Stony coral tissue loss disease decimated Caribbean coral populations and reshaped reef functionality

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 5(1)

Опубликована: Июнь 9, 2022

Diseases are major drivers of the deterioration coral reefs and linked to declines in abundance, reef functionality, reef-related ecosystems services. An outbreak a new disease is currently rampaging through populations remaining reef-building corals across Caribbean region. The was first reported Florida 2014 reached northern Mesoamerican Reef by summer 2018, where it spread ~450-km system only few months. Rapid generalized all sites mortality rates ranged from 94% <10% among 21 afflicted species. Most species family Meandrinadae (maze corals) subfamily Faviinae (brain sustained losses >50%. This single event further modified communities region increasing relative dominance weedy reducing both terms functional diversity calcium carbonate production. emergent likely become most lethal disturbance ever recorded Caribbean, will result onset regime key complex branching acroporids, an apparently unaffected genus that underwent severe population decades ago retained low levels, once again conspicuous structural features systems with yet even lower levels physical functionality.

Язык: Английский

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Spatial patterns of soft coral (Octocorallia) assemblages in the shallow coral reefs of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan: Dominance on highly disturbed reefs

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 71, С. 103405 - 103405

Опубликована: Янв. 25, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Widespread coral bleaching and mass mortality during the 2023–2024 marine heatwave in Little Cayman

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 20(5), С. e0322636 - e0322636

Опубликована: Май 2, 2025

The increased frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves (MHWs) induced by continued global warming are the greatest threat to tropical coral reefs, causing mass bleaching events widespread mortality reef building corals. In 2023, isolated well-protected reefs around Little Cayman experienced a MHW > 17 Degree Heating Weeks (DHW), far exceeding any DHW measure previously captured. During peak heatwave, ~ 80% all corals were either bleached or showing signs mortality. On final survey date ~54% surveyed recorded as dead. However, we identified significant differences in susceptibility across taxonomic groups, related different life history strategies. Notably, weedy taxa such Agaricia spp., Porites astreoides, porites, high suffered extensive Meanwhile, stress-tolerant Orbicella spp ., bleaching, but low Given have not been exposed previous thermal stress events, highly sensitive disproportionately contributed abundance. Thus, occurrence magnitude – long duration heatwave resulted catastrophic Cayman, despite ~57% coastal environment being classified no-take Marine Protected Areas. These findings underscore that stressor climate change, which drives MHWs, cannot be mitigated local protection isolation, thus highlighting need directly tackle cause decline (i.e., change).

Язык: Английский

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Local anthropogenic stress does not exacerbate coral bleaching under global climate change

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 31(6), С. 1228 - 1236

Опубликована: Апрель 11, 2022

Abstract Aim Rising ocean temperatures are widely recognized as the dominant driver behind rapid degradation of coral reefs via process bleaching (the expulsion photosynthetic endosymbionts, which reveals skeleton). However, hard corals is often assumed to be further aggravated by effect local‐scale stressors from anthropogenic activity, accelerating reef decline where these stronger. Despite importance this hypothesis, interaction between climate change and local for driving has only been investigated in a handful studies, with no large scale (regional or global) test conducted thus far. We investigate impact human population density (HPD) – proxy both protected non‐protected marine regions, their under heat stress drivers bleaching. Location Global. Time period 2002–2018. Major taxa studied Scleractinia corals. Methods Using 9,170 surveys worldwide, we performed Bayesian modelling assess probability response global warming. Results Local HPD does not exacerbate bleaching, either independently thermal change. Rather, relationship temperature appears weakly antagonistic contradicting expectation that increases sensitivity stress. Main conclusions interact warming degrading reefs. regional variation patterns exists. Consequently, will continue occur on most globally regardless HPD. Thus, it likely even isolated, well‐protected, because warming‐induced Therefore, tackling source remains effective way mitigate

Язык: Английский

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Porites astreoides coral populations demonstrate high clonality and connectivity in southeast Florida

Coral Reefs, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 42(5), С. 1131 - 1145

Опубликована: Сен. 4, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Bridging the gap in deep seafloor management: Ultra fine‐scale ecological habitat characterization of large seascapes

Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

Abstract The United Nations' sustainable development goal to designate 30% of the oceans as marine protected areas by 2030 requires practical management tools, and in turn ecologically meaningful mapping seafloor. Particularly challenging is mesophotic zone, a critical component system, biodiversity hotspot, potential refuge. Here, we introduce novel seafloor habitat workflow, integrating cm‐scale synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) multibeam bathymetry surveying with efficient ecotope characterization. In merely 6 h, mapped ~5 km 2 complex reef at sub‐metric resolution. Applying deep learning classifier on SAS imagery, classified four habitats an accuracy 84% defined relevant fine‐scale ecotones. Visual census precise situ sampling guided images for navigation were utilized ecological characterization units. Our preliminary fish surveys indicate importance highly rock/sand These less abundant would be largely underrepresented if area without prior consideration. Thus, our approach demonstrated generate scalable maps resolutions pertinent biotas, previously inaccessible mesophotic, advancing modeling large seascapes.

