1
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Carbonne C, Comeau S, Plichon K, Schaub S, Gattuso JP, Teixidó N. Response of two temperate scleractinian corals to projected ocean warming and marine heatwaves. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231683. [PMID: 38545609 PMCID: PMC10966389 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of global change, particularly exposed to ocean warming and the increasing occurrence of marine heatwaves (MHWs). However, experiments based on long-term temperature data from the field are scarce. Here, we investigate the response of the zooxanthellate coral Cladocora caespitosa and the azooxanthellate coral Astroides calycularis to future warming and MHWs based on 8 years of in situ data. Corals were maintained in the laboratory for five months under four temperature conditions: Warming (3.2°C above the in situ mean from 2012 to 2020), Heatwave (temperatures of 2018 with two heatwaves), Ambient (in situ mean) and Cool (deeper water temperatures). Under the Warming treatment, some C. caespitosa colonies severely bleached and A. calycularis colonies presented necrosis. Cladocora caespitosa symbiosis was impaired by temperature with a decrease in the density of endosymbiotic algae and an increase in per cent whiteness in all the treatments except for the coolest. Recovery for both species was observed through different mechanisms such as regrowth of polyps of A. calycularis and recovery of pigmentation for C. caespitosa. These results suggest that A. calycularis and C. caespitosa may be resilient to heat stress and can recover from physiological stresses caused by heatwaves in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Carbonne
- CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, Villefranche-sur-mer, Monaco06230, France
| | - Steeve Comeau
- CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, Villefranche-sur-mer, Monaco06230, France
| | - Keyla Plichon
- CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, Villefranche-sur-mer, Monaco06230, France
- MSc MARRES, Université Côte d’Azur, Sophia Antipolis Campus, Nice06103, France
| | - Sébastien Schaub
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, Villefranche-sur-mer, Monaco06230, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Gattuso
- CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, Villefranche-sur-mer, Monaco06230, France
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, 27 rue Saint Guillaume, Paris75007, France
| | - Núria Teixidó
- CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, Villefranche-sur-mer, Monaco06230, France
- Department of Integrated Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia Marine Centre, Punta San Pietro, Ischia, Naples80077, Italy
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2
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Tsirintanis K, Sini M, Ragkousis M, Zenetos A, Katsanevakis S. Cumulative Negative Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Marine Ecosystems of the Aegean Sea. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:933. [PMID: 37508363 PMCID: PMC10376206 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions are a human-induced environmental disturbance that can cause major changes in ecosystem structure and functioning. Located in the northeastern Mediterranean basin, the Aegean Sea is a hotspot of biological invasions. Although the presence of alien species in the Aegean has been studied and monitored, no assessment has been conducted on their cumulative impacts on native biodiversity. To address this gap, we applied the CIMPAL index, a framework developed for mapping the cumulative impacts of invasive species, to identify the most affected areas and habitat types and determine the most invasive species in the region. Coastal areas showed stronger impacts than the open sea. The highest CIMPAL scores were four times more frequent in the South than in the North Aegean. Shallow (0-60 m) hard substrates were the most heavily impacted habitat type, followed by shallow soft substrates and seagrass meadows. We identified Caulerpa cylindracea, Lophocladia lallemandii, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, and Womersleyella setacea as the most impactful species across their range of occurrence in the Aegean but rankings varied depending on the habitat type and impact indicator applied. Our assessment can support marine managers in prioritizing decisions and actions to control biological invasions and mitigate their impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Tsirintanis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Maria Sini
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Michail Ragkousis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Argyro Zenetos
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 19013 Attika, Greece
| | - Stelios Katsanevakis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
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3
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Warming and predation risk only weakly shape size-mediated priority effects in a cannibalistic damselfly. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17324. [PMID: 36243749 PMCID: PMC9569353 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22110-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences in hatching dates can shape intraspecific interactions through size-mediated priority effects (SMPE), a phenomenon where bigger, early hatched individuals gain advantage over smaller, late hatched ones. However, it remains unclear to what extent and how SMPE are affected by key environmental factors such as warming and predation risk imposed by top predators. We studied effects of warming (low and high temperature) and predation risk (presence and absence of predator cues of perch) on SMPE in life history and physiological traits in the cannibalistic damselfly Ischnura elegans. We induced SMPE in the laboratory by manipulating hatching dates, creating following groups: early and late hatchlings reared in separate containers, and mixed phenology groups where early and late hatchlings shared the same containers. We found strong SMPE for survival and emergence success, with the highest values in early larvae of mixed phenology groups and the lowest values in late larvae of mixed phenology groups. Neither temperature nor predator cues affected SMPE for these two traits. The other life history traits (development rate and mass at emergence) did not show SMPE, but were affected by temperature and predator cues. A tendency for SMPE was found for protein content, in the high temperature treatment. The other physiological traits (phenoloxidase activity and fat content) showed fixed expressions across treatments, indicating decoupling between physiology and life history. The results underline that SMPEs are trait-dependent, and only weakly or not affected by temperature and predation risk.
