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Lange ID, Razak TB, Perry CT, Maulana PB, Prasetya ME, Irwan, Lamont TA. Coral restoration can drive rapid reef carbonate budget recovery. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1341-1348.e3. [PMID: 38460511 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Restoration is increasingly seen as a necessary tool to reverse ecological decline across terrestrial and marine ecosystems.1,2 Considering the unprecedented loss of coral cover and associated reef ecosystem services, active coral restoration is gaining traction in local management strategies and has recently seen major increases in scale. However, the extent to which coral restoration may restore key reef functions is poorly understood.3,4 Carbonate budgets, defined as the balance between calcium carbonate production and erosion, influence a reef's ability to provide important geo-ecological functions including structural complexity, reef framework production, and vertical accretion.5 Here we present the first assessment of reef carbonate budget trajectories at restoration sites. The study was conducted at one of the world's largest coral restoration programs, which transplants healthy coral fragments onto hexagonal metal frames to consolidate degraded rubble fields.6 Within 4 years, fast coral growth supports a rapid recovery of coral cover (from 17% ± 2% to 56% ± 4%), substrate rugosity (from 1.3 ± 0.1 to 1.7 ± 0.1) and carbonate production (from 7.2 ± 1.6 to 20.7 ± 2.2 kg m-2 yr-1). Four years after coral transplantation, net carbonate budgets have tripled and are indistinguishable from healthy control sites (19.1 ± 3.1 and 18.7 ± 2.2 kg m-2 yr-1, respectively). However, taxa-level contributions to carbonate production differ between restored and healthy reefs due to the preferential use of branching corals for transplantation. While longer observation times are necessary to observe any self-organization ability of restored reefs (natural recruitment, resilience to thermal stress), we demonstrate the potential of large-scale, well-managed coral restoration projects to recover important ecosystem functions within only 4 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines D Lange
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK.
| | - Tries B Razak
- Research Centre for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta Pusat 10340, Indonesia; School of Coral Reef Restoration (SCORES), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Chris T Perry
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
| | | | | | - Irwan
- Mars Sustainable Solutions, Makassar 90224, Indonesia
| | - Timothy Ac Lamont
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK
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2
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Borbee EM, Ayu IP, Carvalho P, Restiana E, Setiawan F, Subhan B, Humphries AT, Madduppa H, Lane CE. Rubble fields shape planktonic protist communities in Indonesia at a local scale. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12954. [PMID: 36401815 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The Coral Triangle encompasses nearly 30% of the world's coral reefs and is widely considered the epicenter of marine biodiversity. Destructive fishing practices and natural disturbances common to this region damage reefs leaving behind fields of coral rubble. While the impacts of disturbances in these ecosystems are well documented on metazoans, we have a poor understanding of their impact on microbial communities at the base of the food web. We use metabarcoding to characterize protist community composition in sites of varying fisheries management schemes and benthic profiles across the island of Lombok, Indonesia. Our study shows that rubble coverage and net primary productivity are the strongest explainers of variation in protist communities across Lombok. More specifically, rubble fields are characterized by increases in small heterotrophic protists, including ciliates and cercozoans. In addition to shifts in heterotrophic protist communities, we also observed increases in diatom relative abundance in rubble fields, which corresponded to sites with higher net primary productivity. These results are the first to characterize protist communities in tropical marine rubble fields and provide insight on environmental factors potentially driving these shifts on a local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Borbee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Inna Puspa Ayu
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertainian Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Paul Carvalho
- Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Ester Restiana
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertainian Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia.,Department of Fisheries, University of Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia
| | - Fahkrizal Setiawan
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertainian Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Beginer Subhan
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertainian Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Austin T Humphries
- Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Hawis Madduppa
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertainian Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Christopher E Lane
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
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3
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McLeod IM, Hein MY, Babcock R, Bay L, Bourne DG, Cook N, Doropoulos C, Gibbs M, Harrison P, Lockie S, van Oppen MJH, Mattocks N, Page CA, Randall CJ, Smith A, Smith HA, Suggett DJ, Taylor B, Vella KJ, Wachenfeld D, Boström-Einarsson L. Coral restoration and adaptation in Australia: The first five years. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273325. [PMID: 36449458 PMCID: PMC9710771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
