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Honeycutt RN, Holbrook SJ, Brooks AJ, Schmitt RJ. Farmerfish gardens help buffer stony corals against marine heat waves. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282572. [PMID: 36888598 PMCID: PMC9994727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
With marine heat waves increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change, it is important to understand how thermal disturbances will alter coral reef ecosystems since stony corals are highly susceptible to mortality from thermally-induced, mass bleaching events. In Moorea, French Polynesia, we evaluated the response and fate of coral following a major thermal stress event in 2019 that caused a substantial amount of branching coral (predominantly Pocillopora) to bleach and die. We investigated whether Pocillopora colonies that occurred within territorial gardens protected by the farmerfish Stegastes nigricans were less susceptible to or survived bleaching better than Pocillopora on adjacent, undefended substrate. Bleaching prevalence (proportion of the sampled colonies affected) and severity (proportion of a colony's tissue that bleached), which were quantified for >1,100 colonies shortly after they bleached, did not differ between colonies within or outside of defended gardens. By contrast, the fates of 399 focal colonies followed for one year revealed that a bleached coral within a garden was a third less likely to suffer complete colony death and about twice as likely to recover to its pre-bleaching cover of living tissue compared to Pocillopora outside of a farmerfish garden. Our findings indicate that while residing in a farmerfish garden may not reduce the bleaching susceptibility of a coral to thermal stress, it does help buffer a bleached coral against severe outcomes. This oasis effect of farmerfish gardens, where survival and recovery of thermally-damaged corals are enhanced, is another mechanism that helps explain why large Pocillopora colonies are disproportionately more abundant in farmerfish territories than elsewhere in the lagoons of Moorea, despite gardens being relatively uncommon. As such, some farmerfishes may have an increasingly important role in maintaining the resilience of branching corals as the frequency and intensity of marine heat waves continue to increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi N Honeycutt
- Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Sally J Holbrook
- Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Russell J Schmitt
- Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
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2
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Guerra AS, Van Wert JC, Haupt AJ, McCauley DJ, Eliason EJ, Young HS, Lecchini D, White TD, Caselle JE. Differences in the behavior and diet between shoaling and solitary surgeonfish ( Acanthurus triostegus). Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9686. [PMID: 36620397 PMCID: PMC9817200 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in behavior within marine and terrestrial species can influence the functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit. However, the contribution of social behavior to ecosystem function remains underexplored. Many coral reef fish species provide potentially insightful models for exploring how social behavior shapes ecological function because they exhibit radical intraspecific variation in sociality within a shared habitat. Here, we provide an empirical exploration on how the ecological function of a shoaling surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus) may differ from that of solitary conspecifics on two Pacific coral reefs combining insight from behavioral observations, stable isotope analysis, and macronutrient analysis of gut and fecal matter. We detected important differences in how the social mode of A. triostegus affected its spatial and feeding ecology, as well as that of other reef fish species. Specifically, we found increased distance traveled and area covered by shoaling fish relative to solitary A. triostegus. Additionally, shoaling A. triostegus primarily grazed within territories of other herbivorous fish and had piscivorous and nonpiscivorous heterospecific fish associated with the shoal, while solitary A. triostegus grazed largely grazed outside of any territories and did not have any such interactions with heterospecific fish. Results from stable isotope analysis show a difference in δ15N isotopes between shoaling and solitary fish, which suggests that these different social modes are persistent. Further, we found a strong interaction between social behavior and site and carbohydrate and protein percentages in the macronutrient analysis, indicating that these differences in sociality are associated with measurable differences in both the feeding ecology and nutrient excretion patterns. Our study suggests that the social behavior of individuals may play an important and underappreciated role in mediating their ecological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Guerra
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jacey C. Van Wert
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alison J. Haupt
- Department of Marine ScienceCalifornia State University Monterey BaySeasideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Douglas J. McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Erika J. Eliason
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hillary S. Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - David Lecchini
- EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRSPSL UniversityMo'oreaFrench Polynesia
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL"ParisFrance
| | - Timothy D. White
- Hopkins Marine StationStanford UniversityPacific GroveCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jennifer E. Caselle
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
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3
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Kavazos CRJ, Ricci F, Leggat W, Casey JM, Choat JH, Ainsworth TD. Intestinal Microbiome Richness of Coral Reef Damselfishes ( Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae). Integr Org Biol 2022; 4:obac026. [PMID: 36136736 PMCID: PMC9486986 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish gastro-intestinal system harbors diverse microbiomes that affect the host's
digestion, nutrition, and immunity. Despite the great taxonomic diversity of fish, little
is understood about fish microbiome and the factors that determine its structure and
composition. Damselfish are important coral reef species that play pivotal roles in
determining algae and coral population structures of reefs. Broadly, damselfish belong to
either of two trophic guilds based on whether they are planktivorous or algae-farming. In
this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the intestinal microbiome of 5
planktivorous and 5 algae-farming damselfish species (Pomacentridae) from
the Great Barrier Reef. We detected Gammaproteobacteria ASVs belonging to
the genus Actinobacillus in 80% of sampled individuals across the 2
trophic guilds, thus, bacteria in this genus can be considered possible core members of
pomacentrid microbiomes. Algae-farming damselfish had greater bacterial alpha-diversity, a
