Effects of sponge‐to‐sponge contact on the microbiomes of three spatially competing Caribbean coral reef species DOI Creative Commons
Shelby E. Gantt, Patrick M. Erwin

MicrobiologyOpen, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(3)

Published: April 27, 2023

Sponges perform important ecosystem functions, host diverse microbial symbiont communities (microbiomes), and have been increasing in density on Caribbean coral reefs over the last decade. compete for space reef through both morphological allelopathic strategies, but no studies of microbiome impacts during these interactions conducted. Microbiome alterations mediate spatial competition other invertebrates may similarly impact competitive outcomes sponges. In this study, we characterized microbiomes three common sponges (Agelas tubulata, Iotrochota birotulata, Xestospongia muta) observed to naturally interact spatially Key Largo, Florida (USA). For each species, replicate samples were collected from contact with neighbors at site (contact) distant (no contact), isolated (control). Next-generation amplicon sequencing (V4 region 16S rRNA) revealed significant differences community structure diversity among sponge effects within species across all states competitor pairings, indicating large shifts response direct contact. At a finer scale, particular taxa (operational taxonomic units 97% sequence identity, OTUs) shown decrease significantly some interaction suggesting localized specific competitors. Overall, results that does not alter composition or interacting sponges, are mediated by damage destabilization.

Language: Английский

Function and stability of mesophotic coral reefs DOI
Marc Slattery, Michael P. Lesser, Luiz A. Rocha

et al.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(6), P. 585 - 598

Published: Feb. 26, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Nuclear eDNA metabarcoding primers for anthozoan coral biodiversity assessment DOI Creative Commons
Luke McCartin, Emma Saso, Samuel A. Vohsen

et al.

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e18607 - e18607

Published: Nov. 26, 2024

The distributions of anthozoan corals are undercharacterized due to their wide bathymetric ranges, occurrences in remote locales, and difficulties identification from morphology alone. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing promises be a noninvasive strategy complement conventional approaches for mapping monitoring the distribution biodiversity coral communities. Primers eDNA metabarcoding have been designed amplify nuclear mitochondrial barcodes shallow scleractinians MutS deep-sea octocorals. However, comprehensive method all corals, including black has not developed. We leveraged sequence database global collections, water deep sea, design new PCR primers that target 28S rRNA gene ( rDNA ). tested performance these by amplifying samples collected Gulf Mexico near mesophotic were also imaged, sampled, sequenced. Sequencing libraries produced using highly enriched octocorals, scleractinians, with up 99.9% reads originating corals. Further, barcode amplified distinguished genera species many cases, like previously developed methods only octocorals or scleractinians. recovered amplicon variants (ASVs) identical derived Sanger genome skimming sampled at same field sites. This permits targeted sites where they co-occur expands our current toolkit communities reefs sea.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
The Octocoral Trait Database: a global database of trait information for octocoral species DOI Creative Commons
Daniel Gómez‐Gras, Cristina Linares, Núria Viladrich

et al.

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Abstract Trait-based approaches are revolutionizing our understanding of high-diversity ecosystems by providing insights into the principles underlying key ecological processes, such as community assembly, species distribution, resilience, and relationship between biodiversity ecosystem functioning. In 2016, Coral Trait Database advanced coral reef science centralizing trait information for stony corals (i.e., Subphylum Anthozoa, Class Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia). However, absence data soft corals, gorgonians, sea pens Octocorallia) limits where these organisms significant members play pivotal roles. To address this gap, we introduce Octocoral Database, a global, open-source database curated octocorals. This houses species- individual-level data, complemented contextual that provides relevant framework analyses. The inaugural dataset, OctocoralTraits v2.2, contains over 97,500 global observations across 98 traits 3,500 species. aims to evolve steadily growing, community-led resource advances future marine science, with particular emphasis on research.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Pruning dead branches in gorgonian forests as an effective restoration tool against mortality events induced by global change DOI
Eduard Serrano,

Giménez Mas,

Óscar Serrano

et al.

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 302, P. 110982 - 110982

Published: Jan. 20, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Co-occurring foundation species increase habitat heterogeneity across estuarine intertidal environments on the South Island of New Zealand DOI Creative Commons
Ken Joseph E. Clemente, Mads S. Thomsen

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 107150 - 107150

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Extinction risk of the endemic soft coral Phyllogorgia dilatata (Esper, 1806) in a remote island of the Brazilian coast DOI
Antônio B. Anderson, Lidiane Gouvêa, Jorge Assis

et al.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 216, P. 118006 - 118006

Published: April 24, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
An in vitro cellular model for measuring the impact of thermal stress on Florida reef sponges DOI
Megan Conkling,

Tobin Hindle,

Zhixiao Xie

et al.

