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Oury N, Magalon H. Investigating the potential roles of intra-colonial genetic variability in Pocillopora corals using genomics. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6437. [PMID: 38499737 PMCID: PMC10948807 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57136-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Intra-colonial genetic variability (IGV), the presence of more than one genotype in a single colony, has been increasingly studied in scleractinians, revealing its high prevalence. Several studies hypothesised that IGV brings benefits, but few have investigated its roles from a genetic perspective. Here, using genomic data (SNPs), we investigated these potential benefits in populations of the coral Pocillopora acuta from Reunion Island (southwestern Indian Ocean). As the detection of IGV depends on sequencing and bioinformatics errors, we first explored the impact of the bioinformatics pipeline on its detection. Then, SNPs and genes variable within colonies were characterised. While most of the tested bioinformatics parameters did not significantly impact the detection of IGV, filtering on genotype depth of coverage strongly improved its detection by reducing genotyping errors. Mosaicism and chimerism, the two processes leading to IGV (the first through somatic mutations, the second through fusion of distinct organisms), were found in 7% and 12% of the colonies, respectively. Both processes led to several intra-colonial allelic differences, but most were non-coding or silent. However, 7% of the differences were non-silent and found in genes involved in a high diversity of biological processes, some of which were directly linked to responses to environmental stresses. IGV, therefore, appears as a source of genetic diversity and genetic plasticity, increasing the adaptive potential of colonies. Such benefits undoubtedly play an important role in the maintenance and the evolution of scleractinian populations and appear crucial for the future of coral reefs in the context of ongoing global changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Oury
- UMR ENTROPIE (Université de La Réunion, IRD, IFREMER, Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie, CNRS), Université de La Réunion, 97744, St Denis Cedex 09, La Réunion, France.
- Laboratoire Cogitamus, Paris, France.
- KAUST Red Sea Research Center and Marine Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Hélène Magalon
- UMR ENTROPIE (Université de La Réunion, IRD, IFREMER, Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie, CNRS), Université de La Réunion, 97744, St Denis Cedex 09, La Réunion, France
- Laboratoire Cogitamus, Paris, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
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Saldaña PH, Angelini C, Bertness MD, Altieri AH. Dead foundation species drive ecosystem dynamics. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:294-305. [PMID: 37923644 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Foundation species facilitate communities, modulate energy flow, and define ecosystems, but their ecological roles after death are frequently overlooked. Here, we reveal the widespread importance of their dead structures as unique, interacting components of ecosystems that are vulnerable to global change. Key metabolic activity, mobility, and morphology traits of foundation species either change or persist after death with important consequences for ecosystem functions, biodiversity, and subsidy dynamics. Dead foundation species frequently mediate ecosystem stability, resilience, and transitions, often through feedbacks, and harnessing their structural and trophic roles can improve restoration outcomes. Enhanced recognition of dead foundation species and their incorporation into habitat monitoring, ecological theory, and ecosystem forecasting can help solve the escalating conservation challenges of the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick H Saldaña
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Mark D Bertness
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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3
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Kahng SE, Odle E, Wakeman KC. Coral geometry and why it matters. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17037. [PMID: 38436029 PMCID: PMC10909345 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Clonal organisms like reef building corals exhibit a wide variety of colony morphologies and geometric shapes which can have many physiological and ecological implications. Colony geometry can dictate the relationship between dimensions of volume, surface area, and length, and their associated growth parameters. For calcifying organisms, there is the added dimension of two distinct components of growth, biomass production and calcification. For reef building coral, basic geometric shapes can be used to model the inherent mathematical relationships between various growth parameters and how colony geometry determines which relationships are size-dependent or size-independent. Coral linear extension rates have traditionally been assumed to be size-independent. However, even with a constant calcification rate, extension rates can vary as a function of colony size by virtue of its geometry. Whether the ratio between mass and surface area remains constant or changes with colony size is the determining factor. For some geometric shapes, the coupling of biomass production (proportional to surface area productivity) and calcification (proportional to volume) can cause one aspect of growth to geometrically constrain the other. The nature of this relationship contributes to a species' life history strategy and has important ecological implications. At one extreme, thin diameter branching corals can maximize growth in surface area and resource acquisition potential, but this geometry requires high biomass production to cover the fast growth in surface area. At the other extreme, growth in large, hemispheroidal corals can be constrained by calcification. These corals grow surface area relatively slowly, thereby retaining a surplus capacity for biomass production which can be allocated towards other anabolic processes. For hemispheroidal corals, the rate of surface area growth rapidly decreases as colony size increases. This ontogenetic relationship underlies the success of microfragmentation used to accelerate restoration of coral cover. However, ontogenetic changes in surface area productivity only applies to certain coral geometries where surface area to volume ratios decrease with colony size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E. Kahng
- Oceanography, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
- Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Kikai Institute for Coral Reef Science, Kikai, Japan
| | - Eric Odle
- Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kevin C. Wakeman
- Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Bilalis P, Alrashoudi AΑ, Susapto HH, Moretti M, Alshehri S, Abdelrahman S, Elsakran A, Hauser CAE. Dipeptide-Based Photoreactive Instant Glue for Environmental and Biomedical Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:46710-46720. [PMID: 37768145 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Nature-inspired smart materials offer numerous advantages over environmental friendliness and efficiency. Emulating the excellent adhesive properties of mussels foot proteins, where the lysine is in close proximity with the 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (DOPA), we report the synthesis of a novel photocurable peptide-based adhesive consisting exclusively of these two amino acids. Our adhesive is a highly concentrated aqueous solution of a monomer, a cross-linker, and a photoinitiator. Lap-shear adhesion measurements on plastic and glass surfaces and comparison with different types of commercial adhesives showed that the adhesive strength of our glue is comparable when applied in air and superior when used underwater. No toxicity of our adhesive was observed when the cytocompatibility on human dermal fibroblast cells was assessed. Preliminary experiments with various tissues and coral fragments showed that our adhesive could be applied to wound healing and coral reef restoration. Given the convenience of the facile synthesis, biocompatibility, ease of application underwater, and high adhesive strength, we expect that our adhesive may find application, but not limited, to the biomedical and environmental field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiotis Bilalis
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulelah Α Alrashoudi
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hepi H Susapto
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manola Moretti
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salwa Alshehri
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21577, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherin Abdelrahman
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr Elsakran
- Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Charlotte A E Hauser
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Page C, Perry R, Lager CVA, Daly J, Bouwmeester J, Henley EM, Hagedorn M. Tank fouling community enhances coral microfragment growth. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15723. [PMID: 37576514 PMCID: PMC10414021 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors threaten reefs worldwide and natural in situ coral reproduction may be inadequate to meet this challenge. Land-based culture can provide increased coral growth, especially with microfragments. We tested whether culture methods using different algal fouling communities could improve the growth and health metrics of microfragments of the Hawaiian coral, Porites compressa. Culture method fouling communities were: (1) similar to a reef environment (Mini Reef); (2) clean tanks managed to promote crustose coralline algae (Clean Start); and (3) tanks curated beforehand with poorly-competing algae (Green Film) assessed in winter and summer months. The Green Film method during the winter produced the fastest microfragment mean growth at 28 days until the first row of new polyps developed, and also the highest tank and plate metric health scores. Time efficient, standardized methods for land-based culture designed to maximize growth and production of coral fragments will contribute considerably to the success of large-scale restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Page
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - Riley Perry
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - Claire VA Lager
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Daly
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - Jessica Bouwmeester
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - E. Michael Henley
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
| | - Mary Hagedorn
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, United States of America
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May LA, Miller CV, Moffitt ZJ, Balthis L, Karazsia J, Wilber P, Woodley CM. Acute turbidity exposures with Port of Miami sediments impact Orbicella faveolata tissue regeneration. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115217. [PMID: 37437476 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated acute turbidity effects on a threatened coral species (Orbicella faveolata) under three short-term challenge scenarios using a Port of Miami sediment homogenate to simulate turbid conditions during dredging. For these experiments we designed a simple coral challenge test system that kept turbidity stable, without adverse effects to the coral. A 96-h coral challenge experiment demonstrated that low turbidity levels (≥4 NTU) have negative effects on O. faveolata tissue regeneration. A 48-h turbidity exposure (maximum 30 NTU) had no effect on O. faveolata tissue regeneration, showing that short term turbidity exposures may not be detrimental to coral health. In a 13-day test, treated coral fragments (maximum 30 NTU) exhibited significant delays in tissue regeneration, but recovery was observed after approximately one week. The results presented here can be used to inform management decisions for proposed dredging activities proximal to coral reef habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A May
- Consolidated Safety Services, Inc. contractor for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America.