more diverse core microbiome and shared 35 ± 22 ASVs, whereas planktivorous species shared
7 ± 3 ASVs. Our data also highlight differences in microbiomes associated with both
trophic guilds. For instance, algae-farming damselfish were enriched in
Pasteurellaceae, whilst planktivorous damselfish in
Vibrionaceae. Finally, we show shifts in bacterial community
composition along the intestines. ASVs associated with the classes Bacteroidia,
Clostridia, and Mollicutes bacteria were predominant in the
anterior intestinal regions while Gammaproteobacteria abundance was
higher in the stomach. Our results suggest that the richness of the intestinal bacterial
communities of damselfish reflects host species diet and trophic guild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R J Kavazos
- Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - Francesco Ricci
- Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
- Centre of Marine Bio-Innovation, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - William Leggat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle , 10 Chittaway Dr, Ourimbah, NSW 2258 , Australia
| | - Jordan M Casey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University , Townsville, QLD 4811 , Australia
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan , Perpignan 66100 , France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence “CORAIL,” Université de Perpignan , Perpignan 66100 , France
| | - J Howard Choat
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University , Townsville QLD 4814 , Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
- Centre of Marine Bio-Innovation, The University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
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4
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Cissell EC, Eckrich CE, McCoy SJ. Cyanobacterial mats as benthic reservoirs and vectors for coral black band disease pathogens. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2692. [PMID: 35707998 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The concurrent rise in the prevalence of conspicuous benthic cyanobacterial mats and the incidence of coral diseases independently mark major axes of degradation of coral reefs globally. Recent advances have uncovered the potential for the existence of interactions between the expanding cover of cyanobacterial mats and coral disease, especially black band disease (BBD), and this intersection represents both an urgent conservation concern and a critical challenge for future research. Here, we propose links between the transmission of BBD and benthic cyanobacterial mats. We provide molecular and ecophysiological evidence suggesting that cyanobacterial mats may create and maintain physically favorable benthic refugia for BBD pathogens while directly harboring BBD precursor assemblages, and discuss how mats may serve as direct (mediated via contact) and indirect (mediated via predator-prey-pathogen relationships) vectors for BBD pathogens. Finally, we identify and outline future priority research directions that are aligned with actionable management practices and priorities to support evidence-based coral conservation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan C Cissell
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Caren E Eckrich
- Stichting Nationale Parken (STINAPA) Bonaire, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
| | - Sophie J McCoy
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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5
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Nutrient Enrichment Predominantly Affects Low Diversity Microbiomes in a Marine Trophic Symbiosis between Algal Farming Fish and Corals. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091873. [PMID: 34576770 PMCID: PMC8471015 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
While studies show that nutrient pollution shifts reef trophic interactions between fish, macroalgae, and corals, we know less about how the microbiomes associated with these organisms react to such disturbances. To investigate how microbiome dynamics are affected during nutrient pollution, we exposed replicate Porites lobata corals colonized by the fish Stegastes nigricans, which farm an algal matrix on the coral, to a pulse of nutrient enrichment over a two-month period and examined the microbiome of each partner using 16S amplicon analysis. We found 51 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) shared among the three hosts. Coral microbiomes had the lowest diversity with over 98% of the microbiome dominated by a single genus, Endozoicomonas. Fish and algal matrix microbiomes were ~20 to 70× more diverse and had higher evenness compared to the corals. The addition of nutrients significantly increased species richness and community variability between samples of coral microbiomes but not the fish or algal matrix microbiomes, demonstrating that coral microbiomes are less resistant to nutrient pollution than their trophic partners. Furthermore, the 51 common ASVs within the 3 hosts indicate microbes that may be shared or transmitted between these closely associated organisms, including Vibrionaceae bacteria, many of which can be pathogenic to corals.
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6
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Lecchini D, Brooker RM, Waqalevu V, Gairin E, Minier L, Berthe C, Besineau R, Blay G, Maueau T, Sturny V, Bambridge T, Sang GT, Bertucci F. Effects of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on coral reef fishes at eco-tourism sites in Bora-Bora, French Polynesia. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 170:105451. [PMID: 34418732 PMCID: PMC9272407 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global lockdown in mid-2020, leading to a rapid decline in international travel and tourism. In French Polynesia, marine-based tourism activities ceased in March 2020 with the suspension of international flights (i.e., 45 days - between 20th March and 04th May 2020), slowly restarting between May-July as domestic and international visitors returned. The impacts of this rapid change in human activity at reef tourism sites on associated reef fishes was examined at Bora-Bora Island through underwater surveys of five control and nine eco-tourism sites. Our results showed that fish density significantly increased from March to May (i.e., the overall density of fishes increased by 143% and harvested species by 215%), but returned to pre-lockdown levels by August 2020. At the usually busy eco-tourism sites, fish diversity, notably of piscivores, omnivores, and benthic feeders, was higher in the absence of tourists. The impact observed is almost certainly related to short term changes in fish behavior, as any density fluctuations at the population level are unlikely to have happened over such a short time frame. Overall, these findings highlight the influence of human activities on fish communities and underline the need for further research to evaluate the environmental impacts of eco-tourism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lecchini
- PSL Université Paris, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729, Moorea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France.
