1
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Banister RB, Viehman TS, Schopmeyer S, van Woesik R. Environmental predictors for the restoration of a critically endangered coral, Acropora palmata, along the Florida reef tract. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296485. [PMID: 38166125 PMCID: PMC10760844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The population decline and lack of natural recovery of multiple coral species along the Florida reef tract have instigated the expanding application of coral restoration and conservation efforts. Few studies, however, have determined the optimal locations for the survival of outplanted coral colonies from restoration nurseries. This study predicts the optimal locations for Acropora palmata colonies along the Florida reef tract using a boosted-regression-tree model to examine the relationships between the occurrence of wild A. palmata and ten environmental variables. Our model results predicted A. palmata was most likely to occur in shallow reef habitats with (i) generally low mean chlorophyll-a concentrations (< 1 mg m-3), (ii) moderate fetch (3 kJ m-2), (iii) salinities between 20 and 37.5 ppt, (iv) temperatures between 20 and 32°C, (vi) low mean concentrations of total nitrogen (0.16 ppm), and (iv) irradiance between 26.5 and 53.5 mol m-2 s-1. The most suitable habitats for A. palmata were disproportionately allocated to reefs in Biscayne Bay, the Upper Keys, the western-lower Florida Keys, the Marquesas, and the Dry Tortugas. The middle Florida Keys had unfavorable environmental conditions for A. palmata habitat. Results from this study inform where A. palmata, outplanted as part of restoration and conservation efforts, would have suitable environmental conditions to persist over time. This study also provides decision-making support for management focused on the conservation and restoration of the endangered species A. palmata along the Florida reef tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond B. Banister
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, United States of America
| | - T. Shay Viehman
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Beaufort, NC, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Schopmeyer
- Florida Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Wildlife Research Initiative, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America
| | - Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, United States of America
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2
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Schul MD, Anastasious DE, Spiers LJ, Meyer JL, Frazer TK, Brown AL. Concordance of microbial and visual health indicators of white-band disease in nursery reared Caribbean coral Acropora cervicornis. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15170. [PMID: 37361046 PMCID: PMC10290447 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coral diseases are one of the leading causes of declines in coral populations. In the Caribbean, white band disease (WBD) has led to a substantial loss of Acropora corals. Although the etiologies of this disease have not been well described, characterizing the coral microbiome during the transition from a healthy to diseased state is critical for understanding disease progression. Coral nurseries provide unique opportunities to further understand the microbial changes associated with diseased and healthy corals, because corals are monitored over time. We characterized the microbiomes before and during an outbreak of WBD in Acropora cervicornis reared in an ocean nursery in Little Cayman, CI. We asked (1) do healthy corals show the same microbiome over time (before and during a disease outbreak) and (2) are there disease signatures on both lesioned and apparently healthy tissues on diseased coral colonies? Methods Microbial mucus-tissue slurries were collected from healthy coral colonies in 2017 (before the disease) and 2019 (during the disease onset). Diseased colonies were sampled at two separate locations on an individual coral colony: at the interface of Disease and ∼10 cm away on Apparently Healthy coral tissue. We sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize bacterial and archaeal community composition in nursery-reared A. cervicornis. We assessed alpha diversity, beta diversity, and compositional differences to determine differences in microbial assemblages across health states (2019) and healthy corals between years (2017 and 2019). Results Microbial communities from healthy A. cervicornis from 2017 (before disease) and 2019 (after disease) did not differ significantly. Additionally, microbial communities from Apparently Healthy samples on an otherwise diseased coral colony were more similar to Healthy colonies than to the diseased portion on the same colony for both alpha diversity and community composition. Microbial communities from Diseased tissues had significantly higher alpha diversity than both Healthy and Apparently Healthy tissues but showed no significant difference in beta-diversity dispersion. Our results show that at the population scale, Healthy and Apparently Healthy coral tissues are distinct from microbial communities associated with Diseased tissues. Furthermore, our results suggest stability in Little Cayman nursery coral microbiomes over time. We show healthy Caymanian nursery corals had a stable microbiome over a two-year period, an important benchmark for evaluating coral health via their microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica D. Schul
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Dagny-Elise Anastasious
- Little Cayman Research Center, Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
| | - Lindsay J. Spiers
- School of Fisheries, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marathon, FL, United States of America
| | - Julie L. Meyer
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Thomas K. Frazer
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America
| | - Anya L. Brown
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- Bodega Marine Lab, Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA, United States of America
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3
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Henry JA, Szereday S, Lynn CK, Suggett DJ, Camp EF, Patterson JT. Using relative return‐on‐effort (
RRE
) scoring to evaluate a novel coral nursery in Malaysia. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. Henry
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences University of Florida/IFAS 7922 NW 71st Street Gainesville FL 32653 USA
| | | | - Chew Kok Lynn
- Coralku Solutions, Kuala Lumpur, 60000, Wilayah Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences C308, Institute for Advanced Studies Building, Universiti Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - David J. Suggett
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Emma F. Camp
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Joshua T. Patterson
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences University of Florida/IFAS 7922 NW 71st Street Gainesville FL 32653 USA
- The Florida Aquarium, Center for Conservation, 529 Estuary Shore Ln. Apollo Beach FL 33572‐2205 USA
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4
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Contingency planning for coral reefs in the Anthropocene; The potential of reef safe havens. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:107-124. [PMID: 35225326 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the global reliance on fossil fuels is essential to ensure the long-term survival of coral reefs, but until this happens, alternative tools are required to safeguard their future. One emerging tool is to locate areas where corals are surviving well despite the changing climate. Such locations include refuges, refugia, hotspots of resilience, bright spots, contemporary near-pristine reefs, and hope spots that are collectively named reef 'safe havens' in this mini-review. Safe havens have intrinsic value for reefs through services such as environmental buffering, maintaining near-pristine reef conditions, or housing corals naturally adapted to future environmental conditions. Spatial and temporal variance in physicochemical conditions and exposure to stress however preclude certainty over the ubiquitous long-term capacity of reef safe havens to maintain protective service provision. To effectively integrate reef safe havens into proactive reef management and contingency planning for climate change scenarios, thus requires an understanding of their differences, potential values, and predispositions to stress. To this purpose, I provide a high-level review on the defining characteristics of different coral reef safe havens, how they are being utilised in proactive reef management and what risk and susceptibilities they inherently have. The mini-review concludes with an outline of the potential for reef safe haven habitats to support contingency planning of coral reefs under an uncertain future from intensifying climate change.