| | - Carl V Miller
- Consolidated Safety Services, Inc. contractor for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Zachary J Moffitt
- Consolidated Safety Services, Inc. contractor for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Len Balthis
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 219 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Jocelyn Karazsia
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Habitat Conservation Division, 400 North Congress Ave, Suite 270, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, United States of America
| | - Pace Wilber
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Habitat Conservation Division, 331 Ft Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Cheryl M Woodley
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America.
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Yu H, Ma L, Zhao Y, Naren G, Wu H, Sun Y, Wu L, Zhang L. Characterization of nuclear DNA diversity in an individual Leymus chinensis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1157145. [PMID: 37346123 PMCID: PMC10280068 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1157145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Intraorganismal genetic heterogeneity (IGH) exists when an individual organism harbors more than one genotype among its cells. In general, intercellular DNA diversity occurs at a very low frequency and cannot be directly detected by DNA sequencing from bulk tissue. In this study, based on Sanger and high-throughput sequencing, different species, different organs, different DNA segments and a single cell were employed to characterize nucleotide mutations in Leymus chinensis. The results demonstrated that 1) the nuclear DNA showed excessive genetic heterogeneity among cells of an individual leaf or seed but the chloroplast genes remained consistent; 2) a high density of SNPs was found in the variants of the unique DNA sequence, and the similar SNP profile shared between the leaf and seed suggested that nucleotide mutation followed a certain rule and was not random; and 3) the mutation rate decreased from the genomic DNA sequence to the corresponding protein sequence. Our results suggested that Leymus chinensis seemed to consist of a collection of cells with different genetic backgrounds.
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Frias-Torres S, Reveret C, Henri K, Shah N, Montoya Maya PH. A low-tech method for monitoring survival and growth of coral transplants at a boutique restoration site. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15062. [PMID: 37250710 PMCID: PMC10224673 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coral reef restoration projects are becoming a popular corporate environmental responsibility activity at hotel resorts. Such involvement of private businesses offers the potential to expand restoration into a new socioeconomic sector. However, the scarcity of user-friendly monitoring methods for hotel staff, but robust enough to detect changes over time, hinders the ability to quantify the success or failure of the restoration activity. Here, we present a monitoring method of easy application by hotel staff, without scientific training, using the standard resources available at a hotel resort. Methods Survival and growth of coral transplants were evaluated over 1 year at a boutique coral reef restoration site. The restoration was tailored to the needs of a hotel resort in Seychelles, Indian Ocean. A total of 2,015 nursery-grown corals of branching (four genera, 15 species), massive (16 genera, 23 species), and encrusting (seven genera, seven species) growth types were transplanted to a 1-3 m deep degraded patch reef. A unique cement mix was used to transplant corals onto the hard substrate. On the north side of each coral selected for monitoring, we attached an 8.2 cm × 8.2 cm reflective tile. We used reflective tiles instead of numbered tags due to the expected amount of biofouling growing on the tag surface. Every coral was recorded with top view photography (perpendicular to the plane of coral attachment), with the reflective square in the field of view. We drafted a map of the site to facilitate navigation and re-sighting of the monitored colonies. Then, we developed a simple monitoring protocol for hotel staff. Using the map, and the reflective tiles, the divers located the coral colonies, recorded status (alive, dead, bleaching), and took a photograph. We measured the two-dimensional coral planar area and the change in colony size over time using contour tissue measurements of photographs. Results The monitoring method was robust enough to detect the expected survival of coral transplants, with encrusting and massive corals outperforming branching corals. Survival of encrusting and massive corals was higher (50%-100%) than branching corals (16.6%-83.3%). The change in colony size was 10.1 cm2 ± 8.8 (SE). Branching coral survivors grew faster than massive/encrusting corals. A comprehensive approach to the boutique restoration monitoring experiment would have included comparisons with a control patch reef with a similar species composition to the coral transplants. However, the ability to monitor such a control site, in addition to the restoration site, was beyond the logistic capabilities of the hotel staff, and we were limited to monitoring survival and growth within the restoration site. We conclude that science-based boutique coral reef restoration, tailored to the needs of a hotel resort, combined with a simple monitoring method, can provide a framework for involving hotels as partners in coral reef restoration worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Frias-Torres
- Nature Seychelles, Island Conservation Centre, Praslin, Republic of Seychelles
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Claude Reveret
- Nature Seychelles, Island Conservation Centre, Praslin, Republic of Seychelles
- CREOCEAN, La Rochelle, France
| | - Kerstin Henri
- Nature Seychelles, Island Conservation Centre, Praslin, Republic of Seychelles
| | - Nirmal Shah
- Nature Seychelles, Island Conservation Centre, Praslin, Republic of Seychelles
| | - Phanor Hernando Montoya Maya
- Nature Seychelles, Island Conservation Centre, Praslin, Republic of Seychelles
- Corales de Paz, Santiago de Cali, Colombia
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Xu J, Mead O, Moya A, Caglar C, Miller DJ, Adamski M, Adamska M. Wound healing and regeneration in the reef building coral Acropora millepora. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.979278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Branching scleractinian corals are niche-constructing organisms, providing continuously-growing, structural foundation for spectacularly biodiverse coral reef ecosystems. A large part of their success lies in the ability to quickly regenerate following mechanical damage. Even now, when the corals undergo great decline due to anthropogenic weather and storm extremes, it is surprising how little is known about molecular mechanisms governing regeneration in these iconic organisms. In this study, we used RNA-seq to identify genes involved in the regeneration of Acropora millepora, starting with the initial wound closure up to complete rebuilding of lost structures. Many of the differentially expressed genes we found in the wound healing steps are homologues of genes known to be involved in wound healing and regeneration of bilaterian and other cnidarian species, prominently including multiple components of FGF and Wnt signalling pathways. Comparison between genes involved in wound healing and continuous growth of the colony demonstrates both similarity and distinctiveness of the genetic programmes controlling these processes. A striking example is specific expression of c-Fos, a transcription factor with conserved role in early injury response, during the earliest stages of wound healing of A. millepora. By comparing results obtained in diverse experimental conditions including a closed-loop, recirculating aquarium and a flow-through system of marine station, we have demonstrated feasibility of using zooxanthellate scleractinian corals as experimental models in fundamental biology research, including studies of regeneration.