| | - Rohan M Brooker
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, 3225, Australia
| | - Viliame Waqalevu
- Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France; School of Marine Studies, University of the South Pacific, 679, Suva, Fiji
| | - Emma Gairin
- Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France; PSL Université Paris, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Lana Minier
- PSL Université Paris, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729, Moorea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France
| | - Cecile Berthe
- PSL Université Paris, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729, Moorea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France
| | - Rainui Besineau
- Comité Du Tourisme de Bora Bora & de Bora Bora Activités, 98730, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
| | - Guilhem Blay
- Lagoon Service & Reef Discovery, 98730, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
| | - Tehani Maueau
- Association Ia Vai Ma Noa Bora-Bora, 98730, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
| | - Vincent Sturny
- Polynésienne des Eaux, Vaitape, 98730, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
| | - Tamatoa Bambridge
- PSL Université Paris, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729, Moorea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France
| | | | - Frédéric Bertucci
- Laboratoire D'Excellence "CORAIL", 66100, Perpignan, France; Functional and Evolutionary Morphology Lab, University of Liège, 4000, Liege, Belgium
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7
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Long term relationship between farming damselfish, predators, competitors and benthic habitat on coral reefs of Moorea Island. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14548. [PMID: 34267281 PMCID: PMC8282866 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94010-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the processes that shape biodiversity is essential for effective environmental management. Across the world's coral reefs, algal farming damselfish (Stegastes sp.) modify the surrounding benthic community through their creation of algae "farms". Using a long-term monitoring dataset (2005-2019) from Moorea Island, French Polynesia, we investigated whether the density of dusky damselfish (Stegastes nigricans) is associated with benthic habitat composition, the density of predators and/or competitors, and whether the survey area was inside or outside of a Marine Protected Area (MPA). We found no evidence that benthic cover or number of competitors were associated with dusky damselfish densities, both inside and outside MPAs. In contrast, fluctuations in dusky damselfish densities were negatively associated with the density of predators (e.g. Serranidae, Muraenidae and Scorpaenidae) in the preceding year in non-MPA areas, and both within and outside of MPAs when predator densities were high (2005-2010). These results suggest that healthy predator populations may be important for regulating the abundances of keystone species, such as algal farming damselfish, especially when predator densities are high.
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8
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Chaves LDCT, Feitosa JLL, Xavier TF, Ferreira BP, Ferreira CEL. Drivers of damselfishes distribution patterns in the southwestern Atlantic: tropical and subtropical reefs compared. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2021-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Damselfishes are known keystone species of reef environments, however large-scale distribution patterns are poorly studied in the southwestern Atlantic. We evaluated main drivers of distribution of three conspicuous damselfishes, along tropical and subtropical coastal systems, in Brazil. Abundances were assessed against wave exposure, depth (within 1–7 m in tropical and 1–11 m in subtropical reefs) and benthic cover. Despite differences between systems, exposure and depth consistently explained damselfishes distribution. Stegastes fuscus, the larger damselfish species of the genus in the southwestern Atlantic, was dominant in both systems, inhabiting preferably shallow and sheltered reefs. Conversely, Stegastes variabilis occupied shallow habitats with higher exposure. Stegastes pictus was absent from tropical reefs sampled, inhabiting depths >7 m, in subtropical reefs. Species were weakly associated with benthic features, which poorly predicted changes in abundances. Regardless, S. fuscus showed association with articulated calcareous algae, and S. variabilis juveniles associated with erect macroalgae. Despite occurring in very distinctive reef systems, Brazilian damsels habitat requirements are consistent in both tropical and subtropical reefs. While highly persistent species, long term monitoring will inform us how they respond to pervasive global changes and human impacts along Brazilian reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - João L. L. Feitosa
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil; Tropical Conservation Consortium, USA
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9
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Tebbett SB, Chase TJ, Bellwood DR. Farming damselfishes shape algal turf sediment dynamics on coral reefs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 160:104988. [PMID: 32907726 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Farming damselfishes are well known for shaping benthic communities on reefs, in terms of both cultivating algae and increasing productivity. However, their capacity to shape relationships between algal turfs, detritus and sediments remains largely unknown, despite the importance of such relationships on reefs. We therefore examined the relationships between sediment loads and both algal turf length and detritus levels, inside and outside farming damselfish territories, at two reefs on the Great Barrier Reef. We found that, while sediment loads are tightly coupled with algal turfs outside territories, the nature of this coupling was fundamentally different inside damselfish territories, with significantly longer algal turfs and higher detritus levels prevailing, irrespective of sediment loads. These modified algal turf-sediment relationships may be a key factor in explaining, a) the significantly higher productivity levels reported from within farming damselfish territories and b) the ability of farming damselfishes to persist in high-sediment locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - Tory J Chase
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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10
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Coral Disease Causes, Consequences, and Risk within Coral Restoration. Trends Microbiol 2020; 28:793-807. [PMID: 32739101 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
As a result of increased reef degradation, restoration efforts are now being widely applied on coral reefs. However, outplanted coral survival in restoration zones varies substantially, and coral mortality can be a significant limitation to the success of restoration efforts. With reef restoration now occurring within, and adjacent to, nationally preserved and managed marine parks, the potential risks of mortality events and disease spread to adjacent marine populations need to be considered, particularly as these ecosystems continue to decline. We review the causes and consequences of coral mortality and disease outbreaks within the context of coral restoration, highlighting knowledge gaps in our understanding of the restored coral microbiome and discussing management practices for assessing coral disease. We identify the need for research efforts into monitoring and diagnostics of disease within coral restoration, as well as practices to mitigate and manage coral disease risks in restoration.