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5
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A novel system for intensive Diadema antillarum propagation as a step towards population enhancement. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11244. [PMID: 34045538 PMCID: PMC8160213 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90564-1] [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: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum was once an abundant reef grazing herbivore throughout the Caribbean. During the early 1980s, D. antillarum populations were reduced by > 93% due to an undescribed disease. This event resulted in a lack of functional reef herbivory and contributed to ongoing ecological shifts from hard coral towards macroalgae dominated reefs. Limited natural recovery has increased interest in a range of strategies for augmenting herbivory. An area of focus has been developing scalable ex situ methods for rearing D. antillarum from gametes. The ultimate use of such a tool would be exploring hatchery origin restocking strategies. Intensive ex situ aquaculture is a potentially viable, yet difficult, method for producing D. antillarum at scales necessary to facilitate restocking. Here we describe a purpose-built, novel recirculating aquaculture system and the broodstock management and larval culture process that has produced multiple D. antillarum cohorts, and which has the potential for practical application in a dedicated hatchery setting. Adult animals held in captivity can be induced to spawn year-round, with some evidence for annual and lunar periodicity. Fecundity and fertilization rates are both consistently very high, yet challenges persist in both late stage larval development and early post-settlement survival. Initial success was realized with production of 100 juvenile D. antillarum from ~ 1200 competent larvae. While the system we describe requires a significant level of investment and technical expertise, this work advances D. antillarum culture efforts in potential future hatchery settings and improves the viability of scalable ex situ production for population enhancement.
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6
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Cortés-Useche C, Hernández-Delgado EA, Calle-Triviño J, Sellares Blasco R, Galván V, Arias-González JE. Conservation actions and ecological context: optimizing coral reef local management in the Dominican Republic. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10925. [PMID: 33854832 PMCID: PMC7953877 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, coral reef ecosystems have been lost at accelerated rates as a result of global climate change and local stressors. Local management schemes can help improve the condition of coral reefs by enhancing their ecosystem recovery capacity. Caribbean conservation efforts include mitigation of local anthropogenic stressors, and integrating social participation. Here, we analyzed the case of the Bayahibe reefs in the Southeastern (SE) Dominican Republic to identify conservation actions and illustrate a conceptual example of local seascape management. We assessed reef health indicators from 2011 to 2016. Overall, our results show increases in total fish biomass, in both commercial and herbivorous fishes. Mean live coral cover was 31% and fleshy macroalgae was 23% after multiple disturbances such as Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac (2012), Mathew (2016) and heat stress presented in the study area in 2015. We also described actions taken by stakeholders and government institutions, including the implementation of a policy declaring an area of 869,000 ha as a marine protected area (MPA), enhanced water quality treatment, local restrictions to vessel traffic, enforcement of fishing regulations, and the removal of invasive lionfish (Pterois spp.). In addition, a restoration program for the threatened staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was established in 2011, and currently has eight coral nurseries and six outplanting sites. Considering the biology and ecology of these reefs, we observed good results for these indicators (live coral cover, fish biomass, and water quality) in contrast with severely degraded Caribbean reefs, suggesting that optimizing local management may be a useful example for improving reef condition. Our results provide an overview of trends in reef condition in the SE Dominican Republic and could support current strategies to better protect reefs in the region. Given that Caribbean coral reefs face extreme challenges from global climate change, management measures may improve reef conditions across the region but stronger policy processes and increased scientific knowledge are needed for the successful management of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Cortés-Useche
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N, Mérida, Yucatán, México.,Wave Of Change, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Playa Paraíso, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Edwin A Hernández-Delgado
- Deparment of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.,Sociedad Ambiente Marino, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Johanna Calle-Triviño
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N, Mérida, Yucatán, México.,Wave Of Change, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Playa Paraíso, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Rita Sellares Blasco
- Fundación Dominicana de Estudios Marinos, Bayahibe, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic
| | - Victor Galván
- Wave Of Change, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Playa Paraíso, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Jesús E Arias-González
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N, Mérida, Yucatán, México
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7
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Canty SWJ, Fox G, Rowntree JK, Preziosi RF. Genetic structure of a remnant Acropora cervicornis population. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3523. [PMID: 33568733 PMCID: PMC7876111 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83112-4] [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: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Amongst the global decline of coral reefs, hope spots such as Cordelia Bank in Honduras, have been identified. This site contains dense, remnant thickets of the endangered species Acropora cervicornis, which local managers and conservation organizations view as a potential source population for coral restoration projects. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of colonies across three banks within the protected area. We identified low genetic diversity (FST = 0.02) across the three banks, and genetic similarity of colonies ranged from 91.3 to 95.8% between the banks. Clonality rates were approximately 30% across the three banks, however, each genotype identified was unique to each bank. Despite the low genetic diversity, subtle genetic differences within and among banks were demonstrated, and these dense thickets were shown not to be comprised of a single or a few genotypes. The presence of multiple genotypes suggests A. cervicornis colonies from these banks could be used to maintain and enhance genetic diversity in restoration projects. Management of hope spots, such as Cordelia Bank, and the incorporation of genetic information into restoration projects to ensure genetic diversity within out-planted populations, will be critical in the ongoing challenge of conserving and preserving coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven W. J. Canty
