Critical research needs for identifying future changes in Gulf coral reef ecosystems

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

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KAUST Department

Red Sea Research Center (RSRC)
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division
Marine Science Program
Reef Genomics Lab

Date

2013-04-30

Embargo End Date

2015-04-30

Permanent link to this record

http://hdl.handle.net/10754/562849

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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. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Sponsors

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 Simon Bolivar) 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).