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11
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Bejarano S, Pardede S, Campbell SJ, Hoey AS, Ferse SCA. Herbivorous fish rise as a destructive fishing practice falls in an Indonesian marine national park. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01981. [PMID: 31349375 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Securing ecosystem functions is challenging, yet common priority in conservation efforts. While marine parks aim to meet this challenge by regulating fishing through zoning plans, their effectiveness hinges on compliance levels and may respond to changes in fishing practices. Here we use a speciose assemblage of nominally herbivorous reef fish in Karimunjawa National Park (zoned since 1989) to investigate whether areas subject to a restrictive management regime sustained higher biomass over seven years compared to areas where moderate and permissive regulations apply. Using a trait-based approach we characterize the functional space of the entire species pool and ask whether changes in biomass translate into changes in functional structure. We track changes in predator biomass, benthic community structure, and fishing practices that could influence herbivore trajectories. Overall herbivore biomass doubled in 2012 compared to 2006-2009 and remained high in 2013 across all management regimes. We found no evidence that this biomass build-up resulted from predator depletion or increased food availability but suggest it emerged in response to a park-wide cessation of fishing with large drive nets known as muroami. The biomass increase was accompanied by a modest increase in taxonomic richness and a slight decrease in community-scale rarity that did not alter functional redundancy levels. Subtle changes in both functional specialization and identity of assemblages emerged as generalist species with low intrinsic vulnerability to fishing recovered sooner than more vulnerable specialists. While this implies a recovery of mechanisms responsible for the grazing of algal turfs and detritus, restoring other facets of herbivory (e.g., macroalgal consumption) may require more time. An increase in the cost-benefit ratio per journey of muroami fishing facilitated a ban on muroami nets that met minimal resistance. Similar windows of opportunity may emerge elsewhere in which gear-based regulations can supplement zoning plans, especially when compliance is low. This does not advocate for implementing such regulations once a fishery has become unprofitable. Rather, it underlines their importance for breaking the cycle of resource depletion and low compliance to zoning, thus alleviating the resulting threats to food security and ecosystem integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Bejarano
- Reef Systems Research Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Shinta Pardede
- Indonesia Marine Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bogor, 16151, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Stuart J Campbell
- Indonesia Marine Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bogor, 16151, West Java, Indonesia
- Rare Indonesia, Jalan Gunung Gede 1 No. 6, Taman Kencana, Bogor, 16151, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence of Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
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12
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Giery ST, Layman CA. Ecological Consequences Of Sexually Selected Traits: An Eco-Evolutionary Perspective. QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1086/702341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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13
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Chan Y, Lo S, Quan A, Blumstein DT. Ontogenetic shifts in perceptions of safety along structural complexity gradients in a territorial damselfish. Curr Zool 2018; 65:183-188. [PMID: 30936907 PMCID: PMC6430967 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Age and body size can influence predation risk and hence habitat use. Many species undergo ontogenetic shifts in habitat use as individuals grow larger and have different age-specific predation pressures. On coral reefs, a number of fish species are more tolerant of threats in structurally complex habitats that contain more refuges than in less structurally complex habitats. However, we do not know how risk perception varies with age, and whether age interacts with habitat complexity. Adults and juveniles, because of their size, may face different risks in structurally simple versus complex habitats. We used flight initiation distance as a metric to analyze perceptions of risk in a species of damselfish Stegastes nigricans. All else being equal, fish fleeing at greater distances are inferred to perceive higher risk. We targeted juvenile and adult damselfish to assess whether there are ontogenetic shifts in perceptions of safety in relation to structural complexity, inferred based on percent coral cover and rugosity. We found that adult damselfish tolerated closer approach in more complex habitats as measured by percent coral cover, but not rugosity, whereas juvenile fish always allowed closer approach than adult fish regardless of complexity. This ontogenetic shift in habitat use may result from juvenile fish taking bigger risks to maximize growth, whereas older animals, who are closer to their maximum body size, can afford to take fewer risks and protect their assets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinny Chan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sara Lo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alyssa Quan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Kamath A, Pruitt JN, Brooks AJ, Ladd MC, Cook DT, Gallagher JP, Vickers ME, Holbrook SJ, Schmitt RJ. Potential feedback between coral presence and farmerfish collective behavior promotes coral recovery. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ambika Kamath
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Dept of Environmental Science, Policy and Management & Miller Inst. for Basic Research in Science Univ. of California Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pruitt
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Dept of Pyschology, Neuroscience and Behaviour McMaster Univ. Hamilton ON L8N 1A8 Canada
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Andrew J. Brooks
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Mark C. Ladd
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Dana T. Cook
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Jordan P. Gallagher
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | | | - Sally J. Holbrook
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA 93106 USA
- Marine Science Inst. Univ. of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
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15
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Meirelles PM, Soares AC, Oliveira L, Leomil L, Appolinario LR, Francini-Filho RB, de Moura RL, de Barros Almeida RT, Salomon PS, Amado-Filho GM, Kruger R, Siegle E, Tschoeke DA, Kudo I, Mino S, Sawabe T, Thompson CC, Thompson FL. Metagenomics of Coral Reefs Under Phase Shift and High Hydrodynamics. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2203. [PMID: 30337906 PMCID: PMC6180206 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Local and global stressors have affected coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Switches from coral to algal dominance states and microbialization are the major processes underlying the global decline of coral reefs. However, most of the knowledge concerning microbialization has not considered physical disturbances (e.g., typhoons, waves, and currents). Southern Japan reef systems have developed under extreme physical disturbances. Here, we present analyses of a three-year investigation on the coral reefs of Ishigaki Island that comprised benthic and fish surveys, water quality analyses, metagenomics and microbial abundance data. At the four studied sites, inorganic nutrient concentrations were high and exceeded eutrophication thresholds. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (up to 233.3 μM) and microbial abundance (up to 2.5 × 105 cell/mL) values were relatively high. The highest vibrio counts coincided with the highest turf cover (∼55-85%) and the lowest coral cover (∼4.4-10.2%) and fish biomass (0.06 individuals/m2). Microbiome compositions were similar among all sites and were dominated by heterotrophs. Our data suggest that a synergic effect among several regional stressors are driving coral decline. In a high hydrodynamics reef environment, high algal/turf cover, stimulated by eutrophication and low fish abundance due to overfishing, promote microbialization. Together with crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks and possible of climate changes impacts, theses coral reefs are likely to collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Milet Meirelles
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Soares
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Louisi Oliveira
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Leomil
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Reis Appolinario
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo Leão de Moura
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo S. Salomon
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Kruger
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Siegle
- Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diogo A. Tschoeke
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isao Kudo
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Mino
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Japan
| | - Tomoo Sawabe
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Japan
| | - Cristiane C. Thompson
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabiano L. Thompson
- Institute of Biology and SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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16
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Ainsworth TD, Fordyce AJ, Camp EF. The Other Microeukaryotes of the Coral Reef Microbiome. Trends Microbiol 2017; 25:980-991. [PMID: 28720387 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In marine ecosystems microbial communities are critical to ocean function, global primary productivity, and biogeochemical cycles. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes are essential symbionts and mutualists, nonpathogenic invaders, primary pathogens, have been linked to disease emergence, and can underpin broader ecosystem changes. However, in the effort to determine coral-microbial interactions, the structure and function of the eukaryotic microbes of the microbiome have been studied less. Eukaryotic microbes are important members of the microbiome, constitute entire kingdoms of life, and make important contributions to ecosystem function. Here, we outline the roles of eukaryotic microbes in marine systems and their contribution to ecosystem change, and discuss the microeukaryotic microbiome of corals and coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Ainsworth
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4810, QLD, Australia.