While coral reefs in Australia have historically been a showcase of conventional management informed by research, recent declines in coral cover have triggered efforts to innovate and integrate intervention and restoration actions into management frameworks. Here we outline the multi-faceted intervention approaches that have developed in Australia since 2017, from newly implemented in-water programs, research to enhance coral resilience and investigations into socio-economic perspectives on restoration goals. We describe in-water projects using coral gardening, substrate stabilisation, coral repositioning, macro-algae removal, and larval-based restoration techniques. Three areas of research focus are also presented to illustrate the breadth of Australian research on coral restoration, (1) the transdisciplinary Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), one of the world's largest research and development programs focused on coral reefs, (2) interventions to enhance coral performance under climate change, and (3) research into socio-cultural perspectives. Together, these projects and the recent research focus reflect an increasing urgency for action to confront the coral reef crisis, develop new and additional tools to manage coral reefs, and the consequent increase in funding opportunities and management appetite for implementation. The rapid progress in trialling and deploying coral restoration in Australia builds on decades of overseas experience, and advances in research and development are showing positive signs that coral restoration can be a valuable tool to improve resilience at local scales (i.e., high early survival rates across a variety of methods and coral species, strong community engagement with local stakeholders). RRAP is focused on creating interventions to help coral reefs at multiple scales, from micro scales (i.e., interventions targeting small areas within a specific reef site) to large scales (i.e., interventions targeting core ecosystem function and social-economic values at multiple select sites across the Great Barrier Reef) to resist, adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change. None of these interventions aim to single-handedly restore the entirety of the Great Barrier Reef, nor do they negate the importance of urgent climate change mitigation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaux Y. Hein
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- MER Research and Consulting, The Office, Monaco, Monaco
- * E-mail:
| | - Russ Babcock
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Line Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G. Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Nathan Cook
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Reef Ecologic, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Mark Gibbs
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Harrison
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stewart Lockie
- The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neil Mattocks
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cathie A. Page
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carly J. Randall
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam Smith
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Reef Ecologic, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hillary A. Smith
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bruce Taylor
- Land & Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen J. Vella
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David Wachenfeld
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lisa Boström-Einarsson
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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Knapp IS, Forsman ZH, Greene A, Johnston EC, Bardin CE, Chan N, Wolke C, Gulko D, Toonen RJ. Coral micro-fragmentation assays for optimizing active reef restoration efforts. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13653. [PMID: 35873907 PMCID: PMC9302430 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The global decline of coral reefs has driven considerable interest in active coral restoration. Despite their importance and dominance on mature reefs, relatively few coral restoration projects use slower growth forms like massive and encrusting coral species. Micro-fragmentation can increase coral cover by orders of magnitude faster than natural growth, which now allows cultivation of slow growing massive forms and shows promise and flexibility for active reef restoration. However, the major causes of variation in growth and survival of outplanted colonies remain poorly understood. Here, we report simple outplanting assays to aid in active reef restoration of slower growing species and increase the likelihood of restoration success. We used two different micro-fragmentation assays. Pyramid assays were used to examine variation associated with fragment size (ranging from ≈1-9 cm2), nursery residence time (for both in-situ and ex-situ nurseries), and 2D vs. 3D measurements of growth. Block assays were used to examine spatial variation among individual performance at outplanting sites in the field. We found 2D and 3D measurements correlated well, so measured survivorship and growth using top-down planar images for two of the main Hawaiian reef building corals, the plating Montipora capitata and the massive Porites compressa. Pyramid assays housed and outplanted from the in-situ nursery showed no effect of residence time or size on overall survivorship or growth for either species. Results from the ex-situ nursery, however, varied by species, with P. compressa again showing no effect of nursery residence time or size on survivorship or growth. In contrast, nursery culture resulted in improved survivorship of small M. capitata fragments, but net growth showed a weak positive effect of nursery time for medium fragments. Small fragments still suffered higher mortality than either medium or large fragments. Due to their lower mortality, medium fragments (≈3 cm2) appear to be the best compromise between growth and survivorship for outplanting. Likewise, given weak positive gains relative to the investment, our results suggest that it could be more cost-effective to simply outplant medium fragments as soon as possible, without intermediate culture in a nursery. Furthermore, the block assay revealed significant differences in survivorship and growth among sites for individuals of both species, emphasizing the importance of considering spatial variation in coral survival and growth following outplanting. These results highlight the value of using short-term micro-fragmentation assays prior to outplanting to assess size, and location specific performance, optimizing the efficiency of active reef restoration activities and maximizing the probability of success for active coral restoration projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid S.S. Knapp
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Zac H. Forsman
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA,Environmental Science and Monitoring, The Red Sea Development Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Austin Greene
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Erika C. Johnston
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA,Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
| | - Claire E. Bardin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Norton Chan
- Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Chelsea Wolke
- Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - David Gulko
- Hawai'i Coral Restoration Nursery, Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Robert J. Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean & Earth Sciences & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Moku o Lóe, Kānéohe, Hawai'i, USA
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5
