Critical Research Needs for Identifying Future Changes in Gulf Coral Reef Ecosystems

David A. Feary; John A. Burt; Andrew G Bauman; Shaker Al Hazeem; Mohamed A. Abdel-Moati; Khalifa A. Al-Khalifa; Donald M. Anderson; Carl Amos; Andrew Baker; Aaron Bartholomew; Rita Bento; Georgenes H. Cavalcante; Chaolun Allen Chen; Steve L. Coles; Koosha Dab; Ashley M. Fowler; David George; Edwin Grandcourt; Ross Hill; David M. John; David A. Jones; Shashank Keshavmurthy; Huda Mahmoud; Mahdi Moradi Och Tapeh; Pargol Ghavam Mostafavi; Humood Naser; Michel Pichon; Samuel J. Purkis; Bernhard Riegl; Kaveh Samimi-Namin; Charles R. C. Sheppard; Jahangir Vajed Samiei; Christian R. Voolstra; Joerg Wiedenmann

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.038

Critical Research Needs for Identifying Future Changes in Gulf Coral Reef Ecosystems

David A. Feary
, John A. Burt
, Andrew G Bauman
, Shaker Al Hazeem
, Mohamed A. Abdel-Moati
, Khalifa A. Al-Khalifa
, Donald M. Anderson
, Carl Amos
, Andrew Baker
, Aaron Bartholomew
, Rita Bento
, Georgenes H. Cavalcante
, Chaolun Allen Chen
, Steve L. Coles
, Koosha Dab
, Ashley M. Fowler
, David George
, Edwin Grandcourt
, Ross Hill
, David M. John

David A. Jones, Shashank Keshavmurthy, Huda Mahmoud, Mahdi Moradi Och Tapeh, Pargol Ghavam Mostafavi, Humood Naser, Michel Pichon, Samuel J. Purkis, Bernhard Riegl, Kaveh Samimi-Namin, Charles R. C. Sheppard, Jahangir Vajed Samiei, Christian R. Voolstra, Joerg Wiedenmann

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Expert opinion was assessed to identify current knowledge gaps in determining future changes in Arabian/Persian Gulf (thereafter ‘Gulf’) coral reefs. Thirty-one participants submitted 71 research questions that were peer-assessed in terms of scientific importance (i.e., filled a knowledge gap and was a research priority) and efficiency in resource use (i.e., was highly feasible and ecologically broad). Ten research questions, in six major research areas, were highly important for both understanding Gulf coral reef ecosystems and also an efficient use of limited research resources. These questions mirrored global evaluations of the importance of understanding and evaluating biodiversity, determining the potential impacts of climate change, the role of anthropogenic impacts in structuring coral reef communities, and economically evaluating coral reef communities. These questions provide guidance for future research on coral reef ecosystems within the Gulf, and enhance the potential for assessment and management of future changes in this globally significant region.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	406-416
Number of pages	11
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	72
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.038
State	Published - Jul 30 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding

Overall there is a need to create a research society within the Gulf that includes various stakeholders concerned with the science and conservation of coral reefs in the Gulf and adjacent regions. In this respect, the Mideast Coral Reef Society (MCRS) Initiative has been launched recently (http://www.mideastcrs.org/). The MCRS initiative is jointly hosted by the New York University Abu Dhabi and the University of Southampton and is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, UK. This society will be an association of researchers and members of governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry and private sector organizations with an interest in a broad range of aspects of Middle Eastern reefs. The MCRS Initiative is already supported by more than 50 representatives of high profile, international academic and non-academic organizations, and will promote collaboration among researchers and knowledge exchange with stakeholders outside academia with the aim to generate a deep understanding of the functioning of these unique ecosystems, and to promote their conservation and sustainable use. This manuscript is a direct result of the ‘Coral Reefs of the Gulf’ conference, hosted and sponsored by the New York University – Abu Dhabi Institute in Abu Dhabi, February 2012. In addition, D.A. Feary was supported by a Chancellors Postdoctoral Fellowship within the University of Technology, Sydney, D.M. Anderson was provided support from the Ministry of Environment and Water, United Arab Emirates, and the Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health (NSF/NIEHS), E. Grandcourt was supported by Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, H. Mahmood was supported by Kuwait University, C.R. Voolstra was supported by a KAUST AEA 3 Joint Collaborative Research award ‘the Natural History Museum, London and the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) are thanked by D.M. John and J.D. George for supporting their research in the UAE’ research at Naturalis Biodiversity Center and partial field work for K. Samimi-Namin was supported by Schure-Beijerinck-Poppingfonds (KNAW), Alida Buitendijkfonds, Jan Joost ter Pelkwijkfonds, and Martin-Fellowship. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Census of Marine Life are gratefully acknowledged for the research grant provided to K. Samimi-Namin; in this regard N. D’Adamo (UNESCO, ICO, Perth), M. Claereboudt (Sultan Qaboos University), J.H. Ausubel (Rockefeller University), and P. Miloslavich (Universidad Simón Bolı́var) are appreciated for their continuous support and encouragement. The Mideast Coral Reef Society Initiative is funded by the NERC (NE/K00641X/1 to J. Wiedenmann).