| | - A J Fordyce
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4810, QLD, Australia
| | - E F Camp
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
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17
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Khalil MT, Bouwmeester J, Berumen ML. Spatial variation in coral reef fish and benthic communities in the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3410. [PMID: 28603671 PMCID: PMC5463981 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Local-scale ecological information is critical as a sound basis for spatial management and conservation and as support for ongoing research in relatively unstudied areas. We conducted visual surveys of fish and benthic communities on nine reefs (3–24 km from shore) in the Thuwal area of the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Fish biomass increased with increasing distance from shore, but was generally low compared to reefs experiencing minimal human influence around the world. All reefs had a herbivore-dominated trophic structure and few top predators, such as sharks, jacks, or large groupers. Coral cover was considerably lower on inshore reefs, likely due to a 2010 bleaching event. Community analyses showed inshore reefs to be characterized by turf algae, slower-growing corals, lower herbivore diversity, and highly abundant turf-farming damselfishes. Offshore reefs had more planktivorous fishes, a more diverse herbivore assemblage, and faster-growing corals. All reefs appear to be impacted by overfishing, and inshore reefs seem more vulnerable to thermal bleaching. The study provides a description of the spatial variation in biomass and community structure in the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea and provides a basis for spatial prioritization and subsequent marine protected area design in Thuwal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha T Khalil
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jessica Bouwmeester
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Brandl SJ, Emslie MJ, Ceccarelli DM, T. Richards Z. Habitat degradation increases functional originality in highly diverse coral reef fish assemblages. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. Brandl
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories NetworkSmithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater Maryland 21037 USA
| | - Michael J. Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine SciencesPMB 3 Townsville Mail Centre Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Daniela M. Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Zoe T. Richards
- Department of Environment and AgricultureCurtin University Bentley Western Australia 6845 Australia
- Western Australian Museum 49 Kew Street Welshpool Western Australia 6106 Australia
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19
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Casey JM, Baird AH, Brandl SJ, Hoogenboom MO, Rizzari JR, Frisch AJ, Mirbach CE, Connolly SR. A test of trophic cascade theory: fish and benthic assemblages across a predator density gradient on coral reefs. Oecologia 2016; 183:161-175. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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20
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Williams ID, White DJ, Sparks RT, Lino KC, Zamzow JP, Kelly ELA, Ramey HL. Responses of Herbivorous Fishes and Benthos to 6 Years of Protection at the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area, Maui. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159100. [PMID: 27462981 PMCID: PMC4963024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to concerns about declining coral cover and recurring macroalgal blooms, in 2009 the State of Hawaii established the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA). Within the KHFMA, herbivorous fishes and sea urchins are protected, but other fishing is allowed. As part of a multi-agency monitoring effort, we conducted surveys at KHFMA and comparison sites around Maui starting 19 months before closure, and over the six years since implementation of herbivore protection. Mean parrotfish and surgeonfish biomass both increased within the KHFMA (by 139% [95%QR (quantile range): 98–181%] and 28% [95%QR: 3–52%] respectively). Most of those gains were of small-to-medium sized species, whereas large-bodied species have not recovered, likely due to low levels of poaching on what are preferred fishery targets in Hawaii. Nevertheless, coincident with greater biomass of herbivores within the KHFMA, cover of crustose coralline algae (CCA) has increased from ~2% before closure to ~ 15% in 2015, and macroalgal cover has remained low throughout the monitoring period. Strong evidence that changes in the KHFMA were a consequence of herbivore management are that (i) there were no changes in biomass of unprotected fish families within the KHFMA; and that (ii) there were no similar changes in parrotfish or CCA at comparison sites around Maui. It is not yet clear how effective herbivore protection might eventually be for the KHFMA’s ultimate goal of coral recovery. Coral cover declined over the first few years of surveys–from 39.6% (SE 1.4%) in 2008, to 32.9% (SE 0.8%) in 2012, with almost all of that loss occurring by 2010 (1 year after closure), i.e. before meaningful herbivore recovery had occurred. Coral cover subsequently stabilized and may have slightly increased from 2012 through early 2015. However, a region-wide bleaching event in 2015 had already led to some coral mortality by the time surveys were conducted in late 2015, at which time cover had dropped back to levels recorded in the KHFMA in 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivor D. Williams
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Darla J. White
- Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Maui Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Russell T. Sparks
- Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Maui Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Kevin C. Lino
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Jill P. Zamzow
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Emily L. A. Kelly
- Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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21