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4
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Cebrian E, Linares C, Garrabou J. Warming may increase the vulnerability of calcareous algae to bioinvasions. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113099. [PMID: 34798431 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113099] [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: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interactions between various stressors, and the resulting cumulative impacts they exert, is essential in order to predict the potential resilience of marine habitats to climate change. Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are a major calcifying component of marine habitats, from tropical to polar oceans, and play a central role as ecosystem engineers in many rocky reefs. These species are increasingly threatened by the stress of climate change. However, the effects of other stressors linked to global change, such as invasive species, have scarcely been addressed. We have studied the interactive effects of invasive algae and global warming on CCA, combining observational and experimental approaches. CCA sensitivity to invasive algae is heightened when they are concurrently exposed to elevated seawater temperature, and the interaction between these two stressors triggers drastic synergistic effects on CCA. The reduction and eventual disappearance of these "ecosystem foundation species" may undermine ecological functioning, leading to the disappearance and/or fragmentation of the communities associated with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Cebrian
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB-CSIC), Spain.
| | - C Linares
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Research on Biodiversity (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Garrabou
- Institut de Ciències del Mar-Consell Superior d'Investigacions Científiques, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain; Aix Marseille Univ., University of Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, France
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5
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Martinez S, Bellworthy J, Ferrier-Pagès C, Mass T. Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18134. [PMID: 34518595 PMCID: PMC8438053 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97447-5] [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: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, species are migrating in an attempt to track optimal isotherms as climate change increasingly warms existing habitats. Stony corals are severely threatened by anthropogenic warming, which has resulted in repeated mass bleaching and mortality events. Since corals are sessile as adults and with a relatively old age of sexual maturity, they are slow to latitudinally migrate, but corals may also migrate vertically to deeper, cooler reefs. Herein we describe vertical migration of the Mediterranean coral Oculina patagonica from less than 10 m depth to > 30 m. We suggest that this range shift is a response to rapidly warming sea surface temperatures on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. In contrast to the vast latitudinal distance required to track temperature change, this species has migrated deeper where summer water temperatures are up to 2 °C cooler. Comparisons of physiology, morphology, trophic position, symbiont type, and photochemistry between deep and shallow conspecifics revealed only a few depth-specific differences. At this study site, shallow colonies typically inhabit low light environments (caves, crevices) and have a facultative relationship with photosymbionts. We suggest that this existing phenotype aided colonization of the mesophotic zone. This observation highlights the potential for other marine species to vertically migrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephane Martinez
- grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel ,grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel ,grid.452353.60000 0004 0550 8241Coral Ecophysiology Team, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco City, 98000 Monaco
| | - Jessica Bellworthy
- grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel ,grid.440849.50000 0004 0496 208XThe Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel
| | - Christine Ferrier-Pagès
- grid.452353.60000 0004 0550 8241Coral Ecophysiology Team, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco City, 98000 Monaco
| | - Tali Mass
- grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel ,grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
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6
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Hadjioannou L, Jimenez C, Rottier C, Sfenthourakis S, Ferrier-Pagès C. Response of the temperate scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa to high temperature and long-term nutrient enrichment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14229. [PMID: 31578398 PMCID: PMC6775152 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50716-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment and increased seawater temperatures are responsible for coral reef decline. In particular, they disrupt the relationship between corals and their dinoflagellate symbionts (bleaching). However, some coral species can afford either high temperatures or nutrient enrichment and their study can bring new insights into how corals acclimate or adapt to stressors. Here, we focused on the role of the nutrient history in influencing the response of the Mediterranean scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa to thermal stress. Colonies living naturally in nutrient-poor (<0.5 µM nitrogen, <0.2 µM phosphorus, LN) and nutrient-rich (ca. 10–20 µM nitrogen, 0.4 µM phosphorus, HN) locations were sampled, maintained under the right nutrient conditions, and exposed to a temperature increase from 17 °C to 24 °C and 29 °C. While both HN and LN colonies decreased their concentrations of symbionts and/or photosynthetic pigments, HN colonies were able to maintain significant higher rates of net and gross photosynthesis at 24 °C compared to LN colonies. In addition, while there was no change in protein concentration in HN corals during the experiment, proteins continuously decreased in LN corals with increased temperature. These results are important in that they show that nutrient history can influence the response of scleractinian corals to thermal stress. Further investigations of under-studied coral groups are thus required in the future to understand the processes leading to coral resistance to environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Hadjioannou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. .,Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglantzia 2101, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglantzia 2101, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre (EEWRC) of The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Cecile Rottier
