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Morais J, Cordeiro IL, Medeiros APM, Santos GG, Santos BA. Exploring depth-related patterns of sponge diversity and abundance in marginal reefs. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11643. [PMID: 38957700 PMCID: PMC11219198 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine sponges play a vital role in the reef's benthic community; however, understanding how their diversity and abundance vary with depth is a major challenge, especially on marginal reefs in areas deeper than 30 m. To help bridge this gap, we used underwater videos at 24 locations between 2- and 62-meter depths on a marginal reef system in the Southwestern Atlantic to investigate the effect of depth on the sponge metacommunity. Specifically, we quantified the abundance, density, and taxonomic composition of sponge communities, and decomposed their gamma (γ) diversity into alpha (α) and beta (β) components. We also assessed whether beta diversity was driven by species replacement (turnover) or by nesting of local communities (nestedness). We identified 2020 marine sponge individuals, which belong to 36 species and 24 genera. As expected, deep areas (i.e., those greater than 30 m) presented greater sponge abundance and more than eightfold the number of sponges per square meter compared to shallow areas. About 50% of the species that occurred in shallow areas (<30 m) also occurred in deep areas. Contrarily to expectations, alpha diversity of rare (0 D α), typical (1 D α), or dominant (2 D α) species did not vary with depth, but the shallow areas had greater beta diversity than the deep ones, especially for typical (1 D β) and dominant (2 D β) species. Between 92.7% and 95.7% of the beta diversity was given by species turnover both inside and between shallow and deep areas. Our results support previous studies that found greater sponge abundance and density in deep areas and reveal that species sorting is stronger at smaller depths, generating more beta diversity across local communities in shallow than deep areas. Because turnover is the major driver at any depth, the entire depth gradient should be considered in management and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano Morais
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Departamento de Sistemática e EcologiaCidade UniversitáriaJoão PessoaParaíbaBrazil
| | - Igor L. Cordeiro
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Departamento de Sistemática e EcologiaCidade UniversitáriaJoão PessoaParaíbaBrazil
| | - Aline P. M. Medeiros
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Departamento de Sistemática e EcologiaCidade UniversitáriaJoão PessoaParaíbaBrazil
| | - George G. Santos
- Instituto de Formação de EducadoresUniversidade Federal Do CaririBrejo SantoCearáBrazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação Em Diversidade Biológica e Recursos Naturais (PPGDR), Centro de Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS), PimentaUniversidade Regional Do Cariri (URCA)CratoCearáBrazil
| | - Bráulio A. Santos
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Departamento de Sistemática e EcologiaCidade UniversitáriaJoão PessoaParaíbaBrazil
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Slattery M, Lesser MP, Rocha LA, Spalding HL, Smith TB. Function and stability of mesophotic coral reefs. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:585-598. [PMID: 38413283 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.01.011] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The function and stability of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been extensively studied in recent years. These deep reefs are characterized by local physical processes, particularly the steep gradient in irradiance with increasing depth, and their impact on trophic resources. Mesophotic reefs exhibit distinct zonation patterns that segregate shallow reef biodiversity from ecologically unique deeper communities of endemic species. While mesophotic reefs are hypothesized as relatively stable refuges from anthropogenic stressors and a potential seed bank for degraded shallow reefs, these are site-specific features, if they occur at all. Mesophotic reefs are now known to be susceptible to many of the same stressors that are degrading shallow reefs, suggesting that they require their own specific conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Slattery
- Department of BioMolecular Science, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA.
| | - Michael P Lesser
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA; School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Luiz A Rocha
- Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | | | - Tyler B Smith
- University of the Virgin Islands, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, St Thomas, VI 00802-9990, USA
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3
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Santana EFC, Mies M, Longo GO, Menezes R, Aued AW, Luza AL, Bender MG, Segal B, Floeter SR, Francini-Filho RB. Turbidity shapes shallow Southwestern Atlantic benthic reef communities. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105807. [PMID: 36379169 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Southwestern Atlantic reefs (Brazilian Province) occur along a broad latitudinal range (∼5°N-27°S) and under varied environmental conditions. We combined large-scale benthic cover and environmental data into uni- and multivariate regression tree analyses to identify unique shallow (<30 m) benthic reef communities and their environmental drivers along the Brazilian Province. Turbidity was the leading environmental driver of benthic reef communities, with the occurrence of two main groups: clear-water (dominated by fleshy macroalgae) and turbid (dominated by turf algae). Seven out of 14 scleractinian coral species were more abundant in the turbid group, thus corroborating the photophobic nature of some Brazilian corals. The most abundant scleractinian in Brazil (Montastraea cavernosa), largely dominated (71-93% of total coral cover) both, the shallow turbid and deeper clear-water reefs. Because these habitat types are widely recognized as potential climate refuges, local threats (e.g. pollution, overfishing) should be averted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika F C Santana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, 58059-900, JP, PB, Brazil
| | - Miguel Mies
- Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Coral Vivo, Santa Cruz Cabrália, BA, Brazil
| | - Guilherme O Longo
- Laboratório de Ecologia Marinha, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59014-002, Brazil
| | - Rafael Menezes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, 58059-900, JP, PB, Brazil
| | - Anaide W Aued
- Laboratório de Biogeografia e Macroecologia Marinha, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-970, SC, Brazil
| | - André Luís Luza
- Laboratório de Macroecologia e Conservação Marinha, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariana G Bender
- Laboratório de Macroecologia e Conservação Marinha, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Barbara Segal
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Ambientes Recifais, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-970, SC, Brazil
| | - Sergio R Floeter
- Laboratório de Biogeografia e Macroecologia Marinha, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-970, SC, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo B Francini-Filho
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação Marinha, Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de São Paulo, 11612-109, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil.
