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Journal articles on the topic 'Coral reef'
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1
Sutthacheep, Makamas, Charernmee Chamchoy, Sittiporn Pengsakun, Wanlaya Klinthong, and Thamasak Yeemin. "Assessing the Resilience Potential of Inshore and Offshore Coral Communities in the Western Gulf of Thailand." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 7, no. 11 (November 11, 2019): 408. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse7110408.
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Coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand have experienced severe coral bleaching events and anthropogenic disturbances during the last two decades. This study assessed the resilience potential of coral communities at Ko Losin offshore reef sites and Mu Ko Chumphon nearshore coral reefs, in the south of Thailand, by conducting field surveys on the live coral cover, hard substratum composition and diversity and density of juvenile corals. Most study sites had higher percentages of live coral cover compared to dead coral cover. Some inshore and offshore reef sites showed low resilience to coral bleaching events. The total densities of juvenile corals at the study sites were in the range of 0.89–3.73 colonies/m2. The density of the juvenile corals at most reef sites was not dependent on the live coral cover of adult colonies in a reef, particularly for the Acropora communities. We suggest that Ko Losin should be established as a marine protected area, and Mu Ko Chumphon National Park should implement its management plans properly to enhance coral recovery and promote marine ecotourism. Other measures, such as shading, should be also applied at some coral reefs during bleaching periods.
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Mwaura, Jelvas M., Dishon Murage, Juliet F. Karisa, Levy M. Otwoma, and Hashim O. Said. "Artificial reef structures and coral transplantation as potential tools for enhancing locally-managed inshore reefs: a case study from Wasini Island, Kenya." Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 21, no. 2 (February 27, 2023): 83–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wiojms.v21i2.8.
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Many severely degraded reefs in the western Indian Ocean region show no signs of natural recovery and have remained for decades as barren, unconsolidated coral rubble fields with depleted commercially important fish groups. Consequently, several restoration techniques have been designed and developed to mitigate the localized impacts on coral reefs. Evaluating the efficacy of combined use of artificial reef structures and coral transplantation in enhancing habitat and recovery of key functions in severely degraded reefs is key to improved conservation of coral reefs. In this study, the survivorship rate of corals transplanted on reef structures is assessed, and changes in coral and fish abundance on artificial reef units and nearby natural reefs over time are compared. Coral cover on artificial reef structures increased from a mean of 17 % one year after initial attachment of fragments to 41 % after two years, with Acropora corals providing the highest cover. The artificial reef structures were also rapidly colonized by reef fish, with fish densities of 18±13 indiv./100 m2 showing an increase of about three fold higher than on natural reefs after two years. Greater numbers of commercially important fish groups (e.g., Lutjanids and Acanthurids) were observed on artificial reefs while natural reefs harboured more small sized fish (Pomacentrids and Labrids). These findings provide insights for artificial reef projects that are capable of restoring the regenerative capacity of the human-induced coral rubble beds.
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Aulia, Qinthan Azzahra, and Ni Wayan Purnama Sari. "CORAL BLEACHING, KARANG HIDUP ATAU MATI?" OSEANA 45, no. 2 (October 27, 2020): 13–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.14203/oseana.2020.vol.45no.2.55.
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Coral reef ecosystem is one of the coastal marine ecosystems in tropical waters. Coral reef ecosystems are vulnerable to damage mainly due to environmental factors. A fairly popular event of coral reef damage is coral bleaching. Mass coral bleaching is generally caused by changes in Sea Surface Temperature (SST). The condition of corals that have bleaching is different from the condition of corals that have died. The recovery process from coral bleaching phenomena can be effectively carried out if the surrounding environment is supportive and sea surface temperature return stable. The phenomenon of coral bleaching is a real indicator of the environmental stresses that occur on coral reefs. This paper will explain about coral bleaching, the factors that cause coral bleaching, and whether the bleaching coral reefs mean alive or dead.
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Bramasta, Arrico Fathur Yudha, Munasik Munasik, and Dwi Haryanti. "Feeding habit and Predation Selectivity of Reef Fish Chaetodon octofasciatus in Artificial Patch Reef and Natural Reef of Panjang Island, Jepara." Jurnal Kelautan Tropis 27, no. 3 (October 30, 2024): 545–52. https://doi.org/10.14710/jkt.v27i3.21731.
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Chaetodon octofasciatus is a species of fish in the Chaetodontidae family, commonly known as an indicator fish in the reef ecosystem as the frequency of its appearance in the wild can interfere with the state of the coral reef ecosystem in the waters. Panjang Island is located in Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia, in which one method of coral reef ecosystem rehabilitation in a a form of Artificial Patch Reef (APR) has been implemented. This study aims to investigate the levels of C. octofasciatus predation on corals in the APR and Natural reef of Panjang Island. We used the LIT (Line Intercept Transect) to measure the density of coral reefs at both locations. The abundance of C. octofasciatus was calculated using the Belt Transect method, while selectivity and bite ratio was observed and counted every 5 minutes. The results shows that C. octofasciatus from natural reefs have the highest predation rate (185 bites/5 min) and mostly eat the coral with lifeform massive while the ones from APR shows 144 bites/5 min and mostly eat the coral with lifeform Acropora branching. This selectivity could be due to the availability of corals in both areas. While massive corals were highly available in the natural reefs, branchich corals esp. Acropora is mostly planted in the APR. A more diverse coral lifeform in the natural reef also showed the type of corals that are less selected by C. octofasciatus such as submassive corals and Acropora tabulate, as well as corals with the foliose life form.
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Wild, Christian, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Malik S. Naumann, M. Florencia Colombo-Pallotta, Mebrahtu Ateweberhan, William K. Fitt, Roberto Iglesias-Prieto, et al. "Climate change impedes scleractinian corals as primary reef ecosystem engineers." Marine and Freshwater Research 62, no. 2 (2011): 205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf10254.
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Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on our planet. Scleractinian corals function as the primary reef ecosystem engineers, constructing the framework that serves as a habitat for all other coral reef-associated organisms. However, the coral’s engineering role is particularly susceptible to global climate change. Ocean warming can cause extensive mass coral bleaching, which triggers dysfunction of major engineering processes. Sub-lethal bleaching results in the reduction of both primary productivity and coral calcification. This may lead to changes in the release of organic and inorganic products, thereby altering critical biogeochemical and recycling processes in reef ecosystems. Thermal stress-induced bleaching and subsequent coral mortality, along with ocean acidification, further lead to long-term shifts in benthic community structure, changes in topographic reef complexity, and the modification of reef functioning. Such shifts may cause negative feedback loops and further modification of coral-derived inorganic and organic products. This review emphasises the critical role of scleractinian corals as reef ecosystem engineers and highlights the control of corals over key reef ecosystem goods and services, including high biodiversity, coastal protection, fishing, and tourism. Thus, climate change by impeding coral ecosystem engineers will impair the ecosystem functioning of entire reefs.
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Steneck, Robert S., and Rubén Torres. "Trends in Dominican Republic Coral Reef Biodiversity 2015–2022." Diversity 15, no. 3 (March 8, 2023): 389. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15030389.
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In 2015, we initiated a country-wide coral reef ecosystem-monitoring program in the Dominican Republic (DR) to establish biodiversity baselines against which trends in the most important components of coral reef ecosystem’s structure and function could be tracked. Replicate transects were set at a 10 m depth at each of the 12 coral reef sites within 6 DR regions in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022. We quantified the species-level abundances of adult and juvenile corals, reef fishes, sea urchins, lionfishes, and algal functional groups. Country-wide, coral cover and reef fishes have declined. The steepest declines occurred for reefs that had been among the best in the Caribbean in 2015. However, by 2022, adult and juvenile coral, parrotfish, and other herbivores had declined, and macroalgae had increased. The declines in north-shore coral abundance corresponded with the observed disturbances from coral bleaching, hurricanes, and disease. The capacity of reefs to recover from such disturbances has been compromised by abundant and increasing macroalgae that have likely contributed to north-shore declines in juvenile corals. Country-wide, the abundance of all reef fish species has declined below those of other regions of the Caribbean. Improved management of fishing pressure on coral reefs would likely yield positive results.
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Karnan, Karnan. "Impact of Coral Bleaching on Coral Reef Fishes in Sekotong Bay, West Lombok Regency." Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA 8, no. 6 (December 25, 2022): 2670–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v8i6.1576.
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Coral reef fish is one of the main components making up the ecosystem of coral reefs. There is a strong mutual dependence between reef-forming corals and fish that inhabit coral reefs. Various fish species use coral as a food source and habitat. This article describes the impact of coral bleaching on the diversity, density, and biomass of coral reef fish in the waters of Sekotong Bay, West Lombok. Underwater visual census (UVC) methods are used to obtain data on species, the number of individuals per species, and fish size at transect length 70 meters and width 5 meters. Simple linear regression analysis that is used to assess the impact of coral bleaching on the condition of coral reef fish shows that coral bleaching affects the diversity and density of reef fish. This analysis also showed that coral bleaching affected herbivorous fish biomass but not carnivorous fish. This study concludes that the degradation of coral fish in the Sekotong Bay of West Lombok occurs due to various factors, especially the declining health conditions of coral reefs
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Clark, Vanessa, Matheus A. Mello-Athayde, and Sophie Dove. "Colonies of Acropora formosa with greater survival potential have reduced calcification rates." PLOS ONE 17, no. 6 (June 9, 2022): e0269526. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269526.
