1
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Rades M, Poschet G, Gegner H, Wilke T, Reichert J. Chronic effects of exposure to polyethylene microplastics may be mitigated at the expense of growth and photosynthesis in reef-building corals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116631. [PMID: 38917503 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116631] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The causes of the physiological effects of microplastic pollution, potentially harming reef-building corals, are unclear. Reasons might include increased energy demands for handling particles and immune reactions. This study is among the first assessing the effects of long-term microplastic exposure on coral physiology at realistic concentrations (200 polyethylene particles L-1). The coral species Acropora muricata, Pocillopora verrucosa, Porites lutea, and Heliopora coerulea were exposed to microplastics for 11 months, and energy reserves, metabolites, growth, and photosymbiont state were analyzed. Results showed an overall low impact on coral physiology, yet species-specific effects occurred. Specifically, H. coerulea exhibited reduced growth, P. lutea and A. muricata showed changes in photosynthetic efficiency, and A. muricata variations in taurine levels. These findings suggest that corals may possess compensatory mechanisms mitigating the effects of microplastics. However, realistic microplastic concentrations only occasionally affected corals. Yet, corals exposed to increasing pollution scenarios will likely experience more negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Rades
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Gernot Poschet
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hagen Gegner
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jessica Reichert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
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2
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Muenzel D, Bani A, De Brauwer M, Stewart E, Djakiman C, Halwi, Purnama R, Yusuf S, Santoso P, Hukom FD, Struebig M, Jompa J, Limmon G, Dumbrell A, Beger M. Combining environmental DNA and visual surveys can inform conservation planning for coral reefs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307214121. [PMID: 38621123 PMCID: PMC11047114 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307214121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has the potential to revolutionize conservation planning by providing spatially and taxonomically comprehensive data on biodiversity and ecosystem conditions, but its utility to inform the design of protected areas remains untested. Here, we quantify whether and how identifying conservation priority areas within coral reef ecosystems differs when biodiversity information is collected via eDNA analyses or traditional visual census records. We focus on 147 coral reefs in Indonesia's hyper-diverse Wallacea region and show large discrepancies in the allocation and spatial design of conservation priority areas when coral reef species were surveyed with underwater visual techniques (fishes, corals, and algae) or eDNA metabarcoding (eukaryotes and metazoans). Specifically, incidental protection occurred for 55% of eDNA species when targets were set for species detected by visual surveys and 71% vice versa. This finding is supported by generally low overlap in detection between visual census and eDNA methods at species level, with more overlap at higher taxonomic ranks. Incomplete taxonomic reference databases for the highly diverse Wallacea reefs, and the complementary detection of species by the two methods, underscore the current need to combine different biodiversity data sources to maximize species representation in conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Muenzel
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, CanterburyCT2 7NR, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia Bani
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, ColchesterCO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
- College of Science and Engineering, School of Built and Natural Environment,University of Derby, DerbyDE22 1 GB, United Kingdom
| | - Maarten De Brauwer
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Oceans & Atmosphere, Battery Point, Hobart, TAS7004, Australia
| | - Eleanor Stewart
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, CanterburyCT2 7NR, United Kingdom
| | - Cilun Djakiman
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Maritime and Marine Science Center of Excellence, Pattimura University, Ambon85XW+H66, Indonesia
| | - Halwi
- Graduate School, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar90245, Indonesia
| | - Ray Purnama
- Maritime and Marine Science Center of Excellence, Pattimura University, Ambon85XW+H66, Indonesia
| | - Syafyuddin Yusuf
- Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar90245, Indonesia
| | - Prakas Santoso
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Bogor16680, Indonesia
| | - Frensly D. Hukom
- Research Centre for Oceanography, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, Jakarta14430, Indonesia
- The Center for Collaborative Research on Aquatic Ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia, Pattimura University, Ambon97234, Indonesia
| | - Matthew Struebig
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, CanterburyCT2 7NR, United Kingdom
| | - Jamaluddin Jompa
- Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar90245, Indonesia
| | - Gino Limmon
- Maritime and Marine Science Center of Excellence, Pattimura University, Ambon85XW+H66, Indonesia
- The Center for Collaborative Research on Aquatic Ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia, Pattimura University, Ambon97234, Indonesia
| | - Alex Dumbrell
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, ColchesterCO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD4072, Australia
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3
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Burdett HL, Albright R, Foster GL, Mass T, Page TM, Rinkevich B, Schoepf V, Silverman J, Kamenos NA. Including environmental and climatic considerations for sustainable coral reef restoration. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002542. [PMID: 38502663 PMCID: PMC10950257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002542] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs provide ecosystem benefits to millions of people but are threatened by rapid environmental change and ever-increasing human pressures. Restoration is becoming a priority strategy for coral reef conservation, yet implementation remains challenging and it is becoming increasingly apparent that indirect conservation and restoration approaches will not ensure the long-term sustainability of coral reefs. The important role of environmental conditions in restoration practice are currently undervalued, carrying substantial implications for restoration success. Giving paramount importance to environmental conditions, particularly during the pre-restoration planning phase, has the potential to bring about considerable improvements in coral reef restoration and innovation. This Essay argues that restoration risk may be reduced by adopting an environmentally aware perspective that gives historical, contemporary, and future context to restoration decisions. Such an approach will open up new restoration opportunities with improved sustainability that have the capacity to dynamically respond to environmental trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi L. Burdett
- Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, Norrbyn, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Albright
- Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability Science, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Gavin L. Foster
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tessa M. Page
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Buki Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanography and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
| | - Verena Schoepf
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Jacob Silverman
- Israel Oceanography and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nicholas A. Kamenos
- Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, Norrbyn, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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4
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Carballo-Bolaños R, Wei Y, Denis V. Coral transplantation in urban environments: Insights from colony survival and growth on artificial frames versus the seabed. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 194:106319. [PMID: 38211473 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106319] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Urban and green transitions require infrastructures that can cause pressure on coastal ecosystems. In northern Taiwan, plans to convert an oil-fired power plant to gas would necessitate a port terminal construction, threatening nearby corals and marine life. To mitigate construction impacts, the relocation of affected corals was proposed. We conducted a transplantation study, prior to such a large-scale coral relocation, to assess its feasibility and to identify potential risks associated with the marginal location of northern Taiwan for tropical corals. Five coral species, representative of the different ecological strategies, were selected. We used two methods (artificial frames and seabed cementation) to transplant 246 colony fragments to two pre-selected sites. Over a year, we monitored fragment survival and growth, in parallel with environmental conditions. We found that survival and growth were significantly influenced by transplantation methods, sites, and species. The difference between methods revealed biotic (predation by corallivorous snails) and abiotic (mechanical damage by waves) factors affecting coral survival and growth. Acropora species exhibited high growth, but also high mortality, consistent with their known ecology. Other species presented slower growth but higher survival. One site provided a better environment for corals, which we attributed to topography and reduced exposure. Overall, this study provides interesting insights into relocating corals in a high-latitude and urban coral ecosystem, highlighting risks related to mechanical damages and predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Carballo-Bolaños
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan; Ocean Center, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Yi Wei
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan; Ocean Center, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Vianney Denis
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan; Ocean Center, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan.
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5
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Kuempel CD, Thomas J, Wenger AS, Jupiter SD, Suárez-Castro AF, Nasim N, Klein CJ, Hoegh-Guldberg O. A spatial framework for improved sanitation to support coral reef conservation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123003. [PMID: 38040183 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123003] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are one of the most valuable yet threatened ecosystems in the world. Improving human wastewater treatment could reduce land-based impacts on coral reefs. However, information on the quantity and spatial distribution of human wastewater pollution is lacking. Here, we develop a spatial model linking residential human wastewater pollution (nitrogen and phosphorus/year) and conservation sectors [coral reefs] to better understand the relative differences in the distribution and efficacy of different sanitation services and their potential implications for conservation monitoring and management. We apply our model to Fiji, where ongoing initiatives and investments in wastewater treatment for human health could be leveraged to cost-effectively improve coral reef condition. We estimate that wastewater treatment plants account for nearly 80% of human wastewater nutrients released into surface waters. Wasterwater nutrient pollution is widespread, affecting 95% of reefs, but is concentrated across a few watersheds. Our spatially explicit approach can be used to better understand potential benefits and trade-offs between sanitation service improvements and coral reef health, helping to bridge the sanitation and conservation sectors as well as inform and prioritize on the ground action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin D Kuempel
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.
