Fish-based herbivory and the natural maintenance of algal fouling on coral nurseries used across the Great Barrier Reef DOI Creative Commons

Gemma M. Gillette,

Emma F. Camp, John Edmondson

et al.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Abstract In-situ coral nurseries have become widespread across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) as part of tourism-led stewardship efforts to grow and replant at sites high socio-economic value. Practices are aimed reducing costs increasing propagation efficiency. Whilst role herbivorous fish in regulating coral-algal competition has been extensively studied on natural reefs, limited research examined how similar benefits could be harnessed improve success. Here, we assess extent which assemblages GBR reduce growth biofouling algae nursery frames survival Acropora species growing frames. Cage-exclusion treatments, coupled with grazing plate assays video surveys, were employed quantify maintenance effect (>2.5 cm length) two reef Opal northern Reef. Exclusion grazers from for 112 days led a fourfold increase algal biomass compared treatments where allowed access. Removal by fish, turn, mean survivorship >25%, although responses composition species-specific, verweyi exhibited greater than either A. muricata or cerealis. Analysis bite rates revealed fouling was almost entirely driven individuals parrotfish surgeonfish families, notably, Scarus globiceps (Globehead parrotfish) Acanthurus nigricauda (Eye-line surgeonfish). Our results highlight importance accounting broader ecology practices detail important early considerations more effective design, positioning, stocking arrangements.

Language: Английский

Shifting reef restoration focus from coral survivorship to biodiversity using Reef Carpets DOI Creative Commons
Yael B. Horoszowski-Fridman, Ido Izhaki,

Sefano M. Katz

et al.

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

To enhance the practice of farmed-coral transplantation, we conducted a trial an approach called "Reef Carpets" (RC), which draws inspiration from commercial turf-grass sod in land-based lawn gardening. Three 8.4m

Language: Английский

Citations

5
Understanding and improving sustainable use of coral reef resources DOI Creative Commons
Arghya Mandal, Mainak Banerjee

Published: March 7, 2025

Coral reefs harbor an unparalleled biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services to millions of people worldwide. However, unsustainable fishing, pollution, habitat degradation, climate change pose tremendous risks these priceless ecosystems. For the sake maintaining ecosystems lifestyles they sustain, it is essential comprehend enhance sustainable use coral reef resources. We integrate ecological, social, economic information better understand resource utilization. draw attention intricate relationship that exists between human activity health reefs, highlighting necessity holistic management strategies take socioeconomic development ecological preservation into account. The relevance legislative frameworks in encouraging behaviors complemented by role technology innovation monitoring conservation efforts. In addition, this review addresses new issues, including ocean acidification change’s effects, as well programs for restoration nature-based remedies could improve resilience. This outlines viable paths improving utilization resources referencing case studies from various geographical areas. It emphasizes value long-term investments projects, interdisciplinary cooperation, adaptive techniques. Through integration scientific knowledge with traditional local skills, stakeholders may collaborate protect preserve them future generations.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping DOI Creative Commons

Tamar Shabi,

Yaron Ziv, Reuven Yosef

et al.

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1), P. 186 - 186

Published: Jan. 19, 2024

Global degradation of coral reefs is reflected in the destruction shelters various environments and threatens stability marine ecosystems. Artificial offer an alternative, but their design could be more challenging due to limited knowledge regarding desired inhabitants’ shelter characteristics preferences. Investigating these preferences resource-intensive, particularly small that mimic natural reef conditions. Furthermore, for statistical analysis shelters, fish abundance may need higher. We propose a method characterize species-specific using low-volume data. During study conducted from January 2021 April 2022, round clay artificial (RAS) were deployed on abandoned oil pier examine community. recorded 92 species 30 families grouped them into systematic (families) functional (dietary group) classes. Grouping enabled us each group’s preference, while crossing group revealed preferences, which matched field observations. This approach proved effective profiling 17 having resources. These profiles later allow establishment ecological-oriented reefs. Moreover, this can applied other applications designs, sizes, research sites.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Biomass of key grazing fishes is an important determinant of coral growth and fouling control in coral nurseries DOI Creative Commons
Ewout G. Knoester,

Emilia Rizzi,

Albertinka J. Murk

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(8)

Published: July 14, 2023

Restoration is an emerging tool for coral reef conservation, yet despite small‐scale successes there are concerns about high costs and ecological setbacks. Integration between ecology restoration could help address such concerns. A prime example the use of grazing by herbivores to reduce nursery cleaning costs. However, relation herbivore communities benefits remains unquantified. This study aimed measure links herbivorous fish communities, intensity performance. Six reefs were selected in southern Kenya, equally divided across three levels fisheries management (fished < reserve no‐take). Fish surveys determined biomass composition, remote underwater videos recorded on nurseries. Accumulated fouling growth measured at end 4‐month study. Grazing was sixfold lower density fourfold higher fished areas compared protected zones. Higher strongly correlated with growth: exponential constants respectively twice times as low marine reserves no‐take Across sites dominated bristletooth tangs ( Ctenochaetus spp.), except where these outcompeted territorial damselfish. Thus, better performance can be partially linked intensity, which turn both local species composition. We recommend protecting placing nurseries key grazers improve maintenance

Language: Английский

Citations

6
Gardening Pocillopora spp. fragments and their potential for rebuilding reef systems in the southern Mexican Pacific DOI Creative Commons
Diego García‐Medrano, Andrés López‐Pérez, Sergio D. Guendulain-García

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(8)

