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Hynes MG, O'Dea A, Webster JM, Renema W. RADReef: A global Holocene Reef Rate of Accretion Dataset. Sci Data 2024; 11:398. [PMID: 38637551 PMCID: PMC11026384 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03228-w] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Reef cores are a powerful tool for investigating temporal changes in reef communities. Radiometric dating facilitates the determination of vertical accretion rates, which has allowed for examination of local-regional controlling factors, such as subsidence and sea level changes. Coral reefs must grow at sufficient rates to keep up with sea level rise, or risk 'drowning.' As sea level is expected to rise significantly in the next 100 years and beyond, it is important to understand whether reefs will be able to survive. Historical records of reef accretion rates extracted from cores provide valuable insights into extrinsic controlling factors of reef growth and are instrumental in helping predict if future reefs can accrete at rates needed to overcome predicted sea level changes. While extensive research exists at local and regional scales, limited attention has been given to identifying global patterns and drivers. To address this, we present "RADReef": A global dataset of dated Holocene reef cores. RADReef serves as a foundation for further research on past, present and future reef accretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Hynes
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), Universiteit van Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Aaron O'Dea
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Clayton, Republic of Panama
| | - Jody M Webster
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Willem Renema
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), Universiteit van Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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McIlroy SE, Guibert I, Archana A, Chung WYH, Duffy JE, Gotama R, Hui J, Knowlton N, Leray M, Meyer C, Panagiotou G, Paulay G, Russell B, Thompson PD, Baker DM. Life goes on: Spatial heterogeneity promotes biodiversity in an urbanized coastal marine ecosystem. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17248. [PMID: 38581126 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Both human populations and marine biodiversity are concentrated along coastlines, with growing conservation interest in how these ecosystems can survive intense anthropogenic impacts. Tropical urban centres provide valuable research opportunities because these megacities are often adjacent to mega-diverse coral reef systems. The Pearl River Delta is a prime exemplar, as it encompasses one of the most densely populated and impacted regions in the world and is located just northwest of the Coral Triangle. However, the spatial and taxonomic complexity of this biodiversity, most of which is small, cryptic in habitat and poorly known, make comparative analyses challenging. We deployed standardized settlement structures at seven sites differing in the intensity of human impacts and used COI metabarcoding to characterize benthic biodiversity, with a focus on metazoans. We found a total of 7184 OTUs, with an average of 665 OTUs per sampling unit; these numbers exceed those observed in many previous studies using comparable methods, despite the location of our study in an urbanized environment. Beta diversity was also high, with 52% of the OTUs found at just one site. As expected, we found that the sites close to point sources of pollution had substantially lower diversity (44% less) relative to sites bathed in less polluted oceanic waters. However, the polluted sites contributed substantially to the total animal diversity of the region, with 25% of all OTUs occurring only within polluted sites. Further analysis of Arthropoda, Annelida and Mollusca showed that phylogenetic clustering within a site was common, suggesting that environmental filtering reduced biodiversity to a subset of lineages present within the region, a pattern that was most pronounced in polluted sites and for the Arthropoda. The water quality gradients surrounding the PRD highlight the unique role of in situ studies for understanding the impacts of complex urbanization pressures on biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby E McIlroy
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Isis Guibert
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Anand Archana
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Wing Yi Haze Chung
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - J Emmett Duffy
- MarineGEO Program and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA
| | - Rinaldi Gotama
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Indo Ocean Project, Banjar Adegan Kawan, Desa Ped, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Jerome Hui
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Nancy Knowlton
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Matthieu Leray
- MarineGEO Program and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Panama City, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Chris Meyer
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jena, Germany
- Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gustav Paulay
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Bayden Russell
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Philip D Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - David M Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
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3