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Brandl SJ, Bellwood DR. Microtopographic refuges shape consumer-producer dynamics by mediating consumer functional diversity. Oecologia 2016; 182:203-17. [PMID: 27147547 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Consumer-producer dynamics are critical for ecosystem functioning. In marine environments, primary production is often subject to strong consumer control, and on coral reefs, the grazing pressure exerted by herbivorous fishes has been identified as a major determinant of benthic community structure. Using experimental surfaces, we demonstrate that on coral reefs, microtopographic refuges decrease the overall grazing pressure by more than one order of magnitude. Furthermore, by functionally characterizing consumer communities, we show that refuges also restrict grazer communities to only one functional group, algal croppers, which selectively remove the apical parts of algae. In contrast, detritivorous fishes, which intensively graze flat and exposed microhabitats and can remove both particulate matter and entire stands of algal filaments, are almost entirely excluded. This preclusion of an entire ecosystem process (the removal of particulates) results in two distinct coexisting benthic regimes: communities within refuges are diverse and characterized by numerous algal types and juvenile scleractinian corals, while communities outside refuges support only low-diversity assemblages dominated by simple, unbranched filamentous turf algal mats. Although limited to the scale of a few centimeters, microtopographic refuges can, therefore, mediate the biotic control of community development by affecting both overall grazing rates and the functional diversity of consumer communities. We suggest that the coexistence of two distinct benthic regimes at a small spatial scale may be an important factor for ecosystem functioning and highlight the need to consider the ecological complexity of consumer-producer dynamics when assessing the status of coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Brandl
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia. .,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia. .,Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA.
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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22
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Oldfield CA, Evans JP. Twelve years of repeated wild hog activity promotes population maintenance of an invasive clonal plant in a coastal dune ecosystem. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2569-78. [PMID: 27110354 PMCID: PMC4834338 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive animals can facilitate the success of invasive plant populations through disturbance. We examined the relationship between the repeated foraging disturbance of an invasive animal and the population maintenance of an invasive plant in a coastal dune ecosystem. We hypothesized that feral wild hog (Sus scrofa) populations repeatedly utilized tubers of the clonal perennial, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) as a food source and evaluated whether hog activity promoted the long‐term maintenance of yellow nutsedge populations on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, United States. Using generalized linear mixed models, we tested the effect of wild hog disturbance on permanent sites for yellow nutsedge culm density, tuber density, and percent cover of native plant species over a 12‐year period. We found that disturbance plots had a higher number of culms and tubers and a lower percentage of native live plant cover than undisturbed control plots. Wild hogs redisturbed the disturbed plots approximately every 5 years. Our research provides demographic evidence that repeated foraging disturbances by an invasive animal promote the long‐term population maintenance of an invasive clonal plant. Opportunistic facultative interactions such as we demonstrate in this study are likely to become more commonplace as greater numbers of introduced species are integrated into ecological communities around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callie A Oldfield
- Department of Biology The University of the South Sewanee Tennessee 37383
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Department of Biology The University of the South Sewanee Tennessee 37383
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23
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Lamb JB, Williamson DH, Russ GR, Willis BL. Protected areas mitigate diseases of reef-building corals by reducing damage from fishing. Ecology 2015; 96:2555-67. [PMID: 26594711 DOI: 10.1890/14-1952.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Parks and protected areas have been instrumental in reducing anthropogenic sources of damage in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Pathogen invasion often succeeds physical wounding and injury, yet links between the reduction of damage and the moderation of disease have not been assessed. Here, we examine the utility of no-take marine reserves as tools for mitigating diseases that affect reef-building corals. We found that sites located within reserves had fourfold reductions in coral disease prevalence compared to non-reserve sites (80466 corals surveyed). Of 31 explanatory variables assessed, coral damage and the abundance of derelict fishing line best explained differences in disease assemblages between reserves and non-reserves. Unexpectedly, we recorded significantly higher levels of disease, coral damage, and derelict fishing line in non-reserves with fishing gear restrictions than in those without gear restrictions. Fishers targeting stocks perceived to be less depleted, coupled with enhanced site access from immediately adjacent boat moorings, may explain these unexpected patterns. Significant correlations between the distance from mooring sites and prevalence values for a ciliate disease known to infest wounded tissue (r = -0.65), coral damage (r = -0.64), and the abundance of derelict fishing line (r = -0.85) corroborate this interpretation. This is the first study to link disease with recreational use intensity in a park, emphasizing the need to evaluate the placement of closures and their direct relationship to ecosystem health. Since corals are modular, ecological processes that govern reproductive and competitive fitness are frequently related to colony surface area therefore, even low levels of cumulative tissue loss from progressing diseases pose significant threats to reef coral persistence. Disease mitigation through reductions in physical injury in areas where human activities are concentrated is another mechanism by which protected areas may improve ecosystem resilience in a changing climate.
