The importance of structural complexity in coral reef ecosystems

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 315 - 326

Published: Nov. 25, 2012

Language: Английский

---

Environmental impacts of dredging and other sediment disturbances on corals: A review

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 64(9), P. 1737 - 1765

Published: June 7, 2012

A review of published literature on the sensitivity corals to turbidity and sedimentation is presented, with an emphasis effects dredging. The risks severity impact from dredging (and other sediment disturbances) are primarily related intensity, duration frequency exposure increased sedimentation. a coral reef impacts its ability recover depend antecedent ecological conditions reef, resilience ambient normally experienced. Effects stress have so far been investigated in 89 species (∼10% all known reef-building corals). Results these investigations provided generic understanding tolerance levels, response mechanisms, adaptations threshold levels natural anthropogenic disturbances. Coral polyps undergo high suspended-sediment concentrations subsequent light attenuation which affect their algal symbionts. Minimum requirements range <1% as much 60% surface irradiance. Reported limits systems for chronic <10 mg L−1 pristine offshore areas >100 marginal nearshore reefs. Some individual can tolerate short-term (days) 1000 while others show mortality after (weeks) low 30 L−1. that survive turbidities ranges several days (sensitive species) at least 5–6 weeks (tolerant species). Increased cause smothering burial polyps, shading, tissue necrosis population explosions bacteria mucus. Fine sediments tend greater than coarse sediments. Turbidity also reduce recruitment, survival settlement larvae. Maximum rates be tolerated by different cm−2 d−1 >400 d−1. durations <24 h sensitive few (>4 or >14 complete burial) very tolerant species. Hypotheses explain substantial differences between include growth form colonies size polyp calyx. validity hypotheses was tested basis 77 studies results this analysis reveal significant relationship form, but not calyx size. variation sensitivities reported may caused type particle applied experiments. many (in varying degrees) actively reject through inflation, mucus production, ciliary tentacular action (at considerable energetic cost), well intraspecific morphological mobility free-living mushroom corals, further contribute observed differences. Given wide among baseline water quality reefs, meaningful criteria limit extent plumes will always require site-specific evaluations, taking into account assemblage present site variability local background

Language: Английский

---

Microplastic ingestion by scleractinian corals

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 162(3), P. 725 - 732

Published: Feb. 3, 2015

Language: Английский

---

Predator Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) Outbreak, Mass Mortality of Corals, and Cascading Effects on Reef Fish and Benthic Communities

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 7(10), P. e47363 - e47363

Published: Oct. 8, 2012

Outbreaks of the coral-killing seastar Acanthaster planci are intense disturbances that can decimate coral reefs. These events consist emergence large swarms predatory feed on reef-building corals, often leading to widespread devastation populations. While cyclic occurrences such outbreaks reported from many tropical reefs throughout Indo-Pacific, their causes hotly debated, and spatio-temporal dynamics impacts reef communities remain unclear. Based observations a recent event around island Moorea, French Polynesia, we show methodic, slow-paced, diffusive biological disturbances. insular systems like Moorea's appear originate restricted areas confined ocean-exposed base Elevated densities then progressively spread adjacent shallower locations by migrations seastars in aggregative waves eventually affect entire system. The directional migration across appears be search for prey as portions affected dense aggregations rapidly depleted living corals subsequently left behind. Coral decline impacted occurs sequential consumption species order feeding preferences. thus result predictable alteration community structure. outbreak report here is among most devastating ever reported. Using hierarchical, multi-scale approach, also how sessile benthic resident coral-feeding fish assemblages were corals. By elucidating processes involved an outbreak, our study contributes comprehending this disturbance should benefit targeted management actions ecosystems.

Language: Английский

---

Relationships between structural complexity, coral traits, and reef fish assemblages

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 36(2), P. 561 - 575

Published: Jan. 12, 2017

Language: Английский

---

Changes in Biodiversity and Functioning of Reef Fish Assemblages following Coral Bleaching and Coral Loss

Diversity, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 3(3), P. 424 - 452

Published: Aug. 12, 2011

Coral reef ecosystems are increasingly subject to severe, large-scale disturbances caused by climate change (e.g., coral bleaching) and other more direct anthropogenic impacts. Many of these cause loss corresponding changes in habitat structure, which has further important effects on abundance diversity fishes. Declines the fishes considerable concern, given potential ecosystem function. This study explored loss, recorded studies conducted throughout world, also individual responses within different functional groups. Extensive (>60%) almost invariably led declines fish diversity. Moreover, most declined following acute that >10% local cover. Response diversity, is considered critical maintaining function promoting resilience, was very low for corallivores, but much higher herbivores, omnivores carnivores. Sustained ongoing thus poses a significant threat hotspots no less susceptible projected