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Coral reefs are facing increasingly devasting impacts from ocean warming and acidification due to anthropogenic climate change. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, potential solutions have focused either on reducing light stress during heating, or on the potential for identifying or engineering “super corals”. A large subset of these studies, however, have tended to focus primarily on the bleaching response of corals, and assume erroneously that corals that bleach earlier in a thermal event die first. Here, we explore how survival, observable bleaching, coral skeletal growth (as branch extension and densification), and coral tissue growth (protein and lipid concentrations) varies for conspecifics collected from distinctive reef zones at Heron Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. A reciprocal transplantation experiment was undertaken using the dominant reef building coral (Acropora formosa) between the highly variable reef flat and the less variable reef slope environments. Coral colonies originating from the reef flat had higher rates of survival and amassed greater protein densities but calcified at reduced rates compared to conspecifics originating from the reef slope. The energetics of both populations however potentially benefited from greater light intensity present in the shallows. Reef flat origin corals moved to the lower light intensity of the reef slope reduced protein density and calcification rates. For A. formosa, genetic differences, or long-term entrainment to a highly variable environment, appeared to promote coral survival at the expense of calcification. The response decouples coral survival from carbonate coral reef resilience, a response that was further exacerbated by reductions in irradiance. As we begin to discuss interventions necessitated by the CO2 that has already been released into the atmosphere, we need to prioritise our focus on the properties that maintain valuable carbonate ecosystems. Rapid and dense calcification by corals such as branching Acropora is essential to the ability of carbonate coral reefs to rebound following disturbance events and maintain 3D structure but may be the first property that is sacrificed to enable coral genet survival under stress.
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Najmi, Nurul, Ananingtyas S. Darmarini, Nanda Muhammad Razi, Mai Suriani, and Samsul Kahar. "The Current Condition of Coral Reef and Fish Diversity in Gosong Island, Southwest Aceh." Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan 15, no. 1 (January 27, 2023): 57–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.20473/jipk.v15i1.35917.
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Highlight Research The current condition coverage percentage of coral reefs in the waters of Gosong Island was 55% Percentage of dead coral with algae founded on Gosong Island is 28% On Gosong Island there are 11 families, namely Acroporidae, Agariciidae, Faviidae, Fungiidae, Merulinidae , Mussidae, Dendrophylliidae, Oculinidae, Pectiniidae, Pocilloporidae and Poritidae Abstract The coral reef ecosystem is an important ecosystem; its existence has a very close relationship with the surrounding ecosystem and the reef fish community. The direct and indirect dependence of reef fish on coral reefs has become an important issue at the national and international levels. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of coral reef ecosystem conditions, the percentage of coral growth, identify the types of coral reefs, and the diversity of reef fish species on Gosong Island, Southwest Aceh. Coral reef biophysical characteristics were collected by measuring water quality, calculating the percentage of coral coverage using the Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method, and the abundance of reef fish using the Underwater Fish Visual Census (UFVC) method. The condition of average percentage of coral reefs in the waters of Gosong Island was in a good category (55%), found as many as 31 genera of hard corals included in the line transect. The percentage of base substrate that dominates other than live coral is dead coral with algae (DCA) of 28%. The average abundance of reef fish in Gosong Island waters is 11,260 ind/ha with an average reef fish biomass of 2074,095 kg/yield. The water quality results show good conditions for coral growth in location. Based on the analysis of the structure of the fish community found in the coral reef area, the results showed good results, so the research location became a good habitat for various types of fish associated with coral reef ecosystems on Gosong Island
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Oren, Asa, Ofer Berman, Reem Neri, Ezri Tarazi, Haim Parnas, Offri Lotan, Majeed Zoabi, Noam Josef, and Nadav Shashar. "Three-Dimensional-Printed Coral-like Structures as a Habitat for Reef Fish." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11, no. 4 (April 21, 2023): 882. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse11040882.
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Coral reefs are three-dimensional biogenic structures that provide habitat for plenty of marine organisms; yet, coral reefs are deteriorating worldwide. Hence, it is essential to identify suitable substitutes for such coral services. This study examines reef fishes’ behavior and reactions to three-dimensional-printed (3DP) corals based on scanned Stylophora pistillata, as well as modified 3DP models. In particular, fishes’ unresponsiveness to the color, shape, morphology, and material of 3DP models both in vitro and in situ experiments was investigated. Coral reef fishes responded to the 3DP corals and demonstrated their usage in a range of services. Moreover, a greater number of fish species interacted more with 3DP models than they did with live corals. Furthermore, specific reef fish species, such as Sea Goldies (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), showed a preference for specific 3DP coral color, and other species demonstrated preferences for specific 3DP model shapes. The current study results show that three-dimensional-printed coral models can substitute for live corals for certain types of reef fish services.
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Pangestu, Aulia Dharma Nusa, Dwi Budi Wiyanto, I. Gusti Bagus Sila Dharma, and Elok Faiqoh. "Analisis Kesehatan Terumbu Karang Berdasarkan Kelimpahan Ikan Herbivora Di Perairan Labuan Bajo." Journal of Marine and Aquatic Sciences 9, no. 1 (June 1, 2023): 135. http://dx.doi.org/10.24843/jmas.2023.v09.i01.p14.
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Coral reef ecosystem is one of the ecosystems located in coastal areas which has a very important role for the community, both economically and ecologically. Rock or scleractinian corals are the main building blocks of coral reef ecosystems. The connectivity of coral reef ecosystems with other ecosystems has a very large influence on the life cycle of reef fish such as spawning, rearing, foraging, and sheltering places. Herbivorous fish are that eat turf algae or macroalgae that inhibit the recruitment of new corals. Labuan Bajo is one of the tourism destinations in Indonesia, especially marine tourism. Coral reefs in Labuan Bajo cover 10.8% of the total area of coral reefs in Indonesia located in Nusa Tenggara. The purpose of this study was to determine the health of coral reefs in the waters of Labuan Bajo. This research will be carried out from September to October 2021. The coral reef data collection method used is the Underwater Photo Transect (UPT), and for reef fish is using the Underwater Visual Census (UVC) method. Based on the research results, the percentage of hard coral is 20.16% of the total stations and rubble is 32.24%. The abundance of fish in Labuan Bajo waters ranges from 1608.89 - 4600.00 ind/ha, where the average abundance is 2919.78 ind/ha. All stations got a health index value of 3, this is indicated by the low coral cover, high coral resilience, and low herbivorous fish biomass obtained.
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Bessell-Browne, Pia, Hannah E. Epstein, Nora Hall, Patrick Buerger, and Kathryn Berry. "Severe Heat Stress Resulted in High Coral Mortality on Maldivian Reefs following the 2015–2016 El Niño Event." Oceans 2, no. 1 (March 3, 2021): 233–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/oceans2010014.
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Coral cover worldwide has been declining due to heat stress caused by climate change. Here we report the impacts of the 2015–2016 El Niño mass coral bleaching event on the coral cover of reefs located on central and northern atolls of the Maldives. We surveyed six reef sites in the Alifu Alifu (Ari) and Baa (South Maalhosmadulu) Atolls using replicate 20 m benthic photo transects at two depths per reef site. Live and recently dead coral cover identified from images differed between reef sites and depth. Recently dead corals on average made up 33% of the coral assemblage at shallow sites and 24% at deep sites. This mortality was significantly lower in massive corals than in branching corals, reaching an average of only 6% compared to 41%, respectively. The best predictors of live coral cover were depth and morphology, with a greater percentage of live coral at deep sites and in massive corals. The same predictors best described the prevalence of recently dead coral, but showed inverse trends to live coral. However, there was high variability among reef sites, which could be attributed to additional local stressors. Coral bleaching and resulting coral mortalities, such as the ones reported here, are of particular concern for small island nations like the Maldives, which are reliant on coral reefs.
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Subhan, Subhan, Anung Wijaya, Ishaq Warsandi, La Ode Musni, Baso Amrullah, Jupri Jupri, Indri Maharani Tenriabeng, and Muhammad Ahmi Husein. "KONDISI TERUMBU KARANG DAN KOMUNITAS IKAN PADA AREA PENCADANGAN KAWASAN KONSERVASI DAERAH (KKD) WATUPUTE, KABUPATEN KOLAKA UTARA." Jurnal Sapa Laut (Jurnal Ilmu Kelautan) 7, no. 2 (November 21, 2022): 129. http://dx.doi.org/10.33772/jsl.v7i3.28644.
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Data and information about the coral reefs' condition and fish are essential in planning a marine protected area (MPA). This study aims to provide an overview of the condition of coral reefs and the community structure of reef fish in terms of species distribution, density, and biomass in the Watupute waters – Kolaka Regency. The Point Intercept Transect is used to collect data on the condition of coral reefs and the underwater visual census for observing reef fish communities. The condition of the corals in the Watupute reserve area is generally moderate. Regarding the presence of reef fish communities, areas with higher live coral cover had higher density, number of species, size, and biomass. This area is reasonable to be recommended as a core zone in the design of MPA zonation.Keywords: coral reef, reef fish, marine protected area
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Lin, Chiahsin. "International Symposium on New Frontiers in Reef Coral Biotechnology (5 May 2022, Taiwan)." Applied Sciences 12, no. 11 (June 6, 2022): 5758. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app12115758.