- grid.1214.60000 0000 8716 3312Working Land and Seascapes, Conservation Commons, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013 USA ,grid.452909.30000 0001 0479 0204Smithsonian Marine Station, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949 USA ,grid.25627.340000 0001 0790 5329Department of Natural Sciences, Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD UK ,Centro de Estudios Marinos, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Graeme Fox
- grid.25627.340000 0001 0790 5329Department of Natural Sciences, Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD UK
| | - Jennifer K. Rowntree
- grid.25627.340000 0001 0790 5329Department of Natural Sciences, Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD UK
| | - Richard F. Preziosi
- grid.25627.340000 0001 0790 5329Department of Natural Sciences, Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD UK
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8
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Woesik R, Banister RB, Bartels E, Gilliam DS, Goergen EA, Lustic C, Maxwell K, Moura A, Muller EM, Schopmeyer S, Winters RS, Lirman D. Differential survival of nursery‐reared
Acropora cervicornis
outplants along the Florida reef tract. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Woesik
- Institute for Global Ecology Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne FL 32901 U.S.A
| | - Raymond B. Banister
- Institute for Global Ecology Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne FL 32901 U.S.A
| | - Erich Bartels
- Center for Tropical Research, Mote Marine Laboratory Summerland Key FL 33042 U.S.A
| | - David S. Gilliam
- Oceanographic Center Nova Southeastern University 8000 North Ocean Drive Dania Beach FL 33004 U.S.A
| | | | | | - Kerry Maxwell
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 119 Marathon FL 33050 U.S.A
| | - Amelia Moura
- Coral Restoration Foundation Tavernier FL 33070 U.S.A
| | - Erinn M. Muller
- Center for Tropical Research, Mote Marine Laboratory Summerland Key FL 33042 U.S.A
| | - Stephanie Schopmeyer
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission St Petersburg FL 33701 U.S.A
| | - R. S. Winters
- Coral Restoration Foundation Tavernier FL 33070 U.S.A
| | - Diego Lirman
- Marine Biology and Ecology Department, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL 33149 U.S.A
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9
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Horoszowski-Fridman YB, Izhaki I, Rinkevich B. Long-term heightened larval production in nursery-bred coral transplants. Basic Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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10
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Ware M, Garfield EN, Nedimyer K, Levy J, Kaufman L, Precht W, Winters RS, Miller SL. Survivorship and growth in staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) outplanting projects in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231817. [PMID: 32374734 PMCID: PMC7202597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant population declines in Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata began in the 1970s and now exceed over 90%. The losses were caused by a combination of coral disease and bleaching, with possible contributions from other stressors, including pollution and predation. Reproduction in the wild by fragment regeneration and sexual recruitment is inadequate to offset population declines. Starting in 2007, the Coral Restoration Foundation™ evaluated the feasibility of outplanting A. cervicornis colonies to reefs in the Florida Keys to restore populations at sites where the species was previously abundant. Reported here are the results of 20 coral outplanting projects with each project defined as a cohort of colonies outplanted at the same time and location. Photogrammetric analysis and in situ monitoring (2007 to 2015) measured survivorship, growth, and condition of 2419 colonies. Survivorship was initially high but generally decreased after two years. Survivorship among projects based on colony counts ranged from 4% to 89% for seven cohorts monitored at least five years. Weibull survival models were used to estimate survivorship beyond the duration of the projects and ranged from approximately 0% to over 35% after five years and 0% to 10% after seven years. Growth rate averaged 10 cm/year during the first two years then plateaued in subsequent years. After four years, approximately one-third of surviving colonies were ≥ 50 cm in maximum diameter. Projects used three to sixteen different genotypes and significant differences did not occur in survivorship, condition, or growth. Restoration times for three reefs were calculated based on NOAA Recovery Plan (NRP) metrics (colony abundance and size) and the findings from projects reported here. Results support NRP conclusions that reducing stressors is required before significant population growth and recovery will occur. Until then, outplanting protects against local extinction and helps to maintain genetic diversity in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Ware
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States of America
| | - Eliza N. Garfield
- Department of Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Ken Nedimyer
- Reef Renewal, LLC, Tavernier, FL, United States of America
| | - Jessica Levy
- Coral Restoration Foundation, Key Largo, FL, United States of America
| | - Les Kaufman
- Marine Program and Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - William Precht
- Marine and Coastal Programs, Dial Cordy and Associates, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - R. Scott Winters
- Coral Restoration Foundation, Key Largo, FL, United States of America
| | - Steven L. Miller
- Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States of America
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11