Language: Английский

---

Thirty Years of Research on Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (1986–2016): Scientific Advances and Emerging Opportunities

Diversity, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 9(4), P. 41 - 41

Published: Sept. 21, 2017

Research on the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) has waxed and waned over last few decades, mostly in response to population outbreaks at specific locations. This review considers advances our understanding of biology ecology CoTS based resurgence research interest, which culminated this current special issue Biology, Ecology Management Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. More specifically, progress addressing 41 questions posed a seminal by P. Moran 30 years ago, as well exploring new directions for research. Despite plethora (>1200 articles), there are persistent knowledge gaps that constrain effective management outbreaks. Although directly some these will be extremely difficult, have been considerable CoTS, if not proximate ultimate cause(s) Moving forward, researchers need embrace technologies opportunities advance behavior, focusing key improve effectiveness reducing frequency likelihood outbreaks, preventing them altogether.

Language: Английский

---

Spatial, Temporal and Taxonomic Variation in Coral Growth—Implications for the Structure and Function of Coral Reef Ecosystems

CRC Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 224 - 305

Published: July 15, 2015

Growth is a fundamental biological trait, generally considered to have an important role in structuring populations and communities. Accordingly, many studies quantied growth rates of scleractinian corals, but using variety different methods measures that may or not be comparable. The purpose this review compile extensive data on the relate disparate measuring coral growth, explore spatial, temporal, taxonomic variation rates. most common metric linear extension, measured as unidirectional change branch length colony radius. Rates extension vary greatly among being highest arborescent Acropora species. This unexpected given limited carbonate investment producing long, slender branches compared solid hemispherical colonies. However, differences way are actually (e.g., individual vs. changes mean radius massive corals) could potentially bias interspecic comparisons growth. comparable measure which gives unbiased estimates across forms, average annual calcication weight normalized size. Surprisingly, even appear much higher for branching other genera, contributes high recorded genus. Despite inconsistencies incompatibilities there clear evidence spatially temporally, largely response light water quality turbidity), temperature, aragonite saturation state. Ongoing environmental conditions due climate change) expected negative consequences further exacerbated by shifts assemblage structure towards relatively slowgrowing

Language: Английский

---

Marine mollusc predator-escape behaviour altered by near-future carbon dioxide levels

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 281(1774), P. 20132377 - 20132377

Published: Nov. 13, 2013

Ocean acidification poses a range of threats to marine invertebrates; however, the potential effects rising carbon dioxide (CO2) on invertebrate behaviour are largely unknown. Marine gastropod conch snails have modified foot and operculum allowing them leap backwards rapidly when faced with predator, such as venomous cone shell. Here, we show that projected near-future seawater CO2 levels (961 µatm) impair this escape during predator-prey interaction. Elevated-CO2 halved number jumped from increased their latency jump altered trajectory. Physical ability was not affected by elevated-CO2 indicating instead decision-making impaired. Antipredator fully restored treatment gabazine, GABA antagonist some nervous systems, interference neurotransmitter receptor function elevated-CO2, previously observed in fishes. Altered invertebrates at future could potentially far-reaching implications for ecosystems.

Language: Английский

---

Pollution and coral damage caused by derelict fishing gear on coral reefs around Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 135, P. 1107 - 1116

Published: Aug. 29, 2018

Most lost fishing gear is made of non-biodegradable plastics that may sink to the sea floor or drift around in currents. It remain unnoticed until it shows up on coral reefs, beaches and other coastal habitats. Stony corals have fragile skeletons soft tissues can easily become damaged when they get contact with gear. During a dive survey Koh Tao, small island Gulf Thailand, impact (nets, ropes, cages, lines) was studied representing six different growth forms: branching, encrusting, foliaceous, free-living, laminar, massive. (>95%) contained plastic. Besides absence damage (ND), three categories were assessed: fresh tissue loss (FTL), algal (TLAG), fragmentation (FR). The position relation recorded as either growing underneath (Un) top (On), whereas adjacent (Ad) used controls. Nets formed dominant type gear, followed by lines respectively. Branching most commonly found also it. Tubastraea micranthus encountered species, Un, On, Ad. Corals showed damage, which predominantly consisted loss. Fragmentation less common than expected, be related low fragility T. branching species. Even if nets serve substrate for corals, recommended remove them from where form major component plastic pollution cause reef organisms.

Language: Английский

---