Effects of Coral Bleaching on Marine Fish

Communities
By: Ryan Spaniel
Undergraduate, Natural Resources Conservation
University of Idaho

Recent global coral bleaching (GCB) events in 1998, 2010, and 2014 (NOAA 2015) have
grasped the attention of scientists, enthusiasts, and dooms-dayers. However, all human science
and social interests aside, fish seem to be the most impacted organisms from the widely
unknown effects of coral bleaching. GCB is designated when all three major ocean basins
(Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic) have recorded widespread bleaching episodes across multiple reefs
spanning 100 kilometers (62 miles) or more (ICRI 2015). Marine coral are extremely sensitive to
slight changes in the ocean environment. Warmer temperatures, ocean acidification, and
pollution can cause coral to bleach. Many species of fish are dependent on corals for survival.
When coral bleaching occurs, affected fish species exhibit large changes in populations and some
reefs experience huge losses in species diversity (Edi 2012). The purpose of this research paper
is to explain how/where coral bleaching occurs and how it affects fishes that are dependent on
coral for survival.
How does coral bleaching occur? It happens when changes in the surrounding marine
environment stress coral-forcing them to expel their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) into the
surrounding waters (Muscatine 1967). Increasing temperatures and pollution are most common
causes of coral bleaching. Increases of 1-20C can cause coral to bleach. Making coral some of the
most sensitive organisms on this planet.
Zooxanthellae are a corals primary source of carbon and nutrient uptake from the marine
environment (Muscatine 1990). When corals expel all of their algae, there can be serious
consequences to the corals. If they dont regain their algae after several weeks, the corals may
die. Recent ocean temperature rises are attributed to ENSO (El Nio Southern Oscillation) and
have increased tropical temperatures in some places by as much as 50 C (ICRI 2015). This

increase is responsible for the worlds current GCB that began in 2014. Model projections from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict that our current GCB will continue
into March of 2016 (NOAA 2015). This means that coral reefs that are bleached will remain
bleached for a long time. The longevity of this GCB could destroy hundreds of miles of coral
reefs in many tropical areas. Coral associated fishes will be impacted heavily.
In 1998, the world experienced its first-ever GCB event. Many studies were created to
understand the effects of coral bleaching on fish communities and fish behavior throughout the
globe. Most of the research was conducted on species richness and population densities.
Unfortunately, the majority of the heavily impacted areas lacked data prior to the GCB event.
Thus, scientists found it difficult to draw conclusions about fish populations and species richness
because they lacked comparison. However, a few studies emerged that unveiled coral bleaching
effects on fish diversity, affected fish groups, and fish behavior.
On the Tutia Reef in Tanzania, a group of researchers conducted a 6-year study to
understand how fish populations responded to the GCB event of 1998. Large areas of coral reef
were bleached because of ENSO conditions. The group studied several different locations to
draw large-scale conclusions. They found that bleach-resistant corals had more than twice the
amount of inhabitants than bleached corals (Garpe et al., 2006). This explained that fish
remaining in after the GCB preferred non-bleached corals. In fact, they discovered that eroded
coral supported almost no fish or other benthic invertebrate feeders. Also, researchers observed
almost 60% decrease in species richness over the 6-year period (Garpe et al., 2006). This study
explains that extreme coral bleaching and coral death can have large detrimental impacts on fish
diversity and population. Some individuals speculate that the reason for reductions in fish

populations and species diversity is because coral bleaching increases susceptibility to predation
(Coker et al., 2009).
A study was conducted at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia to
demonstrate how bleached corals affected predation rates on damselfish. The study occurred in a
lab with three types of coral: bleached, recently dead, and algae covered. A separate tank was
used with healthy coral as a control. Damselfish were habituated to the environment and then
researchers introduced a predatory fish for 72 hours. They found that there were significant
increases of predation on affected corals: 9% increase on bleached, 12% increase on recently
dead, and 18% on algae covered (Coker et al., 2009). Responsibility for increases lie with the
damselfishes ability to blend into their environment and escape predation. The longer the coral
experienced bleaching/decay-the less the damselfish could use the coral for predator evasion.
These differences, during a relatively short time period, are alarming to scientists. It prompts the
question: how much predation can occur after a few weeks? How about a few months?
Unfortunately, nobody knows the answer right now.
What groups of fish are most susceptible to coral bleaching? The ones that depend
on coral habitat for nesting, food, and predator evasion (McCormick 2012). Many species of fish
are endemic to coral reefs in the tropics. Without them, the fish wouldnt be able to survive and
reproduce. The unique habitat of coral reefs can create densely packed tight spaces that only
certain size fish can navigate through. These small fish are dependent on coral reef structures that
create protected areas for nesting, recruitment, and predator evasion for juveniles. Rendering
juvenile coral specialists to be extremely vulnerable without the protection of coral. Reduced
recruitment can lead to an average increase in fish size; fishes lost through natural mortality and
fishing not being replaced by juveniles (Graham et al. 2007). Some are completely dependent on

coral. Obligate corallivores are fishes that only feed on coral polyps. Without coral, the
corallivores cannot exist.
Recently, a

study (figure on left) found that corals that are susceptible to bleaching are also

choice

habitat for coral obligate corallivores (Pratchett et al., 2009). Ceteris

paribus,

when coral bleaching and death occurs, the primary food source and

habitat

for the obligate corallivores is

depleted.