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Combillet L, Fabregat-Malé S, Mena S, Marín-Moraga JA, Gutierrez M, Alvarado JJ. Pocillopora spp. growth analysis on restoration structures in an Eastern Tropical Pacific upwelling area. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13248. [PMID: 35765595 PMCID: PMC9233897 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs in Culebra Bay (North Pacific of Costa Rica) are threatened by multiple anthropogenic disturbances including global warming, overfishing, eutrophication, and invasive species outbreaks. It is possible to assist their recovery by implementing ecological restoration techniques. This study used artificial hexagonal steel structures, called "spiders" to compare growth of Pocillopora spp. coral fragments of different sizes. Three initial fragment class sizes were used: 2, 5 and 8 cm, with each class size having 42 initial fragments. Changes in fragment length, width and area were measured monthly from January to December 2020. Results showed an overall survivorship of 70.21%, and no significant differences in survivorship and linear growth rate were detected between class sizes. The linear growth rates are 4.49 ± 1.19 cm year-1, 5.35 ± 1.48 cm year-1 and 3.25 ± 2.22 cm year-1 for the 2, 5 and 8 cm initial class sizes, respectively. Our results do not show significant differences in growth rates between the different initial fragment sizes. However, since small fragments (2 cm) present higher mortality during the first month, we recommend using larger fragments. In addition, coral fragments grew 48% more during the non-upwelling season, which may suggest that it might be more effective and safer to start the restoration efforts during this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Combillet
- Master Sciences pour l’Environnement, parcours Gestion de l’environnement et écologie Littorale, Université de La Rochelle, La Rochelle, France
| | - Sònia Fabregat-Malé
- Posgrado en Biología, Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Sebastián Mena
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Juan José Alvarado
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical (CIBET) (Previously Museo de Zoología), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
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6
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Dehnert I, Saponari L, Galli P, Montano S. Comparing different farming habitats for mid-water rope nurseries to advance coral restoration efforts in the Maldives. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12874. [PMID: 35233294 PMCID: PMC8882334 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The need for comprehensive and effective coral restoration projects, as part of a broader conservation management strategy, is accelerating in the face of coral reef ecosystem decline. This study aims to expand the currently limited knowledge base for restoration techniques in the Maldives by testing the performance of mid-water rope nurseries in a lagoon and a reef habitat. We examined whether different coral farming habitats impacted fragment survival, health and growth of two coral genera and how the occurrence of mutualistic fauna, predation and disease influenced coral rearing success. Two nurseries were stocked with a total of 448 Pocillopora verrucosa and 96 Acropora spp. fragments, divided into different groups (four Pocillopora groups: lagoon nursery at 5 m; reef nursery at 5, 10 and 15 m; two Acropora groups: lagoon nursery at 5 m and reef nursery at 5 m). Eight fragment replicates from the same donor colony (Pocillopora genets: N = 14, Acropora genets N = 6) were used in each group and monitored for one year. Our results show that fragment survival was high in both farming habitats (>90%), with P. verrucosa surviving significantly better in the lagoon and Acropora spp. surviving and growing significantly faster in the reef nursery. P. verrucosa growth rates were similar between reef and lagoon habitat. Different rearing depths in the reef nursery had no impact on the survival of P. verrucosa but coral growth decreased considerably with depth, reducing fragments' ecological volume augmentation and growth rates by almost half from 5 to 15 m depth. Further, higher fish predation rates on fragments were recorded on the reef, which did not impact overall nursery performance. Mutualistic fauna, which correlated positively with fragment survival, was more frequently observed in the lagoon nursery. The occurrence of disease was noted in both habitats, even though implications for fragment health were more severe in the lagoon. Overall, our study demonstrates that lagoon and reef nurseries are suitable for rearing large numbers of coral fragments for transplantation. Nevertheless, we recommend considering the specific environmental conditions of the farming habitat, in particular water quality and year-round accessibility, in each case and to adjust the coral farming strategy accordingly. We hope that this novel research encourages the increased application of mid-water rope nurseries for 'coral gardening' to advance coral reef recovery and climate resilience in the Maldives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Dehnert
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives
| | - Luca Saponari
- The Centre for Environment & Education, Nature Seychelles, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles
| | - Paolo Galli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives
| | - Simone Montano
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives
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7
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Horizon scan of rapidly advancing coral restoration approaches for 21st century reef management. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:125-136. [PMID: 35119476 PMCID: PMC9023016 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef restoration activity is accelerating worldwide in efforts to offset the rate of reef health declines. Many advances have already been made in restoration practices centred on coral biology (coral restoration), and particularly those that look to employ the high adaptive state and capacity of corals in order to ensure that efforts rebuilding coral biomass also equip reefs with enhanced resilience to future stress. We horizon scan the state-of-play for the many coral restoration innovations already underway across the complex life cycle for corals that spans both asexual and sexual reproduction — assisted evolution (manipulations targeted to the coral host and host-associated microbes), biobanking, as well as scalable coral propagation and planting — and how these innovations are in different stages of maturity to support new 21st century reef management frameworks. Realising the potential for coral restoration tools as management aids undoubtedly rests on validating different approaches as their application continues to scale. Whilst the ecosystem service responses to increased scaling still largely remain to be seen, coral restoration has already delivered immense new understanding of coral and coral-associated microbial biology that has long lagged behind advances in other reef sciences.
