Frequency of Coral Reef Organisms. Pandolfi, et al., 2003

These are results for the 12 reef systems around the world (Caribbean, Red Sea, Indo-west Pacific).  The colors show ecological condition (amount of degradation) for 7 “guilds” of coral reef organisms:  large herbivores (> 1 meter long) like sea cows and green turtles, large carnivores like sharks and goliath groupers, small herbivores like parrotfish, small carnivores like snappers, corals, seagrasses, and suspension feeders like oysters. Big things go before small things, fishes and other mobile animals before benthos (corals, seagrasses, and suspension feeders). The cultural periods are: Pre-human, Hunter-gatherer, Agricultural, Colonial occupation, Colonial development, Modern I, Modern II.

Pandolfi, J.M., R.H. Bradbury, E. Sala, T.P. Hughes, K. A. Bjorndal, R. G. Cooke, D. Macardle, L. McClenahan, M.J.H. Newman, G. Paredes, R.R. Warner, and J.B.C. Jackson. 2003. Global trajectories of the long-term decline of coral reef ecosystems. Science 301: 955-958. Brave New Ocean