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Calle-Triviño J, Rivera-Madrid R, León-Pech MG, Cortés-Useche C, Sellares-Blasco RI, Aguilar-Espinosa M, Arias-González JE. Assessing and genotyping threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis nurseries during restoration in southeast Dominican Republic. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8863. [PMID: 32337099 PMCID: PMC7169967 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acropora cervicornis is a structurally and functionally important Caribbean coral species. Since the 1980s, it has suffered drastic population losses with no signs of recovery and has been classified as a critically endangered species. Its rapid growth rate makes it an excellent candidate for coral restoration programs. In 2011, the Fundación Dominicana de Estudios Marinos (Dominican Marine Studies Foundation, FUNDEMAR) began an A. cervicornis restoration program in Bayahibe, southeast Dominican Republic. In this study, we present the methodology and results of this program from its conception through 2017, a preliminary analysis of the strong 2016 and 2017 cyclonic seasons in the greater Caribbean, and a genetic characterization of the “main nursery”. The mean survival of the fragments over 12 months was 87.45 ± 4.85% and the mean productivity was 4.01 ± 1.88 cm year−1 for the eight nurseries. The mean survival of six outplanted sites over 12 months was 71.55 ± 10.4%, and the mean productivity was 3.03 ± 1.30 cm year−1. The most common cause of mortality during the first 12 months, in both nurseries and outplanted sites, was predation by the fireworm, Hermodice carunculata. We identified 32 multilocus genotypes from 145 total analyzed individuals. The results and techniques described here will aid in the development of current and future nursery and outplanted site restoration programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Calle-Triviño
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Unidad Mérida, Yucatán, México.,Wave of Change Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Renata Rivera-Madrid
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | | | - Camilo Cortés-Useche
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Unidad Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | | | - Margarita Aguilar-Espinosa
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Jesús Ernesto Arias-González
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Unidad Mérida, Yucatán, México
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12
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Rosales SM, Miller MW, Williams DE, Traylor-Knowles N, Young B, Serrano XM. Microbiome differences in disease-resistant vs. susceptible Acropora corals subjected to disease challenge assays. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18279. [PMID: 31797896 PMCID: PMC6892807 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54855-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades coral gardening has become increasingly popular to restore degraded reef ecosystems. However, the growth and survivorship of nursery-reared outplanted corals are highly variable. Scientists are trying to identify genotypes that show signs of disease resistance and leverage these genotypes in restoring more resilient populations. In a previous study, a field disease grafting assay was conducted on nursery-reared Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmata to quantify relative disease susceptibility. In this study, we further evaluate this field assay by investigating putative disease-causing agents and the microbiome of corals with disease-resistant phenotypes. We conducted 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing on A. cervicornis and A. palmata that were grafted (inoculated) with a diseased A. cervicornis fragment. We found that independent of health state, A. cervicornis and A. palmata had distinct alpha and beta diversity patterns from one another and distinct dominant bacteria. In addition, despite different microbiome patterns between both inoculated coral species, the genus Sphingomonadaceae was significantly found in both diseased coral species. Additionally, a core bacteria member from the order Myxococcales was found at relatively higher abundances in corals with lower rates of disease development following grafting. In all, we identified Sphingomonadaceae as a putative coral pathogen and a bacterium from the order Myxococcales associated with corals that showed disease resistant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Rosales
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, Florida, USA.
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
| | - Margaret W Miller
- SECORE International, Miami, FL, 33145, USA
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Dana E Williams
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Miami, USA
| | - Benjamin Young
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Miami, USA
| | - Xaymara M Serrano
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, Florida, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T. Patterson
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of Florida/IFAS 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville FL 32653 U.S.A
- Center for ConservationThe Florida Aquarium 529 Estuary Shore Lane, Apollo Beach FL 33572 U.S.A
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The Active Reef Restoration Toolbox is a Vehicle for Coral Resilience and Adaptation in a Changing World. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse7070201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The accelerating marks of climate change on coral-reef ecosystems, combined with the recognition that traditional management measures are not efficient enough to cope with climate change tempo and human footprints, have raised a need for new approaches to reef restoration. The most widely used approach is the “coral gardening” tenet; an active reef restoration tactic based on principles, concepts, and theories used in silviculture. During the relatively short period since its inception, the gardening approach has been tested globally in a wide range of reef sites, and on about 100 coral species, utilizing hundreds of thousands of nursery-raised coral colonies. While still lacking credibility for simulating restoration scenarios under forecasted climate change impacts, and with a limited adaptation toolkit used in the gardening approach, it is still deficient. Therefore, novel restoration avenues have recently been suggested and devised, and some have already been tested, primarily in the laboratory. Here, I describe seven classes of such novel avenues and tools, which include the improved gardening methodologies, ecological engineering approaches, assisted migration/colonization, assisted genetics/evolution, assisted microbiome, coral epigenetics, and coral chimerism. These are further classified into three operation levels, each dependent on the success of the former level. Altogether, the seven approaches and the three operation levels represent a unified active reef restoration toolbox, under the umbrella of the gardening tenet, focusing on the enhancement of coral resilience and adaptation in a changing world.