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Leonard C, Hédouin L, Lacorne MC, Dalle J, Lapinski M, Blanc P, Nugues MM. Performance of innovative materials as recruitment substrates for coral restoration. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Leonard
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea French Polynesia
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea French Polynesia
- Laboratoire d'Excellence “CORAIL”, Papetoai, Moorea French Polynesia
| | - Margaux C. Lacorne
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea French Polynesia
- Université des Antilles, Fouillole, Pointe‐à‐Pitre 97157 Guadeloupe
| | - Julien Dalle
- Seaboost, 889 rue de la Vieille Poste 34000 Montpellier France
| | | | | | - Maggy M. Nugues
- Laboratoire d'Excellence “CORAIL”, Papetoai, Moorea French Polynesia
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex France
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Lamont TAC, Williams B, Chapuis L, Prasetya ME, Seraphim MJ, Harding HR, May EB, Janetski N, Jompa J, Smith DJ, Radford AN, Simpson SD. The sound of recovery: Coral reef restoration success is detectable in the soundscape. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ben Williams
- Biosciences University of Exeter Exeter UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research University College London London UK
| | | | | | - Marie J. Seraphim
- School of Health and Life Sciences University of the West of Scotland Paisley UK
| | | | | | | | - Jamaluddin Jompa
- Graduate School Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar Indonesia
- Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar Indonesia
| | - David J. Smith
- Mars Incorporated London UK
- Coral Reef Research Unit School of Life Sciences University of Essex Colchester UK
| | | | - Stephen D. Simpson
- Biosciences University of Exeter Exeter UK
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
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10
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Sill SR, Dawson TP. Climate change impacts on the ecological dynamics of two coral reef species, the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and crown-of-thorns starfish (Ancanthaster planci). ECOL INFORM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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11
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Gouezo M, Fabricius K, Harrison P, Golbuu Y, Doropoulos C. Optimizing coral reef recovery with context-specific management actions at prioritized reefs. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113209. [PMID: 34346392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Assisting the natural recovery of coral reefs through local management actions is needed in response to increasing ecosystem disturbances in the Anthropocene. There is growing evidence that commonly used resilience-based passive management approaches may not be sufficient to maintain coral reef key functions. We synthesize and discuss advances in coral reef recovery research, and its application to coral reef conservation and restoration practices. We then present a framework to guide the decision-making of reef managers, scientists and other stakeholders, to best support reef recovery after a disturbance. The overall aim of this management framework is to catalyse reef recovery, to minimize recovery times, and to limit the need for ongoing management interventions into the future. Our framework includes two main stages: first, a prioritization method for assessment following a large-scale disturbance, which is based on a reef's social-ecological values, and on a classification of the likelihood of recovery or succession resulting in degraded, novel, hybrid or historical states. Second, a flow chart to assist with determining management actions for highly valued reefs. Potential actions are chosen based on the ecological attributes of the disturbed reef, defined during ecological assessments. Depending on the context, management actions may include (1) substrata rehabilitation actions to facilitate natural coral recruitment, (2) repopulating actions using active restoration techniques, (3) resilience-based management actions and (4) monitoring coral recruitment and growth to assess the effectiveness of management interventions. We illustrate the proposed decision framework with a case study of typhoon-damaged eastern outer reefs in Palau, Micronesia. The decisions made following this framework lead to the conclusion that some reefs may not return to their historical state for many decades. However, if motivation and funds are available, new management approaches can be explored to assist coral reefs at valued locations to return to a functional state providing key ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Gouezo
- Palau International Coral Reef Center, PO Box 7086, Koror, Palau; Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
| | - Katharina Fabricius
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia.
| | - Peter Harrison
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
| | - Yimnang Golbuu
- Palau International Coral Reef Center, PO Box 7086, Koror, Palau.