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24
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Stuhldreier I, Sánchez-Noguera C, Roth F, Jiménez C, Rixen T, Cortés J, Wild C. Dynamics in benthic community composition and influencing factors in an upwelling-exposed coral reef on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1434. [PMID: 26623190 PMCID: PMC4662590 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonal upwelling at the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica offers the opportunity to investigate the effects of pronounced changes in key water parameters on fine-scale dynamics of local coral reef communities. This study monitored benthic community composition at Matapalo reef (10.539°N, 85.766°W) by weekly observations of permanent benthic quadrats from April 2013 to April 2014. Monitoring was accompanied by surveys of herbivore abundance and biomass and measurements of water temperature and inorganic nutrient concentrations. Findings revealed that the reef-building corals Pocillopora spp. exhibited an exceptional rapid increase from 22 to 51% relative benthic cover. By contrast, turf algae cover decreased from 63 to 24%, resulting in a corresponding increase in crustose coralline algae cover. The macroalga Caulerpa sertularioides covered up to 15% of the reef in April 2013, disappeared after synchronized gamete release in May, and subsequently exhibited slow regrowth. Parallel monitoring of influencing factors suggest that C. sertularioides cover was mainly regulated by their reproductive cycle, while that of turf algae was likely controlled by high abundances of herbivores. Upwelling events in February and March 2014 decreased mean daily seawater temperatures by up to 7 °C and increased nutrient concentrations up to 5- (phosphate) and 16-fold (nitrate) compared to mean values during the rest of the year. Changes in benthic community composition did not appear to correspond to the strong environmental changes, but rather shifted from turf algae to hard coral dominance over the entire year of observation. The exceptional high dynamic over the annual observation period encourages further research on the adaptation potential of coral reefs to environmental variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Stuhldreier
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology , Bremen , Germany ; Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen , Bremen , Germany
| | - Celeste Sánchez-Noguera
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology , Bremen , Germany ; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San Pedro, San José , Costa Rica
| | - Florian Roth
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology , Bremen , Germany ; Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen , Bremen , Germany
| | - Carlos Jiménez
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San Pedro, San José , Costa Rica ; Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, Cyprus Institute , Nicosia , Cyprus
| | - Tim Rixen
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology , Bremen , Germany
| | - Jorge Cortés
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San Pedro, San José , Costa Rica
| | - Christian Wild
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology , Bremen , Germany ; Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen , Bremen , Germany
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25
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Schopmeyer SA, Lirman D. Occupation Dynamics and Impacts of Damselfish Territoriality on Recovering Populations of the Threatened Staghorn Coral, Acropora cervicornis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141302. [PMID: 26580977 PMCID: PMC4651503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale coral reef restoration is needed to help recover structure and function of degraded coral reef ecosystems and mitigate continued coral declines. In situ coral propagation and reef restoration efforts have scaled up significantly in past decades, particularly for the threatened Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, but little is known about the role that native competitors and predators, such as farming damselfishes, have on the success of restoration. Steep declines in A. cervicornis abundance may have concentrated the negative impacts of damselfish algal farming on a much lower number of coral prey/colonies, thus creating a significant threat to the persistence and recovery of depleted coral populations. This is the first study to document the prevalence of resident damselfishes and negative effects of algal lawns on A. cervicornis along the Florida Reef Tract (FRT). Impacts of damselfish lawns on A. cervicornis colonies were more prevalent (21.6% of colonies) than those of other sources of mortality (i.e., disease (1.6%), algal/sponge overgrowth (5.6%), and corallivore predation (7.9%)), and damselfish activities caused the highest levels of tissue mortality (34.6%) among all coral stressors evaluated. The probability of damselfish occupation increased as coral colony size and complexity increased and coral growth rates were significantly lower in colonies with damselfish lawns (15.4 vs. 29.6 cm per year). Reduced growth and mortality of existing A. cervicornis populations may have a significant effect on population dynamics by potentially reducing important genetic diversity and the reproductive potential of depleted populations. On a positive note, however, the presence of resident damselfishes decreased predation by other corallivores, such as Coralliophila and Hermodice, and may offset some negative impacts caused by algal farming. While most negative impacts of damselfishes identified in this study affected large individual colonies and <50% of the A. cervicornis population along the FRT, the remaining wild staghorn population, along with the rapidly increasing restored populations, continue to fulfill important functional roles on coral reefs by providing essential habitat and refuge to other reef organisms. Although the effects of damselfish predation are, and will continue to be, pervasive, successful restoration efforts and strategic coral transplantation designs may help overcome damselfish damage by rapidly increasing A. cervicornis cover and abundance while also providing important information to educate future conservation and management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Schopmeyer
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
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26
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Meyer JL, Gunasekera SP, Scott RM, Paul VJ, Teplitski M. Microbiome shifts and the inhibition of quorum sensing by Black Band Disease cyanobacteria. ISME JOURNAL 2015; 10:1204-16. [PMID: 26495995 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Disruption of the microbiome often correlates with the appearance of disease symptoms in metaorganisms such as corals. In Black Band Disease (BBD), a polymicrobial disease consortium dominated by the filamentous cyanobacterium Roseofilum reptotaenium displaces members of the epibiotic microbiome. We examined both normal surface microbiomes and BBD consortia on Caribbean corals and found that the microbiomes of healthy corals were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, in particular Halomonas spp., and were remarkably stable across spatial and temporal scales. In contrast, the microbial community structure in black band consortia was more variable and more diverse. Nevertheless, deep sequencing revealed that members of the disease consortium were present in every sampled surface microbiome of Montastraea, Orbicella and Pseudodiploria corals, regardless of the health status. Within the BBD consortium, we identified lyngbic acid, a cyanobacterial secondary metabolite. It strongly inhibited quorum sensing (QS) in the Vibrio harveyi QS reporters. The effects of lyngbic acid on the QS reporters depended on the presence of the CAI-1 receptor CqsS. Lyngbic acid inhibited luminescence in native coral Vibrio spp. that also possess the CAI-1-mediated QS. The effects of this naturally occurring QS inhibitor on bacterial regulatory networks potentially contribute to the structuring of the interactions within BBD consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie L Meyer