Язык: Английский

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Global change differentially modulates Caribbean coral physiology

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 17(9), С. e0273897 - e0273897

Опубликована: Сен. 2, 2022

Global change driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions is altering ecosystems at unprecedented rates, especially coral reefs, whose symbiosis with algal symbionts particularly vulnerable to increasing ocean temperatures and altered carbonate chemistry. Here, we assess the physiological responses of three Caribbean (animal host + symbiont) species from an inshore offshore reef environment after exposure simulated warming (28, 31°C), acidification (300-3290 μatm), combination stressors for 93 days. We used multidimensional analyses how a variety parameters respond warming. Our results demonstrate reductions in health Siderastrea siderea Porites astreoides response projected acidification, while future elicited severe declines Pseudodiploria strigosa. Offshore S. fragments exhibited higher plasticity than counterparts, suggesting that this population was more susceptible changing conditions. There were no differences P. strigosa between natal environments, however, temperature evoked stronger both species. Interestingly, each unique warming, when data all are modelled together, convergent stress these conditions observed, highlighting overall sensitivities tropical corals stressors. acute stressor will have dire consequences reefs globally, chronic may also impact physiology greater extent some previously assumed. Further, our study identifies as potential 'winners' on due their resilience under global stressors, likely be 'loser' sensitivity thermal events. Together, species-specific observe manifest assemblages future.

Язык: Английский

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Disturbance intensification is altering the trait composition of Caribbean reefs, locking them into a low functioning state

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(1)

Опубликована: Авг. 28, 2023

Anthropogenic climate change is intensifying natural disturbance regimes, which negatively affects some species, while benefiting others. This could alter the trait composition of ecological communities and influence resilience to disturbance. We investigated how frequency intensification regional storm regime (and likely other disturbances) altering coral species in turn resistance recovery. developed databases cover (3144 reef locations from 1970 2017) path strength cyclonic storms region (including 10,058 unique storm-reef intersections). found that total living declined steadily through 2017 (the median annual loss rate was ~ 0.25% per year). Our results also indicate despite observed increase intensity Atlantic storms, their effect on has decreased markedly. be due part selection for disturbance-resistant taxa response regime. accelerated threatened acroporid corals but had no measurable more resilient "weedy" corals, thereby increasing relative cover. Although increased, recovery rates have slowed dominance small, slow-growing species. feedback loop locking into a low-functioning state dominated by weedy with limited or societal value.

Язык: Английский

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Institutional amnesia pushes fish spawning aggregations towards extirpation

People and Nature, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 5(2), С. 489 - 495

Опубликована: Март 2, 2023

Abstract How institutions create and manage knowledge has been explored in the context of management business science. However, little effort made to understand how, why, these forget what works or does not work, no research this field conducted conservation fisheries This paper examines concept institutional amnesia by focussing a lens on fish spawning aggregations efforts monitor protect them Mesoamerican Reef. For over 20 years, underwater visual census survey data collected periodically at 36 aggregation sites, grey literature is available since 1940's, yet managers practitioners report that abundance tendencies for 48% grouper snapper species across sites are ‘ Unknown ’, despite measurable >99% declines some cases. text reasons why site uncertain their reporting. The central argument (resulting from factors such as staff turnover, ineffective learning, poor record keeping lack storytelling) contributing suboptimal ecological outcomes aggregations, which likely continue unless measures taken ensure continuity knowledge. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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Characterizing Reef Net Metabolism Via the Diel Co‐Variation of pH and Dissolved Oxygen From High Resolution in Situ Sensors

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 37(9)

Опубликована: Авг. 30, 2023

Abstract Coral reefs are subject to degradation by multiple environmental stressors which predicted intensify. Stress can alter ecosystem composition, with shifts from hard coral macroalgae dominated often accompanied an increase in soft corals and sponges. Such changes may net metabolism biogeochemistry shifting the balance between photosynthesis, respiration, calcification dissolution. We deployed high temporal resolution pH dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors at four Caribbean reef sites varying covers of corals, sponges macroalgae. The resultant data indicated that strength “metabolic pulse”, specifically co‐variation daily DO oscillations, was driven light ‐dependent ‐independent metabolism. were positively correlated over diel cycle sites, suggesting photosynthesis respiration major controlling processes, further agreement a simple production:respiration model. Whereas, site macroalgal cover, decoupling observed during daylight hours. This indicates unidentified light‐driven process altered expected pH:DO relationship. hypothesize this could be mediated higher levels macroalgae, either stimulated bacterial‐mediated carbonate dissolution via production release allelopathic compounds or retained oxygen, evolved gaseous form seawater (ebullition). Our work demonstrates monitoring provides insight into biogeochemical functioning key for understanding long‐term

Язык: Английский

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