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Maier SR, Brooke S, De Clippele LH, de Froe E, van der Kaaden AS, Kutti T, Mienis F, van Oevelen D. On the paradox of thriving cold-water coral reefs in the food-limited deep sea. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1768-1795. [PMID: 37236916 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The deep sea is amongst the most food-limited habitats on Earth, as only a small fraction (<4%) of the surface primary production is exported below 200 m water depth. Here, cold-water coral (CWC) reefs form oases of life: their biodiversity compares with tropical coral reefs, their biomass and metabolic activity exceed other deep-sea ecosystems by far. We critically assess the paradox of thriving CWC reefs in the food-limited deep sea, by reviewing the literature and open-access data on CWC habitats. This review shows firstly that CWCs typically occur in areas where the food supply is not constantly low, but undergoes pronounced temporal variation. High currents, downwelling and/or vertically migrating zooplankton temporally boost the export of surface organic matter to the seabed, creating 'feast' conditions, interspersed with 'famine' periods during the non-productive season. Secondly, CWCs, particularly the most common reef-builder Desmophyllum pertusum (formerly known as Lophelia pertusa), are well adapted to these fluctuations in food availability. Laboratory and in situ measurements revealed their dietary flexibility, tissue reserves, and temporal variation in growth and energy allocation. Thirdly, the high structural and functional diversity of CWC reefs increases resource retention: acting as giant filters and sustaining complex food webs with diverse recycling pathways, the reefs optimise resource gains over losses. Anthropogenic pressures, including climate change and ocean acidification, threaten this fragile equilibrium through decreased resource supply, increased energy costs, and dissolution of the calcium-carbonate reef framework. Based on this review, we suggest additional criteria to judge the health of CWC reefs and their chance to persist in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra R Maier
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, Nuuk, 3900, Greenland
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Korringaweg 7, Yerseke, 4401 NT, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Brooke
- Coastal & Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, 3618 Coastal Highway 98, St. Teresa, FL, 32327, USA
| | - Laurence H De Clippele
- Changing Oceans Research Group, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Evert de Froe
- Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute at Memorial University of Newfoundland, 155 Ridge Rd, St. John's, NL A1C 5R3, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Department of Ocean Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), PO Box 59, Den Burg (Texel), 1790 AB, The Netherlands
| | - Anna-Selma van der Kaaden
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Korringaweg 7, Yerseke, 4401 NT, The Netherlands
| | - Tina Kutti
- Institute of Marine Research (IMR), PO box 1870 Nordnes, Bergen, NO-5817, Norway
| | - Furu Mienis
- Department of Ocean Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), PO Box 59, Den Burg (Texel), 1790 AB, The Netherlands
| | - Dick van Oevelen
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Korringaweg 7, Yerseke, 4401 NT, The Netherlands
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2
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Tebbett SB, Streit RP, Morais J, Schlaefer JA, Swan S, Bellwood DR. Benthic cyanobacterial mat formation during severe coral bleaching at Lizard Island: The mediating role of water currents. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 181:105752. [PMID: 36115331 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial mats are increasingly recognised as a symptom of coral reef change. However, the spatial distribution of cyanobacterial mats during coral bleaching has received limited attention. We explored cyanobacterial mat distribution during a bleaching event at Lizard Island and considered hydrodynamics as a potential modifier. During bleaching cyanobacterial mats covered up to 34% of the benthos at a transect scale, while some quadrats (1 m2) were covered almost entirely (97.5%). The spatial distribution of cyanobacterial mats was limited to areas with slower water currents. Coral cover declined by 44% overall, although cyanobacterial mats were not spatially coupled to the magnitude of coral loss. Overall, the marked increase in cyanobacterial mat cover was an ephemeral spike, not a sustained change, with cover returning to 0.4% within 6 months. Cyanobacterial mats clearly represent dynamic space holders on coral reefs, with a marked capacity to rapidly exploit change, if conditions are right.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - Robert P Streit
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Juliano Morais
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie A Schlaefer
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Sam Swan
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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Godefroid M, Dupont S, Metian M, Hédouin L. Two decades of seawater acidification experiments on tropical scleractinian corals: Overview, meta-analysis and perspectives. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113552. [PMID: 35339865 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification has emerged as a major concern in the last fifteen years and studies on the impacts of seawater acidification on marine organisms have multiplied accordingly. This review aimed at synthesizing the literature on the effects of seawater acidification on tropical scleractinians under laboratory-controlled conditions. We identified 141 articles (published between 1999 and 2021) and separated endpoints into 22 biological categories to identify global trends for mitigation and gaps in knowledge and research priorities for future investigators. The relative number of affected endpoints increased with pH intensity (particularly for endpoints associated to calcification and reproduction). When exposed to pH 7.6-7.8 (compared to higher pH), 49% of endpoints were affected. The diversity in experimental designs prevented deciphering the modulating role of coral life stages, genera or duration of exposure. Finally, important bias in research efforts included most experiments on adult corals (68.5%), in 27 out of 150 (18%) coral ecoregions and exclusively from shallow-waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Godefroid
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Mo'orea, French Polynesia.