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Harrell C, Lirman D. Dictyota defense: Developing effective chemical protection against intense fish predation for outplanted massive corals. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14995. [PMID: 36915655 PMCID: PMC10007969 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The incorporation of coral species with massive (e.g., boulder, brain) morphologies into reef restoration is critical to sustain biodiversity and increase coral cover on degraded reef ecosystems. However, fragments and colonies of massive corals outplanted in Miami-Dade County, Florida, US, can experience intense predation by fish within the first week of outplanting, resulting in >70% mortality. Here, we tested for the first time the potential benefit of feeding corals powdered Dictyota, a brown reef alga that is chemically defended against grazing, to determine if exposure to Dictyota can confer chemical protection to coral fragments and reduce the impacts of fish predation after outplanting. We found that feeding corals every 2 to 3 days for 2 months with dried and powdered Dictyota prior to outplanting significantly reduced predation levels on Orbicella faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa fragments (with less than 20% of the fragments experiencing predation up to 1-month post-outplanting). We also found that a single exposure to Dictyota at a high concentration 1 to 2 days prior to outplanting significantly reduced predation for six coral species within the first 24 h following outplanting. Thus, feeding corals dry Dictyota ex situ prior to outplanting appears to confer protection from fish predation during the critical first days to weeks after outplanting when predation impacts are commonly high. This simple and cheap method can be easily scaled up for corals kept ex situ prior to outplanting, resulting in an increase in restoration efficiency for massive corals in areas with high fish predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cailin Harrell
- Department of Marine Biology & Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology & Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
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Lock C, Bentlage B, Raymundo LJ. Calcium homeostasis disruption initiates rapid growth after micro-fragmentation in the scleractinian coral Porites lobata. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9345. [PMID: 36188520 PMCID: PMC9502066 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are ecosystems under increasing threat from global climate change. Coral restoration is a tool for preserving the biological and ecological function of coral reefs by mitigating coral loss and maintaining the structural integrity and complexity of reefs. To generate the necessary stock for coral restoration, larger coral colonies are usually fragmented to generate smaller specimens for outplanting, taking advantage of the high regenerative ability of corals. In this study, we utilized RNA-seq technology to understand the physiological responses of Porites lobata colonies to physical fragmentation and outplanting, which have thus far not been characterized. Our results demonstrate that P. lobata fragments undergoing physical injury recover through two distinct phases: rapid wound regeneration of the cut margins, followed by a slower growth phase that cements the colony to the substrate. Our study found rapid physiological responses to acute physical injury and outplanting in the coral host that involved significantly increased energy production, calcium homeostasis disruption, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leading to increased antioxidant expression and rates of protein turnover. Our results suggest that phosphoinositide-mediated acute calcium homeostasis disruption stimulates wound recovery processes in response to physical injury. Symbiont gene expression revealed extremely low gene differences in response to fragmentation, growth, and outplanting. These results provide insight into the physiological mechanisms that allow for rapid wound healing and stabilization in response to physical injury in corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Lock
- Marine LaboratoryUniversity of GuamMangilaoGuamUSA
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Quigley KM, Hein M, Suggett DJ. Translating the 10 golden rules of reforestation for coral reef restoration. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13890. [PMID: 35075743 PMCID: PMC9543798 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Efforts are accelerating to protect and restore ecosystems globally. With trillions of dollars in ecosystem services at stake, no clear framework exists for developing or prioritizing approaches to restore coral reefs even as efforts and investment opportunities to do so grow worldwide. Restoration may buy time for climate change mitigation, but it lacks rigorous guidance to meet objectives of scalability and effectiveness. Lessons from restoration of terrestrial ecosystems can and should be rapidly adopted for coral reef restoration. We propose how the 10 golden rules of effective forest restoration can be translated to accelerate efforts to restore coral reefs based on established principles of resilience, management, and local stewardship. We summarize steps to undertake reef restoration as a management strategy in the context of the diverse ecosystem service values that coral reefs provide. Outlining a clear blueprint is timely as more stakeholders seek to undertake restoration as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration begins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M. Quigley
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Division of Research & InnovationJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Margaux Hein
- Division of Research & InnovationJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- MER Research and ConsultingMonaco
| | - David J. Suggett
- Faculty of Science, Climate Change ClusterUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNew South WalesAustralia
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Knapp IS, Forsman ZH, Greene A, Johnston EC, Bardin CE, Chan N, Wolke C, Gulko D, Toonen RJ. Coral micro-fragmentation assays for optimizing active reef restoration efforts. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13653. [PMID: 35873907 PMCID: PMC9302430 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The global decline of coral reefs has driven considerable interest in active coral restoration. Despite their importance and dominance on mature reefs, relatively few coral restoration projects use slower growth forms like massive and encrusting coral species. Micro-fragmentation can increase coral cover by orders of magnitude faster than natural growth, which now allows cultivation of slow growing massive forms and shows promise and flexibility for active reef restoration. However, the major causes of variation in growth and survival of outplanted colonies remain poorly understood. Here, we report simple outplanting assays to aid in active reef restoration of slower growing species and increase the likelihood of restoration success. We used two different micro-fragmentation assays. Pyramid assays were used to examine variation associated with fragment size (ranging from ≈1-9 cm2), nursery residence time (for both in-situ and ex-situ nurseries), and 2D vs. 3D measurements of growth. Block assays were used to examine spatial variation among individual performance at outplanting sites in the field. We found 2D and 3D measurements correlated well, so measured survivorship and growth using top-down planar images for two of the main Hawaiian reef building corals, the plating Montipora capitata and the massive Porites compressa. Pyramid assays housed and outplanted from the in-situ nursery showed no effect of residence time or size on overall survivorship or growth for either species. Results from the ex-situ nursery, however, varied by species, with P. compressa again showing no effect of nursery residence time or size on survivorship or growth. In contrast, nursery culture resulted in improved survivorship of small M. capitata fragments, but net growth showed a weak positive effect of nursery time for medium fragments. Small fragments still suffered higher mortality than either medium or large fragments. Due to their lower mortality, medium fragments (≈3 cm2) appear to be the best compromise between growth and survivorship for outplanting. Likewise, given weak positive gains relative to the investment, our results suggest that it could be more cost-effective to simply outplant medium fragments as soon as possible, without intermediate culture in a nursery. Furthermore, the block assay revealed significant differences in survivorship and growth among sites for individuals of both species, emphasizing the importance of considering spatial variation in coral survival and growth following outplanting. These results highlight the value of using short-term micro-fragmentation assays prior to outplanting to assess size, and location specific performance, optimizing the efficiency of active reef restoration activities and maximizing the probability of success for active coral restoration projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid S.S. Knapp
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Zac H. Forsman
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA,Environmental Science and Monitoring, The Red Sea Development Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Austin Greene
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Erika C. Johnston
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA,Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
| | - Claire E. Bardin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Norton Chan
- Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Chelsea Wolke
- Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - David Gulko
- Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Robert J. Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
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14
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Schlecker L, Page C, Matz M, Wright RM. Mechanisms and potential immune tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13158. [PMID: 35368334 PMCID: PMC8973463 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfragmentation is the act of cutting corals into small pieces (~1 cm2) to accelerate the growth rates of corals relative to growth rates observed when maintaining larger-sized fragments. This rapid tissue and skeletal expansion technique offers great potential for supporting reef restoration, yet the biological processes and tradeoffs involved in microfragmentation-mediated accelerated growth are not well understood. Here we compared growth rates across a range of successively smaller fragment sizes in multiple genets of reef-building corals, Orbicella faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa. Our results confirm prior findings that smaller initial sizes confer accelerated growth after four months of recovery in a raceway. O. faveolata transcript levels associated with growth rate include genes encoding carbonic anhydrase and glutamic acid-rich proteins, which have been previously implicated in coral biomineralization, as well as a number of unannotated transcripts that warrant further characterization. Innate immunity enzyme activity assays and gene expression results suggest a potential tradeoff between growth rate after microfragmentation and immune investment. Microfragmentation-based restoration practices have had great success on Caribbean reefs, despite widespread mortality among wild corals due to infectious diseases. Future studies should continue to examine potential immune tradeoffs throughout the microfragmentation recovery period that may affect growout survival and disease transmission after outplanting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mikhail Matz
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Rachel M. Wright
- Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States,University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
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15
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Henley EM, Bouwmeester J, Jury CP, Toonen RJ, Quinn M, Lager CV, Hagedorn M. Growth and survival among Hawaiian corals outplanted from tanks to an ocean nursery are driven by individual genotype and species differences rather than preconditioning to thermal stress. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13112. [PMID: 35345587 PMCID: PMC8957268 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The drastic decline in coral coverage has stimulated an interest in reef restoration, and various iterations of coral nurseries have been used to augment restoration strategies. Here we examine the growth of two species of Hawaiian Montipora that were maintained in mesocosms under either ambient or warmed annual bleaching conditions for two consecutive years prior to outplanting to determine whether preconditioning aided coral restoration efforts. Using coral trees to create a nearby ocean nursery, we examined whether: (1) previous ex situ mesocosm growth would mirror in situ coral tree nursery growth; and (2) thermal ex situ stress-hardening would predict future success during natural warming events in situ for corals moved from tanks to trees. For Montipora capitata, we found that variation in growth was explained primarily by genotype; growth rates in the mesocosms were similar to those in situ, irrespective of preconditioning. Variation in M. flabellata growth, however, was explained by both genotype and culture method such that an individual M. flabellata colony that grew well in the tanks did not necessarily perform as well on the coral trees. For both species, previous exposure to elevated temperatures in the mesocosms provided no benefit to either growth or survival during a warming event in the coral tree nursery compared to those grown in ambient temperatures. Overall, M. capitata performed better in the tree nursery with higher net growth, lower mortality, and was subject to less predation than M. flabellata. Our results show little benefit of the additional cost and time of stress-hardening these corals prior to outplanting because it is unlikely to aid resilience to future warming events. These results also suggest that selecting corals for restoration based on long-term genotype growth performance may be more effective for optimal outcomes but should be weighed against other factors, such as coral morphology, in situ nursery method, location, and other characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Michael Henley
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Jessica Bouwmeester
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Christopher P. Jury
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Robert J. Toonen
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Mariko Quinn
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Claire V.A. Lager
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Mary Hagedorn
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
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16
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Merck DE, Petrik CG, Manfroy AA, Muller EM. Optimizing seawater temperature conditions to increase the productivity of ex situ coral nurseries. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13017. [PMID: 35287349 PMCID: PMC8917797 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Large scale ex situ propagation of coral colonies for reef restoration is a relatively new and developing field. One of the many advantages of utilizing ex situ coral nurseries is the ability to optimize water quality conditions for coral health and survival. Slight alterations in environmental parameters (light, pH, temperature etc.) can affect the health and grow-out time of cultured coral, ultimately influencing production rates. However, corals are also subjected to pests associated with culture facilities such as ciliates, cyanobacterial blooms, and infectious diseases. Therefore, adjusting environmental parameters to optimize coral growth for a shorter ex situ residency time will lead to greater survival and faster restoration. Studies indicate that some coral species demonstrate parabolic tissue growth in response to increasing sea-surface temperatures until the maximum temperature tolerance is reached, whereafter they bleach. To maximize coral growth in Mote Marine Laboratory's ex situ system, we tested the effect of two water temperature treatments (high temperature: 29.5 ± 0.03 °C; control: 25.2 ± 0.08 °C) on two coral species commonly used in reef restoration. To quantify this, we used four replicates of three genotypes each of Montastraea cavernosa (n = 12) and Acropora palmata (n = 12). Two-dimensional tissue area was recorded monthly using ImageJ and survival rates within each treatment were documented for 7 months. Results found that M. cavernosa had greater growth rates and equal survivorship in the high temperature treatment compared to the control treatment. A. palmata grew faster and had equal survivorship in the control treatment compared with the high temperature treatment. These results suggest that temperature preferences exist among coral species within ex situ systems and restoration practitioners should consider species-specific temperature regimes to maximize ex situ coral growth rates. This information is critical for optimizing production when corals are in the grow-out stage and should also be considered when designing ex situ systems to ensure temperature regulation can be controlled on a species-specific basis.
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17
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Kim S, Wild C, Tilstra A. Effective asexual reproduction of a widespread soft coral: comparative assessment of four different fragmentation methods. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12589. [PMID: 35111389 PMCID: PMC8783554 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many coral reefs worldwide are experiencing declines in hard corals, resulting in other benthic organisms, e.g., soft corals, becoming more dominant. As such, more studies on the ecophysiology of soft corals are needed. Despite many methods for asexual reproduction of hard corals, effective methods for soft corals, i.e., without a hard skeleton, are scarce. This study, thus, assessed four fragmentation methods, the glue, rubber band, tunnel mesh, and plug mesh method for the pulsating soft coral Xenia umbellata that is widely distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific. METHODS Methods were comparatively assessed by determining the required time and labor for the fragmentation plus the health status of the fragmented corals by measuring their oxygen fluxes and pulsation rates, i.e., a special feature of this soft coral that can be used as a proxy for its health. RESULTS There were no significant health status differences between methods. This was indicated by similar gross photosynthesis (between 7.4 to 9.7 μg O2 polyp-1 h-1) and pulsating rates (between 35 and 44 pulses min-1) among methods. In terms of time/labor intensity and success rates, i.e., the percentage of fragments attached to the desired surface, the plug mesh method was the most efficient method with a significantly higher success rate (95 ± 5%), while the others had a success rate between 5 ± 5 and 45 ± 15%. The time needed for fragmentation, though not significant, was also the shortest (78 ± 11 s fragment-1), while other methods required between 84 ± 14 and 126 ± 8 s frag-1. The plug mesh method may thus be a valuable tool related to the reproduction of soft corals for use in subsequent experimental work.