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Parkinson JE, Bartels E, Devlin‐Durante MK, Lustic C, Nedimyer K, Schopmeyer S, Lirman D, LaJeunesse TC, Baums IB. Extensive transcriptional variation poses a challenge to thermal stress biomarker development for endangered corals. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:1103-1119. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John Everett Parkinson
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University State College PA USA
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - Erich Bartels
- Center for Coral Reef Research Mote Marine Laboratory Summerland Key FL USA
| | | | - Caitlin Lustic
- The Nature Conservancy Florida Keys Office Summerland Key FL USA
| | | | - Stephanie Schopmeyer
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL USA
| | - Diego Lirman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL USA
| | - Todd C. LaJeunesse
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University State College PA USA
| | - Iliana B. Baums
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University State College PA USA
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Goergen EA, Gilliam DS. Outplanting technique, host genotype, and site affect the initial success of outplanted Acropora cervicornis. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4433. [PMID: 29507829 PMCID: PMC5834935 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acropora cervicornis is the most widely used coral species for reef restoration in the greater Caribbean. However, outplanting methodologies (e.g., colony density, size, host genotype, and attachment technique) vary greatly, and to date have not been evaluated for optimality across multiple sites. Two experiments were completed during this study, the first evaluated the effects of attachment technique, colony size, and genotype by outplanting 405 A. cervicornis colonies, from ten genotypes, four size classes, and three attachment techniques (epoxy, nail and cable tie, or puck) across three sites. Colony survival, health condition, tissue productivity, and growth were assessed across one year for this experiment. The second experiment assessed the effect of colony density by outplanting colonies in plots of one, four, or 25 corals per 4 m2 across four separate sites. Plot survival and condition were evaluated across two years for this experiment in order to better capture the effect of increasing cover. Colonies attached with a nail and cable tie resulted in the highest survival regardless of colony size. Small corals had the lowest survival, but the greatest productivity. The majority of colony loss was attributed to missing colonies and was highest for pucks and small epoxied colonies. Disease and predation were observed at all sites, but did not affect all genotypes, however due to the overall low prevalence of either condition there were no significant differences found in any comparison. Low density plots had significantly higher survival and significantly lower prevalence of disease, predation, and missing colonies than high density plots. These results indicate that to increase initial outplant success, colonies of many genotypes should be outplanted to multiple sites using a nail and cable tie, in low densities, and with colonies over 15 cm total linear extension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Goergen
- Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA
| | - David S Gilliam
- Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA
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Bayraktarov E, Saunders MI, Mumby PJ, Possingham HP, Abdullah S, Lovelock CE. Response to "Rebutting the inclined analyses on the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of coral reef restoration". ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:1974-1980. [PMID: 28618118 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bayraktarov
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Megan I Saunders
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Peter J Mumby
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, 22203, USA
| | - Sabah Abdullah
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Drury C, Schopmeyer S, Goergen E, Bartels E, Nedimyer K, Johnson M, Maxwell K, Galvan V, Manfrino C, Lirman D. Genomic patterns in Acropora cervicornis show extensive population structure and variable genetic diversity. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:6188-6200. [PMID: 28861224 PMCID: PMC5574808 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Threatened Caribbean coral communities can benefit from high‐resolution genetic data used to inform management and conservation action. We use Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) to investigate genetic patterns in the threatened coral, Acropora cervicornis, across the Florida Reef Tract (FRT) and the western Caribbean. Results show extensive population structure at regional scales and resolve previously unknown structure within the FRT. Different regions also exhibit up to threefold differences in genetic diversity (He), suggesting targeted management based on the goals and resources of each population is needed. Patterns of genetic diversity have a strong spatial component, and our results show Broward and the Lower Keys are among the most diverse populations in Florida. The genetic diversity of Caribbean staghorn coral is concentrated within populations and within individual reefs (AMOVA), highlighting the complex mosaic of population structure. This variance structure is similar over regional and local scales, which suggests that in situ nurseries are adequately capturing natural patterns of diversity, representing a resource that can replicate the average diversity of wild assemblages, serving to increase intraspecific diversity and potentially leading to improved biodiversity and ecosystem function. Results presented here can be translated into specific goals for the recovery of A. cervicornis, including active focus on low diversity areas, protection of high diversity and connectivity, and practical thresholds for responsible restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crawford Drury
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL USA
| | - Stephanie Schopmeyer
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL USA
| | - Elizabeth Goergen
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences Nova Southeastern University Dania Beach FL USA
| | - Erich Bartels
- Mote Marine Tropical Research Laboratory Summerland Key FL USA
| | | | | | - Kerry Maxwell
- Federal Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marathon FL USA
| | - Victor Galvan
- Punta Cana Ecological Foundation Punta Cana Dominican Republic
| | - Carrie Manfrino
- Central Caribbean Marine Institute Princeton NJ USA.,Little Cayman Research Centre Little Cayman Cayman Islands
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL USA