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 22, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
An urgent call for more ambitious ocean literacy strategies in marine protected areas: a collaboration project with small-scale fishers as a case study DOI Creative Commons
Janire Salazar, Sílvia Gómez, Begoña Vendrell‐Simón

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Cold-Water Corals play a paramount role in marine benthic ecosystems, increasing their complexity and providing spawning nursery habitats to many species. However, due sessile lifestyle ramified shape they are commonly entangled nets even by-caught during the practice of bottom-contact fishing, which includes impacts from both large-scale activities such as trawling small-scale fishing (e.g., trammel or pots). In this context, passive active restoration measures crucial avoid damage disappearance, might cause consequent loss biodiversity communities. With aim modifying these practices Marine Protected Area Cap de Creus (North-Western Mediterranean), fishers scientists (marine biologists) started Participatory Process agreed develop joint conservation program combining two distinct projects: project incidentally captured on for subsequent reintroduction at sea (RESCAP project) also mitigation communities (MITICAP project). Collaborative actions were carried out including interviews exchanges information with purpose collecting all knowledge required conducting projects. This study shows results assessment throughout five years (2017-2022) cooperative work highlights how it is long-term revisable ocean literacy strategies ensuring sustainable governance. An test evaluated scientific end projects revealed that despite efforts applied, still more needed, reinforces importance improving transfer MPA management. Under coordination social anthropologists, Cultural Consensus Analysis was conducted fishers. Results protoculture should be characterized considered when developing management area. Additionally, Personal Network showed have become agents change transmitted learnings communities, nearby guilds, local educational centers press. Furthermore, list recommendations provided optimize multisector opportunities emerging collaborative MPAs.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Sponge abundance and diversity patterns in the shallow and mesophotic reefs of the northern Red Sea DOI Creative Commons
Lilach Raijman-Nagar, Liron Goren,

Sigal Shefer

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: April 30, 2024

Accumulating data on the increasing degradation of coral reefs worldwide has led to a focus unique mesophotic ecosystem (MCE) as potential refuge for threatened shallow-water species (i.e., deep reef refugia hypothesis: DRRH). Sponges play crucial role in coral-reef functioning but are often overlooked benthic surveys. This knowledge gap is especially true Red Sea, where sponge abundance, coverage and composition scarce. Furthermore, date, no study examined sponges Sea. Here we compared abundance diversity metrics between shallow at two sites Gulf Aqaba, northern We also biotic abiotic parameters determining variability depths. Sponge significantly varied with depth sites. differed However, measured water column, that is, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Particulate (POC), NOx, etc., did not differ depths sites, except Synechococcus Prochlorococcus concentration, which did. The findings indicated site characteristics interactions may an essential community composition. Between-site differences fauna revealed highlight importance considering communities factors controlling it when designing management tools reefs, particularly

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Incident light on mesophotic corals is constrained by reef topography and colony morphology DOI

MP Lesser,

CD Mobley,

JD Hedley

et al.

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 670, P. 49 - 60

Published: May 21, 2021

Mesophotic coral reefs, generally defined as deep reefs between 30 and 150 m, are found worldwide largely structured by changes in the underwater light field. Additionally, it is increasingly understood that reef-to-reef variability topography, combined with quantitative qualitative field increasing depth, significantly influence observed distribution abundance. Here, we take a modeling approach to examine effects of inherent optical properties water column on irradiance corals exposed along shallow mesophotic depth gradient. In particular, roles reef topography including horizontal, sloping vertical substrates quantified, well differences mounding, plating branching colony morphologies. Downwelling interact such for mass similar properties, reaching benthos varies (i.e. substrate angle). Coral morphology, however, also factor; model results show isolated hemispherical colonies consistently ‘see’ greater incident irradiances across depths, throughout day, compared These modeled geometric-based different morphologies not, consistent actual depth-dependent distributions these morphotypes, where dominate you go deeper. Other factors, cost calcification, arguably contribute differences, but irradiance-driven patterns strong proximate cause communities versus substrates.

Language: Английский

Citations

16