Increasing disturbance frequency undermines coral reef recovery

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 94(3)

Published: June 24, 2024

Abstract Climate‐driven alterations to disturbance regimes are increasingly disrupting patterns of recovery in many biomes. Here, we examine the impact and subsequent level live hard coral cover on Great Barrier Reef (GBR) across last three decades. We demonstrate that a preexisting pattern infrequent disturbances limited spatial extent has changed larger more frequent disturbances, dominated by marine heatwaves severe tropical cyclones. detected an increase (measured as loss) 265 individual impacts 131 reefs 36‐year dataset (1985–2022). Additionally, number survey impacted increased each decade from 6% 1980s 44% 2010s, frequency mass bleaching GBR, which between 19% 28% per year, cyclones (3%–5% year), resulting less time for recovery. Of recorded, complete highest levels recorded earlier this study (the “historical benchmark”) occurred only 62 (23%) times. 23% resulted historical benchmarks, 34/62 recovered their benchmark 2021 or 2022. Complete was likely when <25% cover. The lack attributed windows becoming shorter due increases thermal stress events result episodes. These results confirm climate change is contributing ecosystem‐wide changes ability recover.

Language: Английский

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Unveiling the risk of marine litter and derelict fishing gear in remote coral reefs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, North Indian Ocean

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 212, P. 117591 - 117591

Published: Jan. 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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Microbiome Stability Is Linked to Acropora Coral Thermotolerance in Northwestern Philippines

Environmental Microbiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 27(2)

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

Corals associate with a diverse community of prokaryotic symbionts that provide nutrition, antioxidants and other protective compounds to their host. However, the influence microbes on coral thermotolerance remains understudied. Here, we examined microbial communities associated colonies Acropora cf. tenuis exhibit high or low upon exposure 33°C (heated) relative 29°C (control). Using 16S rRNA sequencing, show structure all A. was similar each at control temperature. Thermotolerant colonies, however, had relatively greater abundance Endozoicomonas, Arcobacter, Bifidobacterium Lactobacillus. At elevated temperature, only thermosensitive showed distinct shift in microbiome, an increase Flavobacteriales, Rhodobacteraceae Vibrio, accompanying marked bleaching response. Functional prediction indicated thermotolerant corals were enriched for genes related metabolism, while microbiomes cell motility antibiotic compound synthesis. These differences may contribute variable performance under thermal stress. Identification taxa correlated provides insights into beneficial bacterial groups could be used microbiome engineering support reef health changing climate.

Language: Английский

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Recolonization of Intertidal Mussels in Nova Scotia (Canada) after Their Mass Disappearance Following the Severe 2023 Winter Cold Snap

Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(8), P. 503 - 503

Published: Aug. 19, 2024

In February 2023, a severe cold snap took place in Atlantic Canada and was followed by the mass loss of mussels at mid-to-high intertidal elevations on southeastern Nova Scotia coast. This concerning because sustain upper trophic levels coastal food webs mussel stands enhance local biodiversity sheltering many small invertebrate species. Using photographs taken second summer after that (July 2024), this article provides visual evidence active ongoing recolonization coast, including incipient formation new stands. These are encouraging signs ecological resilience. Reaching historical values abundance will likely depend future occurrence weather extremes, which becoming more frequent with climate change.

Language: Английский

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Temperature-dependent responses of the hard corals Acropora sp. and Pocillopora verrucosa to molecular hydrogen

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(3), P. e0308894 - e0308894

Published: March 25, 2025

Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by mass bleaching events due to global ocean warming. Novel management strategies urgently needed support coral survival until efforts can mitigate Given the strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of molecular hydrogen, our study explores its potential alleviate negative effects heat stress on corals. We investigated ecophysiological responses two common hard corals ( Acropora sp. Pocillopora verruco sa) from Central Red Sea under ambient (26 °C) elevated seawater temperatures (32 °C), with without hydrogen addition ~ 150 µ M H 2 ) over 48 h. Our results showed that at 32 °C addition, P. verrucosa exhibited high temperature tolerance, whereas significant reductions in photosynthetic efficiency maximum electron transport rate compared condition °C). The increased 28%, maintaining it levels those 26 °C. In contrast, caused a decrease photophysiology both . This suggests short-term response holobiont is temperature-dependent, potentially benefiting stress, while impairing temperatures. findings therefore provide foundation for future long-term studies uncovering mechanisms behind informing development new enhance resilience

Language: Английский

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Rapid surveying of benthopelagic ecosystems with a towed mini-ROV

