Publications by authors named "B Leggat"
Reef building corals are important in subtropical marine ecoregions, shaping ecosystems and providing habitats for fish and benthic species. Algal communities contribute substantially to the benthic population structure across subtropical coral reefs, however increasing algal cover on subtropical reefs is also linked to degraded ecosystems as has been shown on tropical systems. As such, the dynamics of coral-algal interactions on subtropical reefs are also likely to be an indicator of ecosystem health on subtropical ecosystems.
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- Subtropical coral reefs, while less studied than tropical reefs, are crucial ecosystems that support diverse marine life and provide significant socio-economic benefits, prompting increased research on their response to ocean warming over the past two decades.
- A systematic approach was used to review 90 primary research publications published between 2010 and 2023, focusing on the type and scope of studies related to subtropical corals and their reaction to warming seas.
- Most studies were experimental (49%) and observational (39%), with significant research focused on corals in regions like Southern China (13%) and the Western Mediterranean (10%), highlighting various stressors linked to ocean warming.