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Mills MS, Ungermann M, Rigot G, den Haan J, Leon JX, Schils T. Coral reefs in transition: Temporal photoquadrat analyses and validation of underwater hyperspectral imaging for resource-efficient monitoring in Guam. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299523. [PMID: 38502667 PMCID: PMC10950215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The island of Guam in the west Pacific has seen a significant decrease in coral cover since 2013. Lafac Bay, a marine protected area in northeast Guam, served as a reference site for benthic communities typical of forereefs on the windward side of the island. The staghorn coral Acropora abrotanoides is a dominant and characteristic ecosystem engineer of forereef communities on exposed shorelines. Photoquadrat surveys were conducted in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and a diver-operated hyperspectral imager (i.e., DiveRay) was used to survey the same transects in 2019. Machine learning algorithms were used to develop an automated pipeline to assess the benthic cover of 10 biotic and abiotic categories in 2019 based on hyperspectral imagery. The cover of scleractinian corals did not differ between 2015 and 2017 despite being subjected to a series of environmental disturbances in these years. Surveys in 2019 documented the almost complete decline of the habitat-defining staghorn coral Acropora abrotanoides (a practically complete disappearance from about 10% cover), a significant decrease (~75%) in the cover of other scleractinian corals, and a significant increase (~55%) in the combined cover of bare substrate, turf algae, and cyanobacteria. The drastic change in community composition suggests that the reef at Lafac Bay is transitioning to a turf algae-dominated community. However, the capacity of this reef to recover from previous disturbances suggests that this transition could be reversed, making Lafac Bay an excellent candidate for long-term monitoring. Community analyses showed no significant difference between automatically classified benthic cover estimates derived from the hyperspectral scans in 2019 and those derived from photoquadrats. These findings suggest that underwater hyperspectral imagers can be efficient and effective tools for fast, frequent, and accurate monitoring of dynamic reef communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Mills
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
- School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Javier X. Leon
- School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tom Schils
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
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4
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Rico-Esenaro SD, de Jesús Adolfo Tortolero-Langarica J, Iglesias-Prieto R, Carricart-Ganivet JP. The δ 15N in Orbicella faveolata organic matter reveals anthropogenic impact by sewage inputs in a Mexican Caribbean coral reef lagoon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:118872-118880. [PMID: 37919495 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30476-x] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Coral-reef ecosystems provide essentials services to human societies, representing the most important source of income (e.g., tourism and artisanal fishing) for many coastal developing countries. In the Caribbean region, most touristic and coastal developments are in the vicinity of coral reefs where they may contribute to reef degradation. Here we evaluated the influence of sewage inputs in the coral reef lagoon of Puerto Morelos during a period of 40 years (1970-2012). Annual δ15N values were determined in the organic matter (OM) extracted from coral skeletons of Orbicella faveolata. Average protein content in the OM was 0.33 mg of protein g-1 CaCO3 (±0.10 SD) and a 0.03% of OM relative to the sample weight (n =100). The average of N g-1 CaCO3 was 0.002% (± 0.001 SD). The results showed an increase (p < 0.001) in δ15N over the time, positively correlated with population growth derived from touristic development. These findings emphasize the need to generate urban-planning remediation strategies that consider the impact on natural environments, reduce sewage pollution, and mitigate local stressors that threaten the status of coral-reef communities in the Caribbean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serguei Damián Rico-Esenaro
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología de Corales Arrecifales, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Prol. Av. Niños Héroes S/N, Domicilio conocido, Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo, 77580, México
- Departamento El Hombre y su Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Coyoacán, Cd. de México, 04960, México
| | - José de Jesús Adolfo Tortolero-Langarica
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología de Corales Arrecifales, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Prol. Av. Niños Héroes S/N, Domicilio conocido, Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo, 77580, México
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT Bahía de Banderas, Crucero a Punta de Mita S/N, Bahía de Banderas, 63734, Nayarit, México
| | - Roberto Iglesias-Prieto
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Juan P Carricart-Ganivet
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología de Corales Arrecifales, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Prol. Av. Niños Héroes S/N, Domicilio conocido, Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo, 77580, México.