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Genotype and local environment dynamically influence growth, disturbance response and survivorship in the threatened coral, Acropora cervicornis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174000. [PMID: 28319134 PMCID: PMC5358778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between the coral genotype and the environment is an important area of research in degraded coral reef ecosystems. We used a reciprocal outplanting experiment with 930 corals representing ten genotypes on each of eight reefs to investigate the influence of genotype and the environment on growth and survivorship in the threatened Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis. Coral genotype and site were strong drivers of coral growth and individual genotypes exhibited flexible, non-conserved reaction norms, complemented by ten-fold differences in growth between specific G-E combinations. Growth plasticity may diminish the influence of local adaptation, where foreign corals grew faster than native corals at their home sites. Novel combinations of environment and genotype also significantly affected disturbance response during and after the 2015 bleaching event, where these factors acted synergistically to drive variation in bleaching and recovery. Importantly, small differences in temperature stress elicit variable patterns of survivorship based on genotype and illustrate the importance of novel combinations of coral genetics and small differences between sites representing habitat refugia. In this context, acclimatization and flexibility is especially important given the long lifespan of corals coping with complex environmental change. The combined influence of site and genotype creates short-term differences in growth and survivorship, contributing to the standing genetic variation needed for adaptation to occur over longer timescales and the recovery of degraded reefs through natural mechanisms.
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20
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Okazaki RR, Towle EK, van Hooidonk R, Mor C, Winter RN, Piggot AM, Cunning R, Baker AC, Klaus JS, Swart PK, Langdon C. Species-specific responses to climate change and community composition determine future calcification rates of Florida Keys reefs. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:1023-1035. [PMID: 27561209 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change compromises reef growth as a result of increasing temperatures and ocean acidification. Scleractinian corals vary in their sensitivity to these variables, suggesting species composition will influence how reef communities respond to future climate change. Because data are lacking for many species, most studies that model future reef growth rely on uniform scleractinian calcification sensitivities to temperature and ocean acidification. To address this knowledge gap, calcification of twelve common and understudied Caribbean coral species was measured for two months under crossed temperatures (27, 30.3 °C) and CO2 partial pressures (pCO2 ) (400, 900, 1300 μatm). Mixed-effects models of calcification for each species were then used to project community-level scleractinian calcification using Florida Keys reef composition data and IPCC AR5 ensemble climate model data. Three of the four most abundant species, Orbicella faveolata, Montastraea cavernosa, and Porites astreoides, had negative calcification responses to both elevated temperature and pCO2 . In the business-as-usual CO2 emissions scenario, reefs with high abundances of these species had projected end-of-century declines in scleractinian calcification of >50% relative to present-day rates. Siderastrea siderea, the other most common species, was insensitive to both temperature and pCO2 within the levels tested here. Reefs dominated by this species had the most stable end-of-century growth. Under more optimistic scenarios of reduced CO2 emissions, calcification rates throughout the Florida Keys declined <20% by 2100. Under the most extreme emissions scenario, projected declines were highly variable among reefs, ranging 10-100%. Without considering bleaching, reef growth will likely decline on most reefs, especially where resistant species like S. siderea are not already dominant. This study demonstrates how species composition influences reef community responses to climate change and how reduced CO2 emissions can limit future declines in reef calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remy R Okazaki
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
- Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
| | - Erica K Towle
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Ruben van Hooidonk
- Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 4301 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Carolina Mor
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Rivah N Winter
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Alan M Piggot
- Department of Marine Geosciences, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Ross Cunning
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Andrew C Baker
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - James S Klaus
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Miami, 1320 S. Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, USA
| | - Peter K Swart
- Department of Marine Geosciences, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Chris Langdon
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
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Lirman D, Schopmeyer S. Ecological solutions to reef degradation: optimizing coral reef restoration in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2597. [PMID: 27781176 PMCID: PMC5075686 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Reef restoration activities have proliferated in response to the need to mitigate coral declines and recover lost reef structure, function, and ecosystem services. Here, we describe the recent shift from costly and complex engineering solutions to recover degraded reef structure to more economical and efficient ecological approaches that focus on recovering the living components of reef communities. We review the adoption and expansion of the coral gardening framework in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic where practitioners now grow and outplant 10,000’s of corals onto degraded reefs each year. We detail the steps for establishing a gardening program as well as long-term goals and direct and indirect benefits of this approach in our region. With a strong scientific basis, coral gardening activities now contribute significantly to reef and species recovery, provide important scientific, education, and outreach opportunities, and offer alternate livelihoods to local stakeholders. While challenges still remain, the transition from engineering to ecological solutions for reef degradation has opened the field of coral reef restoration to a wider audience poised to contribute to reef conservation and recovery in regions where coral losses and recruitment bottlenecks hinder natural recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Stephanie Schopmeyer
