%0 Journal Article
%T Acknowledging differences: number, characteristics, and distribution of marine benthic communities along Taiwan coast
%A Vianney Denis
%A Yuting Vicky Lin
%J Ecosphere - Wiley Online Library
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2803
%X Our knowledge of the ability of coral reefs to face contemporary challenges disregards the wide variety of benthic communities (BCs) that could be associated with contrasted dynamics when facing stressors. Accordingly, this study investigates the number, characteristics, and distribution of BCs responsible for the development of coastal three©\dimensional structures in Taiwan. A total of 89 transects among three regions (north, east, and south) and two depths (£¿10 and £¿40 m) were characterized using a morpho©\functional categorization of benthic organisms. Using an unsupervised learning algorithm, k©\means cluster, an optimal number of k groups were identified among transects in order to minimize total intra©\group variance and represent a first level of organization, mirroring the number of BCs. Each BC was then described into prevailing categories and typified by an association with significant indicator groups. Their distributions were further examined and tested among regions and depths. Seven BCs were identified as having different composition and indicator categories. Their distributions suggest that, while sea surface temperature and light regime may be associated with a panel of available BCs, local conditions may have the final say on whether a BC eventually thrives at a given location. Overall, this study proposes an innovative and simple analytical framework for acknowledging differences among BCs. Our results encourage greater consideration of these shades in coral reef ecology studies, as they could conceal a variety of roles and dynamics important for the conservation of these endangered ecosystems. Present©\day modifications of our environment alter coral reefs by reconfiguring their biotic assemblages (Hughes et al. 2018b). The changes jeopardize the services they provide to human societies, which contribute up to US$36 billion to the worldwide economy each year (Spalding et al. 2017). They encourage radical and urgent actions that favor the conservation of these iconic ecosystems, which may be supported by a better understanding of their dynamics when facing stressors. The degradation has been particularly severe at several locations throughout the Indo©\Pacific, such as recently reported on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (Hughes et al. 2017b) where multiple and synergistic anthropogenic drivers exist (Hughes et al. 2017a), in addition to an increase in the frequency and intensity of summer heatwaves (Hughes et al. 2017b) that inexorably transform reefs (Hughes et al. 2018a). Nowadays, the loss of reef builder species precipitates the
%U https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.2803