Dynamic Stability of Coral Reefs on the West Australian Coast

Coral cover at Ningaloo Reef has remained relatively stable over 25 years, averaging around 28%, though significant declines have been observed in north-eastern and southern areas due to periodic disturbances like cyclones and thermal anomalies. A meta-analytical approach revealed that latitude explains 10% of the deviance in coral cover through time at Ningaloo, with Acroporidae corals decreasing in abundance relative to more thermally and mechanically tolerant families. The study highlights gaps in quantitative time-series data, particularly in north-western Australia, and emphasizes the need for standardized monitoring methods to improve conservation efforts.

Speed, C. W., Babcock, R. C., Bancroft, K. P., Beckley, L. E., Bellchambers, L. M., Depczynski, M., Field, S. N., Friedman, K. J., Gilmour, J. P., Hobbs, J.-P. A., Kobryn, H. T., Moore, J. A. Y., Nutt, C. D., Shedrawi, G., Thomson, D. P., & Wilson, S. K. (2013). Dynamic Stability of Coral Reefs on the West Australian Coast. PLoS ONE, 8(7), e69863. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069863