| | - Sam Dupont
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Kristineberg 566, 45178 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden; Radioecology Laboratory International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Marine Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco
| | - Marc Metian
- Radioecology Laboratory International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Marine Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Mo'orea, French Polynesia
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Meziere Z, Rich WA, Carvalho S, Benzoni F, Morán XAG, Berumen ML. Stylophora under stress: A review of research trends and impacts of stressors on a model coral species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151639. [PMID: 34780827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sometimes called the "lab rat" of coral research, Stylophora pistillata (Esper, 1797) has been extensively used in coral biology in studies ranging from reef ecology to coral metabolic processes, and has been used as a model for investigations into molecular and cellular biology. Previously thought to be a common species spanning a wide distribution through the Indo-Pacific region, "S. pistillata" is in fact four genetically distinct lineages (clades) with different evolutionary histories and geographical distributions. Here, we review the studies of stress responses of S. pistillatasensulato (clades 1-4) and highlight research trends and knowledge gaps. We identify 126 studies on stress responses including effects of temperature, acidification, eutrophication, pollutants and other local impacts. We find that most studies have focused on the effect of single stressors, especially increased temperature, and have neglected the combined effects of multiple stressors. Roughly 61% of studies on S. pistillata come from the northern Red Sea (clade 4), at the extreme limit of its current distribution; clades 2 and 3 are virtually unstudied. The overwhelming majority of studies were conducted in laboratory or mesocosm conditions, with field experiments constituting only 2% of studies. We also note that a variety of experimental designs and treatment conditions makes it difficult to draw general conclusions about the effects of particular stressors on S. pistillata. Given those knowledge gaps and limitations in the published research, we suggest a more standardized approach to compare responses across geographically disparate populations and more accurately anticipate responses to predicted future climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Meziere
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Walter A Rich
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Francesca Benzoni
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xosé Anxelu G Morán
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón/Xixón, Gijón/Xixón, Spain
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Curra-Sánchez ED, Lara C, Cornejo-D'Ottone M, Nimptsch J, Aguayo M, Broitman BR, Saldías GS, Vargas CA. Contrasting land-uses in two small river basins impact the colored dissolved organic matter concentration and carbonate system along a river-coastal ocean continuum. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150435. [PMID: 34583070 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have led to an increase in land use change, with effects on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The impact of contrasting land uses along river basins on the concentration of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) reaching the coastal zone, and its relationship with the carbonate system of the adjacent coastal ocean, is poorly known. To understand the relationship between land use change, CDOM and its influence on the carbonate system, two watersheds with contrasting land uses in southern Chile were studied. The samples were collected at eight stations between river and adjacent coastal areas, during three sampling campaigns in the austral summer and spring. Chemical and biological samples were analyzed