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

在一个几乎没有保存完好的珊瑚礁的世界里，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，而海洋养殖的进步为我们提供了饲养这些至关重要的珊瑚礁鱼类的能力。这项研究将结合人工饲养、实验操作和对完整、退化和人类改良系统中草食性鱼类功能能力的全球分析，探索恢复或提高珊瑚礁抵御干扰的能力的潜力。其目标是提供所需的科学知识，以便直接修改在珊瑚礁上作业的关键程序。

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.