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McWilliam M, Dornelas M, Álvarez-Noriega M, Baird AH, Connolly SR, Madin JS. Net effects of life-history traits explain persistent differences in abundance among similar species. Ecology 2023; 104:e3863. [PMID: 36056537 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Life-history traits are promising tools to predict species commonness and rarity because they influence a population's fitness in a given environment. Yet, species with similar traits can have vastly different abundances, challenging the prospect of robust trait-based predictions. Using long-term demographic monitoring, we show that coral populations with similar morphological and life-history traits show persistent (decade-long) differences in abundance. Morphological groups predicted species positions along two, well known life-history axes (the fast-slow continuum and size-specific fecundity). However, integral projection models revealed that density-independent population growth (λ) was more variable within morphological groups, and was consistently higher in dominant species relative to rare species. Within-group λ differences projected large abundance differences among similar species in short timeframes, and were generated by small but compounding variation in growth, survival, and reproduction. Our study shows that easily measured morphological traits predict demographic strategies, yet small life-history differences can accumulate into large differences in λ and abundance among similar species. Quantifying the net effects of multiple traits on population dynamics is therefore essential to anticipate species commonness and rarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike McWilliam
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Mariana Álvarez-Noriega
- Centre for Geometric Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i, USA
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McWilliam M, Madin JS, Chase TJ, Hoogenboom MO, Bridge TCL. Intraspecific variation reshapes coral assemblages under elevated temperature and acidity. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2513-2524. [PMID: 36209480 PMCID: PMC9828647 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Insights into assemblages that can persist in extreme environments are still emerging. Ocean warming and acidification select against species with low physiological tolerance (trait-based 'filtering'). However, intraspecific trait variation can promote species adaptation and persistence, with potentially large effects on assemblage structure. By sampling nine coral traits (four morphological, four tissue and one skeletal) along an offshore-inshore gradient in temperature and pH, we show that distantly related coral species undergo consistent intraspecific changes as they cross into warm, acidic environments. Intraspecific variation and species turnover each favoured colonies with greater tissue biomass, higher symbiont densities and reduced skeletal investments, indicating strong filtering on colony physiology within and across species. Physiological tissue traits were highly variable within species and were independent of morphology, enabling morphologically diverse species to cross into sites of elevated temperature and acidity. Widespread intraspecific change can therefore counter the loss of biodiversity and morphological structure across a steep environmental gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike McWilliam
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaKāne'oheHawaiiUSA,Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaKāne'oheHawaiiUSA
| | - Tory J. Chase
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,Department of Geography and the EnvironmentVillanova UniversityVillanovaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Mia O. Hoogenboom
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Tom C. L. Bridge
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,Biodiversity and Geosciences ProgramMuseum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland MuseumTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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Pisapia C, Edmunds PJ, Moeller HV, M Riegl B, McWilliam M, Wells CD, Pratchett MS. Projected shifts in coral size structure in the Anthropocene. Adv Mar Biol 2020; 87:31-60. [PMID: 33293015 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the size structure of coral populations have major consequences for population dynamics and community function, yet many coral reef monitoring projects do not record this critical feature. Consequently, our understanding of current and future trajectories in coral size structure, and the demographic processes underlying these changes, is still emerging. Here, we provide a conceptual summary of the benefits to be gained from more comprehensive attention to the size of coral colonies in reef monitoring projects, and we support our argument through the use of case-history examples and a simplified ecological model. We neither seek to review the available empirical data, or to rigorously explore causes and implications of changes in coral size, we seek to reveal the advantages to modifying ongoing programs to embrace the information inherent in changing coral colony size. Within this framework, we evaluate and forecast the mechanics and implications of changes in the population structure of corals that are transitioning from high to low abundance, and from large to small colonies, sometimes without striking effects on planar coral cover. Using two coral reef locations that have been sampled for coral size, we use demographic data to underscore the limitations of coral cover in understanding the causes and consequences of long-term declining coral size, and abundance. A stage-structured matrix model is used to evaluate the demographic causes of declining coral colony size and abundance, particularly with respect to the risks of extinction. The model revealed differential effects of mortality, growth and fecundity on coral size distributions. It also suggested that colony rarity and declining colony size in association with partial tissue mortality and chronic declines in fecundity, can lead to a demographic bottleneck with the potential to prolong the existence of coral populations when they are characterized by mostly very small colonies. Such bottlenecks could have ecological importance if they can delay extinction and provide time for human intervention to alleviate the environmental degradation driving reductions in coral abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Pisapia
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, United States; Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Peter J Edmunds
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, United States
