A clear distinction and presence of Acropora aff. divaricata within Acropora cf. solitaryensis species complex along their biogeographic distribution in East Asia

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: March 21, 2025

In the Anthropocene, scleractinian corals face unprecedented threats from synergistic stressors, including rising seawater temperatures that surpass critical thresholds lead to global coral reef degradation. With over 1,698 species in order Scleractinia, their conservation is increasingly complex due morphological plasticity and challenge of accurate identification. The genus Acropora, with approximately 400 nominal species, exemplifies these challenges, as traits often vary within among complicating taxonomic efforts. Traditional methods based on skeletal characteristics are insufficient for delineating Acropora prompting use integrative approaches combining morphology, reproduction, molecular data. this study, we employ multi-locus phylogenetic analyses morphometric measurements distinguish different growth forms cf. solitaryensis distinct delineate range boundaries A. aff. divaricata East Asian ecosystems. We identify arborescent intermediate morphotypes belonging divaricata, which distributed tropical reefs southeastern Taiwan temperate non-reefal communities Shikoku, Japan. Conversely, solid-plate morphotype aligns holotype locality at Solitary Island, Australia, found primarily subtropical regions northern distribution patterns underscore necessity biogeographic sampling taxonomy, considering Kuroshio Current's impact distributions, a re-evaluation poleward migration or expansion climate change. Our findings traditional taxonomy solitaryensis, revealing they may instead encompass multiple species. This has significant implications strategies, identification crucial understanding responses environmental changes informing efforts

Language: Английский

---

Spatial patterns and intra-annual variations in subtropical reef fish communities in Okinawa Island, Japan

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 104168 - 104168

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Short-term recovery responses in Acropora hyacinthus exposed to moderate-term thermal stress

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 172(5)

Published: April 21, 2025

Abstract Coral bleaching, driven by rising ocean temperatures, poses a significant threat to coral reefs worldwide. This study investigates the short-term recovery dynamics of common Indo-Pacific Acropora hyacinthus following simulated moderate-term bleaching event. fragments were collected from Nishidomari, Kochi, Japan, and subjected controlled heat stress experiment in aquaria. Symbiodiniaceae physiology, including cell density, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetic efficiency, was monitored throughout periods. host transcriptomic analysis conducted identify differentially expressed genes assess functional enrichment biological processes. During period, declines physiology observed, consistent with prior studies. Unexpectedly, during continued decline. However, transcriptome revealed expression recovery-specific shift response metabolic status reprogramming, like responses observed other species. upregulation associated reprogramming suggests that actively working repair restore homeostasis despite decline density. highlights importance integrating molecular data physiological measurements effectively evaluate status. Further research is needed determine if this rapid translates into long-term resilience, particularly face increasingly frequent events.

Language: Английский

---

A dramatic northward range expansion of a Red Sea soft coral in the Mediterranean Sea

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Historically isolated from tropical influences, the Mediterranean Sea underwent drastic changes, including Lessepsian migration facilitated by opening of Suez Canal, connecting Red to Sea. Here, we report on discovery a thriving and lush population an Indo‐Pacific soft coral in transforming This species was identified as Dendronephthya hemprichi (Klunzinger, 1877) through morphological genetic assessments. The unexpected appearance dense this off Israeli coast signifies northward range expansion approximately 350 km northern Considering potential for alter benthic community structure create new marine animal forests, population's sudden massive colonization artificial structures raises intriguing questions about its possible long‐term ecological implications ecosystem. study emphasizes urgency continuous monitoring research understand consequences unprecedented abrupt incursion hundreds colonies region's biodiversity. Moreover, findings contribute broader discourse tropicalization temperate subtropical regions, highlighting need adapt conservation strategies that embrace novel configurations ecosystems face ongoing local global changes.

Language: Английский

---

Half of Atlantic reef-building corals at elevated risk of extinction due to climate change and other threats

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(11), P. e0309354 - e0309354

Published: Nov. 15, 2024

Atlantic reef-building corals and coral reefs continue to experience extensive decline due increased stressors related climate change, disease, pollution, numerous anthropogenic threats. To understand the impact of ocean warming reef loss on estimated extinction risk shallow water scleractinians milleporids, all 85 valid species were reassessed under IUCN Red List Categories Criteria, updating previous assessment published in 2008. For present assessment, individual declines based modeled cover (1989–2019) projected onset annual severe bleaching events (2020–2050) across Atlantic. Species traits used scale species’ relative vulnerability forecasted events. The updated assessments place 45.88%–54.12% at an elevated compared conducted 2008 (15.19%–40.51%). However, estimates indicate improvement coverage historic time-series for assessments. Based this, we infer that, although remaining dangerously high, rate has surprisingly slowed recent decades. projections sea-surface temperature that predict within next 30 years, listed 26 (out 85) as Critically Endangered List. Each these had previously been a lower threatened category this result alone highlights threat future pose survival ecosystems they support.

Language: Английский

---

Response of zooxanthellate scleractinian corals to elevation of seawater temperature during summer in a temperate Japanese coastal sea (Takashima, Japan)

Marine Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 45(4)

Published: June 29, 2024

Abstract In contrast to tropical and subtropical regions, where coral abundance is declining due elevated summer seawater temperatures, expansions of ranges have been reported in temperate Japanese regions an increase temperature. However, the vulnerability corals temperatures not well known. this study, we assessed bleaching state with during a coastal sea around Takashima Island, using underwear color reference card (Coral Health Chart). This study showed that turned pale increasing temperature summer. did reach bleached state. Approaching typhoon may contribute maintenance health at Beach by mitigating high preventing accumulation thermal stress corals.

Language: Английский

---

Anthropogenic climate change will likely outpace coral range expansion

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

Published: July 24, 2024

Past coral range expansions suggest that high-latitude environments may serve as refugia, potentially buffering tropical biodiversity loss due to climate change. We explore this possibility for corals globally, using a dynamical metacommunity model incorporating temperature, light intensity, pH, and four distinct, interacting assemblages. This reasonably reproduces the observed distribution recent decline of across Indo-Pacific Caribbean. Our simulations there is mismatch between timescales reef expansion under future predicted Whereas most severe declines in cover will likely occur within 60–80 years, significant requires centuries. The absence large-scale refugia face rapid anthropogenic change emphasises urgent need reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate non-thermal stressors corals, both tropics high-latitudes.

Language: Английский

---

Subtropical specialists dominate a coral range expansion front

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 16, 2024

Abstract Potential range expansion of scleractinian corals in high-latitude reefs is critically dependent on the coral host-symbiont relationship that determines growth and survival. Although increases cover have been observed at higher latitudes, identities habitat-building reef their symbionts are underreported. Here, we examine how host symbiont Symbiodiniaceae diversity changes along a tropical–temperate environmental gradient. We use Pocillopora spp. associated communities as model to understand whether they expanding poleward role this process. Along Kuroshio Current, which carries warm equatorial waters northward Pacific coast Japan, collected tissues from 23 (sub)tropical-to-temperate reefs, southern Iriomote Ryukyu Islands (24°N) northernmost Kushimoto mainland Japan (33°N). examined through direct sequencing mitochondrial open reading frame (mtORF) with next-generation internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region ribosomal DNA. Our results show dramatic reduction haplotypes marked change dominant types (poleward) Cape Sata (30°N), Kagoshima. ‘Tropical’ were absent sites. also demonstrate high specificity between subtropical haplotype Cladocopium types. findings question common ‘coral tropicalisation’ is, location front. The hosts suggests unlikely support persistence tropical zooxanthellate corals.

Language: Английский

---