How coral networks keep fish stocks strong

Jaymi Heimbuch -

The Coral Triangle is an area around Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines that is one of the richest places on earth for coral reefs, and over one third of the planet's reefs are found here. Where there are coral reefs, there are lots of fish, so that means many fish populations are dependent on the health of these reefs -- and many humans too. The coral reef ecosystems provide food and income for upwards of 100 million people, and a new study shows exactly how that networks keeps fish in the oceans.

Ocean Leadership reports on a new paper titled "Connectivity and the development of population genetic structure in Indo-West Pacific coral reef communities" by Johnathan T. Kool, Claire B. Paris, Paul H. Barber and Robert K. Cowen. In it, the researchers note that the key to keeping healthy populations of fish (besides, of course, strict regulations on overfishing) is maintaining a healthy network of links between major reefs.

"Maintaining the network of links between reefs allowing larvae to flow between them and re-stock depleted areas, is key to saving coral ecosystems threatened by human pressure and climate change," Dr Kool explains. (Dr. Kool, by the way, is probably the most awesome name a scientist can have.)

Thus healthy "links" between larger reefs where both coral and fish larvae can safely move among reefs keeps both the reefs healthier through biodiversity, and fish populations higher.

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