Undersea Refuges: Functional Ecology and Biodiversity of Coral Reef Ecosystems
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Diversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2026 | Viewed by 537
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Coral reefs worldwide are under ever-increasing stress from local pressures such as fishing, coastal modification, and pollution, as well as thermal stress associated with global climate change. These pressures often act synergistically, modifying coral reef dynamics over time and leading to changes in reef functions and biodiversity. This includes the loss of live coral cover, decreased reef calcification, loss of refuge for associated species, and alterations in herbivory and bioerosion dynamics, among other impacts. This Special Issue focuses on two main areas. First, it aims to compile studies of coral reef functions and biodiversity that are preserved in particularly resistant or resilient reefs, which may be relatively isolated systems or simply more robust than other nearby reefs. Second, it will include contributions that compare and analyze the changes in these functions and biodiversity in reefs under significant pressure over time. These functions can be measured or estimated using indices (e.g., Reef Functional Index), indicators (such as community structure, species assemblages, and fish biomass), or ecological and geological properties like refuge (rugosity and geomorphology), calcification, and herbivory. Data will be obtained through a variety of methods, including in situ data collection, underwater photogrammetry, and remote sensing.
Dr. Joaquín Rodrigo Garza Pérez
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- coral
- biodiversity
- ecology
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