- Marine Department, Ecophysiology team, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, 98000, Monaco
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7
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Kersting DK, Linares C. Living evidence of a fossil survival strategy raises hope for warming-affected corals. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaax2950. [PMID: 31633024 PMCID: PMC6785258 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax2950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is affecting reef-building corals worldwide, with little hope for recovery. However, coral fossils hint at the existence of environmental stress-triggered survival strategies unreported in extant colonial corals. We document the living evidence and long-term ecological role of such a survival strategy in which isolated polyps from coral colonies affected by warming adopt a transitory resistance phase, in turn expressing a high recovery capacity in dead colony areas. Such processes have been described in fossil corals as rejuvenescence but were previously unknown in extant reef-builder corals. Our results based on 16 years of monitoring show the significance of this process for unexpected recoveries of coral colonies severely affected by warming. These findings provide a link between rejuvenescence in fossil and extant corals and reveal that beyond adaptation and acclimatization processes, modern scleractinian corals show yet undiscovered and highly effective survival strategies that help them withstand and recover from rapid environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego K. Kersting
- Working Group on Geobiology and Anthropocene Research, Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Pitacco V, Mistri M, Lipej L. Species-Area Relationship (SAR) models as tools for estimating faunal biodiversity associated with habitat builder species in sensitive areas: the case of the Mediterranean stony coral (Cladocora caespitosa). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 149:27-39. [PMID: 31150925 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity associated with the Mediterranean stony coral Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767) was investigated at three levels: "microscale", focused on macrobenthic invertebrates within colonies; "mesoscale", focused on epibenthic megafauna among colonies; "macroscale", focused on associated ichthyofauna. The aim was to quantify associated diversity in terms of species richness, testing the efficiency of colony size (surface covered by a single colony) for the "microscale", and colony density or total coral coverage for "meso-" and "macroscale" as predictors and the consistency of models based on Species-Area Relationship (SAR) for those estimations. At level of "microscale", colony size was a good predictor, with richness of invertebrates increasing with the increasing of surface covered by each colony of C. caespitosa, following Arrhenius model. At levels of "mesoscale" and "macroscale", richness of epibenthic megafauna and fish were not related neither to colony density nor total coral coverage, but to sampled area, and frequency-based estimates of richness were used. The importance of C. caespitosa varied according to the investigation level, with most of taxa richness detected at the level of "microscale".
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Pitacco
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Michele Mistri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lovrenc Lipej
- Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 61, 6630, Piran, Slovenia
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9
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Verdura J, Linares C, Ballesteros E, Coma R, Uriz MJ, Bensoussan N, Cebrian E. Biodiversity loss in a Mediterranean ecosystem due to an extreme warming event unveils the role of an engineering gorgonian species. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5911. [PMID: 30976028 PMCID: PMC6459914 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41929-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Stochastic perturbations can trigger major ecosystem shifts. Marine systems have been severely affected in recent years by mass mortality events related to positive thermal anomalies. Although the immediate effects in the species demography affected by mortality events are well known, information on the mid- to long-term effects at the community level is much less documented. Here, we show how an extreme warming event replaces a structurally complex habitat, dominated by long-lived species, by a simplified habitat (lower species diversity and richness) dominated by turf-forming species. On the basis of a study involving the experimental manipulation of the presence of the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, we observed that its presence mitigated the effects of warming by maintaining the original assemblage dominated by macroinvertebrates and delaying the proliferation and spread of the invasive alga Caulerpa cylindracea. However, due to the increase of sediment and turf-forming species after the mortality event we hypothesize a further degradation of the whole assemblage as both factors decrease the recruitment of P.clavata, decrease the survival of encrusting coralligenous-dwelling macroinvertebrates and facilitate the spreading of C. cylindracea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Verdura
- Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain.,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric Ballesteros
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Rafel Coma
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - María J Uriz
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Nathaniel Bensoussan
- Institut Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.,Aix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain. .,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Spain.