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Ferse SCA, Hein MY, Rölfer L. A survey of current trends and suggested future directions in coral transplantation for reef restoration. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249966. [PMID: 33939716 PMCID: PMC8092780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral transplantation has been used in reef restoration for several decades, but information on the type of projects, their scope, scale, and success is mostly limited to published scientific studies and technical reports. Many practitioners do not have the capacity to share their progress in peer-reviewed literature, yet likely have a wealth of information to share on how to improve the efficiency of transplantation efforts. In order to incorporate non-published data on coral transplantation projects and gain an overview of the general features of these projects, we conducted an initial systematic online survey of projects run by various practitioners. Surveyed projects (n = 50) covered most of the tropical belt and ranged in size from a few hundred transplanted corals to >5000 transplants. The most frequent source of coral fragments were corals already broken from some previous impact (“corals of opportunity”; 58% of projects), followed by fragments stored in different types of aquaculture systems (42% of projects). The use of sexual reproduction was very limited. Fast-growing, branching corals were used in 96% of projects, being by far the most common transplanted growth form. About half of the projects mentioned undertaking maintenance of the transplantation plots. The majority of projects undertook subsequent monitoring (80%), yet the available data indicates that duration of monitoring efforts was not adequate to evaluate long-term success. The findings underline that while some general principles for successful coral restoration projects are reasonably well established, others need to be mainstreamed better in order to improve the effectiveness of coral transplantation for reef restoration. This relates in particular to sustainable funding, adequate site assessment, and long-term monitoring using established protocols. Additional information is needed to better understand and address potential challenges with regards to the sourcing of transplants and use of slow-growing species. A better integration of practitioners is necessary to improve the understanding of coral transplantation effectiveness. The results underline a need to develop and use monitoring protocols that allow gauging and comparing the effectiveness of coral transplantation among various projects, as well as for accessible platform(s) to allow the exchange of experiences made in different projects. Regular surveys of restoration projects are recommended to collate and share information among practitioners. We provide a number of recommendations for items to include in future surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian C. A. Ferse
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Margaux Y. Hein
- Marine Ecosystem Restoration (MER) Research and Consulting, Monaco
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lena Rölfer
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Howlett L, Camp EF, Edmondson J, Henderson N, Suggett DJ. Coral growth, survivorship and return-on-effort within nurseries at high-value sites on the Great Barrier Reef. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244961. [PMID: 33428639 PMCID: PMC7799815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are deteriorating worldwide prompting reef managers and stakeholders to increasingly explore new management tools. Following back-to-back bleaching in 2016/2017, multi-taxa coral nurseries were established in 2018 for the first time on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to aid reef maintenance and restoration at a “high-value” location–Opal Reef–frequented by the tourism industry. Various coral species (n = 11) were propagated within shallow water (ca. 4-7m) platforms installed across two sites characterised by differing environmental exposure–one adjacent to a deep-water channel (Blue Lagoon) and one that was relatively sheltered (RayBan). Growth rates of coral fragments placed onto nurseries were highly variable across taxa but generally higher at Blue Lagoon (2.1–10.8 cm2 month-1 over 12 months) compared to RayBan (0.6–6.6 cm2 month-1 over 9 months). Growth at Blue Lagoon was largely independent of season, except for Acropora tenuis and Acropora hyacinthus, where growth rates were 15–20% higher for December 2018-July 2019 (“warm season”) compared to August-December 2018 (“cool season”). Survivorship across all 2,536 nursery fragments was ca. 80–100%, with some species exhibiting higher survivorship at Blue Lagoon (Acropora loripes, Porites cylindrica) and others at RayBan (A. hyacinthus, Montipora hispida). Parallel measurements of growth and survivorship were used to determine relative return-on-effort (RRE) scores as an integrated metric of “success” accounting for life history trade-offs, complementing the mutually exclusive assessment of growth or survivorship. RRE scores within sites (across species) were largely driven by growth, whereas RRE scores between sites were largely driven by survivorship. The initial nursery phase of coral propagation therefore appears useful to supplement coral material naturally available for stewardship of frequently visited Great Barrier Reef tourism (high-value) sites, but further assessment is needed to evaluate how well the growth rates and survival for nursery grown corals translate once material is outplanted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Howlett
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- Wavelength Reef Cruises, Port Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Emma F. Camp
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Nicola Henderson
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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15