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18
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Dehnert I, Saponari L, Isa V, Seveso D, Galli P, Montano S. Exploring the performance of mid‐water lagoon nurseries for coral restoration in the Maldives. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Inga Dehnert
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
| | - Luca Saponari
- Nature Seychelles The Centre for Environment and Education Roche Caiman, Mahe Republic of Seychelles
| | - Valerio Isa
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Davide Seveso
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
| | - Paolo Galli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
| | - Simone Montano
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT) University of Milan—Bicocca Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan Italy
- MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center) Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll Republic of Maldives
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19
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Schweinsberg M, Gösser F, Tollrian R. The history, biological relevance, and potential applications for polyp bailout in corals. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8424-8440. [PMID: 34257908 PMCID: PMC8258201 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals have evolved a variety of stress responses to changing conditions, many of which have been the subject of scientific research. However, polyp bailout has not received widespread scientific attention, despite being described more than 80 years ago. Polyp bailout is a drastic response to acute stress in which coral colonies break down, with individual and patches of polyps detaching from the colony and the calcareous skeleton Polyps retain their symbiotic partners, have dispersal ability, and may undergo secondary settlement and calcification. Polyp bailout has been described worldwide in a variety of anthozoan species, especially in Scleractinia. It can be induced by multiple natural stressors, but also artificially. Little is known about the evolutionary and ecological potential and consequences of breaking down modularity, the dispersal ability, and reattachment of polyps resulting from polyp bailout. It has been shown that polyp bailout can be used as a model system, with promise for implementation in various research topics. To date, there has been no compilation of knowledge on polyp bailout, which prompted us to review this interesting stress response and provide a basis to discuss research topics and priorities for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabian Gösser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and BiodiversityUniversity of BochumBochumGermany
| | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and BiodiversityUniversity of BochumBochumGermany
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20
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Ligson CA, Cabaitan PC. Survival and sexual maturity of sexually propagated
Acropora verweyi
corals 4 years after outplantation. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlon A. Ligson
- The Marine Science Institute University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines
| | - Patrick C. Cabaitan
- The Marine Science Institute University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines
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21
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Luz BLP, Miller DJ, Kitahara MV. High regenerative capacity is a general feature within colonial dendrophylliid corals (Anthozoa, Scleractinia). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2021; 336:281-292. [PMID: 33503321 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The regenerative capacity of cnidarians plays an essential role in the maintenance and restoration of coral reef ecosystems by allowing faster recovery from disturbances and more efficient small-scale dispersal. However, in the case of invasive species, this property may contribute to their dispersal and success in nonnative habitats. Given that four Indo-Pacific members of the coral genus Tubastraea have invaded the Atlantic, here we evaluated the ability of three of these species (Tubastraea coccinea, Tubastraea diaphana, and Tubastraea micranthus) to regenerate from fragments of undifferentiated coral tissue to fully functional polyps in response to differences in food supply and fragment size. For comparative purposes, another colonial dendrophylliid (Dendrophyllia sp.) was included in the analyses. All dendrophylliids displayed regenerative ability and high survival rates that were independent of whether or not food was supplied or fragment size. However, regeneration rates varied between species and were influenced by fragment size. Temporal expression of key genes of the regenerative process (Wnt and FGF) was profiled during whole-body regeneration of T. coccinea, suggesting a remarkable regenerative ability of T. coccinea that points to its potential use as a laboratory model for the investigation of regeneration in colonial calcified anthozoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Louise Pereira Luz
- Coastal and Ocean Systems Graduate Program, Federal University of Paraná, Pontal do Sul, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil.,Center for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, Praia do Cabelo Gordo, São Sebastião, Brazil.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David John Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
- Coastal and Ocean Systems Graduate Program, Federal University of Paraná, Pontal do Sul, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil.,Center for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, Praia do Cabelo Gordo, São Sebastião, Brazil.,Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Loo PL, Li A, Tan KS. Interactions between coral propagules in aquarium and field conditions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20525. [PMID: 33239691 PMCID: PMC7689421 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77557-2] [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: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of intraspecific and interspecific interactions between three species of scleractinian coral micro-colonies, namely Lithophyllon undulatum, Turbinaria mesenterina and Platygyra sinensis were evaluated for their survivorship, tissue loss and growth in both field (in-situ) and aquarium (ex-situ) conditions over 12 weeks. Regardless of environmental conditions and interactions, L. undulatum survived better (91.7 ± 6.2%) than T. mesenterina (75.0 ± 25.0%) and P. sinensis (60.4 ± 39.5%). Similarly, L. undulatum registered the lowest tissue loss (0.5 ± 0.7%) as compared to T. mesenterina (14.3 ± 19.4%) and P. sinensis (22.0 ± 30.0%). However, P. sinensis gained more weight (3.2 ± 5.2 g) than either T. mesenterina (2.7 ± 2.4 g) or L. undulatum (0.8 ± 1.1 g). In both environments, all three species in intraspecific interaction generally had higher survivorship, lower tissue loss and better growth than those in interspecific interaction except the latter in in-situ conditions had a twofold increase in growth (5.8 ± 3.7 g) than the former in-situ conditions (2.8 ± 3.7 g). Hence, all three species are potentially suitable for transplantation and mariculture except perhaps for P. sinensis which performed poorly in ex-situ conditions. Corals can be transplanted either with different colonies of the same species or together with other coral taxa. This study demonstrated that L. undulatum should be transplanted between T. mesenterina and P. sinensis for optimal growth and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poh Leong Loo
- St. John's Island National Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227, Singapore.
| | - Anqi Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Block S3 #05-01, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
| | - Koh Siang Tan
- St. John's Island National Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227, Singapore
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23
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Koval G, Rivas N, D'Alessandro M, Hesley D, Santos R, Lirman D. Fish predation hinders the success of coral restoration efforts using fragmented massive corals. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9978. [PMID: 33062430 PMCID: PMC7534677 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As coral reefs continue to decline globally, coral restoration practitioners have explored various approaches to return coral cover and diversity to decimated reefs. While branching coral species have long been the focus of restoration efforts, the recent development of the microfragmentation coral propagation technique has made it possible to incorporate massive coral species into restoration efforts. Microfragmentation (i.e., the process of cutting large donor colonies into small fragments that grow fast) has yielded promising early results. Still, best practices for outplanting fragmented corals of massive morphologies are continuing to be developed and modified to maximize survivorship. Here, we compared outplant success among four species of massive corals (Orbicella faveolata, Montastraea cavernosa, Pseudodiploria clivosa, and P. strigosa) in Southeast Florida, US. Within the first week following coral deployment, predation impacts by fish on the small (<5 cm2) outplanted colonies resulted in both the complete removal of colonies and significant tissue damage, as evidenced by bite marks. In our study, 8–27% of fragments from four species were removed by fish within one week, with removal rates slowing down over time. Of the corals that remained after one week, over 9% showed signs of fish predation. Our findings showed that predation by corallivorous fish taxa like butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae), parrotfishes (Scaridae), and damselfishes (Pomacentridae) is a major threat to coral outplants, and that susceptibility varied significantly among coral species and outplanting method. Moreover, we identify factors that reduce predation impacts such as: (1) using cement instead of glue to attach corals, (2) elevating fragments off the substrate, and (3) limiting the amount of skeleton exposed at the time of outplanting. These strategies are essential to maximizing the efficiency of outplanting techniques and enhancing the impact of reef restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gammon Koval
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Nicolas Rivas
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Martine D'Alessandro
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Dalton Hesley
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Rolando Santos
- Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Diego Lirman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America
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24
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Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228477. [PMID: 32756569 PMCID: PMC7406059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs worldwide are degrading due to climate change, overfishing, pollution, coastal development, coral bleaching, and diseases. In areas where the natural recovery of an ecosystem is negligible or protection through management interventions insufficient, active restoration becomes critical. The Reef Futures symposium in 2018 brought together over 400 reef restoration experts, businesses, and civil organizations, and galvanized them to save coral reefs through restoration or identify alternative solutions. The symposium highlighted that solutions and discoveries from long-term and ongoing coral reef restoration projects in Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean and Eastern Tropical Pacific were not well known internationally. Therefore, a meeting of scientists and practitioners working in these locations was held to compile the data on the extent of coral reef restoration efforts, advances and challenges. Here, we present unpublished data from 12 coral reef restoration case studies from five Latin American countries, describe their motivations and techniques used, and provide estimates on total annual project cost per unit area of reef intervened, spatial extent as well as project duration. We found that most projects used direct transplantation, the coral gardening method, micro-fragmentation or larval propagation, and aimed to optimize or scale-up restoration approaches (51%) or provide alternative, sustainable livelihood opportunities (15%) followed by promoting coral reef conservation stewardship and re-establishing a self-sustaining, functioning reef ecosystems (both 13%). Reasons for restoring coral reefs were mainly biotic and experimental (both 42%), followed by idealistic and pragmatic motivations (both 8%). The median annual total cost from all projects was $93,000 USD (range: $10,000 USD-$331,802 USD) (2018 dollars) and intervened a median spatial area of 1 ha (range: 0.06 ha-8.39 ha). The median project duration was 3 years; however, projects have lasted up to 17 years. Project feasibility was high with a median of 0.7 (range: 0.5-0.8). This study closes the knowledge gap between academia and practitioners and overcomes the language barrier by providing the first comprehensive compilation of data from ongoing coral reef restoration efforts in Latin America.
