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Milne R, Bauch CT, Anand M. Local Overfishing Patterns Have Regional Effects on Health of Coral, and Economic Transitions Can Promote Its Recovery. Bull Math Biol 2022; 84:46. [PMID: 35182222 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-022-01000-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Overfishing has the potential to severely disrupt coral reef ecosystems worldwide, while harvesting at more sustainable levels instead can boost fish yield without damaging reefs. The dispersal abilities of reef species mean that coral reefs form highly connected environments, and the viability of reef fish populations depends on spatially explicit processes such as the spillover effect and unauthorized harvesting inside marine protected areas. However, much of the literature on coral conservation and management has only examined overfishing on a local scale, without considering how different spatial patterns of fishing levels can affect reef health both locally and regionally. Here, we simulate a coupled human-environment model to determine how coral and herbivorous reef fish respond to overfishing across multiple spatial scales. We find that coral and reef fish react in opposite ways to habitat fragmentation driven by overfishing, and that a potential spillover effect from marine protected areas into overfished patches helps coral populations far less than it does reef fish. We also show that ongoing economic transitions from fishing to tourism have the potential to revive fish and coral populations over a relatively short timescale, and that large-scale reef recovery is possible even if these transitions only occur locally. Our results show the importance of considering spatial dynamics in marine conservation efforts and demonstrate the ability of economic factors to cause regime shifts in human-environment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Milne
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. .,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Chris T Bauch
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Madhur Anand
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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2
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Afiq‐Rosli L, Wainwright BJ, Gajanur AR, Lee AC, Ooi SK, Chou LM, Huang D. Barriers and corridors of gene flow in an urbanized tropical reef system. Evol Appl 2021; 14:2502-2515. [PMID: 34745340 PMCID: PMC8549622 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Information about the distribution of alleles among marine populations is critical for determining patterns of genetic connectivity that are essential in modern conservation planning. To estimate population connectivity in Singapore's urbanized equatorial reef system, we analysed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from two species of reef-building corals with distinct life histories. For Porites sp., a broadcast-spawning coral, we found cryptic lineages that were differentially distributed at inshore and central-offshore sites that could be attributed to contemporary surface current regimes. Near panmixia was observed for Pocillopora acuta with differentiation of colonies at the farthest site from mainland Singapore, a possible consequence of the brooding nature and relatively long pelagic larval duration of the species. Furthermore, analysis of recent gene flow showed that 60-80% of colonies in each population were nonmigrants, underscoring self-recruitment as an important demographic process in this reef system. Apart from helping to enhance the management of Singapore's coral reef ecosystems, findings here pave the way for better understanding of the evolution of marine populations in South-East Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutfi Afiq‐Rosli
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Benjamin John Wainwright
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Yale‐NUS CollegeNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Anya Roopa Gajanur
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Ai Chin Lee
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Seng Keat Ooi
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Loke Ming Chou
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Centre for Nature‐based Climate SolutionsNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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3
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Linardich C, Brookson CB, Green SJ. Trait-based vulnerability reveals hotspots of potential impact for a global marine invader. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4322-4338. [PMID: 34091996 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Predation from the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish is likely to amplify declines in marine fishes observed in multiple ocean basins. As the invasion intensifies and expands, there is an urgent need to identify species that are most at risk for extirpation-and possible extinction-from this added threat. To address this gap and inform conservation plans, we develop and apply a quantitative framework for classifying the relative vulnerability of fishes based on morphological and behavioural traits known to influence susceptibility to lionfish predation (e.g. body shape, water column position and aggregation behaviour), habitat overlap with lionfish, and degree of geographic range restriction. Applying the framework to fishes across the invaded Caribbean Sea and ahead of the invasion front in the southwestern Atlantic revealed the identity of at least 77 fishes with relatively small ranges that are likely to be most affected by lionfish predation. Trait-based vulnerability scores significantly predict the probability of fishes appearing within the diets of lionfish across the invaded region. Spatial richness analyses reveal hotspots of vulnerable species in the Bahamas, Belize and Curaçao. Crucially, our framework identifies 29 vulnerable fishes endemic to Brazil, which has not yet been colonized by lionfish. Of these, we suggest reefs around offshore island groups occupied by a dozen highly vulnerable and range-restricted species as priorities for intervention should lionfish spread to the region. Observations of the rate of lionfish spread across the invaded range suggest that an average of 5 years (with a median of nearly 2 years) elapses from first sighting to maximum observed densities. This lag may allow managers to mobilize plans to suppress lionfish ahead of an invasion front in priority locations. Our framework also provides a method for assessing the relative vulnerability of cryptobenthic and/or deep-reef fishes, for which population-monitoring data are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christi Linardich
