Coral reef ecosystems are remarkable for their high productivity in nutrient-poor waters. A
high proportion of primary production is consumed by the dominant herbivore assemblage …

To thrive in nutrient-poor waters, coral reefs must retain and recycle materials efficiently. This
review centers microbial processes in facilitating the persistence and stability of coral reefs …

Sea temperatures in many tropical regions have increased by almost 1° C over the past 100
years, and are currently increasing at~ 1–2° C per century. Coral bleaching occurs when the …

This article identifies ecological goods and services of coral reef ecosystems, with special
emphasis on how they are generated. Goods are divided into renewable resources and reef …

Coastal Ecosystem Processes, written by the renowned marine scientist Daniel Alongi,
describes how pelagic and benthic food webs, from beaches and tidal flats to the continental …

Degradation of coral reefs often involves a “phase shift” from abundant coral to abundant
macroalgae. This paper critically reviews the roles of nutrient increases in such phase shifts …

Coral reefs are degrading worldwide at an alarming rate. Nutrient over-enrichment is
considered a major cause of this decline because degraded coral reefs generally exhibit a …

Structural complexity provided by the living coral reef framework is the basis of the rich and
dynamic biodiversity in coral reefs. In many cases today, the reduction in habitat complexity …

Fishes that feed from live corals (corallivores) are a conspicuous component of healthy coral
reef environments. However, knowledge of the occurrence and ecological significance of …

In response to multiple stressors, coral reef health has declined in recent decades, with reefs
exhibiting reduced living coral and structural complexity, and a concomitant rise in the …