in the laboratory according to standard protocols. Landsat 8 satellite images of the study area were used for identification and supervised classification using remote sensing tools. The Yaldad River basin showed 82% of native forest and the Colu River basin around 38% of grassland (agriculture). Low total alkalinity (AT) and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), but high CDOM proportions were typically observed in freshwater. A higher CDOM and humic-like compounds concentration was observed along the river-coastal ocean continuum in the Yaldad basin, characterized by a predominance of native forests. In contrast, nutrient concentrations, AT and DIC, were higher in the Colu area. Low CaCO3 saturation state (ΩAr < 2) and even undersaturation conditions were observed at the coastal ocean at Yaldad. A strong negative correlation between AT, DIC and ΩAr with CDOM/fDOM, suggested the influence of terrestrial material on the seawater carbon chemistry. Our results provide robust evidence that land uses in river basins can influence CDOM/fDOM proportion and its influence on the carbonate chemistry of the adjacent coastal, with potential implications for the shellfish farming activity in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth D Curra-Sánchez
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Ambientales, Departamento de Sistemas Acuáticos, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Laboratorio de Ecosistemas Costeros y Cambio Ambiental Global (ECCALab), Departamento de Sistemas Acuáticos, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro de Ciencias Ambientales EULA Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Lara
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jorge Nimptsch
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Laboratorio de Bioensayos y Limnología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Mauricio Aguayo
- Departamento de Planificación Territorial, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro de Ciencias Ambientales EULA Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Bernardo R Broitman
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Gonzalo S Saldías
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile
| | - Cristian A Vargas
- Laboratorio de Ecosistemas Costeros y Cambio Ambiental Global (ECCALab), Departamento de Sistemas Acuáticos, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro de Ciencias Ambientales EULA Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Stress Resistance and Adaptation of the Aquatic Invasive Species Tubastraea Coccinea (Lesson, 1829) to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13243645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A great number of studies published on long-term ocean warming and increased acidification have forecasted changes in regional biodiversity preempted by aquatic invasive species (AIS). The present paper is focused on invasive Tubastraea coccinea (TC), an azooxanthellate AIS coral thriving in regions of the Gulf of Mexico, which has shown an ability to invade altered habitats, including endemic Indo-Pacific T. coccinea (TCP) populations. To determine if invasive TC are more stress resistant than endemic Indo-Pacific T. coccinea (TCP), authors measured tissue loss and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression, using a full factorial design, post exposure to changes in pH (7.5 and 8.1) and heat stress (31 °C and 34 °C). Overall, the mean time required for TCP to reach 50% tissue loss (LD50) was less than observed for TC by a factor of 0.45 (p < 0.0003). Increasing temperature was found to be a significant main effect (p = 0.004), decreasing the LD50 by a factor of 0.58. Increasing acidity to pH 7.5 from 8.1 did not change the sensitivity of TC to temperature; however, TCP displayed increased sensitivity at 31 °C. Increases in the relative density of HSP70 (TC) were seen at all treatment levels. Hence, TC appears more robust compared to TCP and may emerge as a new dominant coral displacing endemic populations as a consequence of climate change.