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Given the global threats towards coral reefs, this conference’s central theme, “Reef coral biotechnology”, is particularly timely. Our goal is to promote communication and dialogue in this field among marine researchers within and outside of Taiwan, and we have invited experts in the fields of coral reef ecology, physiology, conservation, and biotechnology to discuss their recent findings with a cadre of both local and foreign scientists, as well as students (undergraduate, Master’s, and Ph.D. students). We envision that these presentations will segue into discussions and collaborations that stimulate innovation in reef coral biotechnology, and particularly in the development of tools and approaches that improve the odds of conserving coral reefs and biopreserving reef corals.
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Rogers, Caroline S. "Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity." ISRN Oceanography 2013 (February 17, 2013): 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2013/739034.
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Irrefutable evidence of coral reef degradation worldwide and increasing pressure from rising seawater temperatures and ocean acidification associated with climate change have led to a focus on reef resilience and a call to “manage” coral reefs for resilience. Ideally, global action to reduce emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be accompanied by local action. Effective management requires reduction of local stressors, identification of the characteristics of resilient reefs, and design of marine protected area networks that include potentially resilient reefs. Future research is needed on how stressors interact, on how climate change will affect corals, fish, and other reef organisms as well as overall biodiversity, and on basic ecological processes such as connectivity. Not all reef species and reefs will respond similarly to local and global stressors. Because reef-building corals and other organisms have some potential to adapt to environmental changes, coral reefs will likely persist in spite of the unprecedented combination of stressors currently affecting them. The biodiversity of coral reefs is the basis for their remarkable beauty and for the benefits they provide to society. The extraordinary complexity of these ecosystems makes it both more difficult to predict their future and more likely they will have a future.
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Moriarty, Tess, William Leggat, Scott F. Heron, Rosemary Steinberg, and Tracy D. Ainsworth. "Bleaching, mortality and lengthy recovery on the coral reefs of Lord Howe Island. The 2019 marine heatwave suggests an uncertain future for high-latitude ecosystems." PLOS Climate 2, no. 4 (April 12, 2023): e0000080. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000080.
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Oceanic thermal anomalies are increasing in both frequency and strength, causing detrimental impacts to coral reef communities. Water temperatures beyond the corals optimum threshold causeing coral bleaching and mass mortality, impacting our global coral reef ecosystems, including marginal high-latitude reefs. Coral bleaching and mortality were observed at the southernmost coral reef, Lord Howe Island Marine Park, during the summer of 2019, coinciding with anomalously high sea surface temperatures across the reef system from January-April. Here we document the extent of coral impacts within the Lord Howe Island lagoonal reef and the recovery from bleaching eight-months later. Significant differences in bleaching prevalence were observed across the lagoonal coral reef, ranging from 16 to 83% across offshore and inshore reef regions and with variable onset timing. Coral mortality of up to 40% was recorded in the reef’s most severely impacted near-shore area. The four most dominant species, Stylophora pistillata, Pocillopora damicornis, Porites spp. and Seriatopora hystrix, were the most susceptible to bleaching, with all coral colonies found either bleached or dead at the most affected inshore site during and following peak heat stress. Interestingly, during the eight-months following bleaching, there was no evidence of bleaching recovery (i.e., re-establishment of symbiosis) at the offshore lagoonal site. However, there was a significant increase in the abundance of healthy coral colonies at the inshore site, suggesting the recovery of the surviving bleached corals at this site. Importantly, we found no evidence for bleaching or mortality in the Acropora spp. and minimal bleaching and no mortality in Isopora cuneata during the study period, typically highly susceptible species. Given the isolation of high-latitude reefs such as Lord Howe Island, our results highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of bleaching, mortality and bleaching recovery on coral population structure and resilience of high-latitude coral reefs.
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AMPOU, Eghbert Elvan, Rinny RAHMANIA, Rizki HANINTYO, Novia Arinda PRADISTY, and Widodo SETIYO PRANOWO. "THE POTENTIAL USE OF CORAL REEF HABITAT MAPPING IN SUPPORTING ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN LOMBOK, INDONESIA." International Journal of Conservation Science 15, no. 4 (December 15, 2024): 1921–30. https://doi.org/10.36868/ijcs.2024.04.22.
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Many studies related to marine ecotourism and coral reefs have been carried out in several locations in Indonesia. In TWP Gitanada, West Lombok, NTB coral reef habitat inventory and mapping was conducted in June 2021 by using Sentinel 2A satellite imagery and field observation. Geomorphologically, the TWP Gitanada area consisted of fringing reefs made of reef flat, fore reef/reef crest, reef slope, reef wall,and patch reef. The coral reef area is 450 ha and consists of > 200 types of coral reef benthic habitat, dominated by scleractinian corals (Acropora, Montipora, Porites and their associations with less dominant genera). All coral reef habitat data is presented here in a format which is suitable to attract the attention of visitors or tourists in understanding and supporting ecotourism development, which uses TWP Gitanada as a general case study which is relevant for all marine conservation and potential marine conservation throughout Indonesia. The information is helpful to identify which areas could be prioritized for conservation under the criteria of habitat richness or for further development by relevant stakeholders.
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Randall, CJ, AP Negri, KM Quigley, T. Foster, GF Ricardo, NS Webster, LK Bay, PL Harrison, RC Babcock, and AJ Heyward. "Sexual production of corals for reef restoration in the Anthropocene." Marine Ecology Progress Series 635 (February 6, 2020): 203–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps13206.
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Coral-reef ecosystems are experiencing frequent and severe disturbance events that are reducing global coral abundance and potentially overwhelming the natural capacity for reefs to recover. While mitigation strategies for climate warming and other anthropogenic disturbances are implemented, coral restoration programmes are being established worldwide as an additional conservation measure to minimise coral loss and enhance coral recovery. Current restoration efforts predominantly rely on asexually produced coral fragments—a process with inherent practical constraints on the genetic diversity conserved and the spatial scale achieved. Because the resilience of coral communities has hitherto relied on regular renewal with natural recruits, the scaling-up of restoration programmes would benefit from greater use of sexually produced corals, which is an approach that is gaining momentum. Here we review the present state of knowledge of scleractinian coral sexual reproduction in the context of reef restoration, with a focus on broadcast-spawning corals. We identify key knowledge gaps and bottlenecks that currently constrain the sexual production of corals and consider the feasibility of using sexually produced corals for scaling-up restoration to the reef- and reef-system scales.
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Lillis, Ashlee, Amy Apprill, Justin J. Suca, Cynthia Becker, Joel K. Llopiz, and T. Aran Mooney. "Soundscapes influence the settlement of the common Caribbean coral Porites astreoides irrespective of light conditions." Royal Society Open Science 5, no. 12 (December 2018): 181358. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181358.
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The settlement of reef-building corals is critical to the survival and recovery of reefs. Recent evidence indicates that coral larvae orient towards reef sound, yet the components of the acoustic environment that may attract coral larvae and induce settlement are unknown. Here we investigated the effects of ambient soundscapes on settlement of Porites astreoides coral larvae using in situ chambers on reefs differing in habitat quality (coral and fish abundance). Mean larval settlement was twice as high in an acoustic environment with high levels of low-frequency sounds, typical of a high-quality, healthy reef; this result was observed in both natural light and dark treatments. Overall, the enhancement of coral settlement by soundscapes typical of healthy reefs suggests a positive feedback where soundscape properties of reefs with elevated coral and fish abundance may facilitate coral recruitment.
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Stahl, Florian, Selma D. Mezger, Valentina Migani, Marko Rohlfs, Victoria J. Fahey, Eike Schoenig, and Christian Wild. "Recent and rapid reef recovery around Koh Phangan Island, Gulf of Thailand, driven by plate-like hard corals." PeerJ 11 (November 9, 2023): e16115. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16115.
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Mass bleaching events and local anthropogenic influences have changed the benthic communities of many coral reefs with pronounced spatial differences that are linked to resilience patterns. The Gulf of Thailand is an under-investigated region with only few existing datasets containing long-term developments of coral reef communities using the same method at fixed sites. We thus analyzed benthic community data from seven reefs surrounding the island of Koh Phangan collected between 2014 and 2022. Findings revealed that the average live hard coral cover around Koh Phangan increased from 37% to 55% over the observation period, while turf algae cover decreased from 52% to 29%, indicating some recovery of local reefs. This corresponds to a mean increased rate of coral cover by 2.2% per year. The increase in live hard coral cover was mainly driven by plate-like corals, which quadrupled in proportion over the last decade from 7% to 28% while branching corals decreased in proportion from 9% to 2%. Furthermore, the hard coral genus richness increased, indicating an increased hard coral diversity. While in other reefs, increasing live hard coral cover is often attributed to fast-growing, branching coral species, considered more susceptible to bleaching and other disturbances, the reefs around Koh Phangan recovered mainly via growth of plate-like corals, particularly of the genus Montipora. Although plate-like morphologies are not necessarily more bleaching tolerant, they are important for supporting reef fish abundance and structural complexity on reefs, aiding reef recovery and sturdiness. Hence, our findings indicate that the intensity of local stressors around Kho Phangan allows reef recovery driven by some hard coral species.
