Foreword: 10th Anniversary Review: a changing climate for coral reefs

Richard E. Dodge

Dr Richard E. Dodge is Dean of, and Professor at, the Oceanographic Center of Nova Southeastern University. Dodge is also Executive Director of the Center’s National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI). He received his B.A. degree from the University of Maine in 1969 and his Master’s of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Geology & Geophysics from Yale University in 1973 and 1978. Dodge is a recognized authority on corals and coral reef ecosystems. He has conducted research on coral reefs in a wide variety of locations worldwide. He has held grants and contracts from NSF, DOE, USGS, the U.S. Navy, Florida Sea Grant, NOAA, the EPA, South Florida Water Management District, Marine Spill Response Corporation, MMS, ONR, State of Florida DEP and FWC, Broward Co, the U.S. Department of Justice, and others. He is the author of many publications in the scientific literature and reports for various agencies and companies. He has expertise on the effects of natural and man-induced impacts to coral reefs and on coral growth. He has served as an expert witness on coral reef injuries. He is past Editor of the international scientific journal Coral Reefs. He is a member of the coral advisory committee for the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council. Dodge is a founding member of the Florida Coastal Ocean Observing System Caucus and Research Consortium. He is Chair of the Local Organizing Committee for the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium to be held in July, 2008, in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.

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Richard Dodge introduces Janice Lough’s 10th Anniversary Critical Review

Janice Lough, in her outstanding and broadly based review article “A changing climate for coral reefs”, comprehensively tackles the complex, developing, and extremely important issue of how climate change is altering coral reefs ecosystems. Coral reefs have tremendous economic, biologic, geologic, physical, chemical, and cultural value. There are huge numbers of people throughout the world who directly depend upon the services they provide and many more who gain indirect benefit. Yet coral reef ecosystems have been, and are now, under severe degradation threat from a wide variety of causes. Lough reviews the evidence of the most compelling dangers that reefs face from the effects of climate change. She also reminds us that, indeed, many serious stressors to reefs began well before our more recent awareness of added and cumulative effects of climate change,which have become a harbinger of the grim reaper.

Lough’s writing style is clear, expository, and fluid prose, making her work amenable to managers, scientists, and interested lay persons alike. Although it is a gloomy picture indeed about the decline in reef health related to the effects of climate change, she also emphasizes that consequences will be even more severe if no actions are soon taken. It is vitally important to reduce non-climate related stresses, especially including eutrophication, coastal development impingement, and over fishing. Auspiciously, Lough’s review paper appears in the 10th Anniversary year of Journal of Environmental Monitoring. A happy birthday is in order for the journal, and more research on understanding, managing, and conserving reefs (i.e., including resilience, restoration, and the effects of all other climate and non-climate stressors) is urgently needed. It is also critical to research, understand, and take action to mitigate the very serious effects of greenhouse gas emissions that are driving global climate change and the attendant consequences for tropical marine ecosystems. Otherwise, the later major anniversary of JEM may well have another coral reef and climate review but not one that can well expound on coral reef persistence or recovery.

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