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10
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Gómez‐Gras D, Linares C, de Caralt S, Cebrian E, Frleta‐Valić M, Montero‐Serra I, Pagès‐Escolà M, López‐Sendino P, Garrabou J. Response diversity in Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages facing climate change: Insights from a multispecific thermotolerance experiment. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4168-4180. [PMID: 31015996 PMCID: PMC6468064 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change threatens coastal benthic communities on a global scale. However, the potential effects of ongoing warming on mesophotic temperate reefs at the community level remain poorly understood. Investigating how different members of these communities will respond to the future expected environmental conditions is, therefore, key to anticipating their future trajectories and developing specific management and conservation strategies. Here, we examined the responses of some of the main components of the highly diverse Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages to thermal stress. We performed thermotolerance experiments with different temperature treatments (from 26 to 29°C) with 10 species from different phyla (three anthozoans, six sponges and one ascidian) and different structural roles. Overall, we observed species-specific contrasting responses to warming regardless of phyla or growth form. Moreover, the responses ranged from highly resistant species to sensitive species and were mostly in agreement with previous field observations from mass mortality events (MMEs) linked to Mediterranean marine heat waves. Our results unravel the diversity of responses to warming in coralligenous outcrops and suggest the presence of potential winners and losers in the face of climate change. Finally, this study highlights the importance of accounting for species-specific vulnerabilities and response diversity when forecasting the future trajectories of temperate benthic communities in a warming ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gómez‐Gras
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Sonia de Caralt
- Centre d' Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CSIC)BlanesSpain
- GR MAR, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Facultat de CiènciesUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Centre d' Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CSIC)BlanesSpain
- GR MAR, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Facultat de CiènciesUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Maša Frleta‐Valić
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Ignasi Montero‐Serra
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Marta Pagès‐Escolà
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Paula López‐Sendino
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
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11
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Pagès-Escolà M, Hereu B, Garrabou J, Montero-Serra I, Gori A, Gómez-Gras D, Figuerola B, Linares C. Divergent responses to warming of two common co-occurring Mediterranean bryozoans. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17455. [PMID: 30498253 PMCID: PMC6265274 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36094-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change threatens the structure and function of marine ecosystems, highlighting the importance of understanding the response of species to changing environmental conditions. However, thermal tolerance determining the vulnerability to warming of many abundant marine species is still poorly understood. In this study, we quantified in the field the effects of a temperature anomaly recorded in the Mediterranean Sea during the summer of 2015 on populations of two common sympatric bryozoans, Myriapora truncata and Pentapora fascialis. Then, we experimentally assessed their thermal tolerances in aquaria as well as different sublethal responses to warming. Differences between species were found in survival patterns in natural populations, P. fascialis showing significantly lower survival rates than M. truncata. The thermotolerance experiments supported field observations: P. fascialis started to show signs of necrosis when the temperature was raised to 25–26 °C and completely died between 28–29 °C, coinciding with the temperature when we observed first signs of necrosis in M. truncata. The results from this study reflect different responses to warming between these two co-occurring species, highlighting the importance of combining multiple approaches to assess the vulnerability of benthic species in a changing climate world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pagès-Escolà
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Institute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Montero-Serra
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Gori
- Institute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Gómez-Gras
- Institute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Blanca Figuerola
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Cristina Linares
