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Recovery of corals a decade after a bleaching event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Abstract

Elevated sea surface temperatures in the late 1990s were associated with widespread coral mortality in the Arabian Gulf, particularly in Acropora dominated areas. This study investigates the composition, condition, and recruitment patterns of coral communities in Saih Al-Shaib, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a decade after mass bleaching. Five statistically distinct communities were identified by cluster analysis, with grouping optimized from 17 significant indicator species. Overall, 25 species of scleractinian coral were observed, representing 35 ± 1.6% coral cover. Densities of recruits were low (0.8 ± 0.2 m−2), and composition generally reflected that of the surrounding adult community. Ten years after mass mortality, Acropora dominated assemblages were observed in three of the six sites examined and coral cover (41.9 ± 2.5%) was double post-bleaching cover. One shallow near-shore site appears to have had recovery of Acropora reset by a further bleaching event in 2002. However, the prevalence of young Acropora colonies here indicates that recovery may recur in several years. One area formerly dominated by Acropora is now dominated by faviids and poritids, with adult and juvenile composition suggesting this dominance shift is likely to persist. Porites lutea and Porites harrisoni dominated communities were negligibly impacted by the bleaching events, and the limited change in coral cover and composition in intervening years likely results from slow growth and low recruitment. Despite strong recovery of several dominant Acropora species, five formerly common species from this area were not observed suggesting local extinction. Dubai coral communities exhibit both resistance and resilience to elevated sea temperatures. The conservation of these patch reefs is warranted given the predicted increase in bleaching events, and the role that these communities may play in regional recovery.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to the Dubai Municipality Marine Sanctuary Unit for providing sampling permits and to Major Ali Saqr Al-Suwaidi of the Emirates Marine Environmental Group for providing the facilities from which this study was conducted. An earlier version of this manuscript has been greatly improved by the critical comments by B. Riegl.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, N9B3P4, Windsor, ON, Canada

    J. Burt

  2. Department of Biology and Chemistry, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    A. Bartholomew

  3. International Network on Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University, 50 Main Street East, Hamilton, ON, L8N1E9, Canada

    P. Usseglio

  4. Natural Science and Public Health, Zayed University, Zayed University, PO Box 19282, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    J. Burt

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  1. J. Burt
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  2. A. Bartholomew
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  3. P. Usseglio
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Correspondence to J. Burt.

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Communicated by S.W.A. Naqvi.

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Burt, J., Bartholomew, A. & Usseglio, P. Recovery of corals a decade after a bleaching event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mar Biol 154, 27–36 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0892-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0892-9

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