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Bayraktarov E, Saunders MI, Abdullah S, Mills M, Beher J, Possingham HP, Mumby PJ, Lovelock CE. The cost and feasibility of marine coastal restoration. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 26:1055-74. [PMID: 27509748 DOI: 10.1890/15-1077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change in the coastal zone has led to worldwide degradation of marine coastal ecosystems and a loss of the goods and services they provide. Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed and is critical for habitats where natural recovery is hindered. Uncertainties about restoration cost and feasibility can impede decisions on whether, what, how, where, and how much to restore. Here, we perform a synthesis of 235 studies with 954 observations from restoration or rehabilitation projects of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, salt-marshes, and oyster reefs worldwide, and evaluate cost, survival of restored organisms, project duration, area, and techniques applied. Findings showed that while the median and average reported costs for restoration of one hectare of marine coastal habitat were around US$80000 (2010) and US$1600000 (2010), respectively, the real total costs (median) are likely to be two to four times higher. Coral reefs and seagrass were among the most expensive ecosystems to restore. Mangrove restoration projects were typically the largest and the least expensive per hectare. Most marine coastal restoration projects were conducted in Australia, Europe, and USA, while total restoration costs were significantly (up to 30 times) cheaper in countries with developing economies. Community- or volunteer-based marine restoration projects usually have lower costs. Median survival of restored marine and coastal organisms, often assessed only within the first one to two years after restoration, was highest for saltmarshes (64.8%) and coral reefs (64.5%) and lowest for seagrass (38.0%). However, success rates reported in the scientific literature could be biased towards publishing successes rather than failures. The majority of restoration projects were short-lived and seldom reported monitoring costs. Restoration success depended primarily on the ecosystem, site selection, and techniques applied rather than on money spent. We need enhanced investment in both improving restoration practices and large-scale restoration.
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Drury C, Dale KE, Panlilio JM, Miller SV, Lirman D, Larson EA, Bartels E, Crawford DL, Oleksiak MF. Genomic variation among populations of threatened coral: Acropora cervicornis. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:286. [PMID: 27076191 PMCID: PMC4831158 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2583-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Acropora cervicornis, a threatened, keystone reef-building coral has undergone severe declines (>90 %) throughout the Caribbean. These declines could reduce genetic variation and thus hamper the species’ ability to adapt. Active restoration strategies are a common conservation approach to mitigate species' declines and require genetic data on surviving populations to efficiently respond to declines while maintaining the genetic diversity needed to adapt to changing conditions. To evaluate active restoration strategies for the staghorn coral, the genetic diversity of A. cervicornis within and among populations was assessed in 77 individuals collected from 68 locations along the Florida Reef Tract (FRT) and in the Dominican Republic. Results Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) identified 4,764 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pairwise nucleotide differences (π) within a population are large (~37 %) and similar to π across all individuals. This high level of genetic diversity along the FRT is similar to the diversity within a small, isolated reef. Much of the genetic diversity (>90 %) exists within a population, yet GBS analysis shows significant variation along the FRT, including 300 SNPs with significant FST values and significant divergence relative to distance. There are also significant differences in SNP allele frequencies over small spatial scales, exemplified by the large FST values among corals collected within Miami-Dade county. Conclusions Large standing diversity was found within each population even after recent declines in abundance, including significant, potentially adaptive divergence over short distances. The data here inform conservation and management actions by uncovering population structure and high levels of diversity maintained within coral collections among sites previously shown to have little genetic divergence. More broadly, this approach demonstrates the power of GBS to resolve differences among individuals and identify subtle genetic structure, informing conservation goals with evolutionary implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Drury
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - K E Dale
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - J M Panlilio
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - S V Miller
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - D Lirman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - E A Larson
- Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, 8000 N Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL, 33004, USA
| | - E Bartels
- Center for Coral Reef Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, 24244 Overseas Highway, Summerland Key, FL, 33042, USA
| | - D L Crawford
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - M F Oleksiak
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA.
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Hagedorn M, Carter VL. Cryobiology: principles, species conservation and benefits for coral reefs. Reprod Fertil Dev 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/rd16082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are some of the oldest, most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth because they can support one-quarter of all marine life in our oceans. Despite their importance, the world’s coral reefs continue to be degraded at unprecedented rates by local and global threats that are warming and creating a more acidic ocean. This paper explores the reproductive challenges of coral for ex situ conservation, using IVF and cryopreservation, and our practical biobanking methods. Coral present challenges for cryopreservation because their reproductive period is often limited to a few nights yearly, they are mostly hermaphrodites with diverse modes of reproduction, including asexual reproduction (i.e. fragmentation and parthenogenesis) and sexual reproduction (i.e. self- and cross-fertilisation) and they express physiological toxins that can inhibit cryopreservation. We have banked spermatozoa from 12 coral species using the same field-hardy methods and have created new coral with thawed spermatozoa. In addition, we describe the cryopreservation of coral symbionts, whose physiology only permits the highest success seasonally. As part of a multidisciplinary conservation strategy, these collections may provide a major hedge against extinction for corals facing the damaging effects of climate change and loss of genetic diversity, and promise to help offset threats to our reefs worldwide.