Funders	Funder number
Alida Buitendijkfonds
Jan Joost ter Pelkwijkfonds
Ministry of Environment and Water
National Science Foundation	1314642
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences	P01ES021923
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
International Council of Ophthalmology
Environment Agency
Rockefeller University
New York University Abu Dhabi
Natural Environment Research Council	NE/K00641X/1
University of Southampton
Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Sultan Qaboos University
Kuwait University
Naturalis Biodiversity Center

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Pollution
Aquatic Science
Oceanography

Keywords

Persian Gulf
Arabian Gulf
Coral reefs
Expert
Assessment
Research gap
Research Gap
Coral Reefs
Anthozoa/growth & development
Indian Ocean
Research
Biodiversity
Forecasting
Animals
Climate Change
Conservation of Natural Resources

Disciplines

Biology
Life Sciences
Marine Biology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.038

Cite this

Feary, D. A., Burt, J. A., Bauman, A. G., Al Hazeem, S., Abdel-Moati, M. A., Al-Khalifa, K. A., Anderson, D. M., Amos, C., Baker, A., Bartholomew, A., Bento, R., Cavalcante, G. H., Chen, C. A., Coles, S. L., Dab, K., Fowler, A. M., George, D., Grandcourt, E., Hill, R., ... Wiedenmann, J. (2013). Critical Research Needs for Identifying Future Changes in Gulf Coral Reef Ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 72(2), 406-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.038

Feary, DA, Burt, JA, Bauman, AG, Al Hazeem, S, Abdel-Moati, MA, Al-Khalifa, KA, Anderson, DM, Amos, C, Baker, A, Bartholomew, A, Bento, R, Cavalcante, GH, Chen, CA, Coles, SL, Dab, K, Fowler, AM, George, D, Grandcourt, E, Hill, R, John, DM, Jones, DA, Keshavmurthy, S, Mahmoud, H, Och Tapeh, MM, Mostafavi, PG, Naser, H, Pichon, M, Purkis, SJ, Riegl, B, Samimi-Namin, K, Sheppard, CRC, Samiei, JV, Voolstra, CR & Wiedenmann, J 2013, 'Critical Research Needs for Identifying Future Changes in Gulf Coral Reef Ecosystems', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 406-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.038

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abstract = " Expert opinion was assessed to identify current knowledge gaps in determining future changes in Arabian/Persian Gulf (thereafter {\textquoteleft}Gulf{\textquoteright}) coral reefs. Thirty-one participants submitted 71 research questions that were peer-assessed in terms of scientific importance (i.e., filled a knowledge gap and was a research priority) and efficiency in resource use (i.e., was highly feasible and ecologically broad). Ten research questions, in six major research areas, were highly important for both understanding Gulf coral reef ecosystems and also an efficient use of limited research resources. These questions mirrored global evaluations of the importance of understanding and evaluating biodiversity, determining the potential impacts of climate change, the role of anthropogenic impacts in structuring coral reef communities, and economically evaluating coral reef communities. These questions provide guidance for future research on coral reef ecosystems within the Gulf, and enhance the potential for assessment and management of future changes in this globally significant region.",

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AU - Abdel-Moati, Mohamed A.

AU - Al-Khalifa, Khalifa A.

AU - Anderson, Donald M.

AU - Amos, Carl

AU - Baker, Andrew

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AU - Bento, Rita

AU - Cavalcante, Georgenes H.

AU - Chen, Chaolun Allen

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AU - Fowler, Ashley M.

AU - George, David

AU - Grandcourt, Edwin

AU - Hill, Ross

AU - John, David M.

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AU - Pichon, Michel

AU - Purkis, Samuel J.

AU - Riegl, Bernhard

AU - Samimi-Namin, Kaveh

AU - Sheppard, Charles R. C.

AU - Samiei, Jahangir Vajed

AU - Voolstra, Christian R.

AU - Wiedenmann, Joerg

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ER -

Critical Research Needs for Identifying Future Changes in Gulf Coral Reef Ecosystems

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

Disciplines

Access to Document

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