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Rubio-Portillo E, Kersting DK, Linares C, Ramos-Esplá AA, Antón J. Biogeographic Differences in the Microbiome and Pathobiome of the Coral Cladocora caespitosa in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:22. [PMID: 29410656 PMCID: PMC5787083 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The endemic Mediterranean zooxanthellate scleractinian reef-builder Cladocora caespitosa is among the organisms most affected by warming-related mass mortality events in the Mediterranean Sea. Corals are known to contain a diverse microbiota that plays a key role in their physiology and health. Here we report the first study that examines the microbiome and pathobiome associated with C. caespitosa in three different Mediterranean locations (i.e., Genova, Columbretes Islands, and Tabarca Island). The microbial communities associated with this species showed biogeographical differences, but shared a common core microbiome that probably plays a key role in the coral holobiont. The putatively pathogenic microbial assemblage (i.e., pathobiome) of C. caespitosa also seemed to depend on geographic location and the human footprint. In locations near the coast and with higher human influence, the pathobiome was entirely constituted by Vibrio species, including the well-known coral pathogens Vibrio coralliilyticus and V. mediterranei. However, in the Columbretes Islands, located off the coast and the most pristine of the analyzed locations, no changes among microbial communities associated to healthy and necrosed samples were detected. Hence, our results provide new insights into the microbiome of the temperate corals and its role in coral health status, highlighting its dependence on the local environmental conditions and the human footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rubio-Portillo
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Diego K Kersting
- Working Group on Geobiology and Anthropocene Research, Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Josefa Antón
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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13
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Jimenez C, Andreou V, Evriviadou M, Munkes B, Hadjioannou L, Petrou A, Abu Alhaija R. Epibenthic communities associated with unintentional artificial reefs (modern shipwrecks) under contrasting regimes of nutrients in the Levantine Sea (Cyprus and Lebanon). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182486. [PMID: 28850572 PMCID: PMC5574533 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial reefs, in the Eastern Mediterranean (Cyprus,) became a popular and frequently used tool, in fisheries and biodiversity conservation management. Even though evaluation studies about the efficacy of artificial reefs are plentiful in the rest of the Mediterranean (Central and Western), in the Eastern Basin they are largely absent. As the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea is characterised by unique physical parameters, the necessity to study artificial reefs under these contrasting regimes increases. The epibenthic communities of two unintentional artificial reefs (modern shipwrecks) in Cyprus (Zenobia) and Lebanon (Alice-B) were evaluated in 2010. Both shipwrecks are at similar depth, type of sea bottom, made of the same material (steel) and were sunk approximately the same period of time. However, Alice-B shipwreck off the coast of Lebanon is constantly exposed to higher levels of nutrients than Zenobia in Cyprus. Significant dissimilarities were observed in the composition, percentage of benthic cover of predominant taxonomic groups and development of the epibenthic communities. Differences in physical and chemical parameters between sides lay mainly in the nutrient and thermal regimes affecting the shipwrecks and most likely bring about the differences in the observed community structure. The results of this study suggest that epibenthic communities could be highly impacted by eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activities, leading to less biodiverse communities dominated by specific species that are favoured by the eutrophic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) of The Cyprus Institute, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Vasilis Andreou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marina Evriviadou
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) of The Cyprus Institute, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Britta Munkes
- Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (GEOMAR), Experimental Ecology Department, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, Kiel, Germany
| | - Louis Hadjioannou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonis Petrou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Rana Abu Alhaija
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) of The Cyprus Institute, Aglanzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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14
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Rubio-Portillo E, Izquierdo-Muñoz A, Gago JF, Rosselló-Mora R, Antón J, Ramos-Esplá AA. Effects of the 2015 heat wave on benthic invertebrates in the Tabarca Marine Protected Area (southeast Spain). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 122:135-142. [PMID: 27810225 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In the late summer of 2015, extensive mortality of scleratinian corals, gorgonians, and sponges was observed in the Marine Protected Area of Tabarca (southeast Spain). Quantitative data indicated that at 25 m depth the sea fan Eunicella singularis was the most affected species (50% of colonies affected by partial mortality); while in shallow waters more than 40% of the endemic scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa population showed tissue lesions that affected more than 10% of their surfaces. Other affected species were the scleractinian corals Oculina patagonica and Phyllangia mouchezii, the sea fan Leptogorgia sarmentosa and the sponge Sarcotragus fasciculatus. This mortality event coincided with an abnormal rise in seawater temperature in this region. Microbiological analysis showed a higher abundance of culturable Vibrio species in invertebrates exhibiting tissue lesions, which indicated that these opportunistic pathogens could be a key factor in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rubio-Portillo