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 107122 - 107122

Published: March 1, 2025

Surveying benthic communities has historically relied on snorkel or SCUBA, but these methods are labour-intensive, inefficient (∼1000 m2 per day covered for one dive pair) and depth-limited (<30 m depth). Here we detail a remote method using towed mini-ROV that combines the depth capabilities endurance of cameras with flexibility manoeuvrability SCUBA snorkel. Towed allows over 10 km transects 38,000 surveys day, produces data can be geo-referenced, measurement organisms orthomosaics, include physical such as temperature, operate from depths 2-60 without any gear changes. This setup requires only modest modifications readily available equipment, is relatively low-cost given time labour efficiencies gained. We provide some examples types produced (video, imagery, spatial layer), well sort coverage realistic real survey obtained Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Results demonstrate this approach could used large scale to rapidly environments. It further improved by more hydrodynamic ROV design, streamline pipeline integrates sources. Use underwater positioning systems improve parameters, lasers accuracy, additional increase coverage, at cost added complexity drag.

Language: Английский

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The spatial risk of cyclone wave damage across the Great Barrier Reef

Ecological Informatics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 103175 - 103175

Published: May 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Patterns in the chaos: Scale and the spatiotemporal dynamics of coral reef fish assemblages on the Great Barrier Reef

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(5)

Published: May 1, 2025

Abstract In the Anthropocene, understanding and managing ecological communities requires characterization of natural spatiotemporal ecosystem dynamics. Complex ecosystems may appear chaotic unstructured, making long‐term monitoring programs with hierarchical sampling designs ideal for investigating patterns at multiple scales. Here, we use a dataset spanning entire Great Barrier Reef (GBR) decades to determine spatial distribution abundance, how these change through time, in 233 reef‐associated fish species. Community composition was strongly structured by position across continental shelf, distinct inner outer shelf assemblages. Latitudinal differences were smaller, except distinctive assemblages southernmost Swain Capricorn‐Bunker regions. GBR‐wide summaries total density species richness did not show directional shifts, it only after analyzing metrics subregional scale that wider range temporal oscillations identified, indicating responses perturbations require examination smaller than GBR Within most subregions (65%), has undergone clear ongoing shift away from community identified 1990s. These changes generally due reduction numbers coral‐dependent an increased dominance grazers generalists. Among species, there have been more “winners” “losers” whole GBR, but this masks tendency reefs central over time. on are dynamic recovery potential disturbance events. Despite some pervasive community‐level shifts last decades, biogeographic characteristics each subregion remain intact. We pose question whether is reasonable expect highly reach relatively stable “climax community,” posit answer scale‐dependent and, currently resolved scale, which stakeholders decision‐makers operate.

Language: Английский

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Declining coral calcification to enhance twenty-first-century ocean carbon uptake by gigatonnes

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(23)

Published: June 2, 2025

The sensitivity of coral reefs to climate change is well established. As the oceans warm and acidify, calcification declines with net calcium carbonate dissolution projected under even moderate emissions trajectories. impact this on global carbon cycle however yet be accounted for. Here, we use a synthesis reef change, alongside distribution products estimate alkalinity dissolved inorganic fluxes resulting from reductions in calcification. Using ocean biogeochemical model, simulate uptake different scenarios, accounting for uncertainty present-day rates. Reductions production can enhance sink by up 1.25 GtCO 2 y −1 midcentury (0.48 median estimate) cumulative 13% greater 2300 (7% estimate). Our findings indicate that feedback projections will increase estimates remaining budget associated warming thresholds, as likelihood zero achieved without negative emissions.

Language: Английский

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Molecular hydrogen can minimize negative effects of heat stress on the hard coral genusAcropora

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 6, 2024

Abstract Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by mass bleaching events due to global ocean warming. Novel management strategies urgently needed support coral survival until efforts can mitigate Given the strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of molecular hydrogen, our study explores its potential alleviate negative effects heat stress on corals. We investigated ecophysiological responses two common hard corals ( Acropora spp. Pocillopora verruco sa) from Central Red Sea under ambient (26 °C) elevated seawater temperatures (32 °C), with without hydrogen addition (∼ 150 µM H 2 ) over 48 h. Our results showed that at 32 °C addition, P. verrucosa exhibited high temperature tolerance, whereas significant reductions in photosynthetic efficiency maximum electron transport rate compared condition °C). The increased 28 %, maintaining it levels those 26 ° C. This suggests benefits specific species short-term. provides foundation for future long-term in-situ studies, potentially guiding development new aiming enhancing resilience

Language: Английский

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