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5
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Cybulski JD, Duprey NN, Thibodeau B, Yasuhara M, Geeraert N, Leonard N, Vonhof HB, Martínez-García A, Baker DM. Coral carbonate-bound isotopes reveal monsoonal influence on nitrogen sources in Southeastern China's Greater Bay Area from the mid-Holocene until the Anthropocene. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115757. [PMID: 37988964 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115757] [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: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Most anthropogenic nitrogen (N) reaches coastal waters via rivers carrying increasing loads of sewage, fertilizer, and sediments. To understand anthropogenic N impacts, we need to understand historical N-dynamics before human influence. Stable isotope ratios of N preserved in carbonates are one way to create temporal N records. However, records that span periods of human occupation are scarce, limiting our ability to contextualize modern N dynamics. Here, we produce a fossil-bound N-record using coral subfossils, spanning 6700 years in China's Greater Bay Area (GBA). We found that during the mid-to-late Holocene, the GBA's coastal N was dominated by fluvial sources. The weakening of the Asia monsoon throughout the late-Holocene decreased river outflow, leading to a relative increase of marine nitrate. This source shift from riverine-to-ocean dominance was overprinted by anthropogenic N. During the late 1980s to early 1990s, human development and associated effluent inundated the coastal system, contributing to the decline of coral communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Cybulski
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape D'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama; Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute), Climate Geochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Nicolas N Duprey
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute), Climate Geochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Benoit Thibodeau
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Moriaki Yasuhara
- School of Biological Sciences, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, Swire Institute of Marine Science, Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Naomi Geeraert
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape D'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Nicole Leonard
- Radiogenic Isotope Facility, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Hubert B Vonhof
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute), Climate Geochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alfredo Martínez-García
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute), Climate Geochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - David M Baker
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape D'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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6
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Mills MS, Ungermann M, Rigot G, den Haan J, Leon JX, Schils T. Assessment of the utility of underwater hyperspectral imaging for surveying and monitoring coral reef ecosystems. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21103. [PMID: 38036628 PMCID: PMC10689744 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48263-6] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Technological innovations that improve the speed, scale, reproducibility, and accuracy of monitoring surveys will allow for a better understanding of the global decline in tropical reef health. The DiveRay, a diver-operated hyperspectral imager, and a complementary machine learning pipeline to automate the analysis of hyperspectral imagery were developed for this purpose. To evaluate the use of a hyperspectral imager underwater, the automated classification of benthic taxa in reef communities was tested. Eight reefs in Guam were surveyed and two approaches for benthic classification were employed: high taxonomic resolution categories and broad benthic categories. The results from the DiveRay surveys were validated against data from concurrently conducted photoquadrat surveys to determine their accuracy and utility as a proxy for reef surveys. The high taxonomic resolution classifications did not reliably predict benthic communities when compared to those obtained by standard photoquadrat analysis. At the level of broad benthic categories, however, the hyperspectral results were comparable to those of the photoquadrat analysis. This was particularly true when estimating scleractinian coral cover, which was accurately predicted for six out of the eight sites. The annotation libraries generated for this study were insufficient to train the model to fully account for the high biodiversity on Guam's reefs. As such, prediction accuracy is expected to improve with additional surveying and image annotation. This study is the first to directly compare the results from underwater hyperspectral scanning with those from traditional photoquadrat survey techniques across multiple sites with two levels of identification resolution and different degrees of certainty. Our findings show that dependent on a well-annotated library, underwater hyperspectral imaging can be used to quickly, repeatedly, and accurately monitor and map dynamic benthic communities on tropical reefs using broad benthic categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Mills
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU, USA.
- School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.