| | - Jacqueline Thomas
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2008, Australia
| | - Amelia S Wenger
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, Bronx, NY, USA; School of the Environment, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Stacy D Jupiter
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, 11 Ma'afu Street, Suva, Fiji
| | - Andrés F Suárez-Castro
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Nabeela Nasim
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2008, Australia
| | - Carissa J Klein
- School of the Environment, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia
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6
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Morgan MB, Williams J, Breeze B, English N, Higdon N, Onthank K, Qualley DF. Synergistic and antagonistic interactions of oxybenzone and ocean acidification: new insight into vulnerable cellular processes in non-calcifying anthozoans. Front Physiol 2024; 14:1332446. [PMID: 38274044 PMCID: PMC10808722 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1332446] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cnidarians face significant threats from ocean acidification (OA) and anthropogenic pollutants such as oxybenzone (BP-3). The convergence of threats from multiple stressors is an important area to investigate because of potential significant synergistic or antagonistic interactions. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to characterize the expression profiles of twenty-two genes of interest (GOI) in sea anemones (Exaiptasia diaphana) exposed to one of four treatments: 1) 96 h of OA conditions followed by a 4 h exposure to 20 ppb BP-3; 2) Exposure to 4 h 20 ppb BP-3 without 96 h of OA; 3) Exposure to 96 h of OA alone; or 4) laboratory conditions with no exposure to BP-3 and/or OA. These 22 GOIs represent cellular processes associated with proton-dependent transport, sodium-dependent transport, metal cation binding/transport, extracellular matrix, amino acid metabolism/transport, immunity, and/or steroidogenesis. These 22 GOIs provide new insight into vulnerable cellular processes in non-calcifying anthozoans exposed to OA and BP-3. Expression profiles were categorized as synergistic, antagonistic, or additive of BP-3 in the presence of OA. Two GOIs were synergistic. Fifteen GOIs were antagonistic and the remaining five GOIs were additive in response to BP-3 in acidified seawater. A subset of these GOIs appear to be candidate biomarkers for future in situ investigations. In human health, proton-dependent monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are promising pharmacological targets and recognized as potential biomarkers. By comparison, these same MCTs appear to be targets of xenobiotic chemical pollutants in cnidarian physiology. In the presence of BP-3, a network of collagen synthesis genes are upregulated and antagonistic in their expression profiles. Cytochrome b561 is a critical protein required for collagen synthesis and in silico modeling demonstrates BP-3 binds in the pocket of cytochrome b561. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of "drug-like" compounds such as BP-3 may lead to a more comprehensive interpretation of transcriptional expression profiles. The collective antagonistic responses of GOIs associated with collagen synthesis strongly suggests these GOIs should be considered candidate biomarkers of effect. GOIs with synergistic and additive responses represent candidate biomarkers of exposure. Results show the effects of OA and BP-3 are interactive with respect to their impact on cnidarians. This investigation offers mechanistic data that supports the expression profiles and underpins higher order physiological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Morgan
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Jacob Williams
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Barrett Breeze
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Nicholas English
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Nathaniel Higdon
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Kirt Onthank
- Department of Biology, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA, United States
| | - Dominic F. Qualley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
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7
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Heitzman JM, Mitushasi G, Spatafora D, Agostini S. Seasonal coral-algae interactions drive White Mat Syndrome coral disease outbreaks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:166379. [PMID: 37595912 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166379] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Ocean warming drives not only the increase of known coral disease prevalence but facilitates the emergence of new undescribed ones too. As climate change is restructuring coral ecosystems, novel biological interactions could lead to an increase in coral disease in both tropical and marginal coral communities. White Mat Syndrome (WMS) represents one such emerging coral disease, with outbreaks associated with high algal interactions and seasonal summer temperatures. However, the mechanisms behind its pathogenesis, modes of transmission and causative pathogens remain to be identified. Ex situ infection experiments pairing the coral Porites heronensis together with local potential contributory factors show that the macroalga Gelidium elegans hosts and proliferates the WMS microbial mat. This pathogenic consortium then infects adjacent corals, leading to their mortality. WMS was also observed to transmit following the fragmentation of the microbial mat, which was able to infect healthy corals. Sulfur-cycling bacteria (i.e., Beggiatoa, Desulfobacter sp., Arcobacteraceae species) and the free-living spirochete Oceanospirochaeta sediminicola were found consistently in both WMS and G. elegans consortia, suggesting they are putative pathogens of WMS. The predicted functional roles of these pathogenic consortia showed degradative processes, hinting that tissue lyses could drive mat formation and spread. Coral-algae interactions will rise due to ongoing ocean warming and coral ecosystem degradation, likely promoting the virulence and prevalence of algal-driven coral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Heitzman
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan.
| | - Guinther Mitushasi
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Davide Spatafora
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Sylvain Agostini
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
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8
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Gove JM, Williams GJ, Lecky J, Brown E, Conklin E, Counsell C, Davis G, Donovan MK, Falinski K, Kramer L, Kozar K, Li N, Maynard JA, McCutcheon A, McKenna SA, Neilson BJ, Safaie A, Teague C, Whittier R, Asner GP. Coral reefs benefit from reduced land-sea impacts under ocean warming. Nature 2023; 621:536-542. [PMID: 37558870 PMCID: PMC10511326 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are being fundamentally restructured by local human impacts and climate-driven marine heatwaves that trigger mass coral bleaching and mortality1. Reducing local impacts can increase reef resistance to and recovery from bleaching2. However, resource managers lack clear advice on targeted actions that best support coral reefs under climate change3 and sector-based governance means most land- and sea-based management efforts remain siloed4. Here we combine surveys of reef change with a unique 20-year time series of land-sea human impacts that encompassed an unprecedented marine heatwave in Hawai'i. Reefs with increased herbivorous fish populations and reduced land-based impacts, such as wastewater pollution and urban runoff, had positive coral cover trajectories predisturbance. These reefs also experienced a modest reduction in coral mortality following severe heat stress compared to reefs with reduced fish populations and enhanced land-based impacts. Scenario modelling indicated that simultaneously reducing land-sea human impacts results in a three- to sixfold greater probability of a reef having high reef-builder cover four years postdisturbance than if either occurred in isolation. International efforts to protect 30% of Earth's land and ocean ecosystems by 2030 are underway5. Our results reveal that integrated land-sea management could help achieve coastal ocean conservation goals and provide coral reefs with the best opportunity to persist in our changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamison M Gove
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Honolulu, HI, USA.
| | - Gareth J Williams
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, UK.
| | - Joey Lecky
- Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Eric Brown
- National Park of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa, USA
| | | | - Chelsie Counsell
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Gerald Davis
- Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Mary K Donovan
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Kelly Kozar
- National Park Service, Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring, Hawai'i National Park, HI, USA
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Amanda McCutcheon
- National Park Service, Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring, Hawai'i National Park, HI, USA
| | - Sheila A McKenna
- National Park Service, Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring, Hawai'i National Park, HI, USA
| | | | - Aryan Safaie
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | | | | | - Gregory P Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA
- School of Ocean Futures, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA
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9
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Page CE, Ainsworth TD, Leggat W, Egan S, Gupta AS, Raoult V, Gaston TF. Localising terrestrially derived pollution inputs to threatened near-shore coral reefs through stable isotope, water quality and oceanographic analysis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115193. [PMID: 37399735 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Near-shore coral reefs are at high-risk of exposure to pollution from terrestrial activities. Pollution impacts can vary with site-specific factors that span sources, rainfall and oceanographic characteristics. To effectively manage pollution, we need to understand how these factors interact. In this study, we detect terrestrially derived nutrient inputs on near-shore reefs at Norfolk Island, South Pacific by analysis of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and stable isotopes. When compared to a reef site with predominantly oceanic inputs, we found that both the lagoon and a small reef adjacent to a catchment have signatures of human-derived DIN shown through depleted δ15N signatures in macroalgae. We find pollution exposure of reef sites is associated with known and unknown sources, rainfall and mixing of water with the open ocean. In characterising exposure of reef sites we highlight the role of site-specific context in influencing pollution exposure for benthic communities even in remote island systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Page
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia.
| | - T D Ainsworth
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - W Leggat
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - S Egan
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - A Sen Gupta
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - V Raoult
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Marine Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - T F Gaston
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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10
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Sigmund G, Ågerstrand M, Antonelli A, Backhaus T, Brodin T, Diamond ML, Erdelen WR, Evers DC, Hofmann T, Hueffer T, Lai A, Torres JPM, Mueller L, Perrigo AL, Rillig MC, Schaeffer A, Scheringer M, Schirmer K, Tlili A, Soehl A, Triebskorn R, Vlahos P, Vom Berg C, Wang Z, Groh KJ. Addressing chemical pollution in biodiversity research. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:3240-3255. [PMID: 36943240 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution are planetary-scale emergencies requiring urgent mitigation actions. As these "triple crises" are deeply interlinked, they need to be tackled in an integrative manner. However, while climate change and biodiversity are often studied together, chemical pollution as a global change factor contributing to worldwide biodiversity loss has received much less attention in biodiversity research so far. Here, we review evidence showing that the multifaceted effects of anthropogenic chemicals in the environment are posing a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. Therefore, failure to account for pollution effects may significantly undermine the success of biodiversity protection efforts. We argue that progress in understanding and counteracting the negative impact of chemical pollution on biodiversity requires collective efforts of scientists from different disciplines, including but not limited to ecology, ecotoxicology, and environmental chemistry. Importantly, recent developments in these fields have now enabled comprehensive studies that could efficiently address the manifold interactions between chemicals and ecosystems. Based on their experience with intricate studies of biodiversity, ecologists are well equipped to embrace the additional challenge of chemical complexity through interdisciplinary collaborations. This offers a unique opportunity to jointly advance a seminal frontier in pollution ecology and facilitate the development of innovative solutions for environmental protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Sigmund
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Marlene Ågerstrand
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandre Antonelli
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3RB, Oxford, UK
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences and School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B1, Canada
| | | | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, Maine, 04103, USA
| | - Thilo Hofmann
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Thorsten Hueffer
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Adelene Lai
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 6 avenue du Swing, 4367, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Lessing Strasse 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Joao P M Torres
- Laboratório de Micropoluentes Jan Japenga, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonie Mueller
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Allison L Perrigo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Lund University Botanical Garden, Lund, Sweden
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Schaeffer
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- School of the Environment, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, 210023, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Chongqing University, 400045, Chongqing, China
| | - Martin Scheringer
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
- ETH Zürich, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- ETH Zürich, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPF Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Anna Soehl
- International Panel on Chemical Pollution, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Triebskorn
- Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Transfer Center Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology, Blumenstr. 13, D-72108, Rottenburg, Germany
| | - Penny Vlahos
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA
| | - Colette Vom Berg
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, CH-9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Ksenia J Groh
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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11
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Zhu W, Liu X, Zhang J, Zhao H, Li Z, Wang H, Chen R, Wang A, Li X. Response of coral bacterial composition and function to water quality variations under anthropogenic influence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 884:163837. [PMID: 37137368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities play key roles in the adaptation of corals living in adverse environments, as the microbiome flexibility can enhance environmental plasticity of coral holobiont. However, the ecological association of coral microbiome and related function to locally deteriorating water quality remains underexplored. In this work, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative microbial element cycling (QMEC) to investigate the seasonal changes of bacterial communities, particularly their functional genes related to carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) cycle, of the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis from nearshore reefs exposed anthropogenic influence. We used nutrient concentrations as the indicator of anthropogenic activities in coastal reefs, and found a higher nutrient pressure in spring than summer. The bacterial diversity, community structure and dominant bacteria of coral shifted significantly due to seasonal variations dominated by nutrient concentrations. Additionally, the network structure and nutrient cycling gene profiles in summer under low nutrient stress was distinct from that under poor environmental conditions in spring, with lower network complexity and abundance of CNPS cycling genes in summer compared with spring. We further identified significant correlations between microbial community (taxonomic composition and co-occurrence network) and geochemical functions (abundance of multiple functional genes and functional community). Nutrient enrichment was proved to be the most important environmental fluctuation in controlling the diversity, community structure, interactional network and functional genes of the coral microbiome. These results highlight that seasonal shifts in coral-associated bacteria due to anthropogenic activities alter the functional potentials, and provide novel insight about the mechanisms of coral adaptation to locally deteriorating environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhu
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiangbo Liu
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Junling Zhang
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - He Zhao
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhuoran Li
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Hao Wang
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Rouwen Chen
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Aimin Wang
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiubao Li
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
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12
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Baum JK, Claar DC, Tietjen KL, Magel JMT, Maucieri DG, Cobb KM, McDevitt-Irwin JM. Transformation of coral communities subjected to an unprecedented heatwave is modulated by local disturbance. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eabq5615. [PMID: 37018404 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq5615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Corals are imminently threatened by climate change-amplified marine heatwaves. However, how to conserve coral reefs remains unclear, since those without local anthropogenic disturbances often seem equally or more susceptible to thermal stress as impacted ones. We disentangle this apparent paradox, revealing that the relationship between reef disturbance and heatwave impacts depends upon the scale of biological organization. We show that a tropical heatwave of globally unprecedented duration (~1 year) culminated in an 89% loss of hard coral cover. At the community level, losses depended on pre-heatwave community structure, with undisturbed sites, which were dominated by competitive corals, undergoing the greatest losses. In contrast, at the species level, survivorship of individual corals typically declined as local disturbance intensified. Our study reveals both that prolonged heatwaves projected under climate change will still have winners and losers and that local disturbance can impair survival of coral species even under such extreme conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Danielle C Claar
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources, MS 47027, Olympia, WA 98504, USA
| | - Kristina L Tietjen
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Jennifer M T Magel
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Dominique G Maucieri
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Kim M Cobb
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Institute at Brown University for Environment and Society, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Jamie M McDevitt-Irwin
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 Station CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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13
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Page CE, Leggat W, Egan S, Ainsworth TD. A coral disease outbreak highlights vulnerability of remote high-latitude lagoons to global and local stressors. iScience 2023; 26:106205. [PMID: 36915696 PMCID: PMC10006636 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of coral disease are often associated with global and local stressors like changes in temperature and poor water quality. A severe coral disease outbreak was recorded in the primary reef-building taxa Montipora spp. in a high-latitude lagoon at Norfolk Island following heat stress and pollution events in 2020. Disease signs suggest the occurrence of a Montiporid White Syndrome with four distinct phases and maximum measured tissue loss of 329 mm-2 day-1. In December 2020 and April 2021, 60% of the Montipora community were impacted and disease severity increased by 54% over this period. Spatial patterns in prevalence indicate the disease is associated with exposure to poor water quality in addition to size class of coral colonies. High prevalence levels make this event comparable to some of the most severe coral disease outbreaks recorded to date demonstrating the vulnerability of this system to combined impacts of warming and pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Page
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - William Leggat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
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14
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Oleson KLL, Barnes MD, Fung A, Goodell W, Oliver TA, Whittier R, Babcock R. Trade-offs across values in cesspool management highlight challenges to policy making. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 330:116853. [PMID: 36603245 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
On-site Sewage Disposal Systems (OSDS) are globally common, and in Hawai'i they present a risk of contamination to drinking water sources and nearshore waters. State legislation has commanded that all cesspools are to be banned by 2050, thus requiring tens of thousands of systems to be converted in the coming decades. This project followed a participatory structured decision-making (SDM) approach to collaboratively design cost-effective and equitable solutions for thousands of cesspools in the high elevation areas of north Maui, Hawai'i. Participatory workshops with a diverse group of stakeholders set ten objectives and brainstormed 33 alternatives, for which the technical team then modeled groundwater nutrients, costs, and equity. All alternatives posed trade-offs, though composting toilets performed best across most objectives, albeit with high maintenance burden. Discounting innovative toilets, the multi-objective analysis suggests that the state should invest in cluster sewering of high-density communities, followed by incentivizing septic tank solutions in properties with the highest effluent flow first, then expanding across the area. The total project cost (installation and operation/maintenance) would be $183-258 million, depending upon the sewer-septic combination. An efficiency frontier reveals sub-par combinations, including aerobic treatment units and passive absorption systems, which cost much more and deliver lower mass flux reduction than more cost-effective alternatives. This study contributes a novel case of rural sanitation to the literature in which decision support tools are used to facilitate evidence-based, collaborative decision-making for sanitation planning. The state could use a similar participatory SDM process when approaching other communities to discuss their cesspool upgrade strategies. Broadening the use of decision analytic techniques can have wider ecological, economic, and social benefits for the state and contexts beyond Hawai'i, as SDM provides a transparent and rigorous, evidence-based decision-theoretic framework to explore multiple values and strategies to address difficult resource management problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten L L Oleson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1910 East West Road, Sherman 101, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA; Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 283, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Megan D Barnes
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1910 East West Road, Sherman 101, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Adrienne Fung
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 240, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Whitney Goodell
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1910 East West Road, Sherman 101, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Thomas A Oliver
- Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), 1000 Pope Road, Marine Sciences Building (MSB) Room 205, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Robert Whittier
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 283, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA; Safe Drinking Water Branch, Department of Health, 1250 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
| | - Roger Babcock
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 283, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 240, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
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15
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Meuthen D, Reinhold K. On the use of antibiotics in plasticity research: Gastropod shells unveil a tale of caution. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:1055-1064. [PMID: 36869422 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Through phenotypic plasticity, individual genotypes can produce multiple phenotypes dependent on the environment. In the modern world, anthropogenic influences such as man-made pharmaceuticals are increasingly prevalent. They might alter observable patterns of plasticity and distort our conclusions regarding the adaptive potential of natural populations. Antibiotics are nowadays nearly ubiquitous in aquatic environments and prophylactic antibiotic use is also becoming more common to optimize animal survival and reproductive output in artificial settings. In the well-studied plasticity model system Physella acuta, prophylactic erythromycin treatment acts against gram-positive bacteria and thereby reduces mortality. Here, we study its consequences for inducible defence formation in the same species. In a 2 × 2 split-clutch design, we reared 635 P. acuta in either the presence or absence of this antibiotic, followed by 28-day exposure to either high or low predation risk as perceived through conspecific alarm cues. Under antibiotic treatment, risk-induced increases in shell thickness, a well-known plastic response in this model system, were larger and consistently detectable. Antibiotic treatment reduced shell thickness in low-risk individuals, suggesting that in controls, undiscovered pathogen infection increased shell thickness under low risk. Family variation in risk-induced plasticity was low, but the large variation in responses to antibiotics among families suggests different pathogen susceptibility between genotypes. Lastly, individuals that developed thicker shells had reduced total mass, which highlights resource trade-offs. Antibiotics thus have the potential to uncover a larger extent of plasticity, but might counterintuitively distort plasticity estimates for natural populations where pathogens are a part of natural ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Meuthen
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Klaus Reinhold
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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16
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Aguiar DK, Wiegner TN, Colbert SL, Burns J, Abaya L, Beets J, Couch C, Stewart J, Panelo J, Remple K, Nelson C. Detection and impact of sewage pollution on South Kohala's coral reefs, Hawai'i. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114662. [PMID: 36739712 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sewage pollution from on-site sewage disposal systems and injection wells is impacting coral reefs worldwide. Our study documented the presence and impact of sewage on South Kohala's coral reefs, on Hawai'i Island, through benthic water quality and macroalgal sampling (fecal indicator bacteria, nutrients, δ15N macroalgal tissue), NO3- stable isotope mixing models, water motion measurements, and coral reef surveys. Sewage pollution was moderate on the offshore reef from benthic seeps, and water motion mixed and diluted it across the benthos. These conditions likely contribute to the dominance of turf algae cover, and the severity and prevalence of growth anomalies and algal overgrowth on corals. Use of multiple indicators and studying water motion was necessary to assess sewage pollution and identify environmental drivers associated with impaired coral health conditions. Methods used in this study can be utilized by natural resource managers to identify and reduce anthropogenic stressors to coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon K Aguiar
- Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - Tracy N Wiegner
- Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - Steven L Colbert
- Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - John Burns
- Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - Leilani Abaya
- Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - James Beets
- Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - Courtney Couch
- NOAA/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division, NOAA Inouye Regional Center, 1845 Wasp Blvd, Bldg. # 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA.
| | - Julia Stewart
- Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - Jazmine Panelo
- Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
| | - Kristina Remple
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1950 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Craig Nelson
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1950 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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17
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Nalley EM, Tuttle LJ, Conklin EE, Barkman AL, Wulstein DM, Schmidbauer MC, Donahue MJ. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the direct effects of nutrients on corals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159093. [PMID: 36183766 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure of coral reefs to elevated nutrient conditions can modify the performance of the coral holobiont and shift the competitive interactions of reef organisms. Many studies have now quantified the links between nutrients and coral performance, but few have translated these studies to directly address coastal water quality standards. To address this management need, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies, public reports, and gray literature that examined the impacts of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN: nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP: phosphate) on scleractinian corals. The systematic review resulted in 47 studies with comparable data on coral holobiont responses to nutrients: symbiont density, chlorophyll a (chl-a) concentration, photosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, growth, calcification, adult survival, juvenile survival, and fertilization. Mixed-effects meta-regression meta-analyses were used to determine the magnitude of the positive or negative effects of DIN and DIP on coral responses. Zooxanthellae density (DIN & DIP), chl-a concentration (DIN), photosynthetic rate (DIN), and growth (DIP) all exhibited positive responses to nutrient addition; maximum quantum yield (DIP), growth (DIN), larval survival (DIN), and fertilization (DIN) exhibited negative responses. In lieu of developing specific thresholds for the management of nutrients as a stressor on coral reefs, we highlight important inflection points in the magnitude and direction of the effects of inorganic nutrients and identify trends among coral responses. The responses of corals to nutrients are complex, warranting conservative guidelines for elevated nutrient concentrations on coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Nalley
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA.
| | - Lillian J Tuttle
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA; U.S. Geological Survey, Hawai'i Cooperative Fishery Unit, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
| | - Emily E Conklin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Alexandria L Barkman
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 41 Ahui Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Devynn M Wulstein
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Madeline C Schmidbauer
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
| | - Megan J Donahue
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA
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18
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Untapped policy avenues to protect coral reef ecosystems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117562119. [PMID: 36459644 PMCID: PMC9894228 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117562119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are experiencing severe decline, and urgent action is required at local and global scales to curb ecosystem loss. Establishing new regulations to protect corals, however, can be time consuming and costly, and it is therefore necessary to leverage existing legal instruments, such as policies originally designed to address terrestrial rather than marine activities, to prevent coral reef degradation. Focusing on the United States, but drawing on successful examples worldwide, we present actionable pathways to increase coral protections under legislation that was originally designed to advance clean freshwater, safe drinking water, and emergency management. We identify specific legal policies and procedures (e.g., industrial permit limits, nonpoint source management incentives, and floodplain restoration programs) that can curb coral reef pollution and can be extended to other countries with similar regulations in place. Coral reef practitioners should consider a broad array of currently underused, actionable, and intersecting environmental policies that can be applied to mitigate coral stress.