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Asner, Gregory P., Sonja F. Giardina, Christopher Balzotti, Crawford Drury, Sean Hopson, and Roberta E. Martin. "Are Sunken Warships Biodiversity Havens for Corals?" Diversity 14, no. 2 (February 16, 2022): 139. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d14020139.
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Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, overfishing, and pollution. Artificial reefs may provide havens for corals, both to escape warming surface waters and to assist in the geographic migration of corals to more habitable natural reef conditions of the future. The largest artificial reefs have been generated by nearly 2000 shipwrecks around the world, but the coral diversity on these wrecks is virtually unknown. Ship size and hull material, location relative to natural reef, time since sinking, ocean currents, and water depth may affect coral diversity. As a test of the biodiversity capacity of very large sunken structures relative to surrounding natural reef, we carried out technical diver-based surveys to quantify genus-level coral diversity on 29 warships sunk in Bikini Atoll and Chuuk Lagoon. We also assessed whether ship length, as an index of substrate availability, and water depth, as an indicator of light and temperature, can serve as predictors of coral diversity. We surveyed a total of 9105 scleractinian corals. The total number of genera identified at Bikini was 34, and at Chuuk it was 51, representing 67% and 72% of genera found on natural reefs at Bikini and Chuuk, respectively. Ship length, but not water depth, was positively correlated with relative abundance and richness at the genus level. Our results suggest that very large wrecks can serve as havens for reef-building corals with a broad genetic diversity, expressed at the genus level, commensurate with corals found on neighboring natural reefs. The role of large artificial reefs could include protecting coral biodiversity from warming surface waters.
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Davis Reimer, James, Ritzelle L. Albelda, Piera Biondi, Eko Hardianto, Shuyin Huang, Giovanni Diego Masucci, Sherry Lyn G. Sayco, Hin Boo Wee, and Yafan Zhu. "LITERATURE REVIEW OF CORAL REEF RESTORATION IN AND AROUND THE CORAL TRIANGLE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY." Arquivos de Ciências do Mar 55, Especial (March 21, 2022): 413–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.32360/acmar.v55iespecial.78183.
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The coral reefs of the Coral Triangle and nearby marine regions are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, providing ecosystem services to hundreds of millions of people. However, like coral reefs in other regions, these ecosystems are in decline due to a myriad of anthropogenically-induced stressors. To mitigate this decline, active coral reef restoration efforts have been increasing worldwide, including in this region. An important end-goal of coral reef restoration is the conservation of functional biodiversity of not only zooxanthellate scleractinian corals, but of all associated coral reef organisms. In this literature review, we collected papers from the Web of Science (1995-2021) focused specifically on coral reef restoration from six countries and regions around the Coral Triangle (Japan, Taiwan, mainland China, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia) to examine how much coral reef restoration research has been performed in each area, when it was performed, what methodologies were used, what organisms were targeted, and whether any assessment of biodiversity was included. Our results show great disparity in the research efforts of each area, with the Philippines clearly leading research in the region with almost half of the literature examined, followed by Japan and Indonesia, with nascent efforts in mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Overall, for the region, research appears to be increasing with time. Research in most areas was concentrated in one or two locations, and almost exclusively focused only on corals. Only approximately 38% of papers mentioned biodiversity in any manner, and only 14% included organisms other than scleractinian corals in their results. It is clear from this review that extensive research and data gaps exist regarding coral reef restoration in the western Pacific and Coral Triangle, particularly from the viewpoint of biodiversity. It is hoped that research can address these gaps before coral reef ecosystems in the region decline even further.
Keywords: coral reef ecosystems, knowledge gaps, East Asia, South-East Asia, Indo-Pacific.
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Elliott, Jennifer A., Mark R. Patterson, Caroline G. Staub, Meera Koonjul, and Stephen M. Elliott. "Decline in coral cover and flattening of the reefs around Mauritius (1998–2010)." PeerJ 6 (November 29, 2018): e6014. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6014.
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Coral reefs are degrading through the impacts of multiple anthropogenic stressors. How are coral reef communities going to change and how to protect them for future generations are important conservation questions. Using coral reef data from Mauritius, we examined changes in cover in 23 benthic groups for a 13-yr period and at 15 sites. Moreover, we determined which land-based stressor out of four (human population, agriculture, tourism, rainfall) correlated the most with the observed changes in coral reef cover. Among the stony corals, Acropora corals appeared to be the most impacted, decreasing in cover at many sites. However, the non-Acropora encrusting group increased in cover at several sites. The increase in abundance of dead corals and rubble at some sites also supported the observations of stony coral decline during the study period. Additionally, the decline in stony corals appeared to be more pronounced in second half of the study period for all sites suggesting that a global factor rather than a local factor was responsible for this decline. There was little change in cover for the other benthic groups, some of which were quite rare. Human population was significantly correlated with changes in coral reef cover for 11 sites, followed by tourism and agriculture. Rainfall, a proxy for runoff, did not appear to affect coral reef cover. Overall, our results showed that there has been a decline of stony coral cover especially the ones with complex morphologies, which in turn suggest that coral reefs around Mauritius have experienced a decline in habitat complexity during the study period. Our study also suggests that humans are an important factor contributing to the demise of coral reefs around the island.
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SCHULZ, MICHAŁ, ALEKSANDRA ŁOŚ, PATRYCJA SKOWRONEK, and ANETA STRACHECKA. "Prominence of environmental and anthropogenic agents on the occurrence of coral reef bleaching syndrome and coral diseases." Medycyna Weterynaryjna 74, no. 10 (2024): 6139–2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.21521/mw.6139.
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Coral reefs are the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They ensure the conservation of biodiversity and are a live habitat for 25% of all marine organisms. The main relationship on the coral reef is the symbiosis between corals and algae from the genus Symbiodinium (commonly called zooxanthellae). The authors of this publication have characterized and described the factors limiting the occurrence of coral reefs, including: water temperature, salinity, access to sunlight, contamination, physicochemical and hydromechanical parameters of water. Moreover anthropogenic threats to coral reefs have been specified, including diving tourism, ecological disasters (e.g. oil spills) and the development of marine aquaristics. Rapid changes in the basic living conditions are dangerous for corals and their symbionts and may cause the unsuitability of the new environment resulting in diseases such as coral bleaching. Corals bleaching is a disease associated with the break of the coral and algae relationship which results in a coral reef death on a global scale. Awareness of these negative factors, often related to human activity, may allow us to better understand the ecological processes that are the basis of reef functioning and might enable us to prevent and oppose to the changes and ecological recessions of coral reefs.
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Giyanto, Giyanto, Manogar Siringoringo Rikoh, Abrar Muhammad, Bambang Hermanto, Aryono Hadi Tri, Satriya Utama Rizkie, Purnama Sari Ni Wayan, and Alifatri La Ode. "The reef health index for coral reefs management in Indonesia." BIO Web of Conferences 70 (2023): 03002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20237003002.
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The Indonesian coral reef faced significant challenges due to the lack of precise instruments for assessing the health status of corals, which is crucial for ensuring their long-term viability. The reef health index was established by utilizing extensive monitoring data from Indonesia, incorporating metrics such as live coral cover, resilience level, and biomass of the focal reef fish species. In the year 2021, a comprehensive collection of coral reef data was conducted at 22 distinct places within the waters of Indonesia. It is anticipated that the reef health index data will assist stakeholders in effectively and sustainably managing coral reefs. The findings indicate that the reef health index in Indonesia exhibits a range of values from 2 to 7, with 7 being the highest attainable score. Since observations began in 2014, the Indonesian reef health index has maintained a stable value of 5. The available evidence suggests that there is an ongoing occurrence of coral reef degradation in Indonesian waters, as seen by the diminished biomass of the targeted reef fish species. Nevertheless, the potential for recovery of damaged coral reefs exists if the forces that initiate the damage can be mitigated or eradicated.
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Broadbent, Andrew, and Graham Jones. "Seasonal and Diurnal Cycles of Dimethylsulfide, Dimethylsulfoniopropionate and Dimethylsulfoxide at One Tree Reef Lagoon." Environmental Chemistry 3, no. 4 (2006): 260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/en06011.
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Environmental Context. Coral reefs have now been highlighted as significant sources of dimethylsulfide and other organic sulfur compounds, which may be important for the formation of clouds over the ocean and climate regulation. However, no studies have reported the seasonal and diurnal cycles of these organic sulfur substances in reef waters. This study describes the cycling of dimethylsulfide and related organic substances at One Tree Reef, in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as their production from staghorn coral in chamber experiments. The results suggest that coral reefs are significant sources of dimethylsulfide to reef waters and possibly the reef atmosphere, but the effect of this substance on the radiative climate over the Great Barrier Reef is unknown. Abstract. Seasonal and diurnal studies conducted at One Tree Reef lagoon in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) highlight increased production of dissolved dimethylsulfide, atmospheric dimethylsulfide, dissolved and particulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate, and dimethylsulfoxide during the summer months, and when the lagoon is moated with inter-reefal water. This production is due to both the growth of phytoplankton populations within the lagoon, and benthic corals and algae in or on sediments and attached to solid substrates. The relative importance of these two processes was not determined in this study, although benthic production from corals was shown to be significant in chamber experiments. The diurnal cycles of the organic sulfur substances measured at One Tree Reef provide unequivocal evidence that coral reefs produce significant quantities of these organic sulfur substances during the day and suggest that coral reefs could be significant sources of atmospheric dimethylsulfide.