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Centro de Investigación Marina de Santa Pola (CIMAR), University of Alicante-Santa Pola Town Council, Cabo de Santa Pola s/n, Alicante, Spain; Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Andrés Izquierdo-Muñoz
- Centro de Investigación Marina de Santa Pola (CIMAR), University of Alicante-Santa Pola Town Council, Cabo de Santa Pola s/n, Alicante, Spain
| | - Juan F Gago
- Marine Microbiology Group, Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | - Ramon Rosselló-Mora
- Marine Microbiology Group, Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | - Josefa Antón
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Alfonso A Ramos-Esplá
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Centro de Investigación Marina de Santa Pola (CIMAR), University of Alicante-Santa Pola Town Council, Cabo de Santa Pola s/n, Alicante, Spain
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15
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El Kateb A, Stalder C, Neururer C, Pisapia C, Spezzaferri S. Correlation between pollution and decline of Scleractinian Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gulf of Gabes. Heliyon 2016; 2:e00195. [PMID: 27896319 PMCID: PMC5121140 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2016.e00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During an expedition in 2014 in the Gulf of Gabes that aimed to evaluate the impact of the pollution of the phosphate industry on the marine environment, numerous dead coral fragments were retrieved from several stations along a 18 km long transect in front of the industry complex of Gabes. Detailed taxonomy of these coral fragments shows clearly that all fragments belong to the species Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1758). Quantitative analysis of the coral fragments indicates a positive correlation with stations characterized by positive bathymetric anomalies. We suggest the presence of probable small-scaled (up to 4 m high) biogenic (palaeo-) build-ups composed mainly of coral colonies and bryozoans. Radiocarbon dating of three coral fragments show ages as old as 1897, 1985 and 1986 AD and suggests the presence of living C. caespitosa as close as 6 km to the phosphate treatment industry of Gabes at least until 1986 AD. This latter age coincides with the construction of the ammonium phosphate production plant, in 1979, in the Gulf of Gabes with an increase of the natural phosphate production. The higher impact of pollution on the marine environment in the inner part of the Gulf of Gabes likely induced the decline of C. caespitosa. This is well in agreement with enhanced siltation processes suggested by the sedimentary facies and grain-size analyses presently characterizing the Gulf of Gabes nowadays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram El Kateb
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Stalder
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Neururer
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Pisapia
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Spezzaferri
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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16
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Aichelman HE, Townsend JE, Courtney TA, Baumann JH, Davies SW, Castillo KD. Heterotrophy mitigates the response of the temperate coral Oculina arbuscula to temperature stress. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:6758-6769. [PMID: 27777745 PMCID: PMC5058543 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration have caused global average sea surface temperature (SST) to increase by approximately 0.11°C per decade between 1971 and 2010 - a trend that is projected to continue through the 21st century. A multitude of research studies have demonstrated that increased SSTs compromise the coral holobiont (cnidarian host and its symbiotic algae) by reducing both host calcification and symbiont density, among other variables. However, we still do not fully understand the role of heterotrophy in the response of the coral holobiont to elevated temperature, particularly for temperate corals. Here, we conducted a pair of independent experiments to investigate the influence of heterotrophy on the response of the temperate scleractinian coral Oculina arbuscula to thermal stress. Colonies of O. arbuscula from Radio Island, North Carolina, were exposed to four feeding treatments (zero, low, moderate, and high concentrations of newly hatched Artemia sp. nauplii) across two independent temperature experiments (average annual SST (20°C) and average summer temperature (28°C) for the interval 2005-2012) to quantify the effects of heterotrophy on coral skeletal growth and symbiont density. Results suggest that heterotrophy mitigated both reduced skeletal growth and decreased symbiont density observed for unfed corals reared at 28°C. This study highlights the importance of heterotrophy in maintaining coral holobiont fitness under thermal stress and has important implications for the interpretation of coral response to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E. Aichelman
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Joseph E. Townsend
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Travis A. Courtney
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
- Department of Marine and Environmental SciencesNortheastern UniversityNahantMassachusetts
- Present address: Scripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Justin H. Baumann
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Sarah W. Davies
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
- Department of Marine and Environmental SciencesNortheastern UniversityNahantMassachusetts
| | - Karl D. Castillo
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth Carolina
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