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Ceccarelli DM, McLeod IM, Boström-Einarsson L, Bryan SE, Chartrand KM, Emslie MJ, Gibbs MT, Gonzalez Rivero M, Hein MY, Heyward A, Kenyon TM, Lewis BM, Mattocks N, Newlands M, Schläppy ML, Suggett DJ, Bay LK. Substrate stabilisation and small structures in coral restoration: State of knowledge, and considerations for management and implementation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240846. [PMID: 33108387 PMCID: PMC7591095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are under increasing pressure from local and regional stressors and a changing climate. Current management focuses on reducing stressors to allow for natural recovery, but in many areas where coral reefs are damaged, natural recovery can be restricted, delayed or interrupted because of unstable, unconsolidated coral fragments, or rubble. Rubble fields are a natural component of coral reefs, but repeated or high-magnitude disturbances can prevent natural cementation and consolidation processes, so that coral recruits fail to survive. A suite of interventions have been used to target this issue globally, such as using mesh to stabilise rubble, removing the rubble to reveal hard substrate and deploying rocks or other hard substrates over the rubble to facilitate recruit survival. Small, modular structures can be used at multiple scales, with or without attached coral fragments, to create structural complexity and settlement surfaces. However, these can introduce foreign materials to the reef, and a limited understanding of natural recovery processes exists for the potential of this type of active intervention to successfully restore local coral reef structure. This review synthesises available knowledge about the ecological role of coral rubble, natural coral recolonisation and recovery rates and the potential benefits and risks associated with active interventions in this rapidly evolving field. Fundamental knowledge gaps include baseline levels of rubble, the structural complexity of reef habitats in space and time, natural rubble consolidation processes and the risks associated with each intervention method. Any restoration intervention needs to be underpinned by risk assessment, and the decision to repair rubble fields must arise from an understanding of when and where unconsolidated substrate and lack of structure impair natural reef recovery and ecological function. Monitoring is necessary to ascertain the success or failure of the intervention and impacts of potential risks, but there is a strong need to specify desired outcomes, the spatial and temporal context and indicators to be measured. With a focus on the Great Barrier Reef, we synthesise the techniques, successes and failures associated with rubble stabilisation and the use of small structures, review monitoring methods and indicators, and provide recommendations to ensure that we learn from past projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M. Ceccarelli
- Marine Ecology Consultant, Nelly Bay, QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- * E-mail: (DMC); (IMM)
| | - Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail: (DMC); (IMM)
| | - Lisa Boström-Einarsson
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Scott E. Bryan
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Chartrand
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael J. Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark T. Gibbs
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Division of Business Development, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Manuel Gonzalez Rivero
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaux Y. Hein
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Heyward
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tania M. Kenyon
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brett M. Lewis
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Neil Mattocks
- Reef Joint Field Management Program, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maxine Newlands
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of Social Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marie-Lise Schläppy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering, Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Line K. Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Seraphim MJ, Sloman KA, Alexander ME, Janetski N, Jompa J, Ambo-Rappe R, Snellgrove D, Mars F, Harborne AR. Interactions between coral restoration and fish assemblages: implications for reef management. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2020; 97:633-655. [PMID: 32564370 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14440] [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: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Corals create complex reef structures that provide both habitat and food for many fish species. Because of numerous natural and anthropogenic threats, many coral reefs are currently being degraded, endangering the fish assemblages they support. Coral reef restoration, an active ecological management tool, may help reverse some of the current trends in reef degradation through the transplantation of stony corals. Although restoration techniques have been extensively reviewed in relation to coral survival, our understanding of the effects of adding live coral cover and complexity on fishes is in its infancy with a lack of scientifically validated research. This study reviews the limited data on reef restoration and fish assemblages, and complements this with the more extensive understanding of complex interactions between natural reefs and fishes and how this might inform restoration efforts. It also discusses which key fish species or functional groups may promote, facilitate or inhibit restoration efforts and, in turn, how restoration efforts can be optimised to enhance coral fish assemblages. By highlighting critical knowledge gaps in relation to fishes and restoration interactions, the study aims to stimulate research into the role of reef fishes in restoration projects. A greater understanding of the functional roles of reef fishes would also help inform whether restoration projects can return fish assemblages to their natural compositions or whether alternative species compositions develop, and over what timeframe. Although alleviation of local and global reef stressors remains a priority, reef restoration is an important tool; an increased understanding of the interactions between replanted corals and the fishes they support is critical for ensuring its success for people and nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie J Seraphim
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK
| | - Katherine A Sloman
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK
| | - Mhairi E Alexander
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK