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Pratiwi, Rianta. "STUDI TENTANG JENIS KRUSTASEA YANG HIDUP DI KARANG BATU DAN PERANANNYA DALAM EKOSISTEM TERUMBU KARANG." OSEANA 42, no. 1 (April 30, 2019): 45–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.14203/oseana.2017.vol.42no.1.38.
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STUDIES ON CRUSTACEANS SPECIES LIVING IN THE CORAL REEF AND THEIR ROLE IN ECOSYSTEM. Crustaceans are one of the most specis invertebrates in coral reefs, comprising approximately 20 % of all invertebrate species. This taxa often found clearly living in coral communities. The order Decapoda is the most common crustaceans observed the coral reefs due to their relatively large size and having bright colours. In addition, decapods contribute in the environmental balance and having important roles in coral reef ecosystem such as defending live coral from predators and helping growth of corals.
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Yates, K. K., C. S. Rogers, J. J. Herlan, G. R. Brooks, N. A. Smiley, and R. A. Larson. "Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change." Biogeosciences 11, no. 16 (August 19, 2014): 4321–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-4321-2014.
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Abstract. Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business-as-usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of reef structure. Management strategies include establishment of marine protected areas with environmental conditions that promote reef resiliency. However, few resilient reefs have been identified, and resiliency factors are poorly defined. Here we characterize the first natural, non-reef coral refuge from thermal stress and ocean acidification and identify resiliency factors for mangrove–coral habitats. We measured diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, salinity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and seawater chemistry; characterized substrate parameters; and examined water circulation patterns in mangrove communities where scleractinian corals are growing attached to and under mangrove prop roots in Hurricane Hole, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Additionally, we inventoried the coral species and quantified incidences of coral bleaching, mortality, and recovery for two major reef-building corals, Colpophyllia natans and Diploria labyrinthiformis, growing in mangrove-shaded and exposed (unshaded) areas. Over 30 species of scleractinian corals were growing in association with mangroves. Corals were thriving in low-light (more than 70% attenuation of incident PAR) from mangrove shading and at higher temperatures than nearby reef tract corals. A higher percentage of C. natans colonies were living shaded by mangroves, and no shaded colonies were bleached. Fewer D. labyrinthiformis colonies were shaded by mangroves, however more unshaded colonies were bleached. A combination of substrate and habitat heterogeneity, proximity of different habitat types, hydrographic conditions, and biological influences on seawater chemistry generate chemical conditions that buffer against ocean acidification. This previously undocumented refuge for corals provides evidence for adaptation of coastal organisms and ecosystem transition due to recent climate change. Identifying and protecting other natural, non-reef coral refuges is critical for sustaining corals and other reef species into the future.
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Yates, K. K., C. S. Rogers, J. J. Herlan, G. R. Brooks, N. A. Smiley, and R. A. Larson. "Mangrove habitats provide refuge from climate change for reef-building corals." Biogeosciences Discussions 11, no. 3 (March 31, 2014): 5053–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bgd-11-5053-2014.
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Abstract. Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business as usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of reef structure. Management strategies include establishment of marine protected areas with environmental conditions that promote reef resiliency. However, few resilient reefs have been identified, and resiliency factors are poorly defined. Here we characterize the first natural, non-reef, coral refuge from thermal stress and ocean acidification and identify resiliency factors for mangrove–coral habitats. We measured diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, salinity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and seawater chemistry; characterized substrate parameters; and examined water circulation patterns in mangrove communities where scleractinian corals are growing attached to and under mangrove prop roots in Hurricane Hole, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Additionally, we inventoried the coral species and quantified incidences of coral bleaching, mortality and recovery for two major reef-building corals, Colpophyllia natans and Diploria labyrinthiformis, growing in mangrove shaded and exposed (unshaded) areas. At least 33 species of scleractinian corals were growing in association with mangroves. Corals were thriving in low-light (more than 70% attenuation of incident PAR) from mangrove shading and at higher temperatures than nearby reef tract corals. A higher percentage of C. natans colonies was living shaded by mangroves, and no shaded colonies bleached. Fewer D. labyrinthiformis colonies were shaded by mangroves, however more unshaded colonies bleached. A combination of substrate and habitat heterogeniety, proximity of different habitat types, hydrographic conditions, and biological influences on seawater chemistry generate chemical conditions that buffer against ocean acidification. This previously undocumented refuge for corals provides evidence for adaptation of coastal organisms and ecosystem transition due to recent climate change. Identifying and protecting other natural, non-reef coral refuges is critical for sustaining corals and other reef species into the future.
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Sievers, Katie T., Eva C. McClure, Rene A. Abesamis, and Garry R. Russ. "Multi-Scale Coral Reef and Seascape Habitat Variables Combine to Influence Reef Fish Assemblages." Fishes 9, no. 4 (April 15, 2024): 137. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/fishes9040137.
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While benthic characteristics of coral reef habitats are a major driver of the structure of coral reef fish assemblages, non-reef habitats adjacent to coral reefs (e.g., mangroves, seagrass beds, and macroalgal beds) can affect reef fish assemblages. Here, we investigate how reef fish assemblages respond to local-scale benthic habitats within a coral reef and larger-scale adjacent seascape features (habitats within 500 m of coral reefs) on Siquijor Island in the Philippines. We examined an abundance of species for the entire reef fish assemblage and within the assemblages of parrotfishes (subfamily Scarinae) and wrasses (family Labridae). Five distinct habitat types were identified in a cluster analysis, which incorporated benthic characteristics within coral reefs and habitats adjacent to coral reefs. We found that the diversity and structure of coral reef fish assemblages were affected by benthic characteristics within coral reefs and also by benthic habitat types adjacent to coral reefs. Individual species responses and juveniles of certain species demonstrated uniquely high abundances in habitat clusters characterized by the non-reef habitats surrounding coral reefs. Considering coral reef habitats and adjacent non-reef habitats as a holistic, interconnected seascape will provide better estimations of the drivers of the structures of coral reef fish assemblages.
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Céspedes-Rodríguez, EC, and E. Londoño-Cruz. "Gross calcium carbonate production in Eastern Tropical Pacific coral reefs (Gorgona Island, Colombia)." Marine Ecology Progress Series 665 (April 29, 2021): 37–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps13643.
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The production and accumulation of carbonate reef framework is the positive component of reef development. The main organisms participating in this process are corals and crustose coralline algae (CCA) because their combined calcareous skeletons construct and help to consolidate reef frameworks. We assessed the contribution (i.e. gross production) of corals and CCA to the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) budget of the 2 largest and most developed reefs of Gorgona Island (Pacific coast of Colombia). On each zone (back reef [BR], reef flat [RP], reef front [RF], and reef slope [RS]) of these reefs, we measured substrate rugosity, coral (Pocillopora spp.) and CCA cover, colony density for corals, skeletal density for CCA, and growth rates for the estimation of CaCO3 production rates. Pocillopora spp. corals contributed 93.1% of the total carbonate production, while CCA supplied the remaining 6.9%. CaCO3 production was higher at Playa Blanca reef, although CaCO3 production in the RF of La Azufrada (12.31 kg m-2 yr-1) was higher in comparison to the RF at Playa Blanca (8.45 kg m-2 yr-1). Otherwise, CaCO3 production was higher in all other reef zones (BR, RP, RS) of Playa Blanca, although only significantly higher in the BR (2.25 kg m-2 yr-1 at Playa Blanca against 0.29 kg m-2 yr-1 at La Azufrada). The RF contributed the most CaCO3, mainly due to its high live coral cover and rapid coral growth. Although the contribution of CCA is low, they are key for reef stability. CaCO3 production rates reported here (2.86 and 3.80 kg m-2 yr-1 in La Azufrada and Playa Blanca, respectively) are within the limits reported for Eastern Tropical Pacific reefs, and raise hope for the continued existence of coral reefs in an era of increasing threats to this ecosystem.
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Denley, Danielle, Anna Metaxas, and Robert Scheibling. "Subregional variation in cover and diversity of hard coral (Scleractinia) in the Western Province, Solomon Islands following an unprecedented global bleaching event." PLOS ONE 15, no. 11 (November 11, 2020): e0242153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242153.
