Applying a ridge-to-reef framework to support watershed, water quality, and community-based fisheries management in American Samoa

摘要: Water quality and fisheries exploitation are localized, chronic stressors that impact coral reef condition resilience. Yet, quantifying the relative contribution of individual evaluating degree human to any particular difficult due inherent variation in biological assemblages exists across within island scales. We developed a framework first account for island-scale assemblages, then evaluate 26 reefs adjacent watersheds Tutuila, American Samoa. data collected over 1 year were linked with watershed characteristics such as land use population. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations best predicted by total population disturbed 200 humans km−2, providing predictive threshold DIN enrichment attributed populations. Coral next partitioned into three distinct reeftypes isolate upon local stressors. Regression models suggested fishing access ecological scores, but their influences differed. Relationships weakest between watershed-based proxies DIN, strongest fish distances boat harbors wave energy (i.e., accessibility). While we did not explicitly address potential recursivity there was weak overall correlation these scores. Instead, more complex, recursive nature habitats discussed respect bottom-up top-down processes, several ongoing studies can better help this topic future identified. The used here showed spatial stressor influence, specific assemblage attributes influenced natural anthropogenic drivers which aims guide ridge-to-reef management strategy.