| | - Holly V Moeller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Bernhard M Riegl
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States
| | - Mike McWilliam
- Hawai'I Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'I at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI, United States
| | - Christopher D Wells
- Department of Geology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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Abstract
The disturbance regimes of ecosystems are changing, and prospects for continued recovery remain unclear. New assemblages with altered species composition may be deficient in key functional traits. Alternatively, important traits may be sustained by species that replace those in decline (response diversity). Here, we quantify the recovery and response diversity of coral assemblages using case studies of disturbance in three locations. Despite return trajectories of coral cover, the original assemblages with diverse functional attributes failed to recover at each location. Response diversity and the reassembly of trait space was limited, and varied according to biogeographic differences in the attributes of dominant, rapidly recovering species. The deficits in recovering assemblages identified here suggest that the return of coral cover cannot assure the reassembly of reef trait diversity, and that shortening intervals between disturbances can limit recovery among functionally important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike McWilliam
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Mia O Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.,Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Terry P Hughes
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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McWilliam M, Chase TJ, Hoogenboom MO. Neighbor Diversity Regulates the Productivity of Coral Assemblages. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3634-3639.e3. [PMID: 30393039 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sustaining ecological functions as biodiversity changes will be a major challenge in the 21st century [1]. However, our understanding of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function is still emerging on tropical coral reefs [2], where reef-building corals form highly productive assemblages [3, 4] and species respond in different ways to their neighbors [5] and their environment (e.g., water flow) [6]. Experimental coral communities were assembled to quantify the performance of coral colonies with and without neighbors and in the presence of conspecifics versus heterospecifics. Under higher flow, we identified a positive effect of coral species richness on primary productivity (gross and net photosynthesis) indicated by a 53% increase in productivity in multispecies assemblages (2-4 species) relative to monocultures. Productivity in monocultures was predicted by surface areas associated with different species morphologies. In contrast, multispecies assemblages maintained high levels of productivity even in the absence of the most productive species, reflecting non-additive effects of species richness on community functioning. Assemblage performances were regulated by positive and negative interactions between colonies, with many colonies performing better among heterospecific neighbors than in isolation (facilitation). Facilitation occurred primarily among flow-sensitive taxa with simple morphologies and did not occur under lower flow, suggesting that modifications to flow microclimates by corals generated beneficial, interspecific interactions. Our results show that competition and facilitation among neighbors may be important mechanisms regulating coral assemblage productivity in variable environments. Furthermore, shifts in the diversity and identity of neighbors can impair these interactions, with potentially widespread consequences for coral community functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike McWilliam
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Tory J Chase
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Mia O Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Chow LQM, Blais N, Jonker DJ, Laurie SA, Diab SG, Canil C, McWilliam M, Thall A, Ruiz-Garcia A, Zhang K, Tye L, Chao RC, Camidge DR. A phase I dose-escalation and pharmacokinetic study of sunitinib in combination with pemetrexed in patients with advanced solid malignancies, with an expanded cohort in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2011; 69:709-22. [PMID: 21989766 PMCID: PMC3286593 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-011-1755-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The primary objective of this phase I dose-escalation study was to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of sunitinib plus pemetrexed in patients with advanced cancer. Methods Using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, patients received oral sunitinib qd by continuous daily dosing (CDD schedule; 37.5 or 50 mg) or 2 weeks on/1 week off treatment schedule (Schedule 2/1; 50 mg). Pemetrexed (300–500 mg/m2 IV) was administered q3w. At the proposed recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), additional patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were enrolled. Results Thirty-five patients were enrolled on the CDD schedule and seven on Schedule 2/1. MTDs were sunitinib 37.5 mg/day (CDD/RP2D) or 50 mg/day (Schedule 2/1) with pemetrexed 500 mg/m2. Dose-limiting toxicities included grade (G) 5 cerebral hemorrhage, G3 febrile neutropenia, and G3 anorexia. Common G3/4 drug-related non-hematologic adverse events (AEs) at the CDD MTD included fatigue, anorexia, and hand–foot syndrome. G3/4 hematologic AEs included lymphopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. No significant drug–drug interactions were identified. Five (24%) NSCLC patients had partial responses. Conclusions In patients with advanced solid malignancies, the MTD of sunitinib plus 500 mg/m2 pemetrexed was 37.5 mg/day (CDD schedule) or 50 mg/day (Schedule 2/1). The CDD schedule MTD was tolerable and demonstrated promising clinical benefit in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Q M Chow
- The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Canada.
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Chow LQ, Jonker DJ, Laurie SA, Call JA, Diab SG, Goss G, McWilliam M, Wang E, Chao R, Eckhardt SG, Camidge DR. Sunitinib (SU) in combination with pemetrexed (P) in patients (pts) with advanced solid malignancies: A phase I dose escalation study. J Clin Oncol 2008. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2008.26.15_suppl.3566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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