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Coral reefs are critically important marine ecosystems that are threatened worldwide by cumulative impacts of global climate change and local stressors. The Solomon Islands comprise the southwestern boundary of the Coral Triangle, the global center of coral diversity located in the Indo-Pacific, and represent a bright spot of comparatively healthy coral reef ecosystems. However, reports on the status of coral reefs in the Solomon Islands are based on monitoring conducted at 5 stations in 2003–2004 and 2006–2007, with no information on how corals in this region have responded to more recent global bleaching events and other local stressors. In this study, we compare reef condition (substrate composition) and function (taxonomic and morphological diversity of hard corals) among 15 reefs surveyed in the Western Province, Solomon Islands that span a range of local disturbance and conservation histories. Overall, we found high cover of live hard coral (15–64%) and diverse coral assemblages despite an unprecedented 36-month global bleaching event in the three years leading up to our surveys in 2018. However, there was significant variation in coral cover and diversity across the 15 reefs surveyed, suggesting that impacts of global disturbance events are moderated at smaller scales by local anthropogenic factors (fisheries extraction, land-use impacts, marine management) and environmental (hydrodynamics) conditions. Our study provides evidence that relatively healthy reefs persist at some locations in the Solomon Islands and that local stewardship practices have the potential to impact reef condition at subregional scales. As coral reef conservation becomes increasingly urgent in the face of escalating cumulative threats, prioritising sites for management efforts is critical. Based on our findings and the high dependency of Solomon Islanders on coral reef ecosystem services, we advocate that the Western Province, Solomon Islands be considered of high conservation priority.
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Zapalski, Mikołaj K., Andrew H. Baird, Tom Bridge, Michał Jakubowicz, and James Daniell. "Unusual shallow water Devonian coral community from Queensland and its recent analogues from the inshore Great Barrier Reef." Coral Reefs 40, no. 2 (February 4, 2021): 417–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-02048-9.
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AbstractPalaeozoic coral communities were dominated by two extinct coral groups: Tabulata and Rugosa. Whilst they are not closely related to modern Scleractinia, they are morphologically convergent, displaying many morphological characters that allow comparisons between recent and ancient coral reef communities. The extensive shallow-water reef communities of the Devonian were generally dominated by stromatoporoid sponges, with corals occupying deeper environments. Here, we describe an unusual, shallow water coral reef community from the Middle Devonian (Givetian, approx. 385 Ma) of the Fanning River area, Queensland, Australia. The coral community is dominated by tabulate corals, but also includes solitary and occasionally colonial rugose corals. Tabulate corals most commonly exhibit foliose and massive morphologies, but encrusting and branching growth forms also occur. The depositional environment was characterized by a shallow water depth, moderate hydrodynamic energy, high sedimentation rate, and high turbidity. Since these environmental factors influence the morphological composition of modern coral communities, we hypothesize that similar environments may result in morphologically equivalent coral assemblages throughout the Phanerozoic. To test this idea, we qualitatively compare the Fanning River reefs with modern scleractinian coral assemblages in a similar environmental setting at Magnetic Island. Both reefs are located in a shallow water less than 10 m deep, with high sediment flux, moderate wave energy, and generally high turbidity. Like Fanning River, Magnetic Island coral communities are dominated by foliose morphologies, with contributions from massive and branching forms. The Fanning River reef, together with previously identified Silurian and Devonian mesophotic coral ecosystems, suggest that Palaeozoic coral assemblages may share many functional characteristics with modern scleractinian reefs in similar environments. Therefore, the geological record of inshore, high turbidity-adapted coral communities can be traced back as far as 385 Ma.
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Abrahamsz, James, Sara Imelda Bothmir, and Alex S. W. Retraubun. "The Potential of coral reefs at Penambulai Island, Aru Islands Regency." BIOEDUPAT: Pattimura Journal of Biology and Learning 4, no. 1 (September 5, 2024): 165–71. https://doi.org/10.30598/bioedupat.v4.i1.pp165-171.
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Penambulai Island, one of the 676 islands in the Aru Islands Regency, is one of Indonesia's outermost small islands and has the status of a Certain National Strategic Area. The coral reefs on this island have been under pressure from human activities and climate influences. Research in the waters of Penambulai aims to analyze the potential of coral reefs. The research was conducted in August 2023. Data collection used the LIT method and data analysis used the English (1997) percent cover formula and the Standard criteria for coral reef damage and condition. The coral reefs around Penambulai Island are extensive, covering over 1,000 hectares. The majority of the reef area (73.76%) is comprised of living organisms, which is a good sign. Hard corals, a crucial reef-building organism, have a significant presence (42.04%). The reef exhibits high species diversity with 51 hard coral species belonging to various families and genera. Despite these positive aspects, the overall health of the coral reefs is considered "moderate" due to natural stressors.
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Widiastiti, Ni Made Ary, I. Wayan Arthana, and Ida Ayu Astarini. "STRATEGI PENGELOLAAN EKOSISTEM TERUMBU KARANG DI DAERAH WISATA AIR TANJUNG BENOA DAN JEMELUK AMED, BALI." ECOTROPHIC : Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan (Journal of Environmental Science) 15, no. 1 (June 2, 2021): 36. http://dx.doi.org/10.24843/ejes.2021.v15.i01.p04.
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Tanjung Benoa and Jemeluk Amed are two famous marine tourism sites in Bali. This study aims to determine the state of coral ecosystem in its life form, factors associated with coral damage, and the strategy to manage coral in those two area. We used two methods: Line Intercept Transect (LIT) and SWOT. The live coral coverage condition in Tanjung Benoa is in moderate and worse category. While the Jemeluk Amed is in moderate level and good condition, respectively. Factors causing damage to coral ecosystem are: the corals are under pressure, some corals are already bleaching, the anchoring activity and oil spill from ships, and algae. The coral reefs ecosystem in Tanjung Benoa and Jemeluk Amed can be sustained in good condition with government support and NGOs in the development of environmentally friendly activities and monitoring studies, implementation of coral reef preservation rules (prohibition of taking coral reefs) and colaboration of the community, government, and NGOs to carry out coral reef rehabilitation and monitoring studies. As one of the tourism area in Bali, the role of universities are needed for continuous research on the state of coral reefs to maintain environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism.Keywords: Coral reef; Life form; Strategy; Marine conservation.
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Huertas, Víctor, Renato A. Morais, Roberta M. Bonaldo, and David R. Bellwood. "Parrotfish corallivory on stress-tolerant corals in the Anthropocene." PLOS ONE 16, no. 9 (September 9, 2021): e0250725. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250725.
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Cumulative anthropogenic stressors on tropical reefs are modifying the physical and community structure of coral assemblages, altering the rich biological communities that depend on this critical habitat. As a consequence, new reef configurations are often characterized by low coral cover and a shift in coral species towards massive and encrusting corals. Given that coral numbers are dwindling in these new reef systems, it is important to evaluate the potential influence of coral predation on these remaining corals. We examined the effect of a key group of coral predators (parrotfishes) on one of the emerging dominant coral taxa on Anthropocene reefs, massive Porites. Specifically, we evaluate whether the intensity of parrotfish predation on this key reef-building coral has changed in response to severe coral reef degradation. We found evidence that coral predation rates may have decreased, despite only minor changes in parrotfish abundance. However, higher scar densities on small Porites colonies, compared to large colonies, suggests that the observed decrease in scarring rates may be a reflection of colony-size specific rates of feeding scars. Reduced parrotfish corallivory may reflect the loss of small Porites colonies, or changing foraging opportunities for parrotfishes. The reduction in scar density on massive Porites suggests that the remaining stress-tolerant corals may have passed the vulnerable small colony stage. These results highlight the potential for shifts in ecological functions on ecosystems facing high levels of environmental stress.
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Crabbe, M. James C. "From Citizen Science to Policy Development on the Coral Reefs of Jamaica." International Journal of Zoology 2012 (2012): 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/102350.
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This paper explores the application of citizen science to help generation of scientific data and capacity-building, and so underpin scientific ideas and policy development in the area of coral reef management, on the coral reefs of Jamaica. From 2000 to 2008, ninety Earthwatch volunteers were trained in coral reef data acquisition and analysis and made over 6,000 measurements on fringing reef sites along the north coast of Jamaica. Their work showed that while recruitment of small corals is returning after the major bleaching event of 2005, larger corals are not necessarily so resilient and so need careful management if the reefs are to survive such major extreme events. These findings were used in the development of an action plan for Jamaican coral reefs, presented to the Jamaican National Environmental Protection Agency. It was agreed that a number of themes and tactics need to be implemented in order to facilitate coral reef conservation in the Caribbean. The use of volunteers and citizen scientists from both developed and developing countries can help in forging links which can assist in data collection and analysis and, ultimately, in ecosystem management and policy development.
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Engleman, Abigail, Kieran Cox, and Sandra Brooke. "Dead but not forgotten: complexity of Acropora palmata colonies increases with greater composition of dead coral." PeerJ 11 (October 11, 2023): e16101. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16101.
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Coral reefs are highly biodiverse ecosystems that have declined due to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Researchers often attribute reef ecological processes to corals’ complex structure, but effective conservation requires disentangling the contributions of coral versus reef structures. Many studies assessing the relationships between reef structure and ecological dynamics commonly use live coral as a proxy for reef complexity, disregarding the contribution of dead coral skeletons to reef habitat provision or other biogeochemical reef dynamics. This study aimed to assess the contribution of dead coral to reef complexity by examining structural variations in live and dead Acropora palmata colonies. We used photogrammetry to reconstruct digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthomosaics of the benthic region immediately surrounding 10 A. palmata colonies. These reconstructions were used to quantify structural metrics, including surface rugosity, fractal dimension, slope, planform curvature, and profile curvature, as a function of benthic composition (i.e., live A. palmata, dead A. palmata, or non-A. palmata substrate). The results revealed that dead coral maintained more varied profile curvatures and higher fractal dimensions than live or non-coral substrate. Conversely, A. palmata colonies with a higher proportion of live coral displayed more uniform structure, with lower fractal dimensions and less variability in profile curvature measures. Other metrics showed no significant difference among substrate types. These findings provide novel insights into the structural differences between live and dead coral, and an alternative perspective on the mechanisms driving the observed structural complexity on reefs. Overall, our results highlight the overlooked potential contributions of dead coral to reef habitat provision, ecological processes, and other biogeochemical reef dynamics, and could have important implications for coral reef conservation.