- International Union for Conservation of Nature Marine Biodiversity Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Cole B Brookson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Stephanie J Green
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Guzmán‐Méndez IA, Rivera‐Madrid R, Planes S, Boissin E, Cróquer A, Agudo-Adriani E, González‐Gándara C, Perez‐España H, Giro‐Petersen A, Luque J, García‐Rivas MDC, Aguilar‐Espinosa M, Arguelles Jiménez J, Arias‐González JE. Genetic connectivity of lionfish ( Pterois volitans) in marine protected areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:3844-3855. [PMID: 32489615 PMCID: PMC7244795 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lionfish (Pterois volitans) have rapidly invaded the tropical Atlantic and spread across the wider Caribbean in a relatively short period of time. Because of its high invasion capacity, we used it as a model to identify the connectivity among nine marine protected areas (MPAs) situated in four countries in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This study provides evidence of local genetic differentiation of P. volitans in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A total of 475 lionfish samples were characterized with 12 microsatellites, with 6-20 alleles per locus. Departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were found in 10 of the 12 loci, all caused by heterozygous excess. Moderate genetic differentiation was observed between Chiriviche, Venezuela and Xcalak, México localities (F ST = 0.012), and between the Los Roques and the Veracruz (F ST = 0.074) sites. STRUCTURE analysis found that four genetic entities best fit our data. A unique genetic group in the Gulf of Mexico may imply that the lionfish invasion unfolded both in a counterclockwise manner in the Gulf of Mexico. In spite of the notable dispersion of P. volitans, our results show some genetic structure, as do other noninvasive Caribbean fish species, suggesting that the connectivity in some MPAs analyzed in the Caribbean is limited and caused by only a few source individuals with subsequent genetic drift leading to local genetic differentiation. This indicates that P. volitans dispersion could be caused by mesoscale phenomena, which produce stochastic connectivity pulses. Due to the isolation of some MPAs from others, these findings may hold a promise for local short-term control of by means of intensive fishing, even in MPAs, and may have regional long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irán A. Guzmán‐Méndez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Ecosistemas de Arrecifes CoralinosDepartamento de Recursos del MarCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N.‐ Unidad MéridaMéridaMéxico
- Department of Biological SciencesMarquette UniversityMilwaukeeWIUSA
| | - Renata Rivera‐Madrid
- Unidad de Bioquímica Molecular de PlantasCentro de Investigación Científica de YucatánMéridaMéxico
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRSUSR 3278 CRIOBEUniversité de PerpignanPerpignan CedexFrance
- Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL »Perpignan CedexFrance
| | - Emilie Boissin
- PSL Research University: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRSUSR 3278 CRIOBEUniversité de PerpignanPerpignan CedexFrance
- Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL »Perpignan CedexFrance
| | - Aldo Cróquer
- Departamento de Estudios AmbientalesUniversidad Simón BolívarCaracasVenezuela
| | | | | | - Horacio Perez‐España
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y PesqueríasUniversidad VeracruzanaBoca del RíoMéxico
| | - Ana Giro‐Petersen
- Healthy Reefs for Healthy People InitiativeCiudad de GuatemalaGuatemala
| | - Jenny Luque
- Bay Islands Association Utila HondurasUtilaHonduras
| | - María del C. García‐Rivas
- Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales ProtegidasParque Nacional Arrecifes de Puerto MorelosPuerto MorelosMéxico
| | | | | | - Jesus E. Arias‐González
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Ecosistemas de Arrecifes CoralinosDepartamento de Recursos del MarCentro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N.‐ Unidad MéridaMéridaMéxico
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DiBattista JD, Saenz‐Agudelo P, Piatek MJ, Cagua EF, Bowen BW, Choat JH, Rocha LA, Gaither MR, Hobbs JA, Sinclair‐Taylor TH, McIlwain JH, Priest MA, Braun CD, Hussey NE, Kessel ST, Berumen ML. Population genomic response to geographic gradients by widespread and endemic fishes of the Arabian Peninsula. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4314-4330. [PMID: 32489599 PMCID: PMC7246217 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic structure within marine species may be driven by local adaptation to their environment, or alternatively by historical processes, such as geographic isolation. The gulfs and seas bordering the Arabian Peninsula offer an ideal setting to examine connectivity patterns in coral reef fishes with respect to environmental gradients and vicariance. The Red Sea is characterized by a unique marine fauna, historical periods of desiccation and isolation, as well as environmental gradients in salinity, temperature, and primary productivity that vary both by latitude and by season. The adjacent Arabian Sea is characterized by a sharper environmental gradient, ranging from extensive coral cover and warm temperatures in the southwest, to sparse coral cover, cooler temperatures, and seasonal upwelling in the northeast. Reef fish, however, are not confined to these seas, with some Red Sea fishes extending varying distances into the northern Arabian Sea, while their pelagic larvae are presumably capable of much greater dispersal. These species must therefore cope with a diversity of conditions that invoke the possibility of steep clines in natural selection. Here, we test for genetic structure in two widespread reef fish species (a butterflyfish and surgeonfish) and eight range-restricted butterflyfishes across the Red Sea and Arabian Sea using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. We performed multiple matrix regression with randomization analyses on genetic distances for all species, as well as reconstructed scenarios for population subdivision in the species with signatures of isolation. We found that (a) widespread species displayed more genetic subdivision than regional endemics and (b) this genetic structure was not correlated with contemporary environmental parameters but instead may reflect historical events. We propose that the endemic species may be adapted to a diversity of local conditions, but the widespread species are instead subject to ecological filtering where different combinations of genotypes persist under divergent ecological regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. DiBattista
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringRed Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityPerthWAAustralia
- Australian Museum Research InstituteAustralian MuseumSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Pablo Saenz‐Agudelo
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringRed Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y EvolutivasUniversidad Austral de ChileValdiviaChile
| | - Marek J. Piatek
- Computational Bioscience Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Biosciences DivisionOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTNUSA
| | - Edgar Fernando Cagua
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | | | - John Howard Choat
- School of Marine and Tropical BiologyJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQldAustralia
| | - Luiz A. Rocha
- Section of IchthyologyCalifornia Academy of SciencesSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Michelle R. Gaither
- Section of IchthyologyCalifornia Academy of SciencesSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics ClusterDepartment of BiologyUniversity of Central FloridaOrlandoFLUSA
| | - Jean‐Paul A. Hobbs
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityPerthWAAustralia
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQldAustralia
| | - Tane H. Sinclair‐Taylor
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringRed Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQldAustralia
| | | | - Mark A. Priest
- Marine Spatial Ecology LabSchool of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesUniversity of QueenslandSt. LuciaQldAustralia
| | - Camrin D. Braun
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringRed Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | | | - Steven T. Kessel
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and ResearchJohn G. Shedd AquariumChicagoILUSA
| | - Michael L. Berumen
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringRed Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
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Olson JC, Appeldoorn RS, Schärer-Umpierre MT, Cruz-Motta JJ. Recovery when you are on your own: Slow population responses in an isolated marine reserve. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223102. [PMID: 31600245 PMCID: PMC6786604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Geographic isolation is an important yet underappreciated factor affecting marine reserve performance. Isolation, in combination with other factors, may preclude recruit subsidies, thus slowing recovery when base populations are small and causing a mismatch between performance and stakeholder expectations. Mona Island is a small, oceanic island located within a partial biogeographic barrier—44 km from the Puerto Rico shelf. We investigated if Mona Island’s no-take zone (MNTZ), the largest in the U.S. Caribbean, was successful in increasing mean size and density of a suite of snapper and grouper species 14 years after designation. The La Parguera Natural Reserve (LPNR) was chosen for evaluation of temporal trends at a fished location. Despite indications of fishing within the no-take area, a reserve effect at Mona Island was evidenced from increasing mean sizes and densities of some taxa and mean total density 36% greater relative to 2005. However, the largest predatory species remained rare at Mona, preventing meaningful analysis of population trends. In the LPNR, most commercial species (e.g., Lutjanus synagris, Lutjanus apodus, Lutjanus mahogoni) did not change significantly in biomass or abundance, but some (Ocyurus chrysurus, Lachnolaimus maximus), increased in abundance owing to strong recent recruitment. This study documents slow recovery in the MNTZ that is limited to smaller sized species, highlighting both the need for better compliance and the substantial recovery time required by commercially valuable, coral reef fishes in isolated marine reserves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack C. Olson
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Richard S. Appeldoorn
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | | | - Juan J. Cruz-Motta
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, United States of America
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