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Primov KD, Burdick DR, Lemer S, Forsman ZH, Combosch DJ. Genomic data reveals habitat partitioning in massive Porites on Guam, Micronesia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17107. [PMID: 39048606 PMCID: PMC11269739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67992-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Corals in marginal reef habitats generally exhibit less bleaching and associated mortality compared to nearby corals in more pristine reef environments. It is unclear, however, if these differences are due to environmental differences, including turbidity, or genomic differences between the coral hosts in these different environments. One particularly interesting case is in the coral genus Porites, which contains numerous morphologically similar massive Porites species inhabiting a wide range of reef habitats, from turbid river deltas and stagnant back reefs to high-energy fore reefs. Here, we generate ddRAD data for 172 Porites corals from river delta and adjacent (<0.5 km) fore reef populations on Guam to assess the extent of genetic differentiation among massive Porites corals in these two contrasting environments and throughout the island. Phylogenetic and population genomic analyses consistently identify seven different clades of massive Porites, with the two largest clades predominantly inhabiting either river deltas or fore reefs, respectively. No population structure was detected in the two largest clades, and Cladocopium was the dominant symbiont genus in all clades and environments. The perceived bleaching resilience of corals in marginal reefs may therefore be attributed to interspecific differences between morphologically similar species, in addition to potentially mediating environmental differences. Marginal reef environments may therefore not provide a suitable refuge for many reef corals in a heating world, but instead host additional cryptic coral diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim D Primov
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU, USA.
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - David R Burdick
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU, USA
| | - Sarah Lemer
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU, USA
| | - Zac H Forsman
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 23955, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - David J Combosch
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU, USA
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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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Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that coral reefs exposed to elevated turbidity may be more resilient to climate change impacts and serve as an important conservation hotspot. However, logistical difficulties in studying turbid environments have led to poor representation of these reef types within the scientific literature, with studies using different methods and definitions to characterize turbid reefs. Here we review the geological origins and growth histories of turbid reefs from the Holocene (past), their current ecological and environmental states (present), and their potential responses and resilience to increasing local and global pressures (future). We classify turbid reefs using new descriptors based on their turbidity regime (persistent, fluctuating, transitional) and sources of sediment input (natural versus anthropogenic). Further, by comparing the composition, function and resilience of two of the most studied turbid reefs, Paluma Shoals Reef Complex, Australia (natural turbidity) and Singapore reefs (anthropogenic turbidity), we found them to be two distinct types of turbid reefs with different conservation status. As the geographic range of turbid reefs is expected to increase due to local and global stressors, improving our understanding of their responses to environmental change will be central to global coral reef conservation efforts.
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Loiola M, Cruz ICS, Lisboa DS, Mariano-Neto E, Leão ZMAN, Oliveira MDM, Kikuchi RKP. Structure of marginal coral reef assemblages under different turbidity regime. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 147:138-148. [PMID: 31097215 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Sediment load can influence both the population distribution and structures of coral reef communities. We investigated whether coral assemblages on inshore and more turbid reefs differ from those on offshore reefs in the largest coral reefs of the Southwest Atlantic. We compared inshore and offshore reefs (with different turbidity climatologies) in terms of benthic and coral assemblage structures, abundances and individual sizes of coral populations and recruitment patterns. Unexpectedly, the inshore reefs showed higher coral cover and abundance, larger colonies and more recruits. This finding is related to the predominance of sediment-tolerant species on the turbid reefs. In contrast, only Mussismilia braziliensis (main builder of Abrolhos) showed better performance (greater coverage, larger diameter and more recruits) on offshore reefs, apparently behaving as a strong competitor in less turbid environments. These results reinforce the recent thinking of coral reef of turbid environments as resistant ecosystems and potential refuges considering the unnatural increase of sediment supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Loiola
- Laboratory of Coral Reefs and Global Changes-RECOR, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40210-340, Bahia, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Biomonitoring, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Igor C S Cruz
- Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Department of Oceanography, Institute of Geosciences, Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40210-340, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Danilo S Lisboa
- Laboratory of Coral Reefs and Global Changes-RECOR, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40210-340, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Mariano-Neto
- Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Biomonitoring, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Zelinda M A N Leão
- Laboratory of Coral Reefs and Global Changes-RECOR, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40210-340, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marilia D M Oliveira
- Laboratory of Coral Reefs and Global Changes-RECOR, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40210-340, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ruy K P Kikuchi
- Laboratory of Coral Reefs and Global Changes-RECOR, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, 40210-340, Bahia, Brazil
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Bainbridge Z, Lewis S, Bartley R, Fabricius K, Collier C, Waterhouse J, Garzon-Garcia A, Robson B, Burton J, Wenger A, Brodie J. Fine sediment and particulate organic matter: A review and case study on ridge-to-reef transport, transformations, fates, and impacts on marine ecosystems. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 135:1205-1220. [PMID: 30301020 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Studies documenting the effects of land-derived suspended particulate matter (SPM, i.e., particulate organic matter and mineral sediment) on marine ecosystems are typically disconnected from terrestrial studies that determine their origin, transport and fate. This study reviews sources, transport, transformations, fate and effects of SPM along the 'ridge-to-reef' continuum. We show that some of the SPM can be transported over long distances and transformed into large and easily resuspendible organic-rich sediment flocs. These flocs may lead to prolonged reductions in water clarity, impacting upon coral reef, seagrass and fish communities. Using the Great Barrier Reef (NE Australia) as a case study, we identify the latest research tools to determine thresholds of SPM exposure, allowing for an improved appreciation of marine risk. These tools are used to determine ecologically-relevant end-of-basin load targets and reliable marine water quality guidelines, thereby enabling enhanced prioritisation and management of SPM export from ridge-to-reef.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Bainbridge
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia.
| | - S Lewis
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - R Bartley
- CSIRO, Brisbane, Queensland 4068, Australia
| | - K Fabricius
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - C Collier
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - J Waterhouse
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
| | - A Garzon-Garcia
- Department of Environment and Science, GPO Box 5078, Brisbane 4001, Australia
| | - B Robson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - J Burton
- Department of Environment and Science, GPO Box 5078, Brisbane 4001, Australia
| | - A Wenger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - J Brodie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
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