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25
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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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26
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Differential disturbance effects and phenotypic plasticity among outplanted corals at patch and fore reef sites. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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27
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Oury N, Gélin P, Magalon H. Together stronger: Intracolonial genetic variability occurrence in Pocillopora corals suggests potential benefits. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5208-5218. [PMID: 32607144 PMCID: PMC7319244 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the occurrence of intracolonial genetic variability (IGV) in Pocillopora corals in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Ninety-six colonies were threefold-sampled from three sites in Reunion Island. Nubbins were genotyped using 13 microsatellite loci, and their multilocus genotypes compared. Over 50% of the colonies presented at least two different genotypes among their three nubbins, and IGV was found abundant in all sites (from 36.7% to 58.1%). To define the threshold distinguishing mosaicism from chimerism, we developed a new method based on different evolution models by computing the number of different alleles for the infinite allele model (IAM) and the Bruvo's distance for the stepwise mutation model (SMM). Colonies were considered as chimeras if their nubbins differed from more than four alleles and if the pairwise Bruvo's distance was higher than 0.12. Thus 80% of the IGV colonies were mosaics and 20% chimeras (representing almost 10% of the total sampling). IGV seems widespread in scleractinians and beyond the disabilities of this phenomenon reported in several studies, it should also bring benefits. Next steps are to identify these benefits and to understand processes leading to IGV, as well as factors influencing them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Oury
- UMR ENTROPIE (Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS)Université de La RéunionSt Denis, La RéunionFrance
| | - Pauline Gélin
- UMR ENTROPIE (Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS)Université de La RéunionSt Denis, La RéunionFrance
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAILPerpignanFrance
| | - Hélène Magalon
- UMR ENTROPIE (Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS)Université de La RéunionSt Denis, La RéunionFrance
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAILPerpignanFrance
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28
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Novak BJ, Fraser D, Maloney TH. Transforming Ocean Conservation: Applying the Genetic Rescue Toolkit. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E209. [PMID: 32085502 PMCID: PMC7074136 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Although oceans provide critical ecosystem services and support the most abundant populations on earth, the extent of damage impacting oceans and the diversity of strategies to protect them is disconcertingly, and disproportionately, understudied. While conventional modes of conservation have made strides in mitigating impacts of human activities on ocean ecosystems, those strategies alone cannot completely stem the tide of mounting threats. Biotechnology and genomic research should be harnessed and developed within conservation frameworks to foster the persistence of viable ocean ecosystems. This document distills the results of a targeted survey, the Ocean Genomics Horizon Scan, which assessed opportunities to bring novel genetic rescue tools to marine conservation. From this Horizon Scan, we have identified how novel approaches from synthetic biology and genomics can alleviate major marine threats. While ethical frameworks for biotechnological interventions are necessary for effective and responsible practice, here we primarily assessed technological and social factors directly affecting technical development and deployment of biotechnology interventions for marine conservation. Genetic insight can greatly enhance established conservation methods, but the severity of many threats may demand genomic intervention. While intervention is controversial, for many marine areas the cost of inaction is too high to allow controversy to be a barrier to conserving viable ecosystems. Here, we offer a set of recommendations for engagement and program development to deploy genetic rescue safely and responsibly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Novak
- Revive & Restore, 1505 Bridgeway #203, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA;
| | - Devaughn Fraser
- Genetics Research Lab, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA 95834, USA;
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29
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Boström-Einarsson L, Babcock RC, Bayraktarov E, Ceccarelli D, Cook N, Ferse SCA, Hancock B, Harrison P, Hein M, Shaver E, Smith A, Suggett D, Stewart-Sinclair PJ, Vardi T, McLeod IM. Coral restoration - A systematic review of current methods, successes, failures and future directions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226631. [PMID: 31999709 PMCID: PMC6992220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems have suffered an unprecedented loss of habitat-forming hard corals in recent decades. While marine conservation has historically focused on passive habitat protection, demand for and interest in active restoration has been growing in recent decades. However, a disconnect between coral restoration practitioners, coral reef managers and scientists has resulted in a disjointed field where it is difficult to gain an overview of existing knowledge. To address this, we aimed to synthesise the available knowledge in a comprehensive global review of coral restoration methods, incorporating data from the peer-reviewed scientific literature, complemented with grey literature and through a survey of coral restoration practitioners. We found that coral restoration case studies are dominated by short-term projects, with 60% of all projects reporting less than 18 months of monitoring of the restored sites. Similarly, most projects are relatively small in spatial scale, with a median size of restored area of 100 m2. A diverse range of species are represented in the dataset, with 229 different species from 72 coral genera. Overall, coral restoration projects focused primarily on fast-growing branching corals (59% of studies), and report survival between 60 and 70%. To date, the relatively young field of coral restoration has been plagued by similar 'growing pains' as ecological restoration in other ecosystems. These include 1) a lack of clear and achievable objectives, 2) a lack of appropriate and standardised monitoring and reporting and, 3) poorly designed projects in relation to stated objectives. Mitigating these will be crucial to successfully scale up projects, and to retain public trust in restoration as a tool for resilience based management. Finally, while it is clear that practitioners have developed effective methods to successfully grow corals at small scales, it is critical not to view restoration as a replacement for meaningful action on climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Russell C. Babcock
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sebastian C. A. Ferse
- Future Earth Coasts, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Boze Hancock
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Margaux Hein
