Hierarchical drivers of cryptic biodiversity on coral reefs

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 93(3)

Published: June 10, 2023

Abstract Declines in habitat structural complexity have marked ecological outcomes, as currently observed many of the world's ecosystems. Coral reefs provided a model for such changes marine ecosystems; still our understanding has been centered on corals and fishes at broad spatial scales when metazoan diversity coral is dominated by small cryptic taxa (herein: “cryptofauna”). Given paucity studies high taxonomic cryptofauna, both which limit priori hypotheses, we asked whether hierarchical structuring theory provides compelling framework to impose order quantify patterns. In general terms, explored communities are sufficiently described seascape parameters or limited set processes operating their distinctly nested microhabitat scale. To address this gaps knowledge characterized community structure rubble, an eroded condition where biodiversity proliferates. Rubble was sampled along depth exposure gradient Heron Island Great Barrier Reef, Australia, parameterize environmental morphological indicators sessile motile cryptofauna communities. We used study from scales, were evaluated using nonstructured multivariate analyses Bayesian equation modeling. While showed effects cryptobenthos its community, approach overlooked finer patterns rubble ecology revealed only structured model. Seascape (exposure depth) influenced (i.e., branchiness), determined cover organisms pieces, shaped community. likely be increasingly prevalent Anthropocene typically associated with low seascape‐level reduced macrofaunal richness. Parallel theory, similar response scale whereby branchiness) cryptobenthic structure, size spectra. future ocean, expect there may initial increase trophodynamic derived branching but delay ecosystem‐scale outcomes if coral, thus generation not sustained.

Language: Английский

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Emigration patterns of motile cryptofauna and their implications for trophic functioning in coral reefs

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(3)

Published: March 1, 2023

Abstract Patterns of movement marine species can reflect strategies reproduction and dispersal, species' interactions, trophodynamics, susceptibility to change, thus critically inform how we manage populations ecosystems. On coral reefs, the density diversity metazoan taxa are greatest in dead rubble, which suggested fuel food webs from bottom up. Yet, biomass secondary productivity rubble is predominantly available some smallest individuals, limiting accessible this energy higher trophic levels. We address bioavailability motile reef cryptofauna based on small‐scale patterns emigration rubble. deployed modified RUbble Biodiversity Samplers (RUBS) emergence traps a shallow patch at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, detect community‐level differences directional influx under five habitat accessibility regimes. The mean (0.13–4.5 ind cm −3 ) (0.14–5.2 mg were high varied depending microhabitat accessibility. Emergent zooplankton represented distinct community (dominated by Appendicularia Calanoida) with lowest biomass, indicating constraints nocturnal resource availability. Mean when interstitial access within was blocked, driven rapid proliferation small harpacticoid copepods surface, leading simplification. Individuals (e.g., decapods, gobies, echinoderms) unrestricted. Treatments closed surface did not differ those completely open, suggesting that top‐down predation does diminish rubble‐derived resources. Our results show conspecific cues interactions competition predation) most critical shaping ecological outcomes cryptobiome. These findings have implications for prey through size structuring may become increasingly relevant as benthic complexity shifts Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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eDNA confirms lower trophic interactions help to modulate population outbreaks of the notorious crown-of-thorns sea star

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(11)

Published: March 10, 2025

Variability in predator–prey interactions can modulate population dynamics with impacts scalable to entire ecosystems. As notorious corallivores, crown-of-thorns sea stars (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.) have caused extensive losses of coral habitat during unexplained outbreaks across the Indo-Pacific. While predation adult CoTS may help suppress their outbreaks, it does not sufficiently explain profound boom-bust and so remains equivocal. Factors influencing early postsettlement mortality are generally more impactful on size, thus lower trophic involving juvenile better contribute outbreak prevention. We evaluated impact key predatory decapods that interact rubble nursery before they emerge as destructive corallivores. Decapod density was influenced by complexity varied regionally, inverse spatial trends Great Barrier Reef. Using eDNA gut content analysis, we confirmed seven species (~12% individuals) wild-caught decapod, collected from two reefs separated >1,000 km, predators. Owing variation predator abundance community structure, estimated potential (previous aquarium experiments) realized (eDNA results here) rates consumption were ~3-fold ~1.6-fold lower, respectively, hotspots. Through combination field molecular techniques, demonstrated appreciable cryptic predators success this nuisance species, which expands our knowledge pest management, reef conservation. Resolving at levels ecosystem be crucial understanding broader ecological outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Diversity of Cryptofaunal Nematode Assemblages along the Jardines de La Reina Coral Reef, Southern Cuba

Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(5), P. 264 - 264

Published: April 29, 2024

Cryptofaunal nematodes, those living on the hard substrate of coral reefs, are largely unknown in terms diversity and assemblage structure. We described nematode assemblages at seven sites spanning about 200 km along Jardines de La Reina, a well-preserved reef system Greater Antilles. identified 3000 mostly families Desmodoridae Chromadoridae; most abundant species were Croconema cinctum, Desmodora communis, Euchromadora vulgaris. The regional richness was moderate with 70 observed (0.95 confidence interval: 65–75 species) 75 extrapolated CI: 68–83 species). This lower than other biotopes, maybe reflecting evolutionary constraints due to interactions stony corals. local expected 100 individuals similar among sites, median 26 20–34 species), likely caused by diversification rate time acting same pace populations. taxonomic β-diversity high without differences (median: 0.85; 0.95 0.33–1), probably significant heterogeneity 10-cm scale. prevalence replacement over difference suggests that processes (e.g., environmental filtering competition) contribute more niche availability, which would be across terraces. Contrary our expectations, no gradient structure occurred, nor effect benthic cover nematodes. However, functional showed conservative set biological traits adaptations hydrodynamic regime: armed oral cavity/intermediate colonizing capability/ornamented cuticles/conical tail. Our results provide insights nematodes highlight vast knowledge gaps ruling meiofauna community reefs.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying energy and nutrient fluxes in coral reef food webs

