Reassessing Shark-Driven Trophic Cascades on Coral Reefs: A Reply to Ruppert et al.

Issue Date

8-2016

Abstract

In our recent review of the ecological roles of sharks on coral reefs, we concluded that the evidence to support hypothesised shark-driven trophic cascades on coral reefs was weak and equivocal. In their response to our review, Ruppert et al. [2] assert that a major issue with our approach was that we primarily reviewed evidence from correlative observational studies to reach this conclusion. This is incorrect, because our conclusion is based upon multiple lines of evidence, including observational studies,food- web models,dietary and stable isotope analysis, trophicposition,habitat use,and behavioural evidence [1]. While the authors are disappointed that we inter- preted theirlong-term study of fished and unfished reefs as equivocal evi- dence ofashark-driventrophiccascades , we identify key issues with their evi- dence and reasoning,as discussed below.

Source or Periodical Title

Trends in Ecology and Evolution

ISSN

0169-5347

Volume

31

Issue

8

Page

587-589

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

illustrations, graphs

Language

English

Subject

coral reefs, herbivores, predator-prey interactions, sharks, trophic cascades

Identifier

DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2016.05.00

Digital Copy

yes

Link to Full Text

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