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Diversity
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Undersea Refuges: Functional Ecology and Biodiversity of Coral Reef Ecosystems
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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: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1319

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Joaquín Rodrigo Garza Pérez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Ciencias, UMDI-Sisal, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Sisal, Mexico
Interests: coral; biodiversity

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

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coral
  • biodiversity
  • ecology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1920 KB  
Article
The Role of Pavona Coral Growth Strategies in the Maintenance of the Clipperton Atoll Reef
by Ania Ochoa-Serena, José de Jesús Adolfo Tortolero-Langarica, Fabián Alejandro Rodríguez-Zaragoza, Juan Pablo Carricart-Ganivet, Eric Emile G. Clua and Alma Paola Rodríguez-Troncoso
Diversity 2025, 17(12), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17120854 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 369
Abstract
The genus Pavona includes massive to submassive hermatypic corals and represents one of the main reef builders of the coral reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). However, its development and specific ecological role, particularly on offshore reefs (e.g., oceanic Atolls), remain poorly [...] Read more.
The genus Pavona includes massive to submassive hermatypic corals and represents one of the main reef builders of the coral reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). However, its development and specific ecological role, particularly on offshore reefs (e.g., oceanic Atolls), remain poorly understood. This study aims to determine the sclerochronological characteristics of the four Pavona species (Pavona duerdeni, Pavona clavus, Pavona maldivensis, and Pavona varians) in Clipperton Atoll, and their contributions to reef maintenance. Using the optical densitometry technique, Pavona annual growth parameters were obtained, showing that skeletal density (1.26 ± 0.23 g cm−3), extension rate (0.94 ± 0.31 cm year−1), and calcification rate (1.17 ± 0.36 g cm−2 year−1) were consistent with previous data from the ETP. However, differences at the species level showed that P. duerdeni, P. varians, and P. maldivensis invested their calcification resources into building denser skeletons, demonstrating the morphological plasticity of the genus, likely driven by local factors, such as strong hydrodynamics and depth, rather than regional conditions (e.g., El Niño-Southern Oscillation events). Pavona’s growth strategies contribute to the preservation potential on a geological timescale of Clipperton Atoll, highlighting their importance as one of the main reef builders at a massive coral-dominated reef. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Undersea Refuges: Functional Ecology and Biodiversity of Coral Reef Ecosystems)
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25 pages, 17251 KB  
Article
Spatial Prioritization for the Zonation of a Reef System in a New Remote Marine Protected Area in the Southern Gulf of Mexico
by Juan Emanuel Frías-Vega, Rodolfo Rioja-Nieto, Erick Barrera-Falcón, Carlos Cruz-Vázquez and Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
Diversity 2025, 17(10), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100708 - 13 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 709
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots that provide essential ecological and environmental services but are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressure and climate change. Effective conservation of reef systems within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can be enhanced using spatially explicit approaches that integrate habitat [...] Read more.
Coral reef ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots that provide essential ecological and environmental services but are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressure and climate change. Effective conservation of reef systems within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can be enhanced using spatially explicit approaches that integrate habitat mapping and ecological metrics at seascape scales. In this study, we characterized the benthic seascape of Cayo Arenas and identified optimal priority conservation zones in one of the core zones of the recently established Southern Gulf of Mexico Reefs National Park (SGMRNP). In July 2023, ground-truthing was performed to quantify the cover of sand, calcareous matrix, macroalgae, hard corals and octocorals. Cluster analysis of quantitative data and ecological similarity between classes was used to identify the main benthic habitat classes. Object-based and supervised classification algorithms on a PlanetScope image were used to construct a thematic map of the benthic reef system. Based on the thematic map, habitat connectivity, β-diversity, patch compactness, and availability for commercial species were estimated. In addition, a benthic change analysis (2017–2013), based on the spectral characteristics of PlanetScope images, was performed. The layers obtained were then used to perform an iterative weighted overlay analysis (WOA) using 126 combinations. Six main habitat classes, with different coverages of hard corals, calcareous matrix, macroalgae, and sand, were identified. Habitats with calcareous matrix and sandy substrates dominated the seascape. High habitat compactness, connectivity, and β-diversity values were observed, suggesting habitat stability and ecologically dynamic areas. Based on the WOA, eight optimal priority areas for conservation were recognized. These areas are characterized by heterogeneous habitats, moderate coral cover, and high connectivity. We provide a spatially explicit approach that can strengthen conservation planning within the SGMRNP and other MPAs, particularly by assisting zonation and sub-zonation processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Undersea Refuges: Functional Ecology and Biodiversity of Coral Reef Ecosystems)
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