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Dellisanti W, Chung JTH, Chow CFY, Wu J, Wells ML, Chan LL. Experimental Techniques to Assess Coral Physiology in situ Under Global and Local Stressors: Current Approaches and Novel Insights. Front Physiol 2021; 12:656562. [PMID: 34163371 PMCID: PMC8215126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.656562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to global changes in the marine environment. The increasing frequency of massive bleaching events in the tropics is highlighting the need to better understand the stages of coral physiological responses to extreme conditions. Moreover, like many other coastal regions, coral reef ecosystems are facing additional localized anthropogenic stressors such as nutrient loading, increased turbidity, and coastal development. Different strategies have been developed to measure the health status of a damaged reef, ranging from the resolution of individual polyps to the entire coral community, but techniques for measuring coral physiology in situ are not yet widely implemented. For instance, while there are many studies of the coral holobiont response in single or limited-number multiple stressor experiments, they provide only partial insights into metabolic performance under more complex and temporally and spatially variable natural conditions. Here, we discuss the current status of coral reefs and their global and local stressors in the context of experimental techniques that measure core processes in coral metabolism (respiration, photosynthesis, and biocalcification) in situ, and their role in indicating the health status of colonies and communities. We highlight the need to improve the capability of in situ studies in order to better understand the resilience and stress response of corals under multiple global and local scale stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Dellisanti
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
| | - Jeffery T H Chung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
| | - Cher F Y Chow
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China.,Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Jiajun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
| | - Mark L Wells
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States.,State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China
| | - Leo L Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China.,Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
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Hall TE, Freedman AS, de Roos AM, Edmunds PJ, Carpenter RC, Gross K. Stony coral populations are more sensitive to changes in vital rates in disturbed environments. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02234. [PMID: 33064870 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals, like many long-lived organisms, experience environmental change as a combination of separate but concurrent processes, some of which are gradual yet long-lasting, while others are more acute but short-lived. For corals, some chronic environmental stressors, such as rising temperature and ocean acidification, are thought to induce gradual changes in colonies' vital rates. Meanwhile, other environmental changes, such as the intensification of tropical cyclones, change the disturbance regime that corals experience. Here, we use a physiologically structured population model to explore how chronic environmental stressors that impact the vital rates of individual coral colonies interact with the intensity and magnitude of disturbance to affect coral population dynamics and cover. We find that, when disturbances are relatively benign, intraspecific density dependence driven by space competition partially buffers coral populations against gradual changes in vital rates. However, the impact of chronic stressors is amplified in more highly disturbed environments, because disturbance weakens the buffering effect of space competition. We also show that coral cover is more sensitive to changes in colony growth and mortality than to external recruitment, at least in open populations, and that space competition and size structure mediate the extent and pace of coral population recovery following a large-scale mortality event. Understanding the complex interplay among chronic environmental stressors, mass-mortality events, and population size structure sharpens our ability to manage and to restore coral-reef ecosystems in an increasingly disturbed future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa E Hall
- Biomathematics Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695, USA
| | - Andrew S Freedman
- Biomathematics Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695, USA
| | - André M de Roos
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
| | - Peter J Edmunds
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, California, 91330, USA
| | - Robert C Carpenter
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, California, 91330, USA
| | - Kevin Gross
- Biomathematics Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695, USA
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Guan Y, Hohn S, Wild C, Merico A. Vulnerability of global coral reef habitat suitability to ocean warming, acidification and eutrophication. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:5646-5660. [PMID: 32713061 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are threatened by global and local stressors. Yet, reefs appear to respond differently to different environmental stressors. Using a global dataset of coral reef occurrence as a proxy for the long-term adaptation of corals to environmental conditions in combination with global environmental data, we show here how global (warming: sea surface temperature; acidification: aragonite saturation state, Ωarag ) and local (eutrophication: nitrate concentration, and phosphate concentration) stressors influence coral reef habitat suitability. We analyse the relative distance of coral communities to their regional environmental optima. In addition, we calculate the expected change of coral reef habitat suitability across the tropics in relation to an increase of 0.1°C in temperature, an increase of 0.02 μmol/L in nitrate, an increase of 0.01 μmol/L in phosphate and a decrease of 0.04 in Ωarag . Our findings reveal that only 6% of the reefs worldwide will be unaffected by local and global stressors and can thus act as temporary refugia. Local stressors, driven by nutrient increase, will affect 22% of the reefs worldwide, whereas global stressors will affect 11% of these reefs. The remaining 61% of the reefs will be simultaneously affected by local and global stressors. Appropriate wastewater treatments can mitigate local eutrophication and could increase areas of temporary refugia to 28%, allowing us to 'buy time', while international agreements are found to abate global stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Guan
- Systems Ecology Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sönke Hohn
- Systems Ecology Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christian Wild
- Department Marine Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Agostino Merico
- Systems Ecology Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
- Department of Physics & Earth Sciences, Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany
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