservation32, University of Valle33
TL;DR: A global survey of reef fishes shows that the consequences of biodiversity loss are greater than previously anticipated as ecosystem functioning remained unsaturated with the addition of new species.
Abstract: Difficulties in scaling up theoretical and experimental results have raised controversy over the consequences of biodiversity loss for the functioning of natural ecosystems. Using a global survey of reef fish assemblages, we show that in contrast to previous theoretical and experimental studies, ecosystem functioning (as measured by standing biomass) scales in a nonsaturating manner with biodiversity (as measured by species and functional richness) in this ecosystem. Our field study also shows a significant and negative interaction between human population density and biodiversity on ecosystem functioning (i.e., for the same human density there were larger reductions in standing biomass at more diverse reefs). Human effects were found to be related to fishing, coastal development, and land use stressors, and currently affect over 75% of the world’s coral reefs. Our results indicate that the consequences of biodiversity loss in coral reefs have been considerably underestimated based on existing knowledge and that reef fish assemblages, particularly the most diverse, are greatly vulnerable to the expansion and intensity of anthropogenic stressors in coastal areas.
354 citations
TL;DR: The Caribbean coral Montastraea annularis is shown to consist of at least three sibling species in shallow waters, and the two most commonly studied show highly significant differences in growth rate and oxygen isotopic ratios.
Abstract: Measures of growth and skeletal isotopic ratios in the Caribbean coral Montastraea annularis are fundamental to many studies of paleoceanography, environmental degradation, and global climate change. This taxon is shown to consist of at least three sibling species in shallow waters. The two most commonly studied of these show highly significant differences in growth rate and oxygen isotopic ratios, parameters routinely used to estimate past climatic conditions; unusual coloration in the third may have confused research on coral bleaching. Interpretation or comparison of past and current studies can be jeopardized by ignoring these species boundaries.
272 citations
Cited by
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State Street Corporation1, University of California, Santa Barbara2, University of Hawaii at Manoa3, Stanford University4, Wildlife Conservation Society5, Arizona State University6, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill7, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration8, Environmental Defense Fund9, Ocean Conservancy10, The Nature Conservancy11, University of Maine12, University of British Columbia13
TL;DR: This article developed an ecosystem-specific, multiscale spatial model to synthesize 17 global data sets of anthropogenic drivers of ecological change for 20 marine ecosystems and found that no area is unaffected by human influence and that a large fraction (41%) is strongly affected by multiple drivers.
Abstract: The management and conservation of the world's oceans require synthesis of spatial data on the distribution and intensity of human activities and the overlap of their impacts on marine ecosystems. We developed an ecosystem-specific, multiscale spatial model to synthesize 17 global data sets of anthropogenic drivers of ecological change for 20 marine ecosystems. Our analysis indicates that no area is unaffected by human influence and that a large fraction (41%) is strongly affected by multiple drivers. However, large areas of relatively little human impact remain, particularly near the poles. The analytical process and resulting maps provide flexible tools for regional and global efforts to allocate conservation resources; to implement ecosystem-based management; and to inform marine spatial planning, education, and basic research.
5,365 citations
University of Michigan1, College of William & Mary2, McGill University3, Western Washington University4, Arizona State University5, Imperial College London6, University of Minnesota7, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences8, Stanford University9, Centre national de la recherche scientifique10, United States Geological Survey11, University of British Columbia12, Columbia University13
TL;DR: It is argued that human actions are dismantling the Earth’s ecosystems, eliminating genes, species and biological traits at an alarming rate, and the question of how such loss of biological diversity will alter the functioning of ecosystems and their ability to provide society with the goods and services needed to prosper is asked.
Abstract: The most unique feature of Earth is the existence of life, and the most extraordinary feature of life is its diversity. Approximately 9 million types of plants, animals, protists and fungi inhabit the Earth. So, too, do 7 billion people. Two decades ago, at the first Earth Summit, the vast majority of the world's nations declared that human actions were dismantling the Earth's ecosystems, eliminating genes, species and biological traits at an alarming rate. This observation led to the question of how such loss of biological diversity will alter the functioning of ecosystems and their ability to provide society with the goods and services needed to prosper.
5,244 citations
TL;DR: This review covers the literature published in 2014 for marine natural products, with 1116 citations referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms.
4,649 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a document, redatto, voted and pubblicato by the Ipcc -Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
Abstract: Cause, conseguenze e strategie di mitigazione Proponiamo il primo di una serie di articoli in cui affronteremo l’attuale problema dei mutamenti climatici. Presentiamo il documento redatto, votato e pubblicato dall’Ipcc - Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - che illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
4,187 citations
TL;DR: A meta-analysis shows that species are shifting their distributions in response to climate change at an accelerating rate, and that the range shift of each species depends on multiple internal species traits and external drivers of change.
Abstract: The distributions of many terrestrial organisms are currently shifting in latitude or elevation in response to changing climate Using a meta-analysis, we estimated that the distributions of species have recently shifted to higher elevations at a median rate of 110 meters per decade, and to higher latitudes at a median rate of 169 kilometers per decade These rates are approximately two and three times faster than previously reported The distances moved by species are greatest in studies showing the highest levels of warming, with average latitudinal shifts being generally sufficient to track temperature changes However, individual species vary greatly in their rates of change, suggesting that the range shift of each species depends on multiple internal species traits and external drivers of change Rapid average shifts derive from a wide diversity of responses by individual species
3,986 citations