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Hosseinipour, Fatemeh. "The paleoecology and depositional model of the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammad Abad Area, the west of Baft, SW Kerman, Iran." Geologica Acta 20 (January 31, 2022): 1–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1344/geologicaacta2022.20.1.
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This paper deals with the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammadabad Area, W Baft, SW Kerman. The studied coral reefs include 11 families, 25 genera and 33 species of the scleractinian corals. The coral reef successions have deposited in three cycles on a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate platform. To understanding the paleoecology, reef architecture and depositional model of studied reefal successions, statistical analyses based on the coral niches, sedimentology analyses based on the grain size of the marly strata and microfacies analyses on limestone strata have used. Based on the statistical analyses, the coral community includes eight ecotypes. The distribution of these ecotypes indicates that, despite of various thicknesses, in all three coral reef successions, the branching and fast growth ecotypes are present at the basal parts and the massive, placoid and meandroid colonies are recorded in the slope, crest and distal parts of the reefs. The main disruptive phenomenon that stopped the reef development and affected the reef architecture has been the addition of clastic deposits to the carbonate system. This sediment load increase is recorded as marly strata. By The addition of clastic sediment load to the system, the carbonate content of the system has diluted, the salinity, water transparency and photic level is decreased, the favorable attachment hard substrate for coral polyps is limited, the nutrient and oxygen flux is disrupted and the coral reefs are suffocated.
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Gress, Erika, Maria J. Arroyo-Gerez, Georgina Wright, and Dominic A. Andradi-Brown. "Assessing mesophotic coral ecosystems inside and outside a Caribbean marine protected area." Royal Society Open Science 5, no. 10 (October 2018): 180835. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180835.
Full textAbstract:
Widespread shallow coral reef loss has led to calls for more holistic approaches to coral reef management, requiring inclusion of ecosystems interacting with shallow coral reefs in management plans. Yet, almost all current reef management is biased towards shallow reefs, and overlooks that coral reefs extend beyond shallow waters to mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–150 m). We present the first detailed quantitative characterization of MCEs off Cozumel, Mexico, on the northern Mesoamerican Reef in the Mexican Caribbean, and provide insights into their general state. We documented MCE biodiversity, and assessed whether MCEs adjacent to a major town and port, where coastal development has caused shallow reef damage, have similar benthic and fish communities to MCEs within a National Park. Our results show that overall MCE communities are similar regardless of protection, though some taxa-specific differences exist in benthic communities between sites within the MPA and areas outside. Regardless of protection and location, and in contrast to shallow reefs, all observed Cozumel MCEs were continuous reefs with the main structural habitat complexity provided by calcareous macroalgae, sponges, gorgonians and black corals. Hard corals were present on MCEs, although at low abundance. We found that 42.5% of fish species recorded on Cozumel could be found on both shallow reefs and MCEs, including 39.6% of commercially valuable fish species. These results suggest that MCEs could play an important role in supporting fish populations. However, regardless of protection and depth, we found few large-body fishes (greater than 500 mm), which were nearly absent at all studied sites. Cozumel MCEs contain diverse benthic and fish assemblages, including commercially valuable fisheries species and ecosystem engineers, such as black corals. Because of their inherent biodiversity and identified threats, MCEs should be incorporated into shallow-reef-focused Cozumel National Park management plan.
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Waheed, Zarinah, Daniella Han, and Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein. "Mapping coral reef using photogrammetry technique: A preliminary study at Pulau Udar Besar, Sabah, Malaysia." Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture (BJoMSA) 5, no. 2 (December 31, 2021): 70–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.51200/bjomsa.v5i2.2604.
Full textAbstract:
Mapping of coral reefs is useful for understanding, monitoring and tracking their development. However, studies on reef mapping in the Southeast Asian region are limited. The main objectives of this study were to 1) map the coral reefs using photogrammetry in order to create a 3D map of the reef, and 2) determine the coral growth forms and identify the corals to the lowest possible taxa from the images. Data collection was conducted on 19 and 24 January 2018. All images were captured by applying photogrammetry technique using a digital camera with waterproof housing. Image reconstruction process was performed in Agisoft Photoscan and Blender, using the structure-from-motion (SfM) algorithms to reconstruct the 2-Dimensional images into a 3D model. The reef map generated from Agisoft Photoscan is of medium quality. Coral growth forms were determined and identified to the lowest possible taxa through the images. From the images, free-living corals of the family Fungiidae were the most common coral observed in the study site. In conclusion, the output of this study shows that reef mapping is possible using a photogrammetry approach and images can be used to identify coral growth forms.
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Apprill, A., H. Holm, AE Santoro, C. Becker, M. Neave, K. Hughen, A. Richards Donà, et al. "Microbial ecology of coral-dominated reefs in the Federated States of Micronesia." Aquatic Microbial Ecology 86 (April 22, 2021): 115–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/ame01961.
Full textAbstract:
Microorganisms are central to the functioning of coral reef ecosystems, but their dynamics are unstudied on most reefs. We examined the microbial ecology of shallow reefs within the Federated States of Micronesia. We surveyed 20 reefs surrounding 7 islands and atolls (Yap, Woleai, Olimarao, Kosrae, Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro, and Pohnpei), spanning 875053 km2. On the reefs, we found consistently higher coral coverage (mean ± SD = 36.9 ± 22.2%; max 77%) compared to macroalgae coverage (15.2 ± 15.5%; max 58%), and low abundances of fish. Reef waters had low inorganic nutrient concentrations and were dominated by Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, and SAR11 bacteria. The richness of bacterial and archaeal communities was significantly related to interactions between island/atoll and depth. High coral coverage on reefs was linked to higher relative abundances of Flavobacteriaceae, Leisingera, Owenweeksia, Vibrio, and the OM27 clade, as well as other heterotrophic bacterial groups, consistent with communities residing in waters near corals and within coral mucus. Microbial community structure at reef depth was significantly correlated with geographic distance, suggesting that island biogeography influences reef microbial communities. Reefs at Kosrae Island, which hosted the highest coral abundance and diversity, were unique compared to other locations; seawater from Kosrae reefs had the lowest organic carbon (59.8-67.9 µM), highest organic nitrogen (4.5-5.3 µM), and harbored consistent microbial communities (>85% similar), which were dominated by heterotrophic cells. This study suggests that the reef-water microbial ecology on Micronesian reefs is influenced by the density and diversity of corals as well as other biogeographical features.
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Johansson, C. L., D. R. Bellwood, and M. Depczynski. "The importance of live coral for small-sized herbivorous reef fishes in physically challenging environments." Marine and Freshwater Research 63, no. 8 (2012): 672. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf12011.
Full textAbstract:
Tropical coral reefs are facing increasing levels of disturbance, with predictions of ongoing reductions in live coral cover. The response of herbivorous fishes to loss of coral cover was investigated by analysing the relationship between the abundance of different sized herbivorous fishes and live coral cover, on a high flow reef slope and a sheltered back reef on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. We found positive relationships between coral cover and the abundance of small (10–20 cm) excavating and scraping parrotfishes on the slope, but a negative relationship between corals and small (10–15 cm) grazers. These relationships were not evident on back reefs. Generally, the abundance of large individuals were not correlated with live coral in either habitat. We suggest that in physically demanding environments small parrotfishes may utilise the structural complexity of corals to resist strong water flow and/or to reduce predation. Small acanthurid grazers may school to reduce energy costs and minimise predation risk. The loss of coral cover appears to be particularly important for small fishes in high energy habitats, especially non-schooling species.
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Beatty, Deanna S., Jinu Mathew Valayil, Cody S. Clements, Kim B. Ritchie, Frank J. Stewart, and Mark E. Hay. "Variable effects of local management on coral defenses against a thermally regulated bleaching pathogen." Science Advances 5, no. 10 (October 2019): eaay1048. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aay1048.
Full textAbstract:
Bleaching and disease are decimating coral reefs especially when warming promotes bleaching pathogens, such as Vibrio coralliilyticus. We demonstrate that sterilized washes from three common corals suppress V. coralliilyticus but that this defense is compromised when assays are run at higher temperatures. For a coral within the ecologically critical genus Acropora, inhibition was 75 to 154% greater among colonies from coral-dominated marine protected areas versus adjacent fished areas that were macroalgae-dominated. Acropora microbiomes were more variable within fished areas, suggesting that reef degradation may also perturb coral microbial communities. Defenses of a robust poritid coral and a weedy pocilloporid coral were not affected by reef degradation, and microbiomes were unaltered for these species. For some ecologically critical, but bleaching-susceptible, corals such as Acropora, local management to improve reef state may bolster coral resistance to global change, such as bacteria-induced coral bleaching during warming events.