| | | | | | | | - Javier X Leon
- School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Tom Schils
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU, USA
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Li Q, Fu D, Zhou Y, Li Y, Chen L, Wang Z, Wan Y, Huang Z, Zhao H. Individual and combined effects of herbicide prometryn and nitrate enrichment at environmentally relevant concentrations on photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and endosymbiont community diversity of coral Acropora hyacinthus. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 339:139729. [PMID: 37543226 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139729] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen pollution and pesticides such as photosystem II (PSII) inhibitor herbicides have several detrimental impacts on coral reefs, including breakdown of the symbiosis between host corals and photosynthetic symbionts. Although nitrogen and PSII herbicide pollution separately cause coral bleaching, the combined effects of these stressors at environmentally relevant concentrations on corals have not been assessed. Here, we report the combined effects of nitrate enrichment and PSII herbicide (prometryn) exposure on photosynthesis, oxidative status and endosymbiont community diversity of the reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus. Coral fragments were exposed in a mesocosm system to nitrate enrichment (9 μmol/L) and two prometryn concentrations (1 and 5 μg/L). The results showed that sustained prometryn exposure in combination with nitrate enrichment stress had significant detrimental impacts on photosynthetic apparatus [the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) and oxidative status in the short term. Nevertheless, the adaptive mechanism of corals allowed the normal physiological state to be recovered following 1 μg/L prometryn and 9 μmol/L nitrate enrichment individual exposure. Moreover, exposure for 9 days was insufficient to trigger a shift in Symbiodiniaceae community. Most importantly, the negative impact of exposure to the combined environmental concentrations of 1 μg/L prometryn and 9 μmol/L nitrate enrichment was found to be significantly greater on the Fv/Fm, quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation [Y(NO)], NPQ, and oxidative status of corals compared to the impact of individual stressors. Our results show that interactions between prometryn stress and nitrate enrichment have a synergistic impact on the photosynthetic and oxidative stress responses of corals. This study provides valuable insights into combined effects of nitrate enrichment and PSII herbicides pollution for coral's physiology. Environmental concentrations of PSII herbicides may be more harmful to photosystems and antioxidant systems of corals under nitrate enrichment stress. Thus, future research and management of seawater quality stressors should consider combined impacts on corals rather than just the impacts of individual stressors alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou, 571127, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province & Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Dinghui Fu
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou, 571127, China
| | - Yanyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province & Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yuanchao Li
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou, 571126, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou, 571127, China
| | - Zhaofan Wang
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou, 571127, China
| | - Yinglang Wan
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Zanhui Huang
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou, 571127, China.
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province & Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
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Zhang J, Huang Z, Li Y, Fu D, Li Q, Pei L, Song Y, Chen L, Zhao H, Kao SJ. Synergistic/antagonistic effects of nitrate/ammonium enrichment on fatty acid biosynthesis and translocation in coral under heat stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162834. [PMID: 36924962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162834] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Superimposed on ocean warming, nitrogen enrichment caused by human activity puts corals under even greater pressure. Biosynthesis of fatty acids (FA) is crucial for coral holobiont survival. However, the responses of FA biosynthesis pathways to nitrogen enrichment under heat stress in coral hosts and Symbiodiniaceae remain unknown, as do FA translocation mechanisms in corals. Herein, we used the thermosensitive coral species Acropora hyacinthus to investigate changes in FA biosynthesis pathways and polyunsaturated FA translocation of coral hosts and Symbiodiniaceae with respect to nitrate and ammonium enrichment under heat stress. Heat stress promoted pro-inflammatory FA biosynthesis in coral hosts and inhibited FA biosynthesis in Symbiodiniaceae. Nitrate enrichment inhibited anti-inflammatory FA biosynthesis in Symbiodiniaceae, and promoted pro-inflammatory FA biosynthesis in coral hosts and translocation to Symbiodiniaceae, leading to bleaching after 14 days of culture. Intriguingly, ammonium enrichment promoted anti-inflammatory FA biosynthesis in Symbiodiniaceae and translocation to hosts, allowing corals to better endure heat stress. We constructed schematic diagrams of the shift in FA biosynthesis and translocation in and between A. hyacinthus and its Symbiodiniaceae under heat stress, heat and nitrate co-stress, and heat and ammonium co-stress. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms of coral bleaching under environmental stress from a fatty acid perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou 571127, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Zanhui Huang
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou 571127, China
| | - Yuanchao Li
- Hainan Academy of Marine and Fishery Sciences, Haikou 571126, China
| | - Dinghui Fu
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou 571127, China
| | - Qipei Li
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Lixin Pei
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou 571127, China
| | - Yanwei Song
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou 571127, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Haikou Marine Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Haikou 571127, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Shuh-Ji Kao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