Published: Sept. 13, 2023

The degradation of coral reefs during the last decades has turned attention toward management and restoration interventions. This study seeks to operationalize gardening Pocillopora spp. fragments in low profile bottom‐anchored nurseries compare survival growth patterns between sites, time, fragment size southern Mexican Pacific. After 357 days, showed high (96.4%), rates (4.35 cm/year), an increase coverage from 3.62 ± 1.3% (mean SD) 17.42 4.8% (approximately 480%). Coral rate did not show differences sites (pseudo‐ F [1,635] = 0.21, p 0.63), but corals grew more significantly upwelling season Gulf Tehuantepec. According linear local regression analysis, extension was higher when were smaller (<7 cm diameter) being relevance for operationalizing donor colonies; nevertheless, shrinkage (13.1%), (i.e. early phases protocol), calls precaution close monitoring. Operationalizing fragments, including successful metrics areas, are relevant reef eastern tropical Pacific; lessons regarding differential related should also be considered.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Deciphering Preferences of Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fishes, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping DOI Open Access

Tamar Shabi,

Yaron Ziv, Reuven Yosef

et al.

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Global degradation of coral reefs is reflected in the destruction shelters various environments and threatens stability marine ecosystems. Artificial offer an alternative, but their design challenging due to limited knowledge regarding shelter characteristics preferences desired inhabitants. Investigating these resource-intensive, particularly small that mimic natural reef condition. Further, fish abundance may be too low for statistical analysis shelters. We propose a method characterize species-specific using low-volume data. During study conducted from January 2021 April 2022, round clay artificial (RAS) were deployed on abandoned oil pier examine community. recorded 92 species 30 families; grouped them systematically (families) functionally (dietary group) classes. Grouping enabled examining each group’s preference while crossing group revealed species- specific preferences, matched field observations. This approach proved effective profiling 17 having resources. These profiles latter allow establishment ecological-oriented reefs.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Propagating the stony coral Echinopora horrida: evaluating the effects of rearing environment and transplant orientation DOI
Shu Qin Sam, Chin Soon Lionel Ng, Yuichi Preslie Kikuzawa

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(4)

Published: Jan. 14, 2024

The “coral gardening” approach has been effective in facilitating the recovery of degraded reefs but methodological variations can influence survivorship and growth coral material. In addition, disproportionate use certain corals, such as acroporids pocilloporids, contributed to a general lack information on patterns restoration strategies for species that are less common. To investigate how yield other may be increased support reef efforts Singapore, we assessed effects (1) environment (nursery, reef, seawall) (2) transplant orientation (horizontal vertical) performance Echinopora horrida (Dana, 1846) fragments. Fragments secured nursery grew significantly faster survived better than those transplanted seawall, highlighting importance nursery‐rearing phase optimizing this species. Additionally, rates were not different between vertically horizontally suggesting modifying was crucial toward enhancing yield. Our findings highlighted need optimize propagation techniques wider range understudied order preserve their genetic diversity face anthropogenic climatic impacts.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Enhancing coral restoration practices in Seychelles: benefits and limitations of fishing lines and rope as coral stocking methods DOI Creative Commons
Charlotte Dale,

Athina Antoine,

Giovanni Strona

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Coral restoration plays a pivotal role in mitigating the decline of coral reefs, increasing need for implementing effective techniques and methodologies. This study investigates efficacy stocking Acropora muricata Pocillopora grandis using fishing line versus rope mid‐water floating nurseries, offering valuable insights practitioners. Over 1 year, survival, tissue cover, growth, cleaning time, cost, preparation, timing both methods were evaluated. Fishing reduced contact with fouling organisms, contributing to enhanced cover growth rates P. compared rope, but no significant effect was detected A. . Survival differed among species, higher , indicating impact due species‐specific differences. Challenges like nursery collapses amphipod outbreaks may have impacted emphasizing importance consistent maintenance accessibility project sites. Furthermore, method effort. However, cost considerations preparation complexities warrant careful evaluation, particularly regards budgets. The underscores necessity further research, incorporating diverse genotypes, initial fragment sizes refine strategies. In summary, this provides important guidance practitioners, aiding informed decisions on different projects species while considering balance between health benefits operational feasibility.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Fish-based herbivory and the natural maintenance of algal fouling on coral nurseries used across the Great Barrier Reef DOI Creative Commons

Gemma M. Gillette,

Emma F. Camp, John Edmondson

et al.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Abstract In-situ coral nurseries have become widespread across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) as part of tourism-led stewardship efforts to grow and replant at sites high socio-economic value. Practices are aimed reducing costs increasing propagation efficiency. Whilst role herbivorous fish in regulating coral-algal competition has been extensively studied on natural reefs, limited research examined how similar benefits could be harnessed improve success. Here, we assess extent which assemblages GBR reduce growth biofouling algae nursery frames survival Acropora species growing frames. Cage-exclusion treatments, coupled with grazing plate assays video surveys, were employed quantify maintenance effect (>2.5 cm length) two reef Opal northern Reef. Exclusion grazers from for 112 days led a fourfold increase algal biomass compared treatments where allowed access. Removal by fish, turn, mean survivorship >25%, although responses composition species-specific, verweyi exhibited greater than either A. muricata or cerealis. Analysis bite rates revealed fouling was almost entirely driven individuals parrotfish surgeonfish families, notably, Scarus globiceps (Globehead parrotfish) Acanthurus nigricauda (Eye-line surgeonfish). Our results highlight importance accounting broader ecology practices detail important early considerations more effective design, positioning, stocking arrangements.

Language: Английский

Citations

0