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Shaver
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Adam Smith
- Reef Ecologic, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - David Suggett
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Tali Vardi
- ECS for NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
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30
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Madin JS, Baird AH, Baskett ML, Connolly SR, Dornelas MA. Partitioning colony size variation into growth and partial mortality. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20190727. [PMID: 31964264 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size is a trait that broadly influences the demography and ecology of organisms. In unitary organisms, body size tends to increase with age. In modular organisms, body size can either increase or decrease with age, with size changes being the net difference between modules added through growth and modules lost through partial mortality. Rates of colony extension are independent of body size, but net growth is allometric, suggesting a significant role of size-dependent mortality. In this study, we develop a generalizable model of partitioned growth and partial mortality and apply it to data from 11 species of reef-building coral. We show that corals generally grow at constant radial increments that are size independent, and that partial mortality acts more strongly on small colonies. We also show a clear life-history trade-off between growth and partial mortality that is governed by growth form. This decomposition of net growth can provide mechanistic insights into the relative demographic effects of the intrinsic factors (e.g. acquisition of food and life-history strategy), which tend to affect growth, and extrinsic factors (e.g. physical damage, and predation), which tend to affect mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kaneohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Marissa L Baskett
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Maria A Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
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31
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Ligson CA, Tabalanza TD, Villanueva RD, Cabaitan PC. Feasibility of early outplanting of sexually propagated
Acropora verweyi
for coral reef restoration demonstrated in the Philippines. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlon A. Ligson
- The Marine Science InstituteUniversity of the Philippines Quezon City 1101 Philippines
| | - Tracy D. Tabalanza
- The Marine Science InstituteUniversity of the Philippines Quezon City 1101 Philippines
| | - Ronald D. Villanueva
- The Marine Science InstituteUniversity of the Philippines Quezon City 1101 Philippines
| | - Patrick C. Cabaitan
- The Marine Science InstituteUniversity of the Philippines Quezon City 1101 Philippines
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32
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Toth LT, Stathakopoulos A, Kuffner IB, Ruzicka RR, Colella MA, Shinn EA. The unprecedented loss of Florida's reef-building corals and the emergence of a novel coral-reef assemblage. Ecology 2019; 100:e02781. [PMID: 31170313 PMCID: PMC6851685 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the last half century, climate change, coral disease, and other anthropogenic disturbances have restructured coral‐reef ecosystems on a global scale. The disproportionate loss of once‐dominant, reef‐building taxa has facilitated relative increases in the abundance of “weedy” or stress‐tolerant coral species. Although the recent transformation of coral‐reef assemblages is unprecedented on ecological timescales, determining whether modern coral reefs have truly reached a novel ecosystem state requires evaluating the dynamics of reef composition over much longer periods of time. Here, we provide a geologic perspective on the shifting composition of Florida's reefs by reconstructing the millennial‐scale spatial and temporal variability in reef assemblages using 59 Holocene reef cores collected throughout the Florida Keys Reef Tract (FKRT). We then compare the relative abundances of reef‐building species in the Holocene reef framework to data from contemporary reef surveys to determine how much Florida's modern reef assemblages have diverged from long‐term baselines. We show that the composition of Florida's reefs was, until recently, remarkably stable over the last 8000 yr. The same corals that have dominated shallow‐water reefs throughout the western Atlantic for hundreds of thousands of years, Acropora palmata, Orbicella spp., and other massive coral taxa, accounted for nearly 90% of Florida's Holocene reef framework. In contrast, the species that now have the highest relative abundances on the FKRT, primarily Porites astreoides and Siderastrea siderea, were rare in the reef framework, suggesting that recent shifts in species assemblages are unprecedented over millennial timescales. Although it may not be possible to return coral reefs to pre‐Anthropocene states, our results suggest that coral‐reef management focused on the conservation and restoration of the reef‐building species of the past, will optimize efforts to preserve coral reefs, and the valuable ecosystem services they provide into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- L T Toth
- St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - A Stathakopoulos
- St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - I B Kuffner
- St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - R R Ruzicka
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - M A Colella
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - E A Shinn
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
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33
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The Active Reef Restoration Toolbox is a Vehicle for Coral Resilience and Adaptation in a Changing World. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse7070201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The accelerating marks of climate change on coral-reef ecosystems, combined with the recognition that traditional management measures are not efficient enough to cope with climate change tempo and human footprints, have raised a need for new approaches to reef restoration. The most widely used approach is the “coral gardening” tenet; an active reef restoration tactic based on principles, concepts, and theories used in silviculture. During the relatively short period since its inception, the gardening approach has been tested globally in a wide range of reef sites, and on about 100 coral species, utilizing hundreds of thousands of nursery-raised coral colonies. While still lacking credibility for simulating restoration scenarios under forecasted climate change impacts, and with a limited adaptation toolkit used in the gardening approach, it is still deficient. Therefore, novel restoration avenues have recently been suggested and devised, and some have already been tested, primarily in the laboratory. Here, I describe seven classes of such novel avenues and tools, which include the improved gardening methodologies, ecological engineering approaches, assisted migration/colonization, assisted genetics/evolution, assisted microbiome, coral epigenetics, and coral chimerism. These are further classified into three operation levels, each dependent on the success of the former level. Altogether, the seven approaches and the three operation levels represent a unified active reef restoration toolbox, under the umbrella of the gardening tenet, focusing on the enhancement of coral resilience and adaptation in a changing world.
