Journal article
Multi-decadal resilience (2002-2023) of subtropical coral communities in the Solitary Islands, eastern Australia, despite severe cumulative disturbances
Coral reefs, Vol.First Online, pp.1-19
08/04/2026
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Abstract
Environmental disturbances can cause pronounced shifts in habitat-forming species with cascading effects across marine ecosystems. Long-term monitoring is critical to detect such ecosystem change and inform management, especially in dynamic subtropical regions with frequent and cumulative, severe disturbances that are amplified by climate change. Here, we quantify multi-decadal trends (2002–2023) across coral and benthic communities at eight, shallow (9–15 m), mid-shelf (1.5–6 km offshore) rocky reefs in the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) (30 S), a biodiversity hotspot along the tropical to temperate transition zone in subtropical eastern Australia. Hard corals and algae (primarily turf and coralline algae) were the dominant taxa on these shallow mid-shelf reefs. Despite severe disturbances in many years, coral communities in the SIMP showed remarkable resilience over a 22-year period that included mass coral bleaching in 2016; eight years with destructive East Coast Low storms where swell heights exceeded 8 m (14 events); 13 years with intense rainfall events (< 100 mm day−1); and a coral disease event. Mean coral cover recovered after episodic declines and followed an upward trajectory across our study sites from 32 in 2002 to 44% in 2023. This long-term trend was characterised by high abundance of Turbinaria and Paragoniastrea (< 80% of coral cover), followed by Acropora, Pocilloporidae, Astrea, Acanthastrea, and Porites, many of which are high-latitude specialists. The variety and collective frequency of severe disturbances over the study period highlights the resilience of coral communities in the marginal subtropical environments in this region. Future monitoring will help quantify whether this trend holds under changing disturbance regimes.
Details
- Title
- Multi-decadal resilience (2002-2023) of subtropical coral communities in the Solitary Islands, eastern Australia, despite severe cumulative disturbances
- Creators
- Hamish A. Malcolm - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Coffs Harbour)Marine Lechene - The University of SydneyRenata Ferrari - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceCurtis Champion - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesSteven J. Dalton - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentMaria Beger - University of LeedsJames Cant - National Statistical Institute of PortugalFiona Chong - University of LeedsWanchien Victoria Hsiao - University of LeedsSun W. Kim - The University of QueenslandLiam Lachs - Newcastle UniversityStephen D. A. Smith - Aquamarine Australia, Mullaway, NSW, AustraliaWill F. Figueira - The University of SydneyBrigitte Sommer - University of Sydney
- Publication Details
- Coral reefs, Vol.First Online, pp.1-19
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 19
- Grant note
- Australian Institute of Marine Science DE230100141 / Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award; Australian Research Council Fellowship / University of Sydney
- Identifiers
- 991013372708002368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Coral Reef Society (ICRS) 2026
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article