The Future of Coral Reefs Evidence from Research

About this book

This book provides a comprehensive exploration of coral reefs-among Earth's most diverse yet vulnerable ecosystems – in the context of global climate change and local human pressures. Structured as an interconnected narrative, the volume delves into critical topics such as reef biodiversity, trophic ecology, environmental histories revealed by coral skeletons, and coral nutrition strategies. Central themes include the physiological and ecological responses of corals to thermal stress and ocean acidification, the adaptive mechanisms underpinning coral bleaching, and innovative restoration techniques aimed at reef recovery.

Advanced methodologies such as high-resolution remote sensing, environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, and geochemical analyses enrich our understanding of these dynamic ecosystems. Importantly, the book bridges natural sciences with human dimensions, exploring historical human-reef interactions and community-based conservation practices. This interdisciplinary approach highlights both scientific innovation and traditional ecological knowledge as vital components for effective reef management.

Ultimately, the chapters collectively offer actionable insights and strategic frameworks for policymakers, scientists, and communities committed to safeguarding coral reefs. As these ecosystems face unprecedented threats, this book underscores not only their vulnerability but also their remarkable capacity for resilience and adaptation, providing a hopeful vision for coral reef conservation in our rapidly changing world. Additionally, the book opens a discussion on emerging challenges and identifies critical future research directions, encouraging continued innovation and collaboration within the scientific community.

Contents

Chapter 1. Trophodynamics in Coral Reefs: Current Knowledge and Research Perspectives
Chapter 2. Disentangling Current and Latent Dimensions of Vulnerability in Social-Ecological Systems
Chapter 3. Scleractinian Coral Skeletons as Natural Archives of Global Change: A Cross-Disciplinary Investigation
Chapter 4. Bleaching of Reef Organisms: Current Knowledge, Challenges, and Future Directions into the Anthropocene
Chapter 5. Evaluating the Role of Natural and Human Assisted Coral Reproduction to Maintain and Recover Disturbed Reefs
Chapter 6. Vulnerability of Coral Reefs to Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Chapter 7. The Use of New Biologically-Based Technological Development in the Management of Crown-of-Thorns Sea Stars
Chapter 8. Coral Heterotrophy in an Era of Climate Change
Chapter 9. The Biodiversity of Metazoan Parasites of Coral Reef Fishes of the Central and Eastern Indo-Pacific
Chapter 10. Snapshots of Coral Reef Biodiversity
Chapter 11. Living among the Reefs: Insights and Perspectives from Island Archaeology in the Pacific

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Biography

Serge Planes is a CNRS Senior Research Director (DRCE1) and Associate Professor at the EPHE. A global authority in marine population genetics and the marine ecology of coral reefs, he has authored over 500 publications, accumulating more than 25,000 citations. His pioneering work revealed that connectivity in coral reef ecosystems is far more limited than previously thought, shifting international conservation strategies. He was the first to apply parentage analysis in marine settings, enabling reconstruction of pedigrees over multiple generations in wild populations – advancing understanding of self-recruitment and local adaptation, together investigating variability in reproductive success. He directed the CRIOBE research centre and led the French centre for excellence on coral reef (LabEx CORAIL), uniting French coral reef researchers. As Scientific Director of the Tara Pacific expedition, he coordinated a vast "omics" investigation of reef biodiversity and resilience. Recognised with France's National Order of Merit (2019) and Legion of Honour (2022), Planes continues to shape marine conservation policy and innovation across the coral reefs.