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Schopmeyer SA, Lirman D. Occupation Dynamics and Impacts of Damselfish Territoriality on Recovering Populations of the Threatened Staghorn Coral, Acropora cervicornis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141302. [PMID: 26580977 PMCID: PMC4651503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale coral reef restoration is needed to help recover structure and function of degraded coral reef ecosystems and mitigate continued coral declines. In situ coral propagation and reef restoration efforts have scaled up significantly in past decades, particularly for the threatened Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, but little is known about the role that native competitors and predators, such as farming damselfishes, have on the success of restoration. Steep declines in A. cervicornis abundance may have concentrated the negative impacts of damselfish algal farming on a much lower number of coral prey/colonies, thus creating a significant threat to the persistence and recovery of depleted coral populations. This is the first study to document the prevalence of resident damselfishes and negative effects of algal lawns on A. cervicornis along the Florida Reef Tract (FRT). Impacts of damselfish lawns on A. cervicornis colonies were more prevalent (21.6% of colonies) than those of other sources of mortality (i.e., disease (1.6%), algal/sponge overgrowth (5.6%), and corallivore predation (7.9%)), and damselfish activities caused the highest levels of tissue mortality (34.6%) among all coral stressors evaluated. The probability of damselfish occupation increased as coral colony size and complexity increased and coral growth rates were significantly lower in colonies with damselfish lawns (15.4 vs. 29.6 cm per year). Reduced growth and mortality of existing A. cervicornis populations may have a significant effect on population dynamics by potentially reducing important genetic diversity and the reproductive potential of depleted populations. On a positive note, however, the presence of resident damselfishes decreased predation by other corallivores, such as Coralliophila and Hermodice, and may offset some negative impacts caused by algal farming. While most negative impacts of damselfishes identified in this study affected large individual colonies and <50% of the A. cervicornis population along the FRT, the remaining wild staghorn population, along with the rapidly increasing restored populations, continue to fulfill important functional roles on coral reefs by providing essential habitat and refuge to other reef organisms. Although the effects of damselfish predation are, and will continue to be, pervasive, successful restoration efforts and strategic coral transplantation designs may help overcome damselfish damage by rapidly increasing A. cervicornis cover and abundance while also providing important information to educate future conservation and management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Schopmeyer
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
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26
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Sharp WC, Delgado GA. Predator-prey interactions between the corallivorous snail Coralliophila abbreviata and the carnivorous deltoid rock snail Thais deltoidea. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2015; 229:129-133. [PMID: 26803883 DOI: 10.1086/bblv229n2p129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs in the Florida Keys have become highly degraded in recent decades, prompting efforts to reestablish populations of vital reef-accreting corals to restore reef structure and ecological function. However, predation on these corals by the corallivorous gastropod Coralliophila abbreviata has been a substantial and chronic impediment to these restoration efforts. We conducted laboratory experiments to determine whether Thais deltoidea, a carnivorous gastropod that commonly occurs with C. abbreviata, is a predator of C. abbreviata. We demonstrated that T. deltoidea readily preys upon C. abbreviata and preferentially targets smaller individuals, a foraging behavior that may optimize the energy gained due to reduced handling and consumption times. If this trophic relationship proves ecologically relevant, understanding the predator-prey dynamics between these species could ultimately aid in the development of a comprehensive coral reef restoration strategy for Florida.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Sharp
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 119, Marathon, Florida 33050
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Climate Change and Active Reef Restoration—Ways of Constructing the “Reefs of Tomorrow”. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse3010111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Abstract
The genetic enhancement of wild animals and plants for characteristics that benefit human populations has been practiced for thousands of years, resulting in impressive improvements in commercially valuable species. Despite these benefits, genetic manipulations are rarely considered for noncommercial purposes, such as conservation and restoration initiatives. Over the last century, humans have driven global climate change through industrialization and the release of increasing amounts of CO2, resulting in shifts in ocean temperature, ocean chemistry, and sea level, as well as increasing frequency of storms, all of which can profoundly impact marine ecosystems. Coral reefs are highly diverse ecosystems that have suffered massive declines in health and abundance as a result of these and other direct anthropogenic disturbances. There is great concern that the high rates, magnitudes, and complexity of environmental change are overwhelming the intrinsic capacity of corals to adapt and survive. Although it is important to address the root causes of changing climate, it is also prudent to explore the potential to augment the capacity of reef organisms to tolerate stress and to facilitate recovery after disturbances. Here, we review the risks and benefits of the improvement of natural and commercial stocks in noncoral reef systems and advocate a series of experiments to determine the feasibility of developing coral stocks with enhanced stress tolerance through the acceleration of naturally occurring processes, an approach known as (human)-assisted evolution, while at the same time initiating a public dialogue on the risks and benefits of this approach.
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Sutherland WJ, Bardsley S, Clout M, Depledge MH, Dicks LV, Fellman L, Fleishman E, Gibbons DW, Keim B, Lickorish F, Margerison C, Monk KA, Norris K, Peck LS, Prior SV, Scharlemann JPW, Spalding MD, Watkinson AR. A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2013. Trends Ecol Evol 2013; 28:16-22. [PMID: 23219597 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 10/26/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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