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Islamiyati, Annisa Dian, and Paulus Hengky Abram. "ANALISIS KADAR KALSIUM OKSIDA (CaO) PADA BATU KARANG DI DAERAH PESISIR BAYANG DAMPELAS DONGGALA." Media Eksakta 16, no. 1 (May 31, 2020): 57–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.22487/me.v16i1.734.
Full textAbstract:
Coral reefs are classified as coral or coral limestone. These corals contain of a high level of calcium purity with more than 90%. These clacium are in the from calcite (CaCO3). Calcite can be used in the industrial sector wich can be processed into a catalyst and use as a mixture 0f portland cement.its economic value increases by converting CaCO3 to CaO trough the calcination process at high temperatures. The coral sampels were taken from the coastal area of Bayang, Dampelas Donggala wich consisted of 2 samples. i.e coastal and montain coral reefs. The CaO levevls contained in coral reefs wer determined by qualitative and quantitative analysis method using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence). XRF result showed that were CaO compounds in each coral reef sample. The CaO level in the coastal reef was 92,08% before calcination and 92,11% after calcination. Whereas the CaO level in te mountain coastal reef was 94,51% before calcination and 96,77% after calcination.
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Suggett, David J., and Madeleine J. H. van Oppen. "Horizon scan of rapidly advancing coral restoration approaches for 21st century reef management." Emerging Topics in Life Sciences 6, no. 1 (February 4, 2022): 125–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/etls20210240.
Full textAbstract:
Coral reef restoration activity is accelerating worldwide in efforts to offset the rate of reef health declines. Many advances have already been made in restoration practices centred on coral biology (coral restoration), and particularly those that look to employ the high adaptive state and capacity of corals in order to ensure that efforts rebuilding coral biomass also equip reefs with enhanced resilience to future stress. We horizon scan the state-of-play for the many coral restoration innovations already underway across the complex life cycle for corals that spans both asexual and sexual reproduction — assisted evolution (manipulations targeted to the coral host and host-associated microbes), biobanking, as well as scalable coral propagation and planting — and how these innovations are in different stages of maturity to support new 21st century reef management frameworks. Realising the potential for coral restoration tools as management aids undoubtedly rests on validating different approaches as their application continues to scale. Whilst the ecosystem service responses to increased scaling still largely remain to be seen, coral restoration has already delivered immense new understanding of coral and coral-associated microbial biology that has long lagged behind advances in other reef sciences.
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Vaughan, Eleanor J., Shaun K. Wilson, Samantha J. Howlett, Valeriano Parravicini, Gareth J. Williams, and Nicholas A. J. Graham. "Nitrogen enrichment in macroalgae following mass coral mortality." Coral Reefs 40, no. 3 (April 12, 2021): 767–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02079-w.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractScleractinian corals are engineers on coral reefs that provide both structural complexity as habitat and sustenance for other reef-associated organisms via the release of organic and inorganic matter. However, coral reefs are facing multiple pressures from climate change and other stressors, which can result in mass coral bleaching and mortality events. Mass mortality of corals results in enhanced release of organic matter, which can cause significant alterations to reef biochemical and recycling processes. There is little known about how long these nutrients are retained within the system, for instance, within the tissues of other benthic organisms. We investigated changes in nitrogen isotopic signatures (δ15N) of macroalgal tissues (a) ~ 1 year after a bleaching event in the Seychelles and (b) ~ 3 months after the peak of a bleaching event in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. In the Seychelles, there was a strong association between absolute loss in both total coral cover and branching coral cover and absolute increase in macroalgal δ15N between 2014 and 2017 (adjusted r2 = 0.79, p = 0.004 and adjusted r2 = 0.86, p = 0.002, respectively). In Mo’orea, a short-term transplant experiment found a significant increase in δ15N in Sargassum mangarevense after specimens were deployed on a reef with high coral mortality for ~ 3 weeks (p < 0.05). We suggest that coral-derived nutrients can be retained within reef nutrient cycles, and that this can affect other reef-associated organisms over both short- and long-term periods, especially opportunistic species such as macroalgae. These species could therefore proliferate on reefs that have experienced mass mortality events, because they have been provided with both space and nutrient subsidies by the death and decay of corals.
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Büscher, Janina V., Max Wisshak, Armin U. Form, Jürgen Titschack, Kerstin Nachtigall, and Ulf Riebesell. "In situ growth and bioerosion rates of Lophelia pertusa in a Norwegian fjord and open shelf cold-water coral habitat." PeerJ 7 (September 24, 2019): e7586. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7586.
Full textAbstract:
Coral reef resilience depends on the balance between carbonate precipitation, leading to reef growth, and carbonate degradation, for example, through bioerosion. Changes in environmental conditions are likely to affect the two processes differently, thereby shifting the balance between reef growth and degradation. In cold-water corals estimates of accretion-erosion processes in their natural habitat are scarce and solely live coral growth rates were studied with regard to future environmental changes in the laboratory so far, limiting our ability to assess the potential of cold-water coral reef ecosystems to cope with environmental changes. In the present study, growth rates of the two predominant colour morphotypes of live Lophelia pertusa as well as bioerosion rates of dead coral framework were assessed in different environmental settings in Norwegian cold-water coral reefs in a 1-year in situ experiment. Net growth (in weight gain and linear extension) of live L. pertusa was in the lower range of previous estimates and did not significantly differ between inshore (fjord) and offshore (open shelf) habitats. However, slightly higher net growth rates were obtained inshore. Bioerosion rates were significantly higher on-reef in the fjord compared to off-reef deployments in- and offshore. Besides, on-reef coral fragments yielded a broader range of individual growth and bioerosion rates, indicating higher turnover in live reef structures than off-reef with regard to accretion–bioerosion processes. Moreover, if the higher variation in growth rates represents a greater variance in (genetic) adaptations to natural environmental variability in the fjord, inshore reefs could possibly benefit under future ocean change compared to offshore reefs. Although not significantly different due to high variances between replicates, growth rates of orange branches were consistently higher at all sites, while mortality was statistically significantly lower, potentially indicating higher stress-resistance than the less pigmented white phenotype. Comparing the here measured rates of net accretion of live corals (regardless of colour morphotype) with net erosion of dead coral framework gives a first estimate of the dimensions of both processes in natural cold-water coral habitats, indicating that calcium carbonate loss through bioerosion amounts to one fifth to one sixth of the production rates by coral calcification (disregarding accretion processes of other organisms and proportion of live and dead coral framework in a reef). With regard to likely accelerating bioerosion and diminishing growth rates of corals under ocean acidification, the balance of reef accretion and degradation may be shifted towards higher biogenic dissolution in the future.
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Cornwall, Christopher E., Steeve Comeau, Hollie Putnam, and Verena Schoepf. "Impacts of ocean warming and acidification on calcifying coral reef taxa: mechanisms responsible and adaptive capacity." Emerging Topics in Life Sciences 6, no. 1 (February 14, 2022): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/etls20210226.
Full textAbstract:
Ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) are two of the greatest global threats to the persistence of coral reefs. Calcifying reef taxa such as corals and coralline algae provide the essential substrate and habitat in tropical reefs but are at particular risk due to their susceptibility to both OW and OA. OW poses the greater threat to future reef growth and function, via its capacity to destabilise the productivity of both taxa, and to cause mass bleaching events and mortality of corals. Marine heatwaves are projected to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration over the coming decades, raising the question of whether coral reefs will be able to persist as functioning ecosystems and in what form. OA should not be overlooked, as its negative impacts on the calcification of reef-building corals and coralline algae will have consequences for global reef accretion. Given that OA can have negative impacts on the reproduction and early life stages of both coralline algae and corals, the interdependence of these taxa may result in negative feedbacks for reef replenishment. However, there is little evidence that OA causes coral bleaching or exacerbates the effects of OW on coral bleaching. Instead, there is some evidence that OA alters the photo-physiology of both taxa. Tropical coralline algal possess shorter generation times than corals, which could enable more rapid evolutionary responses. Future reefs will be dominated by taxa with shorter generation times and high plasticity, or those individuals inherently resistant and resilient to both marine heatwaves and OA.
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Vroom, Peter S. "“Coral Dominance”: A Dangerous Ecosystem Misnomer?" Journal of Marine Biology 2011 (2011): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/164127.
Full textAbstract:
Over 100 years ago, before threats such as global climate change and ocean acidification were issues engrossing marine scientists, numerous tropical reef biologists began expressing concern that too much emphasis was being placed on coral dominance in reef systems. These researchers believed that the scientific community was beginning to lose sight of the overall mix of calcifying organisms necessary for the healthy function of reef ecosystems and demonstrated that some reefs were naturally coral dominated with corals being the main organisms responsible for reef accretion, yet other healthy reef ecosystems were found to rely almost entirely on calcified algae and foraminifera for calcium carbonate accumulation. Despite these historical cautionary messages, many agencies today have inherited a coral-centric approach to reef management, likely to the detriment of reef ecosystems worldwide. For example, recent research has shown that crustose coralline algae, a group of plants essential for building and cementing reef systems, are in greater danger of exhibiting decreased calcification rates and increased solubility than corals in warmer and more acidic ocean environments. A shift from coral-centric views to broader ecosystem views is imperative in order to protect endangered reef systems worldwide.