Habitat Degradation on Coral Reefs

Coral reef ecosystems are increasingly subject to severe, large-scale disturbances, such as those caused by coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish and global climate change. These disturbances cause extensive loss of coral habitat, which has important effects on abundance and diversity of coral reef fishes, and in turn, on people in tropical maritime nations who directly depend on coral reef fisheries for their food and livelihoods. This lecture explores observed and projected changes in coral reef habitats and also examines likely effects on coral reef fishes.