When combined with the results of the Coker et al. 2009 study, the result

can be

catastrophic for affected fishes. The reason these fish havent become

extinct

is because, until recently, coral have been able to recover quickly. Thus,
allowing the fish shorter periods

of food

shortage. However, we are currently experiencing the largest and longest

GCB

event in history (NOAA 2015). The results from these three studies,
combined with NOAA projections,

leave scientists
worlds

very concerned for the future of the

Fortunately, not all fishes are going to be negatively affected by coral bleaching. Predator
fish will have the advantage of identifying bright coral-dwelling fish against the grey/white hue
of bleached coral. The increase in predation will help boost predator populations. Also, dead
coral also give life to an array of algae. Many species of algal-feeding fish dwell in the tropical
corals of the world. Many of them would benefit from the miles of decaying coral that are
infested with algae. Global fish populations would likely see a significant increase in algal-

feeding fishes (McCormick 2012). However, competitive advantages for algal-feeding fishes
could result in an overall lack of fish diversity.
Many fish species are endemic and have small geographic ranges. These fish are the most
susceptible to predation and possibly extinction. Luckily, many fish species are expressing
compensatory behaviors to relieve the stresses caused by coral bleaching. Versatile fish species
are able to utilize different resources, and even coral-obligate species can survive with alternate
species of coral if they are not too specialized (Pratchett et al., 2009). The movement of these
fishes from bleached to bleach-resistant corals can affect behavior of predators as well (Coker et
al., 2009).
A study on damselfish explains how aggressive fish behavior is linked to coral bleaching.
The study consisted of two co-occurring species of juvenile damselfish, when each
species is not subject to competition, they take shelter low on the reef. But when
interspecific competition is present, the generalist species forces the coral specialist
into a position higher on the reef (Wilson et al., 2007). These positions are similar in
safety in live coral environments, but the higher position has a much greater risk in
bleached and dead corals. This increases overall predation of the coral specialists
and could increase the overall population of the coral generalist from the resulting
lack in competition. Observations of the same juvenile damselfish showed that the
generalist species was more aggressive towards interspecific competition on
unhealthy coral, and the coral specialist was likely to venture twice as far away from
shelter on bleached and dead coral than from a live host. This is suspected to be
driven in part by the increased aggression from the generalist (Wilson et al., 2007).
This increases overall predation of the coral specialists and could increase the
overall population of the coral generalist from the resulting lack in competition.

In conclusion, temperature-driven coral bleaching has very large effects on coral fish
communities. Effects can range from changes in global community diversity to changes in
habitat selection and behavior of individuals. Studies have shown that coral bleaching: increases
in predation over coral (Coker et al., 2009), decreases fish population sizes and community
diversity (Garpe et al, 2006), reduces juvenile recruitment (Graham et al., 2007), and promotes
aggressive and risky behavior (Wilson et al., 2007). These findings, compiled with NOAAs
projected longevity of our current GCB, are compounding fears for marine ecologists and
biologists. If global ocean temperatures dont cool to coral-friendly levels soon, the world may
see massive die-offs involving miles of coral in tropical areas. These die-offs can shift fish
community diversities to be densely occupied by algal-feeders that capitalize on the algae of
decaying coral (McCormick 2012). The coral bleaching could also decimate obligate fish
populations and cause the extinctions of some endemic species. The future of coral reefs and
associated fish communities across the globe may be determined in the next few months. Only
time will tell what damages, long or short-term, will result from our current GCB event.

References:
NOAA Declared Third Ever Global Coral Bleaching Event. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2015/100815-noaa-declares-third-ever-global-coralbleaching-event.html. Retrieved 11/14/2015. Updated Daily.
Scientists Confirm Global Coral Bleaching Event for 2015. International Coral Reef InitiativeICRI. http://www.icriforum.org/news/2015/10/scientists-confirm-global-coral-bleaching-event2015. Retrieved 11/16/2015. Updated Daily.

Coker, D. J., Pratchett, M. S. & Munday, P. L. 2009. Coral bleaching and habitat degradation
increase susceptibility to predation for coral-dwelling fishes. Behavioral Ecology 20 (6): 12041210. (doi:10.1093/beheco/arp113).
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Daw, T. M. 2007. Lag Effects in the Impacts of Mass Coral Bleaching on Coral Reef Fish,
Fisheries, and Ecosystems. Conservation Biology 21 (5): 1291-1300. (doi: 10.1111/j.15231739.2007.00754.x).
McCormick, M. I. 2012. Lethal effects of habitat degradation on fishes through changing
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Edi, R., Iskandar, T., & Nur Fadli, H. (2012, September 13). Effect of Coral Bleaching on
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