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García-Hernández JE, Tuohy E, Toledo-Rodríguez DA, Sherman C, Schizas NV, Weil E. Detrimental conditions affecting Xestospongia muta across shallow and mesophotic coral reefs off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2021; 147:47-61. [PMID: 34789587 DOI: 10.3354/dao03633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sponges are fundamental components of coral reef communities and, unfortunately, like other major benthic members, they too have been impacted by epizootic and panzootic events. We report on the prevalence of disease-like conditions affecting populations of the giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta across shallow and mesophotic coral reefs off La Parguera Natural Reserve (LPNR) and Mona Island Marine Reserve (MIMR) in Puerto Rico. Four different conditions affecting X. muta were observed during our surveys, of which 3 have been previously reported: cyclic spotted bleaching (CSB; apparently non-lethal), Xestospongia-tissue wasting disease (X-TWD; apparently lethal), and sponge orange band disease (SOB; sparsely associated with X-TWD infected individuals). Additionally, we describe a fourth condition, Xestospongia-tissue hardening condition (X-THC), a previously unreported disease recently observed along the insular shelf margin off LPNR and MIMR. Within LPNR, a total of 764 specimens of X. muta were inspected and measured. Of these, 590 sponges (72.2%) had CSB, 25 (3.27%) had signs of X-TWD, 7 (0.92%) had SOB, and the remaining 142 (18.6%) were apparently healthy. Three colonies inhabiting upper mesophotic depths on the LPNR insular shelf showed signs of CSB and X-TWD. At MIMR, video-transect surveys revealed a total of 514 colonies, of which 40 (7.78%) had signs of CSB and/or XTWD, 14 (2.72%) were affected by X-THC, while the remaining 460 (89.5%) showed no external signs of disease and appeared healthy. The presence of 4 concomitant disease-like conditions in barrel sponges of Puerto Rico is alarming, and indicative of the deteriorating status of Caribbean coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E García-Hernández
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, PO Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA
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5
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Macartney KJ, Clayshulte Abraham A, Slattery M, Lesser MP. Growth and feeding in the sponge
Agelas tubulata
from shallow to mesophotic depths on Grand Cayman Island. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Keir J. Macartney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire 03824 USA
| | - Amelia Clayshulte Abraham
- Division of Environmental Toxicology Department of BioMolecular Science University of Mississippi Oxford Mississippi 38677 USA
| | - Marc Slattery
- Division of Environmental Toxicology Department of BioMolecular Science University of Mississippi Oxford Mississippi 38677 USA
- Division of Pharmacognosy Department of BioMolecular Science University of Mississippi Oxford Mississippi 38677 USA
| | - Michael P. Lesser
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire 03824 USA
- School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire 03824 USA
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Bell JJ, McGrath E, Kandler NM, Marlow J, Beepat SS, Bachtiar R, Shaffer MR, Mortimer C, Micaroni V, Mobilia V, Rovellini A, Harris B, Farnham E, Strano F, Carballo JL. Interocean patterns in shallow water sponge assemblage structure and function. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1720-1758. [PMID: 32812691 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Sponges are a major component of benthic ecosystems across the world and fulfil a number of important functional roles. However, despite their importance, there have been few attempts to compare sponge assemblage structure and ecological functions across large spatial scales. In this review, we examine commonalities and differences between shallow water (<100 m) sponges at bioregional (15 bioregions) and macroregional (tropical, Mediterranean, temperate, and polar) scales, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of sponge ecology. Patterns of sponge abundance (based on density and area occupied) were highly variable, with an average benthic cover between ~1 and 30%. Sponges were generally found to occupy more space (percentage cover) in the Mediterranean and polar macroregions, compared to temperate and tropical macroregions, although sponge densities (sponges m-2 ) were highest in temperate bioregions. Mean species richness standardised by sampling area was similar across all bioregions, except for a few locations that supported very high small-scale biodiversity concentrations. Encrusting growth forms were generally the dominant sponge morphology, with the exception of the Tropical West Atlantic, where upright forms dominated. Annelids and Arthropods were the most commonly reported macrofauna associated with sponges across bioregions. With respect to reproduction, there were no patterns in gametic development (hermaphroditism versus gonochorism), although temperate, tropical, and polar macroregions had an increasingly higher percentage of viviparous species, respectively, with viviparity being the sole gamete development mechanism reported for polar sponges to date. Seasonal reproductive timing was the most common in all bioregions, but continuous timing was more common in the Mediterranean and tropical bioregions compared to polar and temperate bioregions. We found little variation across bioregions in larval size, and the dominant larval type across the globe was parenchymella. No pattens among bioregions were found in the limited information available for standardised respiration and pumping rates. Many organisms were found to predate sponges, with the abundance of sponge predators being higher in tropical systems. While there is some evidence to support a higher overall proportion of phototrophic species in the Tropical Austalian bioregion compared to the Western Atlantic, both also have large numbers of heterotrophic species. Sponges are important spatial competitors across all bioregions, most commonly being reported to interact with anthozoans and algae. Even though the available information was limited for many bioregions, our analyses demonstrate some differences in sponge traits and functions among bioregions, and among macroregions. However, we also identified similarities in sponge assemblage structure and function at global scales, likely reflecting a combination of regional- and local-scale biological and physical processes affecting sponge assemblages, along with common ancestry. Finally, we used our analyses to highlight geographic bias in past sponge research, and identify gaps in our understanding of sponge ecology globally. By so doing, we identified key areas for future research on sponge ecology. We hope that our study will help sponge researchers to consider bioregion-specific features of sponge assemblages and key sponge-mediated ecological processes from a global perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Emily McGrath
