Sharks are considered the apex predator of coral reefs, but the consequences of their global
depletion are uncertain. Here we explore the ecological roles of sharks on coral reefs and …

There is growing recognition of the important roles played by predators in regulating
ecosystems and sustaining biodiversity. Much attention has focused on the consequences of …

Coral reefs provide ecosystem goods and services for millions of people in the tropics, but
reef conditions are declining worldwide. Effective solutions to the crisis facing coral reefs …

Global chondrichthyan (shark, ray, skate and chimaera) landings, reported to the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), peaked in 2003 and in the decade since …

Continuing degradation of coral reef ecosystems has generated substantial interest in how
management can support reef resilience,. Fishing is the primary source of diminished reef …

This report provides a detailed assessment of the status of and threats to the world's coral
reefs. It evaluates threats to coral reefs from a wide range of human activities, and includes …

Trophic cascades—the top-down regulation of ecosystems by predators—are an essential
aspect of ecosystem function and well-being. Trophic cascades are often drastically …

Recent studies document unprecedented declines in marine top predators that can initiate
trophic cascades. Predicting the wider ecological consequences of these declines requires …

Allee effects are (broadly) defined as a decline in individual fitness at low population size or
density. They can result in critical population thresholds below which populations crash to …

Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.) remain a major cause of coral
mortality in the Indo-Pacific, contributing to widespread and accelerating degradation of …