| | | | - Jamaluddin Jompa
- Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Rohani Ambo-Rappe
- Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Donna Snellgrove
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, UK
| | | | - Alastair R Harborne
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida, USA
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Brunen B, Daguet C, Jaeger JAG. What attributes are relevant for drainage culverts to serve as efficient road crossing structures for mammals? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 268:110423. [PMID: 32510423 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Roads increase wildlife mortality and present a movement barrier for many species. While wildlife passages have been advocated as a solution to many of the problems associated with roads, they are expensive and many roads still have none. However, roads usually have a series of drainage culverts designed to allow water to cross underneath the road, which might also be used by some mammals. This study aims to (1) determine what variables influence the number of successful passages of drainage culverts by mammals, and to (2) parse the effects that these variables have on the entry into and subsequent full passage of drainage culverts by individual mammals, using cameras and animal track stations along a 20 km stretch of autoroute 10 in Southern Quebec (Canada). Overall, 20 species were observed outside of the drainage culverts, but only about half of them were detected making full crossings. While various species were often seen outside, only animals highly tolerant to water, including raccoons (Procyon lotor) and American mink (Neovison vison), were observed fully crossing the structures with regularity, whereas the number of full crossings was small (<8) for all other species. High-water levels and use of polyethylene as a construction material were the strongest deterrents for both the number of successful passages and the probability of entry into the culverts. While several variables (e.g., water level, structure material, moon luminosity, distance to forest) influenced culvert entry, none had an influence on a mammal's probability of complete passage once it had entered. The results imply that ordinary drainage culverts are unsuitable as substitutes for designated wildlife passages for mammals. We recommend the installation of designated wildlife passages and fences, and that in places where wildlife passages are not feasible, dry ledges be installed in existing drainage culverts to better allow small and medium-sized mammals to safely cross under roads while avoiding the water inside of the culverts. To our knowledge, this study is the first to successfully combine trail cameras inside of drainage culverts with track-box data in the adjacent habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Brunen
- Concordia University Montréal, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite H1255, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Caroline Daguet
- Appalachian Corridor, 37 des Pins Sud, Eastman, QC, J0E 1P0, Canada.
| | - Jochen A G Jaeger
- Concordia University Montréal, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite H1255, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada; Loyola Sustainability Research Centre, Concordia University Montréal, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada.
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18
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Suggett DJ, Edmondson J, Howlett L, Camp EF. Coralclip®: a low‐cost solution for rapid and targeted out‐planting of coral at scale. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster (C3)University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
| | - John Edmondson
- Wavelength Reef Cruises, 6/43 Macrossan Street Port Douglas QLD 4877 Australia
| | - Lorna Howlett
- Climate Change Cluster (C3)University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
- Wavelength Reef Cruises, 6/43 Macrossan Street Port Douglas QLD 4877 Australia
| | - Emma F. Camp
- Climate Change Cluster (C3)University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia
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Boström-Einarsson L, Babcock RC, Bayraktarov E, Ceccarelli D, Cook N, Ferse SCA, Hancock B, Harrison P, Hein M, Shaver E, Smith A, Suggett D, Stewart-Sinclair PJ, Vardi T, McLeod IM. Coral restoration - A systematic review of current methods, successes, failures and future directions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226631. [PMID: 31999709 PMCID: PMC6992220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems have suffered an unprecedented loss of habitat-forming hard corals in recent decades. While marine conservation has historically focused on passive habitat protection, demand for and interest in active restoration has been growing in recent decades. However, a disconnect between coral restoration practitioners, coral reef managers and scientists has resulted in a disjointed field where it is difficult to gain an overview of existing knowledge. To address this, we aimed to synthesise the available knowledge in a comprehensive global review of coral restoration methods, incorporating data from the peer-reviewed scientific literature, complemented with grey literature and through a survey of coral restoration practitioners. We found that coral restoration case studies are dominated by short-term projects, with 60% of all projects reporting less than 18 months of monitoring of the restored sites. Similarly, most projects are relatively small in spatial scale, with a median size of restored area of 100 m2. A diverse range of species are represented in the dataset, with 229 different species from 72 coral genera. Overall, coral restoration projects focused primarily on fast-growing branching corals (59% of studies), and report survival between 60 and 70%. To date, the relatively young field of coral restoration has been plagued by similar 'growing pains' as ecological restoration in other ecosystems. These include 1) a lack of clear and achievable objectives, 2) a lack of appropriate and standardised monitoring and reporting and, 3) poorly designed projects in relation to stated objectives. Mitigating these will be crucial to successfully scale up projects, and to retain public trust in restoration as a tool for resilience based management. Finally, while it is clear that practitioners have developed effective methods to successfully grow corals at small scales, it is critical not to view restoration as a replacement for meaningful action on climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Russell C. Babcock