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.,Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax St E, The Wood, Nelson, 7010, New Zealand
| | - Nora M Kandler
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Joseph Marlow
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.,British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, U.K
| | - Sandeep S Beepat
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Ramadian Bachtiar
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Megan R Shaffer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Charlotte Mortimer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Valerio Micaroni
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Valeria Mobilia
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alberto Rovellini
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Benjamin Harris
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Elizabeth Farnham
- Ministry of Primary Industries, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Francesca Strano
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - José Luis Carballo
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida Joel Montes Camarena, s/n. apartado postal 811, Mazatlán, 82000, Mexico
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Lesser MP, Slattery M. Will coral reef sponges be winners in the Anthropocene? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:3202-3211. [PMID: 32052520 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent observations have shown that increases in climate change-related coral mortality cause changes in shallow coral reef community structure through phase shifts to alternative taxa. As a result, sponges have emerged as a potential candidate taxon to become a "winner," and therefore a numerically and functionally dominant member of many coral reef communities. But, in order for this to occur, there must be sufficient trophic resources to support larger populations of these active filter-feeding organisms. Globally, climate change is causing an increase in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and a decrease in salinity, which can lead to an intensification in the stratification of shallow nearshore waters (0-200 m), that affects both the mixed layer depth (MLD) and the strength and duration of internal waves. Specifically, climate change-driven increases in SSTs for tropical waters are predicted to cause increased stratification, and more stabilized surface waters. This causes a shallowing of the MLD which prevents nutrients from reaching the euphotic zone, and is predicted to decrease net primary production (NPP) up to 20% by the end of the century. Lower NPP would subsequently affect multiple trophic levels, including shallow benthic filter-feeding communities, as the coupling between water column productivity and the benthos weakens. We argue here that sponge populations may actually be constrained, rather than promoted, by climate change due to decreases in their primary trophic resources, caused by bottom-up forcing, secondary to physical changes in the water column (i.e., stratification and changes in the MLD resulting in lower nutrients and NPP). As a result, we predict sponge-dominated tropical reefs will be rare, or short-lived, if they occur at all into the future in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Lesser
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Marc Slattery
- Department of BioMolecular Science, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA
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Pawlik JR, McMurray SE. The Emerging Ecological and Biogeochemical Importance of Sponges on Coral Reefs. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2020; 12:315-337. [PMID: 31226028 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010419-010807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
With the decline of reef-building corals on tropical reefs, sponges have emerged as an important component of changing coral reef ecosystems. Seemingly simple, sponges are highly diverse taxonomically, morphologically, and in terms of their relationships with symbiotic microbes, and they are one of nature's richest sources of novel secondary metabolites. Unlike most other benthic organisms, sponges have the capacity to disrupt boundary flow as they pump large volumes of seawater into the water column. This seawater is chemically transformed as it passes through the sponge body as a consequence of sponge feeding, excretion, and the activities of microbial symbionts, with important effects on carbon and nutrient cycling and on the organisms in the water column and on the adjacent reef. In this review, we critically evaluate developments in the recently dynamic research area of sponge ecology on tropical reefs and provide a perspective for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Pawlik
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology and Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28409, USA; ,
| | - Steven E McMurray
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology and Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28409, USA; ,
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9
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Lesser MP, Slattery M. Sponge density increases with depth throughout the Caribbean: Reply. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Lesser
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences and School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire 03824 USA
| | - Marc Slattery
- Department of BioMolecular Science University of Mississippi Oxford Mississippi 38677 USA
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10
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Pawlik JR, Scott AR. Sponge density increases with depth throughout the Caribbean: Comment. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R. Pawlik
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington North Carolina 28409 USA
| | - Alexander R. Scott
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington North Carolina 28409 USA
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