Intervention ecology on coral reefs: a new role for fishes.

在一个几乎没有完整珊瑚礁的世界里，这个项目的目标是找到恢复退化珊瑚礁的方法。最近的研究已经确定了负责从珊瑚礁中清除有害藻类的物种，而海水养殖的进步使我们有能力饲养这些至关重要的珊瑚礁鱼类。结合圈养饲养，实验操作和草食性鱼类的功能能力的全球分析，在完整的，退化的和人类改造的系统，研究将探索恢复或提高珊瑚礁承受干扰的能力的潜力。其目标是提供直接改变珊瑚礁上运作的关键过程所需的科学知识。

In a world where few intact reefs remain, the goal of this project is to find ways to restore degraded reefs. Recent research has identified the species responsible for removing harmful algae from coral reefs, while advances in mariculture provide us with the capacity to rear these critically important reef fish species. Combining captive rearing, experimental manipulations, and a global analysis of the functional capacity of herbivorous fishes, in intact, degraded and human-modified systems, the research will explore the potential for restoring, or boosting, the capacity of reefs to withstand disturbance. The goal is to provide the scientific knowledge required to directly modify the key processes operating on coral reefs.