Remote reef cryptobenthic diversity: Integrating autonomous reef monitoring structures and in situ environmental parameters DOI Creative Commons
Margaux Steyaert, M. Lindhart, Alexandra Khrizman

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Dec. 6, 2022

Coral reef sessile organisms inhabiting cryptic spaces and cavities of the matrix perform vital varied functional roles but are often understudied in comparison to those on exposed surfaces. Here, we assess composition cryptobenthic taxa from three remote tropical sites (Central Indian Ocean) alongside a suite situ environmental parameters determine if, or how, significant patterns diversity shaped by local abiotic factors. To achieve this, carried out point-count analysis autonomous monitoring structure (ARMS) plate images employed instrumentation recover long-term (12 months) profiles flow velocity, wave heights, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, short-term (3 weeks) light pH. We recovered distinct between sampling observed that ocean-facing reefs experienced frequent short-lived cooling internal events these were key shaping temperature variability. By comparing height using loggers with ex models, discovered global satellite products either failed site-specific both over- underestimated actual conditions. found site choice recruitment face (top bottom) significantly impacted percentage cover bryozoans, gastropods, soft calcified tube worms, as well crustose coralline algae (CCA) fleshy red, brown, green encrusting macroalgae ARMS. correlations abundance CCA, colonial tunicates lower mean higher oxygen across sites. Red brown correlated medium-to-high velocities profiles, pH oxygen. This study provides first insight into communities Chagos Archipelago marine-protected area adds our limited understanding their associations this region. With climate change accelerating decline ecosystems, integrating analyses physicochemical factors needed understand how communities, if any, may withstand impacts change.

Language: Английский

Crustose coralline algae can contribute more than corals to coral reef carbonate production DOI Creative Commons
Christopher E. Cornwall, Jérémy Carlot, Oscar Branson

et al.

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(1)

Published: April 6, 2023

Abstract Understanding the drivers of net coral reef calcium carbonate production is increasingly important as ocean warming, acidification, and other anthropogenic stressors threaten maintenance structures services these ecosystems provide. Despite intense research effort on production, inclusion a key forming/accreting calcifying group, crustose coralline algae, remains challenging both from theoretical practical standpoint. While corals are typically primary builders contemporary reefs, algae can contribute equally. Here, we combine several sets data with numerical modelling to demonstrate that match or even exceed contribution production. their importance, often inaccurately recorded in benthic surveys entirely missing budgets. We outline recommendations improve into such budgets under ongoing climate crisis.

Language: Английский

Citations

50
Coral reef benthic community changes in the Anthropocene: Biogeographic heterogeneity, overlooked configurations, and methodology DOI
Miriam Reverter, Stephanie B. Helber, Sven Rohde

et al.

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 28(6), P. 1956 - 1971

Published: Dec. 24, 2021

Non-random community changes are becoming more frequent in many ecosystems. In coral reefs, towards communities dominated by other than hard corals increasing frequency, with severe impacts on ecosystem functioning and provision of services. Although new research suggests that a variety alternative (i.e. not corals) exist, knowledge the global diversity reef benthic communities, especially those algae, remains scattered. this systematic review meta-analysis 523 articles, we analyse different reported to date discuss advantages limitations methods used study these changes. Furthermore, field cover data (1116 reefs from ReefCheck database) explore biogeographic latitudinal patterns dominant organisms. We found mismatch between literature focus coral-algal (over half studies analysed) observed natural patterns. identified strong patterns, largest most biodiverse regions (Western Central Indo-Pacific) presenting previously overlooked soft-coral-dominated as abundant community. Finally, potential biases associated overlook ecologically important cryptobenthic technological advances improving monitoring efforts. As inevitably swiftly change under changing ocean conditions, there is an urgent need better understand distribution, dynamics well ecological societal communities.

Language: Английский

Citations

55
Sponges sneeze mucus to shed particulate waste from their seawater inlet pores DOI Creative Commons
Niklas A. Kornder, Yuki Esser,

Daniel Stoupin

et al.

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(17), P. 3855 - 3861.e3

Published: Aug. 10, 2022

Sponges, among the oldest extant multicellular organisms on Earth,1 play a key role in cycling of nutrients many aquatic ecosystems.2-5 They need to employ strategies prevent clogging their internal filter system by solid wastes,6-8 but self-cleaning mechanisms are largely unknown. It is commonly assumed that sponges remove waste with outflowing water through distinct outflow openings (oscula).3,9 Here, we present time-lapse video footage and analyses sponge revealing completely different mechanism particle removal Caribbean tube Aplysina archeri. This actively moves particle-trapping mucus against direction its flow ejects it into surrounding from seawater inlet pores (ostia) periodic surface contractions have been described earlier as "sneezing."10,11 Visually, appears if continuously streaming mucus-embedded particles sneezes shed this particulate waste, resulting notable flux detritus consumed sponge-associated fauna. The new data used estimate production for abundant coral reefs. Last, discuss why inhalant may be common feature compare process equivalent transport other animals, including humans.

Language: Английский

Citations

28
Close-range underwater photogrammetry for coral reef ecology: a systematic literature review DOI
Tiny Remmers, Alana Grech, Chris Roelfsema

et al.

