Assessing the effects of sediments and nutrients on coral reefs

There is an enormous literature on the effects of sediments and nutrients on reefs. Until recently, there were few clear guidelines that could easily be used by management to alleviate these stresses.Recent progress in our understanding of watershed dynamics has brought us much closer to being able to manage catchments so as to minimize sediment stress. Timing is everything—onset of sediment pulses, wave setup—and resuspension is key.There now …