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19
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Ricci F, Leggat W, Page CE, Ainsworth TD. Coral growth anomalies, neoplasms, and tumors in the Anthropocene. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:1160-1173. [PMID: 35718641 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the most widespread coral diseases linked to anthropogenic activities and recorded on reefs worldwide is characterized by anomalous growth formations in stony corals, referred to as coral growth anomalies (GAs). The biological functions of GA tissue include limited reproduction, reduced access to resources, and weakened ability to defend against predators. Transcriptomic analyses have revealed that, in some cases, disease progression can involve host genes related to oncogenesis, suggesting that the GA tissues may be malignant neoplasms such as those developed by vertebrates. The number of studies reporting the presence of GAs in common reef-forming species highlights the urgency of a thorough understanding of the pathology and causative factors of this disease and its parallels to higher organism malignant tissue growth. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the etiology and holobiont features of GAs in reef-building corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ricci
- University of New South Wales, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Kensington 2033, NSW, Australia.
| | - William Leggat
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Callaghan 2309, NSW, Australia
| | - Charlotte E Page
- University of New South Wales, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Kensington 2033, NSW, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- University of New South Wales, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Kensington 2033, NSW, Australia
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20
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Shaver EC, McLeod E, Hein MY, Palumbi SR, Quigley K, Vardi T, Mumby PJ, Smith D, Montoya‐Maya P, Muller EM, Banaszak AT, McLeod IM, Wachenfeld D. A roadmap to integrating resilience into the practice of coral reef restoration. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4751-4764. [PMID: 35451154 PMCID: PMC9545251 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent warm temperatures driven by climate change have caused mass coral bleaching and mortality across the world, prompting managers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners to embrace restoration as a strategy to sustain coral reefs. Despite a proliferation of new coral reef restoration efforts globally and increasing scientific recognition and research on interventions aimed at supporting reef resilience to climate impacts, few restoration programs are currently incorporating climate change and resilience in project design. As climate change will continue to degrade coral reefs for decades to come, guidance is needed to support managers and restoration practitioners to conduct restoration that promotes resilience through enhanced coral reef recovery, resistance, and adaptation. Here, we address this critical implementation gap by providing recommendations that integrate resilience principles into restoration design and practice, including for project planning and design, coral selection, site selection, and broader ecosystem context. We also discuss future opportunities to improve restoration methods to support enhanced outcomes for coral reefs in response to climate change. As coral reefs are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change, interventions that enhance reef resilience will help to ensure restoration efforts have a greater chance of success in a warming world. They are also more likely to provide essential contributions to global targets to protect natural biodiversity and the human communities that rely on reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Margaux Y. Hein
- Marine Ecosystem Restoration Research and ConsultingMonacoMonaco
| | | | - Kate Quigley
- Minderoo FoundationPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Tali Vardi
- ECS for NOAA Fisheries Office of Science & TechnologySilver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - David Smith
- Coral Reef Research UnitSchool of Life SciencesEssexUK
- Mars IncorporatedLondonUK
| | | | | | | | - Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER, The Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - David Wachenfeld
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthorityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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21
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Effect of Various Local Anthropogenic Impacts on the Diversity of Coral Mucus-Associated Bacterial Communities. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10070863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The global continued decline in coral reefs is intensifying the need to understand the response of corals to local environmental stressors. Coral-associated bacterial communities have been suggested to have a swift response to environmental pollutants. This study aims to determine the variation in the bacterial communities associated with the mucus of two coral species, Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Stylophora pistillata (Esper, 1792), and the coral-surrounding seawater from three areas exposed to contamination at the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), and also explores the antibacterial activity of these bacteria. Corals were collected from three contaminated zones along the coast, and the bacteria were quantified and identified by conventional morphological and biochemical tests, as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The average number of bacteria significantly varied among the coral mucus from the sampling zones and between the coral mucus and the surrounding seawater. The P. damicornis mucus-associated bacterial community was dominated by members of the classes Gammaproteobacteria, Cytophagia, and Actinomycetia, while the mucus of S. pistillata represented higher bacterial diversity, with the dominance of the bacterial classes Gammaproteobacteria, Actinomycetia, Alphaproteobacteria, and Bacilli. The effects of local anthropogenic impacts on coral mucus bacterial communities were represented in the increased abundance of bacterial species related to coral diseases. Furthermore, the results demonstrated the existence of bacterial isolates with antibacterial activity that possibly acted as a first line of defense to protect and maintain the coral host against pathogens. Indeed, the dynamics of coral-associated microbial communities highlight the importance of holistic studies that focus on microbial interactions across the coral reef ecosystem.
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22
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Nasim N, El-Zein A, Thomas J. A review of rural and peri-urban sanitation infrastructure in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific: Highlighting regional inequalities and limited data. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 244:113992. [PMID: 35752101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Rural and peri-urban communities in developing countries rely on sanitation systems which are often unsafely managed. One of the major barriers to assess safely managed sanitation is a lack of data about the existing sanitation infrastructure and levels of containment safety. The aim was to review rural and peri-urban on-site sanitation studies in order to understand different infrastructure types, associated management practices and any impacts on human health. The scope was limited to South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions in order to better identify regional inequalities. Among the 155 reviewed articles, 73 studies (47%) linked sanitation infrastructure to poor human health. Nearly all articles reported latrine ownership (n = 149, 96%) while sanitation infrastructure types were covered less frequently (n = 104, 67%). In particular, there was a lack of published literature describing back-end characteristics (dimension and materials) (n = 12, 8%) and/or management practices (n = 4, 3%). This stems from a limited application of research methodologies that characterise sanitation infrastructure and faecal sludge management (containment, emptying and on-site treatment). Inequality between regions was prevalent with three quarters of the studies on latrine back-end infrastructure from Bangladesh and India in South-East Asia. A strategic research approach is needed to address the current knowledge gaps regarding sanitation infrastructure and safe faecal sludge management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeela Nasim
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Abbas El-Zein
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
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Alvarez-Filip L, González-Barrios FJ, Pérez-Cervantes E, Molina-Hernández A, Estrada-Saldívar N. Stony coral tissue loss disease decimated Caribbean coral populations and reshaped reef functionality. Commun Biol 2022; 5:440. [PMID: 35681037 PMCID: PMC9184636 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03398-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases are major drivers of the deterioration of coral reefs and are linked to major declines in coral abundance, reef functionality, and reef-related ecosystems services. An outbreak of a new disease is currently rampaging through the populations of the remaining reef-building corals across the Caribbean region. The outbreak was first reported in Florida in 2014 and reached the northern Mesoamerican Reef by summer 2018, where it spread across the ~450-km reef system in only a few months. Rapid spread was generalized across all sites and mortality rates ranged from 94% to <10% among the 21 afflicted coral species. Most species of the family Meandrinadae (maze corals) and subfamily Faviinae (brain corals) sustained losses >50%. This single event further modified the coral communities across the region by increasing the relative dominance of weedy corals and reducing reef functionality, both in terms of functional diversity and calcium carbonate production. This emergent disease is likely to become the most lethal disturbance ever recorded in the Caribbean, and it will likely result in the onset of a new functional regime where key reef-building and complex branching acroporids, an apparently unaffected genus that underwent severe population declines decades ago and retained low population levels, will once again become conspicuous structural features in reef systems with yet even lower levels of physical functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México.
| | - F Javier González-Barrios
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Esmeralda Pérez-Cervantes
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Ana Molina-Hernández
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Nuria Estrada-Saldívar
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
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Masterson-Algar P, Jenkins SR, Windle G, Morris-Webb E, Takahashi CK, Burke T, Rosa I, Martinez AS, Torres-Mattos EB, Taddei R, Morrison V, Kasten P, Bryning L, Cruz de Oliveira NR, Gonçalves LR, Skov MW, Beynon-Davies C, Bumbeer J, Saldiva PHN, Leão E, Christofoletti RA. When One Health Meets the United Nations Ocean Decade: Global Agendas as a Pathway to Promote Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research on Human-Nature Relationships. Front Psychol 2022; 13:809009. [PMID: 35465503 PMCID: PMC9019153 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.809009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Strong evidence shows that exposure and engagement with the natural world not only improve human wellbeing but can also help promote environmentally friendly behaviors. Human-nature relationships are at the heart of global agendas promoted by international organizations including the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “One Health” and the United Nations (UN) “Ocean Decade.” These agendas demand collaborative multisector interdisciplinary efforts at local, national, and global levels. However, while global agendas highlight global goals for a sustainable world, developing science that directly addresses these agendas from design through to delivery and outputs does not come without its challenges. In this article, we present the outcomes of international meetings between researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from the United Kingdom and Brazil. We propose a model for interdisciplinary work under such global agendas, particularly the interface between One Health and the UN Ocean Decade and identify three priority research areas closely linked to each other: human-nature connection, conservation-human behavior, and implementation strategies (bringing stakeholders together). We also discuss a number of recommendations for moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stuart R Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Gill Windle
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Trys Burke
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Rosa
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Aline S Martinez
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | | | - Renzo Taddei
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Val Morrison
- School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Kasten
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Lucy Bryning
- College of Human Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | | | - Leandra R Gonçalves
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Martin W Skov
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Eliseth Leão
- Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Zapata-Hernández G, Sellanes J, Muñoz P. Stable isotopes reveal overlooked incorporation of diffuse land-based sources of nutrients and organic matter by intertidal communities at Rapa Nui (Easter Island). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113415. [PMID: 35193005 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113415] [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: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Rapa Nui is an important hotspot of endemic marine biodiversity, where diffuse land-based sources (e.g., nutrients and organic matter) entering into coastal waters could develop eutrophication in coastal environments, with deleterious impacts on the marine ecosystem. Stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) of intertidal communities (macroalgae and invertebrates) were studied from sites with contrasting human influence (populated and unpopulated), to evaluate the incorporation and transfer of diffuse land-based sources through food webs. Macroalgae showed differences between some sites, and invertebrates showed a 15N-enrichment pattern at populated areas relative to unpopulated, being these differences significant in gastropods, barnacles and sea urchins. Moreover, trophic structure metrics suggest a higher trophic diversity in populated areas relative to unpopulated and support the isotopic partitioning between sites, associated with the incorporation of sources with 15N-enriched values. The above suggests that diffuse land-based sources could be incorporated by macroalgae, transferred into benthic consumers, and altering the trophic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Zapata-Hernández
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile..
| | - Javier Sellanes
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Práxedes Muñoz
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
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26
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Dissolved Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Relation to Depuration Plant Outflows in Adriatic Coastal Waters: A Two Year Monitoring Survey. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14040569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The Adriatic Sea is vulnerable to pollution due to its low bathymetry, intense industrial activity, and tourism. In this context, a good depuration plant activity could play a key role for the maintenance of a good environmental quality. In the framework of the AdSWiM project, “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea”, a study on dissolved potentially toxic element (PTE) levels was carried out to assess the impact of treated urban wastewaters on the quality of the bathing waters in the Adriatic Sea during the 2019 and 2020 summer period. In the present study, three areas along the Italian–Croatian coastline (Gulf of Trieste, Zadar, and Split) were identified for the monitoring of five depuration plant (DP) outflows. Water samples were collected after the treatment inside the DPs, and coastal seawater was sampled in the proximity of the discharging pipelines. Dissolved Hg, Cd, and As levels were determined with an atomic fluorescence spectrometer. Results did not show statistically significant differences between treated wastewater and seawater samples (Hg 10 ± 6 and 10 ± 4, Cd 14 ± 6 and 21 ± 8, As 610 ± 176 and 687 ± 140 ng L−1, respectively), while the geographical area and the seasonality affected the PTE concentration. Furthermore, the levels detected were lower than the European and national limits, indicating a good environmental status of the northern Adriatic Sea waters. The determination of further parameters (nutrients, microbiological indicators) must be investigated to identify possible synergistic effects. However, our results demonstrate the efficiency of DPs investigated, underlining the importance of the wastewater treatment for the protection of the Adriatic Sea.