- Soil and Water Science Department, Genetics Institute, University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Raymond M Scott
- Soil and Water Science Department, Genetics Institute, University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Max Teplitski
- Soil and Water Science Department, Genetics Institute, University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft Pierce, FL, USA
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Moreira APB, Meirelles PM, Santos EDO, Amado-Filho GM, Francini-Filho RB, Thompson CC, Thompson FL. Turbulence-driven shifts in holobionts and planktonic microbial assemblages in St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Brazil. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1038. [PMID: 26483769 PMCID: PMC4591530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the planktonic and the holobiont Madracis decactis (Scleractinia) microbial diversity along a turbulence-driven upwelling event, in the world's most isolated tropical island, St Peter and St Paul Archipelago (SPSPA, Brazil). Twenty one metagenomes were obtained for seawater (N = 12), healthy and bleached holobionts (N = 9) before, during and after the episode of high seawater turbulence and upwelling. Microbial assemblages differed between low turbulence-low nutrient (LLR) and high-turbulence-high nutrient (HHR) regimes in seawater. During LLR there was a balance between autotrophy and heterotrophy in the bacterioplankton and the ratio cyanobacteria:heterotrophs ~1 (C:H). Prochlorales, unclassified Alphaproteobacteria and Euryarchaeota were the dominant bacteria and archaea, respectively. Basic metabolisms and cyanobacterial phages characterized the LLR. During HHR C:H < < 0.05 and Gammaproteobacteria approximated 50% of the most abundant organisms in seawater. Alteromonadales, Oceanospirillales, and Thaumarchaeota were the dominant bacteria and archaea. Prevailing metabolisms were related to membrane transport, virulence, disease, and defense. Phages targeting heterotrophs and virulence factor genes characterized HHR. Shifts were also observed in coral microbiomes, according to both annotation–indepent and -dependent methods. HHR bleached corals metagenomes were the most dissimilar and could be distinguished by their di- and tetranucleotides frequencies, Iron Acquision metabolism and virulence genes, such as V. cholerae-related virulence factors. The healthy coral holobiont was shown to be less sensitive to transient seawater-related perturbations than the diseased animals. A conceptual model for the turbulence-induced shifts is put forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula B Moreira
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro M Meirelles
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eidy de O Santos
- Fundação Centro Universitário Estadual da Zona Oeste (Uezo) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gilberto M Amado-Filho
- Diretoria de Pesquisa Científica, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Cristiane C Thompson
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabiano L Thompson
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Coral transplantation triggers shift in microbiome and promotion of coral disease associated potential pathogens. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11903. [PMID: 26144865 PMCID: PMC4491727 DOI: 10.1038/srep11903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
By cultivating turf algae and aggressively defending their territories, territorial damselfishes in the genus Stegastes play a major role in shaping coral-algal dynamics on coral reefs. The epilithic algal matrix (EAM) inside Stegastes’ territories is known to harbor high abundances of potential coral disease pathogens. To determine the impact of territorial grazers on coral microbial assemblages, we established a coral transplant inside and outside of Stegastes’ territories. Over the course of one year, the percent mortality of transplanted corals was monitored and coral samples were collected for microbial analysis. As compared to outside damselfish territories, Stegastes were associated with a higher rate of mortality of transplanted corals. However, 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that territorial grazers do not differentially impact the microbial assemblage of corals exposed to the EAM. Regardless of Stegastes presence or absence, coral transplantation resulted in a shift in the coral-associated microbial community and an increase in coral disease associated potential pathogens. Further, transplanted corals that suffer low to high mortality undergo a microbial transition from a microbiome similar to that of healthy corals to that resembling the EAM. These findings demonstrate that coral transplantation significantly impacts coral microbial communities, and transplantation may increase susceptibility to coral disease.
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Coral Mucus Is a Hot Spot for Viral Infections. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:5773-83. [PMID: 26092456 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00542-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing suspicion that viral communities play a pivotal role in maintaining coral health, yet their main ecological traits still remain poorly characterized. In this study, we examined the seasonal distribution and reproduction pathways of viruses inhabiting the mucus of the scleractinians Fungia repanda and Acropora formosa collected in Nha Trang Bay (Vietnam) during an 11-month survey. The strong coupling between epibiotic viral and bacterial abundance suggested that phages are dominant among coral-associated viral communities. Mucosal viruses also exhibited significant differences in their main features between the two coral species and were also remarkably contrasted with their planktonic counterparts. For example, their abundance (inferred from epifluorescence counts), lytic production rates (KCN incubations), and the proportion of lysogenic cells (mitomycin C inductions) were, respectively, 2.6-, 9.5-, and 2.2-fold higher in mucus than in the surrounding water. Both lytic and lysogenic indicators were tightly coupled with temperature and salinity, suggesting that the life strategy of viral epibionts is strongly dependent upon environmental circumstances. Finally, our results suggest that coral mucus may represent a highly favorable habitat for viral proliferation, promoting the development of both temperate and virulent phages. Here, we discuss how such an optimized viral arsenal could be crucial for coral viability by presumably forging complex links with both symbiotic and adjacent nonsymbiotic microorganisms.
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