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sebastian C. A. Ferse
- Future Earth Coasts, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Boze Hancock
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Margaux Hein
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Shaver
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Adam Smith
- Reef Ecologic, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - David Suggett
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Tali Vardi
- ECS for NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
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Gordon TAC, Radford AN, Davidson IK, Barnes K, McCloskey K, Nedelec SL, Meekan MG, McCormick MI, Simpson SD. Acoustic enrichment can enhance fish community development on degraded coral reef habitat. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5414. [PMID: 31784508 PMCID: PMC6884498 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs worldwide are increasingly damaged by anthropogenic stressors, necessitating novel approaches for their management. Maintaining healthy fish communities counteracts reef degradation, but degraded reefs smell and sound less attractive to settlement-stage fishes than their healthy states. Here, using a six-week field experiment, we demonstrate that playback of healthy reef sound can increase fish settlement and retention to degraded habitat. We compare fish community development on acoustically enriched coral-rubble patch reefs with acoustically unmanipulated controls. Acoustic enrichment enhances fish community development across all major trophic guilds, with a doubling in overall abundance and 50% greater species richness. If combined with active habitat restoration and effective conservation measures, rebuilding fish communities in this manner might accelerate ecosystem recovery at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Acoustic enrichment shows promise as a novel tool for the active management of degraded coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A C Gordon
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK. .,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Andrew N Radford
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Isla K Davidson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Kasey Barnes
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Kieran McCloskey
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Sophie L Nedelec
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Mark G Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Stephen D Simpson
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
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The Active Reef Restoration Toolbox is a Vehicle for Coral Resilience and Adaptation in a Changing World. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse7070201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The accelerating marks of climate change on coral-reef ecosystems, combined with the recognition that traditional management measures are not efficient enough to cope with climate change tempo and human footprints, have raised a need for new approaches to reef restoration. The most widely used approach is the “coral gardening” tenet; an active reef restoration tactic based on principles, concepts, and theories used in silviculture. During the relatively short period since its inception, the gardening approach has been tested globally in a wide range of reef sites, and on about 100 coral species, utilizing hundreds of thousands of nursery-raised coral colonies. While still lacking credibility for simulating restoration scenarios under forecasted climate change impacts, and with a limited adaptation toolkit used in the gardening approach, it is still deficient. Therefore, novel restoration avenues have recently been suggested and devised, and some have already been tested, primarily in the laboratory. Here, I describe seven classes of such novel avenues and tools, which include the improved gardening methodologies, ecological engineering approaches, assisted migration/colonization, assisted genetics/evolution, assisted microbiome, coral epigenetics, and coral chimerism. These are further classified into three operation levels, each dependent on the success of the former level. Altogether, the seven approaches and the three operation levels represent a unified active reef restoration toolbox, under the umbrella of the gardening tenet, focusing on the enhancement of coral resilience and adaptation in a changing world.
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The Role of Maximum Shelf Depth versus Distance from Shore in Explaining a Diversity Gradient of Mushroom Corals (Fungiidae) off Jakarta. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many coral reef systems are shelf-based and consist of reefs that are arranged in rows parallel to the coastline. They usually show an increase in species richness in the offshore direction, coinciding with decreasing terrigenous impact and a deeper seafloor. These two conditions usually concur, which makes it less easy to distinguish how each of them influences coral diversity separately. Since reefs off Jakarta (in the Thousand Islands archipelago) are arranged in an 80 km long string perpendicular to the coastline in south-to-north direction, with a maximum shelf depth halfway along (instead of at the end of) the string, this archipelago is very suitable for studies on inshore–offshore gradients. In the present study, mushroom corals (Fungiidae; n = 31) were used to examine diversity patterns on 38 reef sites along such a gradient, involving species richness over their entire depth range from reef flat to reef base (2–30 m) and separately at shallow depths (2–6 m). Total species diversity was highest in the central part of the archipelago, with unique species occurring in deep habitats. Diversity at shallow depths was only slightly higher here than at reefs located more nearshore and offshore, which both had less clear water. Therefore, shelf depth and distance from the mainland can be considered separate determinants of coral diversity off Jakarta.
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