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 43(1), P. 35 - 52

Published: Dec. 5, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

15
Digitizing the coral reef: Machine learning of underwater spectral images enables dense taxonomic mapping of benthic habitats DOI Creative Commons
Daniel Schürholz, Arjun Chennu

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 596 - 613

Published: Nov. 23, 2022

Abstract Coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems, and host a wide range of taxonomic diversity in complex spatial community structure. Existing coral reef survey methods struggle to accurately capture detail within structure benthic communities. We propose workflow leverage underwater hyperspectral image transects two machine learning algorithms produce dense habitat maps 1150 m 2 across Curaçao coastline. Our multi‐method labelled all 500+ million pixels with one 43 classes at family, genus or species level for corals, algae, sponges, substrate labels such as sediment, turf algae cyanobacterial mats. With low annotation effort (only 2% pixels) no external data, our enables accurate (Fbeta 87%) survey‐scale mapping, unprecedented thematic fine resolution (2.5 cm/pixel). assessments composition configuration communities 23 showed high consistency. Digitizing validation novel analysis pattern scale ecology. reveal inadequacies point sampling describe

Language: Английский

Citations

17
Harnessing solar power: photoautotrophy supplements the diet of a low-light dwelling sponge DOI Creative Commons
Meggie Hudspith, Jasper M. de Goeij, Mischa Streekstra

et al.

The ISME Journal, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16(9), P. 2076 - 2086

Published: June 2, 2022

Abstract The ability of organisms to combine autotrophy and heterotrophy gives rise one the most successful nutritional strategies on Earth: mixotrophy. Sponges are integral members shallow-water ecosystems many host photosynthetic symbionts, but studies mixotrophic sponges have focused primarily species residing in high-light environments. Here, we quantify contribution photoautotrophy respiratory demand total carbon diet sponge Chondrilla caribensis, which hosts symbiotic cyanobacteria lives low-light Although is net heterotrophic at 20 m water depth, photosynthetically fixed potentially provides up 52% holobiont’s demand. When considering diet, contributed an estimated 7% daily uptake. Visualization inorganic 13C- 15N-incorporation using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) single-cell level confirmed that a portion nutrients assimilated by prokaryotic community was translocated cells. Photoautotrophy can thus provide important supplemental source for sponges, even habitats. This trophic plasticity may represent widespread strategy hosting photosymbionts, enabling buffer against periods stress.

Language: Английский

Citations

16
Potential transoceanic dispersal of Geodia cf. papyracea and six new tetractinellid sponge species descriptions within the Hawaiian reef cryptofauna DOI Creative Commons

Rachel M Nunley,

E. W. Rutkowski, Robert J. Toonen

et al.

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13, P. e18903 - e18903

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Kāne'ohe Bay has historically been known for the introduction of alien species from Caribbean and Western Indo-Pacific. Recent efforts that explore reef cryptofauna have shown in addition to diversity non-indigenous species, patch environments are rich with undescribed species. Here we integrate molecular phylogeny systematics distinguish introduced those potentially native or endemic. We focus on order Tetractinellida document potential transoceanic dispersal Geodia papyracea Hawai'i. Our integrative approach allowed us describe new Stelletta (Stelletta kela sp. nov., hokunalohia kuhapa hokuwanawana apapaola nov.) one Stryphnus (Stryphnus huna nov.); all collected via use Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures. Specimens were barcoded using 28S COI markers, providing insights into phenotypic plasticity sponges phylogenetic placement these based morphological characters. Using both traditional taxonomy enhances accuracy identification classification, contributing a broader understanding sponge biodiversity within Hawaiian archipelago.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Quantifying coral reef carbonate budgets: a comparison between ReefBudget and CoralNet DOI Creative Commons
Sivajyodee Sannassy Pilly,

Joseph E. Townsend,

Cut Aja Gita Alisa

et al.

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 17, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Spatial Variation in Coral Diversity and Reef Complexity in the Galápagos: Insights from Underwater Photogrammetry and New Data Extraction Methods DOI Creative Commons
Matan Yuval, Franklin Terán, Wilson Iñiguez

et al.

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(11), P. 1831 - 1831

Published: May 23, 2025

Corals in the Galápagos present diverse reef configurations from biogenic coral reefs to communities growing on rocks and sand. These corals have experienced decades of disturbances including recurring El Niño mass bleaching events. However, traditional methods ecology limited capacity describing demographic trends across large spatial scales. Photogrammetry—a form 3D imaging, has emerged over past decade as a popular method for benthic surveys. majority protocols field utilize 2D products photogrammetry, ignoring overhangs leaving significant information unexploited. We surveyed seven sites archipelago using underwater photogrammetry developed new annotation fractal dimension calculation. Our findings reveal variation cover, diversity, structural complexity archipelago. results align with previous studies region add important which was not measured here before. release unique dataset: Galápagos_3D, models 17,000 annotated images. This study establishes an baseline long-term monitoring, research, conservation Galápagos, potentially informing evidence-based policies advancing our understanding resilience recovery.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Removal of macroalgae from degraded reefs enhances coral recruitment DOI
Hillary A. Smith,

Dylan A. Brown,

Chaitanya V. Arjunwadkar

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 30(7)

Published: Dec. 26, 2021

Declining coral cover on tropical reefs often results in a concomitant increase macroalgae. When proliferation of macroalgae persists outside regular seasonal growth, it can shift the ecosystem dominance away from corals into permanently altered system. Such an system is unlikely to recover naturally, despite ample supply larvae, as settlement and survival reduced by presence Physical removal has been proposed overcome this biotic barrier recovery, although empirical evidence demonstrating effects phase‐shifted lacking. Here, we manually removed twelve 25 m 2 experimental plots (88.5 ± 6.2 kg wet weight per plot; 90% benthic decrease) degraded reef prior mass spawning across years recorded number recruits tiles natural substrata. Four months after each event, found threefold where had ( n = 12 plots; February 2019: mean 45.9 12.7 tile; 2020: 53.9 5.9 tile) compared control remained 2019 mean: 13.6 2.8 2020 17.5 3.5 tile). These suggest that, at small scales, may be useful intervention boost recruitment reefs. Longer‐term monitoring needed document if survivorship, subsequent recovery occurs.

Language: Английский

Citations

20