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27
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Victoria NS, Sree Devi Kumari T, Lazarus B. Assessment on impact of sewage in coastal pollution and distribution of fecal pathogenic bacteria with reference to antibiotic resistance in the coastal area of Cape Comorin, India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113123. [PMID: 34872749 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sewage is one of the biggest contributors to coastal pollution. The study was aimed to assess the impact of sewage on coastal water quality of Kanyakumari, the southernmost part of India. A bacteriological survey was made on distribution and abundance of fecal indicators and human pathogenic bacteria and seasonal influence on the bacterial load and antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Samples were collected from sewage discharge point along the eastern shore of Kanyakumari Coast from February 2019 to January 2020. Nine pollution indicator bacteria and pathogenic species such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Aeromonas spp., Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella spp. and Flavobacterium spp. were isolated from the samples. These isolates were tested against 10 antibiotics, using Kirby Bauer method. All the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics. The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has been used as bio-indicators of pollution. Hence it is clear that the domestic sewage entering the coast is untreated which might lead a serious impact on human and marine wildlife along coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanthini Sahaya Victoria
- PG and Research Department of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Agasteeswaram, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli 627012, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - T Sree Devi Kumari
- PG and Research Department of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Agasteeswaram, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli 627012, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Bakthasingh Lazarus
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Grace College of Allied Health Sciences, Padanthalumoodu, Affiliated to TN Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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28
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Morgan MB, Ross J, Ellwanger J, Phrommala RM, Youngblood H, Qualley D, Williams J. Sea Anemones Responding to Sex Hormones, Oxybenzone, and Benzyl Butyl Phthalate: Transcriptional Profiling and in Silico Modelling Provide Clues to Decipher Endocrine Disruption in Cnidarians. Front Genet 2022; 12:793306. [PMID: 35087572 PMCID: PMC8787064 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.793306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine disruption is suspected in cnidarians, but questions remain how occurs. Steroid sex hormones are detected in corals and sea anemones even though these animals do not have estrogen receptors and their repertoire of steroidogenic enzymes appears to be incomplete. Pathways associated with sex hormone biosynthesis and sterol signaling are an understudied area in cnidarian biology. The objective of this study was to identify a suite of genes that can be linked to exposure of endocrine disruptors. Exaiptasia diaphana were exposed to nominal 20ppb concentrations of estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), cholesterol, oxybenzone (BP-3), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) for 4 h. Eleven genes of interest (GOIs) were chosen from a previously generated EST library. The GOIs are 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases type 14 (17β HSD14) and type 12 (17β HSD12), Niemann-Pick C type 2 (NPC2), Equistatin (EI), Complement component C3 (C3), Cathepsin L (CTSL), Patched domain-containing protein 3 (PTCH3), Smoothened (SMO), Desert Hedgehog (DHH), Zinc finger protein GLI2 (GLI2), and Vitellogenin (VTG). These GOIs were selected because of functional associations with steroid hormone biosynthesis; cholesterol binding/transport; immunity; phagocytosis; or Hedgehog signaling. Quantitative Real-Time PCR quantified expression of GOIs. In silico modelling utilized protein structures from Protein Data Bank as well as creating protein structures with SWISS-MODEL. Results show transcription of steroidogenic enzymes, and cholesterol binding/transport proteins have similar transcription profiles for E2, T, and cholesterol treatments, but different profiles when BP-3 or BBP is present. C3 expression can differentiate between exposures to BP-3 versus BBP as well as exposure to cholesterol versus sex hormones. In silico modelling revealed all ligands (E2, T, cholesterol, BBP, and BP-3) have favorable binding affinities with 17β HSD14, 17β HSD12, NPC2, SMO, and PTCH proteins. VTG expression was down-regulated in the sterol treatments but up-regulated in BP-3 and BBP treatments. In summary, these eleven GOIs collectively generate unique transcriptional profiles capable of discriminating between the five chemical exposures used in this investigation. This suite of GOIs are candidate biomarkers for detecting transcriptional changes in steroidogenesis, gametogenesis, sterol transport, and Hedgehog signaling. Detection of disruptions in these pathways offers new insight into endocrine disruption in cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Morgan
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - James Ross
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph Ellwanger
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | | | - Hannah Youngblood
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Dominic Qualley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Jacob Williams
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
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29
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Martinez AS, Underwood T, Christofoletti RA, Pardal A, Fortuna MA, Marcelo-Silva J, Morais GC, Lana PC. Reviewing the effects of contamination on the biota of Brazilian coastal ecosystems: Scientific challenges for a developing country in a changing world. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150097. [PMID: 34500263 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pollution is a major worldwide problem that is increasing with urban growth, mainly along coastal areas. Pollution is often worse, governance is poorer and managerial strategies to improve environmental quality are less advanced in developing than developed countries. Here, we present an overview of the current scientific knowledge of the impacts of contamination on the biota of coastal ecosystems of Brazil and evaluate the scientific challenges to provide baseline information for local managerial purposes. We compiled data from 323 peer-reviewed published papers from the extensive Brazilian coast. We critically evaluated the produced knowledge (target contaminants, sources, ecosystems, taxa, response variables) and the science behind it (rigour and setting) within its socioenvironmental context (land occupation, use of the coast, sanitation status, contamination history). Research was driven largely by environmental outcomes of industrial development with a focus on the single effects of metals on the biota. The current knowledge derives mainly from laboratory manipulative experiments or from correlative field studies of changes in the biota with varying levels of contamination. Of these, 70% had problems in their experimental design. Environmental impacts have mainly been assessed using standard indicators of populations, mostly in ecotoxicological studies. Benthic assemblages have mostly been studied using structural indicators in field studies. Future assessments of impacts should expand research to more taxonomic groups and ecosystem compartments, adding combined functional and structural responses. Furthermore, further investigations need to consider the interactive effects of contaminants and other environmental stressors. By doing so, researchers would deliver more robust and effective results to solve problems of pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline S Martinez
- Institute of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo (IMar/UNIFESP), Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonça 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil.
| | - Tony Underwood
- Marine Ecology Laboratories A11, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ronaldo A Christofoletti
- Institute of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo (IMar/UNIFESP), Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonça 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil
| | - André Pardal
- Institute of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo (IMar/UNIFESP), Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonça 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil; Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC (CCNH/UFABC), Rua Santa Adélia, 166, Santo André, SP 09210-170, Brazil
| | - Monique A Fortuna
- Institute of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo (IMar/UNIFESP), Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonça 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil
| | - João Marcelo-Silva
- Institute of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo (IMar/UNIFESP), Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonça 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil
| | - Gisele C Morais
- Laboratório de Bentos, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Beira-mar, s/n, Pontal do Paraná, PR 83255-976, Brazil
| | - Paulo C Lana
- Laboratório de Bentos, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Beira-mar, s/n, Pontal do Paraná, PR 83255-976, Brazil
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30
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Andrello M, Darling ES, Wenger A, Suárez‐Castro AF, Gelfand S, Ahmadia GN. A global map of human pressures on tropical coral reefs. Conserv Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Andrello
- Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment National Research Council, CNR‐IAS Rome Italy
- MARBEC Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Emily S. Darling
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program Bronx New York USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Amelia Wenger
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program Bronx New York USA
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Andrés F. Suárez‐Castro
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt Distrito Capital Bogotá Colombia
| | | | - Gabby N. Ahmadia
- Oceans Conservation World Wildlife Fund District of Colombia Washington USA
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31
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Santodomingo N, Perry C, Waheed Z, Syed Hussein MAB, Rosedy A, Johnson KG. Marine litter pollution on coral reefs of Darvel Bay (East Sabah, Malaysia). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112998. [PMID: 34624630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter is recognized as an increasing component of marine ecosystem pollution. In this baseline study, we document the magnitude, types, sources, and potential impacts of litter on six coral reefs in East Sabah. We applied a simplified classification of litter to extract abundance data from video transects. The average density was 10.7 items per 100 m2. Plastics represent 91% and the remaining 9% were metal, glass, and wood. Most (~70%) plastics are single-use items derived from dumping. Discarded fishing gear accounts for ~25%. Litter pollution increases closer to urban developments, with Sakar reef having higher densities (51 items per 100 m2), and higher Clean Coast Index (CCI = 10.2, dirty) and higher Plastic Abundance Index (PAI = 4.68) scores. This method could and should be readily integrated into ongoing monitoring programs to support assessments of the extent and magnitude of marine litter pollution on reefs worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiezhda Santodomingo
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD London, United Kingdom.
