Crucial knowledge gaps in current understanding of climate change impacts on coral reef fishes

• Published in: Journal of Experimental Biology
• Main Authors: Wilson, S. K., Adjeroud, M., Bellwood, D. R., Berumen, Michael L., Booth, D., Bozec, Y.-M., Chabanet, P., Cheal, A., Cinner, J., Depczynski, M., Feary, D. A., Gagliano, M., Graham, N. A. J., Halford, A. R., Halpern, B. S., Harborne, A. R., Hoey, A. S., Holbrook, S. J., Jones, G. P., Kulbiki, M., Letourneur, Y., De Loma, T. L., McClanahan, T., McCormick, M. I., Meekan, M. G., Mumby, P. J., Munday, P. L., Ohman, M. C., Pratchett, M. S., Riegl, B., Sano, M., Schmitt, R. J., Syms, C.
• Other Authors: Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Marine Science Program, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Marine Science Program, Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington, WA, Australia, UMR 5244 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Centre de Biologie et d'Ecologie Tropicale et Mediterranéenne, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Agrocampus Ouest, Laboratory of Computer Science, Rennes, France, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Marseille, France, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, c/— The Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia, United Nations University, International Network on Water, Environment and Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Centre of Evolutionary Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia, Marine Lab, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, UK, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, Moorea, French Polynesia, Marine Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Sweden, National Coral Reef Institute, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA, Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Company of Biologists 2010
• Subjects: ecosystem management; fisheries; coral reef ecology; physiology; behaviour; conservation; global warming; ocean acidification; coral bleaching; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10754/555757; https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.037895

Expert opinion was canvassed to identify crucial knowledge gaps in current understanding of climate change impacts on coral reef fishes. Scientists that had published three or more papers on the effects of climate and environmental factors on reef fishes were invited to submit five questions that, if addressed, would improve our understanding of climate change effects on coral reef fishes. Thirty-three scientists provided 155 questions, and 32 scientists scored these questions in terms of: (i) identifying a knowledge gap, (ii) achievability, (iii) applicability to a broad spectrum of species and reef habitats, and (iv) priority. Forty-two per cent of the questions related to habitat associations and community dynamics of fish, reflecting the established effects and immediate concern relating to climate-induced coral loss and habitat degradation. However, there were also questions on fish demographics, physiology, behaviour and management, all of which could be potentially affected by climate change. Irrespective of their individual expertise and background, scientists scored questions from different topics similarly, suggesting limited bias and recognition of a need for greater interdisciplinary and collaborative research. Presented here are the 53 highest-scoring unique questions. These questions should act as a guide for future research, providing a basis for better assessment and management of climate change impacts on coral reefs and associated fish communities.