Beauty and the reef: Evaluating the use of non-expert ratings for monitoring aesthetic values of coral reefs

International audienceUNESCO World Heritage sites are affected by global change. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is an iconic World Heritage site whose values for which the site was inscribed, including its natural beauty, are dramatically declining. However, there is currently no program or documented methods for long term monitoring of aesthetics for coral reefs. Here, Here, we quantified and assessed the drivers of the GBR aesthetic value perception form a survey of 1,417 individuals who rated 181 photos on a 10-point scale for their level of attractiveness. Each photo was rated at least 380 times. Coral topography, fish abundance and visibility were positively correlated with aesthetic ratings. Older people and those with interest in coral reefs and who dived on the reef rated photos more highly. Reporting on aesthetic values of the UNESCO Whorld Heritage Sites will become increasingly as declines in their ecological state continue