| | - Chris Perry
- Geography, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, EX4 4RJ Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zarinah Waheed
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | | | - Allia Rosedy
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Kenneth G Johnson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD London, United Kingdom
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Tuholske C, Halpern BS, Blasco G, Villasenor JC, Frazier M, Caylor K. Mapping global inputs and impacts from of human sewage in coastal ecosystems. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258898. [PMID: 34758036 PMCID: PMC8580218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal marine ecosystems face a host of pressures from both offshore and land-based human activity. Research on terrestrial threats to coastal ecosystems has primarily focused on agricultural runoff, specifically showcasing how fertilizers and livestock waste create coastal eutrophication, harmful algae blooms, or hypoxic or anoxic zones. These impacts not only harm coastal species and ecosystems but also impact human health and economic activities. Few studies have assessed impacts of human wastewater on coastal ecosystems and community health. As such, we lack a comprehensive, fine-resolution, global assessment of human sewage inputs that captures both pathogens and nutrient flows to coastal waters and the potential impacts on coastal ecosystems. To address this gap, we use a new high-resolution geospatial model to measure and map nitrogen (N) and pathogen-fecal indicator organisms (FIO)-inputs from human sewage for ~135,000 watersheds globally. Because solutions depend on the source, we separate nitrogen and pathogen inputs from sewer, septic, and direct inputs. Our model indicates that wastewater adds 6.2Tg nitrogen into coastal waters, which is approximately 40% of total nitrogen from agriculture. Of total wastewater N, 63% (3.9Tg N) comes from sewered systems, 5% (0.3Tg N) from septic, and 32% (2.0Tg N) from direct input. We find that just 25 watersheds contribute nearly half of all wastewater N, but wastewater impacts most coastlines globally, with sewered, septic, and untreated wastewater inputs varying greatly across watersheds and by country. Importantly, model results find that 58% of coral and 88% of seagrass beds are exposed to wastewater N input. Across watersheds, N and FIO inputs are generally correlated. However, our model identifies important fine-grained spatial heterogeneity that highlight potential tradeoffs and synergies essential for management actions. Reducing impacts of nitrogen and pathogens on coastal ecosystems requires a greater focus on where wastewater inputs vary across the planet. Researchers and practitioners can also overlay these global, high resolution, wastewater input maps with maps describing the distribution of habitats and species, including humans, to determine the where the impacts of wastewater pressures are highest. This will help prioritize conservation efforts.Without such information, coastal ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them will remain imperiled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cascade Tuholske
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Center for International for International Earth Science Information Network, the Columbia Climate School and its Earth Institute, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Benjamin S. Halpern
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Gordon Blasco
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Juan Carlos Villasenor
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Melanie Frazier
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Kelly Caylor
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
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Microbial Contamination Survey of Environmental Fresh and Saltwater Resources of Upolu Island, Samoa. ENVIRONMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/environments8110112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of microbe diversity in freshwater resources and nearshore seawater samples of Upolu Island was performed to investigate the distribution of harmful bacteria. For this, 124 samples were collected from 23 river systems, two volcanic lakes, and 45 locations inside and outside the barrier reef of Upolu Island, Samoa. Physicochemical parameters for general water quality, detection of coliform bacteria and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were performed on all samples. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) testing indicated a wide distribution of coliform bacteria in all sampled freshwater sites with evidence of fecal coliform in most locations. Importantly, evidence of coliform bacteria was found in most seawater samples inside and along the reef, apart from those samples taken ~20 km offshore. Illumina 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region confirmed the presence of various types of harmful bacterial species, namely from the Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcae, Streptococcaceae, and Vibrionacea families. By combining the sensitivity of FIB testing and next-generation sequencing, we were able to show the extent of potential contaminations in fresh and seawater samples and simultaneously identify the potential pathogenic bacterial genera present. The wide distribution of potential harmful bacteria from river runoff or direct sewage dumping has an impact on human health, leading to many skin and intestinal diseases, and is potentially detrimental to coral reef community health.
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Regional High-Resolution Benthic Habitat Data from Planet Dove Imagery for Conservation Decision-Making and Marine Planning. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13214215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution benthic habitat data fill an important knowledge gap for many areas of the world and are essential for strategic marine conservation planning and implementing effective resource management. Many countries lack the resources and capacity to create these products, which has hindered the development of accurate ecological baselines for assessing protection needs for coastal and marine habitats and monitoring change to guide adaptive management actions. The PlanetScope (PS) Dove Classic SmallSat constellation delivers high-resolution imagery (4 m) and near-daily global coverage that facilitates the compilation of a cloud-free and optimal water column image composite of the Caribbean’s nearshore environment. These data were used to develop a first-of-its-kind regional thirteen-class benthic habitat map to 30 m water depth using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach. A total of 203,676 km2 of shallow benthic habitat across the Insular Caribbean was mapped, representing 5% coral reef, 43% seagrass, 15% hardbottom, and 37% other habitats. Results from a combined major class accuracy assessment yielded an overall accuracy of 80% with a standard error of less than 1% yielding a confidence interval of 78–82%. Of the total area mapped, 15% of these habitats (31,311.7 km2) are within a marine protected or managed area. This information provides a baseline of ecological data for developing and executing more strategic conservation actions, including implementing more effective marine spatial plans, prioritizing and improving marine protected area design, monitoring condition and change for post-storm damage assessments, and providing more accurate habitat data for ecosystem service models.
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35
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Lesser MP. Eutrophication on Coral Reefs: What Is the Evidence for Phase Shifts, Nutrient Limitation and Coral Bleaching. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Coral reefs continue to experience extreme environmental pressure from climate change stressors, but many coral reefs are also exposed to eutrophication. It has been proposed that changes in the stoichiometry of ambient nutrients increase the mortality of corals, whereas eutrophication may facilitate phase shifts to macroalgae-dominated coral reefs when herbivory is low or absent. But are corals ever nutrient limited, and can eutrophication destabilize the coral symbiosis making it more sensitive to environmental stress because of climate change? The effects of eutrophication are confounded not just by the effects of climate change but by the presence of chemical pollutants in industrial, urban, and agricultural wastes. Because of these confounding effects, the increases in nutrients or changes in their stoichiometry in coastal environments, although they are important at the organismal and community level, cannot currently be disentangled from each other or from the more significant effects of climate change stressors on coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Lesser
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States
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36
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Lapointe BE, Tewfik A, Phillips M. Macroalgae reveal nitrogen enrichment and elevated N:P ratios on the Belize Barrier Reef. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112686. [PMID: 34271509 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Macroalgal blooms are increasing on the Belize Barrier Reef (BBR) as scleractinian coral cover declines. Although some have attributed this to reduced grazing, the role of land-based nutrient pollution has not been assessed. Nutrient enrichment was quantified through macroalgal tissue analysis from Belize City to the offshore fore reef and at several central BBR lagoon sites. These recent data were compared to baseline data from the 1980s. Significant nearshore-to-offshore gradients of %N, %P and δ13C in macroalgae all indicated land-based sources of these nutrients. Macroalgal δ15N values were generally enriched in nearshore waters where values matched those reported for human sewage. Notably, the N:P ratios of recent macroalgae measurements were elevated at all sites, more than two-fold higher than values from the 1980s (~30: 1 to 70:1). These results support the hypothesis that nitrogen enrichment from land-based sources has increased phosphorus limitation driving macroalgal blooms and coral stress on the BBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian E Lapointe
- Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, USA
| | - Alexander Tewfik
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Belize Program, PO Box 768, 1755 Coney Drive, 2nd Floor, Belize City, Belize.
| | - Myles Phillips
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Belize Program, PO Box 768, 1755 Coney Drive, 2nd Floor, Belize City, Belize
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37
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Wada CA, Burnett KM, Okuhata BK, Delevaux JMS, Dulai H, El-Kadi AI, Gibson V, Smith C, Bremer LL. Identifying wastewater management tradeoffs: Costs, nearshore water quality, and implications for marine coastal ecosystems in Kona, Hawai'i. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257125. [PMID: 34495989 PMCID: PMC8425575 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Untreated and minimally treated wastewater discharged into the environment have the potential to adversely affect groundwater dependent ecosystems and nearshore marine health. Addressing this issue requires a systems approach that links land use and wastewater management decisions to potential impacts on the nearshore marine environment via changes in water quality and quantity. To that end, a framework was developed to assess decisions that have cascading effects across multiple elements of the ridge-to-reef system. In an application to Kona (Hawai'i, USA), eight land use and wastewater management scenarios were evaluated in terms of wastewater system upgrade costs and wastewater related nutrient loads in groundwater, which eventually discharge to nearshore waters, resulting in potential impacts to marine habitat quality. Without any upgrades of cesspools or the existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), discharges of nutrients are expected to increase substantially with permitted development, with potential detrimental impacts to the marine environment. Results suggest that converting all of the existing cesspools to aerobic treatment units (ATU) and upgrading the existing WWTP to R-1 quality provide the highest protection to nearshore marine habitat at a cost of $569 million in present value terms. Other wastewater management options were less effective but also less costly. For example, targeted cesspool conversion (a combination of septic and ATU installation) in conjunction with the WWTP upgrade still provided a substantial reduction in nutrients and potential impacts to marine habitat quality relative to the present situation at a price point roughly $100 million less than the entirely ATU option. Of note, results were more sensitive to the inclusion of the WWTP upgrade option than they were to assumptions regarding the efficiency of the cesspool conversion technologies. The model outputs also suggest that the spatial distribution of potential impacts should be carefully considered when comparing different wastewater management scenarios. When evaluated separately, the WWTP option reduced total nutrients by more than the targeted cesspool conversion option at a fraction of the cost. However, potential improvements in marine habitat quality only occurred in the immediate vicinity of the WWTP, whereas the benefits under targeted cesspool conversion were more evenly distributed along the coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Wada
- University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Kimberly M. Burnett
- University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Brytne K. Okuhata
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Jade M. S. Delevaux
- The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Henrietta Dulai
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Aly I. El-Kadi
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Veronica Gibson
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Celia Smith
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Leah L. Bremer
- University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
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38
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Krepsky N, Lino VADA, Silva Dos Santos F, Naveira CAC. Faecal bacteria density in tropical seawater: The Itanemas' cove case study, Angra dos Reis, Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:112027. [PMID: 33513544 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Angra dos Reis can receive up to 1.3 million tourists in the summer season. The lack of an adequate sanitary system makes sewage contamination a growing concern in Ribeira Bay, Angra dos Reis, Brazil. This study aims to investigate the seasonal variation of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and abiotic variables in Itanema cove situated within Ribeira Bay. Despite the seasonal population increase (>80 individuals) and the absence of an integrated sanitary system, our results indicate that Itanema is still a stable estuarine environment. From 2017 to 2019, the mean salinity was 27.91, pH was 7.82, and water temperature was 25.01 °C. However, the FIB number was 105, suggesting the absence of sewage treatment in Itanema's outfall. Following current conservation status, baseline studies are mandatory for background references of endangered coastal areas such as Itanema cove. These studies are crucial for future governance decisions and sustainable tourism implementation in Angra dos Reis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Krepsky
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur, 458, CEP 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Graduate Program of Biological Science (Neotropical Biodiversity), Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur, 458, CEP 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Viviane A de A Lino
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur, 458, CEP 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda Silva Dos Santos
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur, 458, CEP 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Graduate Program of Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), R. Mario Santos Braga, s/n. Centro, Niterói, RJ CEP 24.020-141, Brazil.