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34
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Bayraktarov E, Stewart‐Sinclair PJ, Brisbane S, Boström‐Einarsson L, Saunders MI, Lovelock CE, Possingham HP, Mumby PJ, Wilson KA. Motivations, success, and cost of coral reef restoration. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bayraktarov
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceUniversity of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | | | - Shantala Brisbane
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | | | - Megan I. Saunders
- School of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | | | | | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology LabUniversity of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Kerrie A. Wilson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental DecisionsUniversity of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- Institute for Future EnvironmentsQueensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia
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35
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Suggett DJ, Camp EF, Edmondson J, Boström‐Einarsson L, Ramler V, Lohr K, Patterson JT. Optimizing return‐on‐effort for coral nursery and outplanting practices to aid restoration of the Great Barrier Reef. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster (C3)University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Emma F. Camp
- Climate Change Cluster (C3)University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
| | - John Edmondson
- Wavelength Reef Cruises 6/43 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877 Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Ramler
- Climate Change Cluster (C3)University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Kathryn Lohr
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of Florida Gainesville FL 32653 U.S.A
| | - Joshua T. Patterson
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of Florida Gainesville FL 32653 U.S.A
- Center for ConservationThe Florida Aquarium Apollo Beach FL 33602 U.S.A
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36
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Conlan JA, Humphrey CA, Severati A, Francis DS. Intra-colonial diversity in the scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora: identifying the nutritional gradients underlying physiological integration and compartmentalised functioning. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4239. [PMID: 29404204 PMCID: PMC5793706 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4239] [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: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are colonial organisms comprising multiple physiologically integrated polyps and branches. Colonialism in corals is highly beneficial, and allows a single colony to undergo several life processes at once through physiological integration and compartmentalised functioning. Elucidating differences in the biochemical composition of intra-colonial branch positions will provide valuable insight into the nutritional reserves underlying different regions in individual coral colonies. This will also ascertain prudent harvesting strategies of wild donor-colonies to generate coral stock with high survival and vigour prospects for reef-rehabilitation efforts and captive husbandry. This study examined the effects of colony branch position on the nutritional profile of two different colony sizes of the common scleractinian, Acropora millepora. For smaller colonies, branches were sampled at three locations: the colony centre (S-centre), 50% of the longitudinal radius length (LRL) (S-50), and the colony edge (S-edge). For larger colonies, four locations were sampled: the colony centre (L-centre), 33.3% of the LRL (L-33), 66.6% of the LRL (L-66), and the edge (L-edge). Results demonstrate significant branch position effects, with the edge regions containing higher protein, likely due to increased tissue synthesis and calcification. Meanwhile, storage lipid and total fatty acid concentrations were lower at the edges, possibly reflecting catabolism of high-energy nutrients to support proliferating cells. Results also showed a significant effect of colony size in the two classes examined. While the major protein and structural lipid sink was exhibited at the edge for both sizes, the major sink for high-energy lipids and fatty acids appeared to be the L-66 position of the larger colonies and the S-centre and S-50 positions for the smaller colonies. These results confirm that the scleractinian coral colony is not nutritionally homogeneous, and while different regions of the coral colony are functionally specialised, so too are their nutritional profiles geared toward meeting specific energetic demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Conlan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig A Humphrey
- The National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrea Severati
- The National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David S Francis
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
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37
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Silveira CB, Cavalcanti GS, Walter JM, Silva-Lima AW, Dinsdale EA, Bourne DG, Thompson CC, Thompson FL. Microbial processes driving coral reef organic carbon flow. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2017; 41:575-595. [PMID: 28486655 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fux018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, with primary production rates compared to that of rain forests. Benthic organisms release 10-50% of their gross organic production as mucus that stimulates heterotrophic microbial metabolism in the water column. As a result, coral reef microbes grow up to 50 times faster than open ocean communities. Anthropogenic disturbances cause once coral-dominated reefs to become dominated by fleshy organisms, with several outcomes for trophic relationships. Here we review microbial processes implicated in organic carbon flux in coral reefs displaying species phase shifts. The first section presents microbial players and interactions within the coral holobiont that contribute to reef carbon flow. In the second section, we identify four ecosystem-level microbial features that directly respond to benthic species phase shifts: community composition, biomass, metabolism and viral predation. The third section discusses the significance of microbial consumption of benthic organic matter to reef trophic relationships. In the fourth section, we propose that the 'microbial phase shifts' discussed here are conducive to lower resilience, facilitating the transition to new degradation states in coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia B Silveira
- Institute of Biology and COPPE/SAGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, RJ 21941-599, Brazil.,Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanille Dr, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Giselle S Cavalcanti
- Institute of Biology and COPPE/SAGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, RJ 21941-599, Brazil.,Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanille Dr, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Juline M Walter
- Institute of Biology and COPPE/SAGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, RJ 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Arthur W Silva-Lima
- Institute of Biology and COPPE/SAGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, RJ 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth A Dinsdale
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanille Dr, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University and Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Cristiane C Thompson
- Institute of Biology and COPPE/SAGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, RJ 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Fabiano L Thompson
- Institute of Biology and COPPE/SAGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, RJ 21941-599, Brazil
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38
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Ben-Shlomo R. Invasiveness, chimerism and genetic diversity. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:6502-6509. [PMID: 28950415 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Adaptation for invasiveness should comprise the capability to exploit and prosper in a wide range of ecological conditions and is therefore expected to be associated with a certain level of genetic diversity. Paradoxically, however, invasive populations are established by only a few founders, resulting in low genetic diversity. As a conceivable way of attaining high genetic diversity and high variance of gene expression even when a small number of founders is involved in invasiveness, I suggest here chimerism, a fusion between different individuals-a common phenomenon found in numerous phyla. The composite entity offers the chimeric organism genetic flexibility and higher inclusive fitness that depends on the joint genomic fitness of the original partners. The ability to form a chimeric entity is also applied to subsequent generations, and consequently, the level of genetic diversity does not decline over generations of population establishment following invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ben-Shlomo
- Department of Biology and the Environment, University of Haifa - Oranim, Tivon, Israel
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39
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Shaver EC, Silliman BR. Time to cash in on positive interactions for coral restoration. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3499. [PMID: 28652942 PMCID: PMC5483042 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth, and provide critical ecosystem services such as protein provisioning, coastal protection, and tourism revenue. Despite these benefits, coral reefs have been declining precipitously across the globe due to human impacts and climate change. Recent efforts to combat these declines are increasingly turning to restoration to help reseed corals and speed-up recovery processes. Coastal restoration theory and practice has historically favored transplanting designs that reduce potentially harmful negative species interactions, such as competition between transplants. However, recent research in salt marsh ecosystems has shown that shifting this theory to strategically incorporate positive interactions significantly enhances restoration yield with little additional cost or investment. Although some coral restoration efforts plant corals in protected areas in order to benefit from the facilitative effects of herbivores that reduce competitive macroalgae, little systematic effort has been made in coral restoration to identify the entire suite of positive interactions that could promote population enhancement efforts. Here, we highlight key positive species interactions that managers and restoration practitioners should utilize to facilitate the restoration of corals, including (i) trophic facilitation, (ii) mutualisms, (iii) long-distance facilitation, (iv) positive density-dependence, (v) positive legacy effects, and (vi) synergisms between biodiversity and ecosystem function. As live coral cover continues to decline and resources are limited to restore coral populations, innovative solutions that increase efficiency of restoration efforts will be critical to conserving and maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems and the human communities that rely on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Shaver
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, United States of America
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, United States of America
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40
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Natural and Synthetic Coral Biomineralization for Human Bone Revitalization. Trends Biotechnol 2016; 35:43-54. [PMID: 27889241 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Coral skeletons can regenerate replacement human bone in nonload-bearing excavated skeletal locations. A combination of multiscale, interconnected pores and channels and highly bioactive surface chemistry has established corals as an important alternative to using healthy host bone replacements. Here, we highlight how coral skeletal systems are being remolded into new calcified structures or synthetic corals by biomimetic processes, as places for the organized permeation of bone tissue cells and blood vessels. Progressive technologies in coral aquaculture and self-organization inorganic chemistry are helping to modify natural corals and create synthetic coral architectures able to accelerate bone regeneration with proper host integration at more skeletal locations, adapted to recent surgical techniques and used to treat intrinsic skeletal deformities and metabolic conditions.
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Lirman D, Schopmeyer S. Ecological solutions to reef degradation: optimizing coral reef restoration in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2597. [PMID: 27781176 PMCID: PMC5075686 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Reef restoration activities have proliferated in response to the need to mitigate coral declines and recover lost reef structure, function, and ecosystem services. Here, we describe the recent shift from costly and complex engineering solutions to recover degraded reef structure to more economical and efficient ecological approaches that focus on recovering the living components of reef communities. We review the adoption and expansion of the coral gardening framework in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic where practitioners now grow and outplant 10,000’s of corals onto degraded reefs each year. We detail the steps for establishing a gardening program as well as long-term goals and direct and indirect benefits of this approach in our region. With a strong scientific basis, coral gardening activities now contribute significantly to reef and species recovery, provide important scientific, education, and outreach opportunities, and offer alternate livelihoods to local stakeholders. While challenges still remain, the transition from engineering to ecological solutions for reef degradation has opened the field of coral reef restoration to a wider audience poised to contribute to reef conservation and recovery in regions where coral losses and recruitment bottlenecks hinder natural recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Stephanie Schopmeyer
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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