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(5), P. 467 - 478

Published: Dec. 16, 2023

The movement of energy and nutrients through ecological communities represents the biological 'pulse' underpinning ecosystem functioning services. However, nutrient fluxes are inherently difficult to observe, particularly in high-diversity systems such as coral reefs. We review advances quantification reef fishes, focusing on four key frameworks: demographic modelling, bioenergetics, micronutrients, compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA). Each framework can be integrated with underwater surveys, enabling researchers scale organismal processes properties. This has revealed how small fish support biomass turnover, pelagic subsidies sustain fisheries, fisheries benefit human health. Combining frameworks, closing data gaps, expansion other aquatic ecosystems advance understanding fishes contribute functions

Language: Английский

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Habitat and distribution of the red decorator crab, Schizophrys aspera, a cryptic crown-of-thorns seastar predator

ICES Journal of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 80(8), P. 2114 - 2124

Published: Sept. 21, 2023

Abstract Cryptic species and their interactions are challenging to describe owing the difficulties in observing sampling populations. Such methodological hurdles critical resolve, especially when important involving poorly described detected. The red decorator crab, Schizophrys aspera, is a newfound predator of corallivorous Pacific crown-of-thorns seastar (CoTS; Acanthaster sp.). We discuss Indo-Pacific distribution taxonomy S. aspera provide characterization its cryptic population at sites around Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, that differ CoTS densities. Most (>95%) were found under coral rubble pieces atop existing rubble, associated with large chasmic interstices. three smallest individuals (carapace width: 5–11 mm) overlying sand. Mean density was 0.8 ± 0.2 ind. 100 m−2, which varied among sites. Areas lower records had higher densities (p = 0.002; R2 0.25), justifies evaluation impact this context outbreaks. present method survey decapods on reefs, along microhabitat characteristics help predict reefs prone outbreaks capacity act as natural top-down control mechanism.

Language: Английский

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Contribution of motile rubble-dwelling cryptofauna to the diet of invertivorous coral reef fishes

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(4), P. 823 - 839

Published: May 22, 2024

Abstract One of the least understood trophic pathways on coral reefs is linkage between highly productive cryptic motile invertebrates (herein: cryptofauna) and predatory vertebrates that underpin reef fisheries. As cryptofauna are difficult to observe quantify, particularly in rubble where they proliferate, diets invertivores forage have largely been determined through relative gut content analyses. Without congruent quantification prey diversity, biomass, rates predation specific rubble, it remains challenging develop models productivity energy transfer. We calculated bite six wrasses (Labridae) a goatfish (Mullidae) commonly found foraging using situ videography Palau, Western Micronesia. Consumption (i.e. individuals consumed) preferences were tank-based feeding experiments, individual fish presented with diverse community characterised before after 2 h trials. The invertivore diet consisted predominantly Arthropoda (83% > 58%, respectively), calanoid copepods mysids positively selected harpacticoids, decapods ostracods negatively selected. interspecific mean (± standard error) rate consumption was 3.5 ± 0.2 ind. min −1 from estimated equal 9.5 0.9 mg invertebrate biomass consumed per fish, biased uptake small fauna. Bite varied among species greatest efficiency evident Halichoeres melanurus. This study provides first attempt at characterising communities pre- post-trial identify benthos, highlights importance addressing bioavailability lower entities pathways.

Language: Английский

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Spatial and temporal variability in tropical off-reef zooplankton across broad spatial and temporal scales

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 191, P. 106169 - 106169

Published: Sept. 7, 2023

Productivity of oligotrophic coral reefs is largely dependent on the constant influx zooplankton. However, our understanding how zooplankton communities in tropical reef-associated regions vary over large spatial and temporal scales limited. Using Australian continuous plankton recorder dataset, we explored if, to what extent, off-reef community along Queensland shelf (including most Great Barrier Reef lagoon) varied with latitude, month, diel time. The was consistently dominated by copepods (∼60%) which, appendicularians, chaetognaths, non-copepod crustaceans, thaliaceans, comprised ∼98% abundance these taxonomic groups did not predictably across or time, gradients only explaining 5% variation. At sampled herein composition highly predictable terms broad but variation relative predictable.

Language: Английский

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Size distribution of macroinvertebrate communities associated with live and dead coral

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 171(8)

Published: July 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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Marine Debris Harbor Unique, yet Functionally Similar Cryptofauna Communities

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 64(4), P. 1102 - 1114

Published: July 13, 2024

Synopsis Human-made debris is entering the ocean at alarming rates. These artificial structures are becoming habitats for small marine taxa known as cryptofauna. Cryptofauna among most essential reef taxa; however, little about these organisms, let alone their fate considering degrading coral reefs and increasing anthropogenic disturbance. The current study explores differences in naturally occurring cryptofauna biodiversity compared to those inhabiting benthic debris. To explore this difference, we measured invertebrate diversity from autonomous monitoring (ARMS) located on patch along middle Florida Keys tract. ARMS were used a proxy natural structure compare removed five locations. Plastic was abundant of all material collected. Wood concrete identified covariates since they sourced wooden lobster traps. Taxa varied significantly between debris, indicating that each structural unit contained different diverse communities. influential included commensal shrimps, hermit crabs, brittle stars, segmented worms, several families crabs. Additionally, while functional richness increased with communities, communities showed decreasing high similarity, suggesting specialization debris-specific taxa. Overall, data assist better understanding community ecology surrounding future removal management practices comprehensive health.

Language: Английский

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