| | - Clarissa A C Naveira
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur, 458, CEP 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Graduate Program of Biological Science (Neotropical Biodiversity), Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Av. Pasteur, 458, CEP 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Adam TC, Burkepile DE, Holbrook SJ, Carpenter RC, Claudet J, Loiseau C, Thiault L, Brooks AJ, Washburn L, Schmitt RJ. Landscape-scale patterns of nutrient enrichment in a coral reef ecosystem: implications for coral to algae phase shifts. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2227. [PMID: 32918509 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient pollution is altering coastal ecosystems worldwide. On coral reefs, excess nutrients can favor the production of algae at the expense of reef-building corals, yet the role of nutrients in driving community changes such as shifts from coral to macroalgae is not well understood. Here we investigate the potential role of anthropogenic nutrient loading in driving recent coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts on reefs in the lagoons surrounding the Pacific island of Moorea, French Polynesia. We use nitrogen (N) tissue content and stable isotopes (δ15 N) in an abundant macroalga (Turbinaria ornata) together with empirical models of nutrient discharge to describe spatial and temporal patterns of nutrient enrichment in the lagoons. We then employ time series data to test whether recent increases in macroalgae are associated with nutrients. Our results revealed that patterns of N enrichment were linked to several factors, including rainfall, wave-driven circulation, and distance from anthropogenic nutrient sources, especially human sewage. Reefs near large watersheds, where inputs of N from sewage and agriculture are high, have been consistently enriched in N for at least the last decade. In many of these areas, corals have decreased and macroalgae have increased, while reefs with lower levels of N input have maintained high cover of coral and low cover of macroalgae. Importantly, these patchy phase shifts to macroalgae have occurred despite substantial island-wide increases in the density and biomass of herbivorous fishes over the time period. Together, these results indicate that nutrient loading may be an important driver of coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts in the lagoons of Moorea even though the reefs harbor an abundant and diverse herbivore assemblage. These results emphasize the important role that bottom-up factors can play in driving coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts and underscore the critical importance of watershed management for reducing inputs of nutrients and other land-based pollutants to coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Sally J Holbrook
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Robert C Carpenter
- Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, Northridge, California, 91330, USA
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, 75005, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Charles Loiseau
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, 75005, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Lauric Thiault
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris, 75005, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Libe Washburn
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Russell J Schmitt
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
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40
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Peixoto RS, Sweet M, Villela HDM, Cardoso P, Thomas T, Voolstra CR, Høj L, Bourne DG. Coral Probiotics: Premise, Promise, Prospects. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2020; 9:265-288. [PMID: 33321044 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-090120-115444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The use of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) has been proposed recently as a tool for the improvement of coral health, with knowledge in this research topic advancing rapidly. BMCs are defined as consortia of microorganisms that contribute to coral health through mechanisms that include (a) promoting coral nutrition and growth, (b) mitigating stress and impacts of toxic compounds, (c) deterring pathogens, and (d) benefiting early life-stage development. Here, we review the current proposed BMC approach and outline the studies that have proven its potential to increase coral resilience to stress. We revisit and expand the list of putative beneficial microorganisms associated with corals and their proposed mechanismsthat facilitate improved host performance. Further, we discuss the caveats and bottlenecks affecting the efficacy of BMCs and close by focusing on the next steps to facilitate application at larger scales that can improve outcomes for corals and reefs globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel S Peixoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; .,IMAM-AquaRio, Rio de Janeiro Aquarium Research Center, Rio de Janeiro, 20220-360, Brazil.,Current affiliation: Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Sweet
- Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, United Kingdom
| | - Helena D M Villela
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil;
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil;
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany.,Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lone Høj
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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41
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Vega Thurber R, Mydlarz LD, Brandt M, Harvell D, Weil E, Raymundo L, Willis BL, Langevin S, Tracy AM, Littman R, Kemp KM, Dawkins P, Prager KC, Garren M, Lamb J. Deciphering Coral Disease Dynamics: Integrating Host, Microbiome, and the Changing Environment. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.575927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases of tropical reef organisms is an intensive area of study, but despite significant advances in methodology and the global knowledge base, identifying the proximate causes of disease outbreaks remains difficult. The dynamics of infectious wildlife diseases are known to be influenced by shifting interactions among the host, pathogen, and other members of the microbiome, and a collective body of work clearly demonstrates that this is also the case for the main foundation species on reefs, corals. Yet, among wildlife, outbreaks of coral diseases stand out as being driven largely by a changing environment. These outbreaks contributed not only to significant losses of coral species but also to whole ecosystem regime shifts. Here we suggest that to better decipher the disease dynamics of corals, we must integrate more holistic and modern paradigms that consider multiple and variable interactions among the three major players in epizootics: the host, its associated microbiome, and the environment. In this perspective, we discuss how expanding the pathogen component of the classic host-pathogen-environment disease triad to incorporate shifts in the microbiome leading to dysbiosis provides a better model for understanding coral disease dynamics. We outline and discuss issues arising when evaluating each component of this trio and make suggestions for bridging gaps between them. We further suggest that to best tackle these challenges, researchers must adjust standard paradigms, like the classic one pathogen-one disease model, that, to date, have been ineffectual at uncovering many of the emergent properties of coral reef disease dynamics. Lastly, we make recommendations for ways forward in the fields of marine disease ecology and the future of coral reef conservation and restoration given these observations.
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Littman RA, Fiorenza EA, Wenger AS, Berry KLE, van de Water JAJM, Nguyen L, Aung ST, Parker DM, Rader DN, Harvell CD, Lamb JB. Coastal urbanization influences human pathogens and microdebris contamination in seafood. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 736:139081. [PMID: 32504866 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Seafood is one of the leading imported products implicated in foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Coastal marine environments are being increasingly subjected to reduced water quality from urbanization and leading to contamination of important fishery species. Given the importance of seafood exchanged as a global protein source, it is imperative to maintain seafood safety worldwide. To illustrate the potential health risks associated with urbanization in a coastal environment, we use next-generation high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene combined with infrared spectroscopy to characterize and quantify a vast range of potential human bacterial pathogens and microdebris contaminants in seawater, sediment and an important oyster fishery along the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar. Through the quantification of >1.25 million high-quality bacterial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) reads, we detected 5459 potential human bacterial pathogens belonging to 87 species that are commonly associated with gut microbiota and an indication of terrestrial runoff of human and agricultural waste. Oyster tissues contained 51% of all sequenced bacterial pathogens that are considered to be both detrimental and of emerging concern to human health. Using infrared spectroscopy, we examined a total of 1225 individual microdebris particles, from which we detected 78 different types of contaminant materials. The predominant microdebris contaminants recovered from oyster tissues included polymers (48%), followed by non-native minerals (20%), oils (14%) and milk supplement powders (14%). Emerging technologies provide novel insights into the impacts of coastal development on food security and risks to human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raechel A Littman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Evan A Fiorenza
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Amelia S Wenger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn L E Berry
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Australia
| | | | - Lily Nguyen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Soe Tint Aung
- Marine Program, Fauna and Flora International, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Daniel M Parker
- Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | | | - C Drew Harvell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, New York, USA
| | - Joleah B Lamb
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, USA.
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Relationship between Rainfall, Fecal Pollution, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Microbial Diversity in an Urbanized Subtropical Bay. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01229-20. [PMID: 32709726 PMCID: PMC7499047 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01229-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of human enteric pathogens, stemming from fecal pollution, is a serious environmental and public health concern in recreational waters. Accurate assessments of fecal pollution are therefore needed to properly assess exposure risks and guide water quality policies and practices. In this study, the absence of a direct correlation between enterococci and source-specific human and animal markers disputes the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal pollution in urbanized subtropical bays. Moreover, the inverse correlation between enterococci and the human-specific marker HF183 indicates that recreational beach advisories, triggered by elevated enterococcus concentrations, are a misleading practice. This study clearly demonstrates that a multiparameter approach that includes the quantitation of host-specific markers, as well as analyses of microbial diversity, is a more effective means of assessing water quality in urbanized subtropical bays. Urbanized bays are vulnerable to fecal bacterial pollution, and the extent of this pollution, in marine recreational waters, is commonly assessed by quantifying enterococcus concentrations. Recent reports have questioned the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal bacterial pollution in subtropical bays impaired by non-point source pollution, and enterococcus data alone cannot identify fecal bacterial sources (i.e., hosts). The purpose of this study was to assess relationships between rainfall, fecal bacterial pollution, antimicrobial resistance, and microbial diversity in an urbanized subtropical bay. Thus, a comprehensive bacterial source tracking (BST) study was conducted using a combination of traditional and modern BST methods. Findings show that rainfall was directly correlated with elevated enterococcus concentrations, including the increased prevalence of Enterococcus faecium, although it was not correlated with an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant strains. Rainfall was also correlated with decreased microbial diversity. In contrast, neither rainfall nor enterococcus concentrations were directly correlated with the concentrations of three omnipresent host-associated fecal markers (i.e., human, canine, and gull). Notably, the human fecal marker (HF183) was inversely correlated with enterococcus concentrations, signifying that traditional enterococcus data alone are not an accurate proxy for human fecal waste in urbanized subtropical bays. IMPORTANCE The presence of human enteric pathogens, stemming from fecal pollution, is a serious environmental and public health concern in recreational waters. Accurate assessments of fecal pollution are therefore needed to properly assess exposure risks and guide water quality policies and practices. In this study, the absence of a direct correlation between enterococci and source-specific human and animal markers disputes the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal pollution in urbanized subtropical bays. Moreover, the inverse correlation between enterococci and the human-specific marker HF183 indicates that recreational beach advisories, triggered by elevated enterococcus concentrations, are a misleading practice. This study clearly demonstrates that a multiparameter approach that includes the quantitation of host-specific markers, as well as analyses of microbial diversity, is a more effective means of assessing water quality in urbanized subtropical bays.
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Carturan BS, Pither J, Maréchal JP, Bradshaw CJA, Parrott L. Combining agent-based, trait-based and demographic approaches to model coral-community dynamics. eLife 2020; 9:e55993. [PMID: 32701058 PMCID: PMC7473774 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexity of coral-reef ecosystems makes it challenging to predict their dynamics and resilience under future disturbance regimes. Models for coral-reef dynamics do not adequately account for the high functional diversity exhibited by corals. Models that are ecologically and mechanistically detailed are therefore required to simulate the ecological processes driving coral reef dynamics. Here, we describe a novel model that includes processes at different spatial scales, and the contribution of species' functional diversity to benthic-community dynamics. We calibrated and validated the model to reproduce observed dynamics using empirical data from Caribbean reefs. The model exhibits realistic community dynamics, and individual population dynamics are ecologically plausible. A global sensitivity analysis revealed that the number of larvae produced locally, and interaction-induced reductions in growth rate are the parameters with the largest influence on community dynamics. The model provides a platform for virtual experiments to explore diversity-functioning relationships in coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason Pither
- Department of Biology, University of British ColumbiaKelownaCanada
- Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services, University of British ColumbiaKelownaCanada
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, University of British ColumbiaKelownaCanada
| | | | - Corey JA Bradshaw
- Global Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders UniversityAdelaideAustralia
| | - Lael Parrott
- Department of Biology, University of British ColumbiaKelownaCanada
- Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services, University of British ColumbiaKelownaCanada
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, University of British ColumbiaKelownaCanada
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45
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Paulino GVB, Félix CR, Silvan CG, Andersen GL, Landell MF. Bacterial community and environmental factors associated to rivers runoff and their possible impacts on coral reef conservation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 156:111233. [PMID: 32510379 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rivers potentially conduct important components as result of anthropogenic stressors for coral reefs. Molecular techniques are increasingly being used for monitoring biological and chemical monitoring of rivers and reefs. Here, we use PhyloChips™ to process surface water samples collected along two rivers and associated reefs in an environmental protection area in northeastern Brazil. Our results indicate that a significant part of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) identified were able to survive the transition from freshwater to seawater, several of them belonging to genera implicated in human pathogenesis. The BBC:A ratio and functional prediction suggests that both study rivers are subject to fecal contamination and xenobiotics input and that the bacterial communities were more homogeneous in these environments. We suggest that protection actions adopted for reefs should be broadly extended to the surrounding environment, and that other bacterial group (besides cultivable coliforms) should be included in routine water quality monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ciro Ramon Félix
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL, Campus A. C. Simões, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, s/n, CEP: 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Cinta Gomez Silvan
- Ecology Department, Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Gary L Andersen
- Ecology Department, Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Melissa Fontes Landell
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL, Campus A. C. Simões, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, s/n, CEP: 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.
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Häder DP, Banaszak AT, Villafañe VE, Narvarte MA, González RA, Helbling EW. Anthropogenic pollution of aquatic ecosystems: Emerging problems with global implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136586. [PMID: 31955090 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems cover over two thirds of our planet and play a pivotal role in stabilizing the global climate as well as providing a large array of services for a fast-growing human population. However, anthropogenic activities increasingly provoke deleterious impacts in aquatic ecosystems. In this paper we discuss five sources of anthropogenic pollution that affect marine and freshwater ecosystems: sewage, nutrients and terrigenous materials, crude oil, heavy metals and plastics. Using specific locations as examples, we show that land-based anthropogenic activities have repercussions in freshwater and marine environments, and we detail the direct and indirect effects that these pollutants have on a range of aquatic organisms, even when the pollutant source is distant from the sink. While the issues covered here do focus on specific locations, they exemplify emerging problems that are increasingly common around the world. All these issues are in dire need of stricter environmental policies and legislations particularly for pollution at industrial levels, as well as solutions to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic pollutants and restore the important services provided by aquatic ecosystems for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donat-P Häder
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität, Dept. Biology, Neue Str. 9, D-91096 Möhrendorf, Germany.
| | - Anastazia T Banaszak
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Virginia E Villafañe
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión, Casilla de Correos N° 15, 9103 Rawson, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Maite A Narvarte
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos Almirante Storni, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Martín 247, 8520 San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Raúl A González
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos Almirante Storni, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Martín 247, 8520 San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - E Walter Helbling
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión, Casilla de Correos N° 15, 9103 Rawson, Chubut, Argentina
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47
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Thibault M, Duprey N, Gillikin DP, Thébault J, Douillet P, Chauvaud L, Amice E, Munaron JM, Lorrain A. Bivalve δ 15N isoscapes provide a baseline for urban nitrogen footprint at the edge of a World Heritage coral reef. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 152:110870. [PMID: 31957671 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Eutrophication is a major threat to world's coral reefs. Here, we mapped the distribution of the anthropogenic nitrogen footprint around Nouméa, a coastal city surrounded by 15,743 km2 of UNESCO listed reefs. We measured the δ15N signature of 348 long-lived benthic bivalves from 12 species at 27 sites and interpolated these to generate a δ15N isoscape. We evaluated the influence of water residence times on nitrogen enrichment and predicted an eutrophication risk at the UNESCO core area. Nitrogen isoscapes revealed a strong spatial gradient (4.3 to 11.7‰) from the outer lagoon to three highly exposed bays of Nouméa. Several protected reefs would benefit from an improved management of wastewater outputs, while one bay in the UNESCO core area may suffer a high eutrophication risk in the future. Our study reinforces the usefulness of using benthic animals to characterize the anthropogenic N-footprint and provide a necessary baseline for both ecologists and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thibault
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France; UMR ENTROPIE (IRD-Université de La Réunion-CNRS), Laboratoire d'Excellence Labex-CORAIL, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia.
| | - N Duprey
- Department of Climate Geochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute), Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - D P Gillikin
- Department of Geology, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308, USA
| | - J Thébault
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France
| | - P Douillet
- CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UMR110, Aix Marseille Université, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - L Chauvaud
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France
| | - E Amice
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France
| | - J M Munaron
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France
| | - A Lorrain
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France
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48
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Duprey NN, Wang TX, Kim T, Cybulski JD, Vonhof HB, Crutzen PJ, Haug GH, Sigman DM, Martínez-García A, Baker DM. Megacity development and the demise of coastal coral communities: Evidence from coral skeleton δ 15 N records in the Pearl River estuary. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:1338-1353. [PMID: 31732999 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Historical coral skeleton (CS) δ18 O and δ15 N records were produced from samples recovered from sedimentary deposits, held in natural history museum collections, and cored into modern coral heads. These records were used to assess the influence of global warming and regional eutrophication, respectively, on the decline of coastal coral communities following the development of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) megacity, China. We find that, until 2007, ocean warming was not a major threat to coral communities in the Pearl River estuary; instead, nitrogen (N) inputs dominated impacts. The high but stable CS-δ15 N values (9‰-12‰ vs. air) observed from the mid-Holocene until 1980 indicate that soil and stream denitrification reduced and modulated the hydrologic inputs of N, blunting the rise in coastal N sources during the early phase of the Pearl River estuary urbanization. However, an unprecedented CS-δ15 N peak was observed from 1987 to 1993 (>13‰ vs. air), concomitant to an increase of NH4+ concentration, consistent with the rapid Pearl River estuary urbanization as the main cause for this eutrophication event. We suggest that widespread discharge of domestic sewage entered directly into the estuary, preventing removal by natural denitrification hotspots. We argue that this event caused the dramatic decline of the Pearl River estuary coral communities reported from 1980 to 2000. Subsequently, the coral record shows that the implementation of improved wastewater management policies succeeded in bringing down both CS-δ15 N and NH4+ concentrations in the early 2000s. This study points to the potential importance of eutrophication over ocean warming in coral decline along urbanized coastlines and in particular in the vicinity of megacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas N Duprey
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Otto Hahn Institute, Mainz, Germany
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Shek O, HKSAR
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, HKSAR
| | - Tony X Wang
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Taihun Kim
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Shek O, HKSAR
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, HKSAR
| | - Jonathan D Cybulski
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Shek O, HKSAR
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, HKSAR
| | - Hubert B Vonhof
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Otto Hahn Institute, Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul J Crutzen
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Otto Hahn Institute, Mainz, Germany
| | - Gerald H Haug
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Otto Hahn Institute, Mainz, Germany
| | - Daniel M Sigman
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - David M Baker
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Shek O, HKSAR
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, HKSAR
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49
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Barnes MD, Goodell W, Whittier R, Falinski KA, Callender T, Htun H, LeViol C, Slay H, Oleson KLL. Decision analysis to support wastewater management in coral reef priority area. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 148:16-29. [PMID: 31422299 PMCID: PMC7282871 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A cocktail of land-based sources of pollution threatens coral reef ecosystems, and addressing these has become a key management and policy challenge in the State of Hawai'i, other US territories, and globally. In West Maui, Hawai'i, nearly one quarter of all living corals were lost between 1995 and 2008. Onsite disposal systems (OSDS) for sewage leak contaminants into drinking water sources and nearshore waters. In recognition of this risk, the Hawai'i State Department of Health (DOH) is prioritizing areas for cesspool upgrades. Independently, we applied a decision analysis process to identify priority areas to address sewage pollution from OSDS in West Maui, with the objective of reducing nearshore coral reef exposure to pollution. The decision science approach is relevant to a broader context of coastal areas both statewide and worldwide which are struggling with identifying pollution mitigation actions on limited budgets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan D Barnes
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, NREM, 1902 East West Way, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States of America.
| | - Whitney Goodell
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, NREM, 1902 East West Way, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States of America; Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Robert Whittier
- Hawai'i State Dept. of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch, 2385 Waimano Home Road, Suite 110, Uluakupu Building 4, Pearl City, HI 96782-1400, United States of America. 'i.gov
| | - Kim A Falinski
- The Nature Conservancy, Hawai'i Marine Program, Honolulu, HI, 923 Nu'uanu Ave, 96817, United States of America
| | - Tova Callender
- West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, c/o DLNR DAR, 130 Mahalani St, Wailuku, HI 96793, United States of America
| | - Hla Htun
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, NREM, 1902 East West Way, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States of America
| | - Cecilia LeViol
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, NREM, 1902 East West Way, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States of America
| | - Hudson Slay
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 9, Pacific Islands Contact Office, P.O. Box 50003, Honolulu, HI 96850, United States of America.
| | - Kirsten L L Oleson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, NREM, 1902 East West Way, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States of America
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50
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Zhang L, Zhang S, Wang Y, Yu K, Li R. The spatial distribution of microplastic in the sands of a coral reef island in the South China Sea: Comparisons of the fringing reef and atoll. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 688:780-786. [PMID: 31255816 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution of coral reef ecosystems has received increasing attention since the discovery that several typical coral types have the ability to ingest (micro-) plastics. However, data on the distribution of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems are still very limited. The study reported here selected sands/sediments from coral reef islands located in the South China Sea as a representative study site. The abundance of microplastics was found to reach 90 ± 5 items/kg and 530 ± 7 items/kg at the Weizhou Island and Sanya Lu Hui Tou (LHT) sites (fringing reef), respectively. Each of these qualities are lower than the quantity of microplastics collected from the Xisha Islands (atoll) (60 ± 3 to 610 ± 11 items/kg), which experiences less human activity and pollution. Moreover, further investigation demonstrated that the differences in the microplastics in the sands of these atolls and fringing reefs were determined not only by their sources, but were also dependent on their water exchange rates. The primary type and color of the microplastics found in these four sampling zones was red polypropylene and there was a greater proportion of smaller size particles (<1 mm) in the remote atolls of the Nansha and Xisha islands than in the other fringing reef sites. Additionally, there were no obvious differences found in the abundance of microplastics and the compositions/structures of coral sand in the Weizhou Island and Sanya LHT sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China
| | - Shuaipeng Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China
| | - Yinghui Wang
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China.
| | - Kefu Yu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China.
| | - Ruilong Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China.
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