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Zhang K, Wu Z, Liu Z, Tang J, Cai W, An M, Zhou Z. Acute hypoxia induces reduction of algal symbiont density and suppression of energy metabolism in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114897. [PMID: 37043929 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Loss of oxygen in the ocean is accelerating and threatening the coral reef ecosystem. In this study, the impacts of hypoxia on the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis were explored. The algal symbiont density, chlorophyll a + c2 content, energy consumption of corals, as well as energy available and consumption of their symbionts, decreased significantly post hypoxia stress. Meanwhile, the malondialdehyde contents in corals and symbionts, together with the caspase-3 activation level in corals, increased significantly in response to hypoxia stress. Furthermore, it was revealed that activities such as coral cell division and calcification were inhibited under hypoxia. These results collectively suggest that acute hypoxia stress reduces symbiont density and chlorophyll a + c2 content in the coral P. damicornis by elevating intracellular oxidative pressure and apoptotic level, which further suppresses energy metabolism in the symbiotic association and negatively affects a series of activities such as coral cell division and calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaidian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Zhongjie Wu
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou 571126, China
| | - Zhaoqun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Jia Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Wenqi Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, Haikou 571126, China
| | - Mingxun An
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Zhi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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10
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Zhao X, Liu L, Wang H, Fan M. Ecological Effects of Predator Harvesting and Environmental Noises on Oceanic Coral Reefs. Bull Math Biol 2023; 85:59. [PMID: 37243782 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-023-01166-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs provide refuge for prey and are important for the preservation of an oceanic ecosystem. However, they have been experiencing severe destruction by environmental changes and human activities. In this paper, we propose and analyze a tri-trophic food chain model consisting of coral, Crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS), and triton in deterministic and stochastic environments. We investigate the effects of harvesting in the deterministic system and environmental noises in the stochastic system, respectively. The existence of possible steady states along with their stability is rigorously discussed. From the economic perspective, we examine the existence of the bionomic equilibrium and establish the optimal harvesting policy. Subsequently, the deterministic system is extended to a stochastic system through nonlinear perturbation. The stochastic system admits a unique positive global solution initiating from the interior of the positive quadrant. The long-time behaviors of the stochastic system are explored. Numerical simulations are provided to validate and complement our theoretical results. We show that over-harvesting of triton is not beneficial to coral reefs and modest harvesting of CoTS may promote sustainable growth in coral reefs. In addition, the presence of strong noises can lead to population extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Center for Mathematical Biosciences, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Northeast Normal University, 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130024, Jilin, China
| | - Lidan Liu
- Center for Mathematical Biosciences, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Northeast Normal University, 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130024, Jilin, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G1, Canada
| | - Meng Fan
- Center for Mathematical Biosciences, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Northeast Normal University, 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130024, Jilin, China.
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11
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Xu L, Chen H, Han X, Yu K, Wang Y, Du B, Zeng L. First report on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in coral communities from the Northern South China sea: Occurrence, seasonal variation, and interspecies differences. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 314:120214. [PMID: 36150619 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120214] [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: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the contamination levels and seasonal variation of 22 PFASs were investigated in coastal reef-building corals (n = 68) from the northern South China Sea (SCS) during wet and dry seasons. Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) was the predominant PFASs in all coral samples, representing 43% of the total PFAS. Long-chain PFASs, as well as PFAS alternatives, were frequently detected above the MQL (>88%) but showed relatively low concentrations compared to short-chain PFASs in most species and seasons. Seasonal variation of PFAS concentrations were observed in branching corals, indicating that the accumulation of PFASs may be associated with coral morphological structures. Interspecies differences in PFAS levels agree well with different bioaccumulation potentials among coral species. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that seasonal factor and coral genus could partly influence PFAS concentrations in coral tissues. In summary, our study firstly reported the occurrence of PFASs in coral communities from the SCS and highlights the necessity for future investigations on more toxicity data for coral communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijia Xu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Xu Han
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yongzhi Wang
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Bibai Du
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lixi Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
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12
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Zhao Y, Law YS, Zhai X, Zhou K, Chen M, Qiu JW. Urban coral communities and water quality parameters along the coasts of Guangdong Province, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113821. [PMID: 35688066 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113821] [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: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Coral communities in China's Great Bay Area (GBA) have experienced severe degradation, but only limited information is available about their community structure. We surveyed 20 sites across three regions (Daya Bay, Dapeng Bay, Wanshan Islands) in GBA to provide an updated baseline of these urban coral communities. Live coral cover varied substantially, with the lowest values (<2 %) found inside the highly urbanized Daya Bay, and highest values (40-47 %) from offshore islands that are less affected by human activities. The two sites with the lowest live coral cover had a high percentage of dead coral. Five groups of coral communities could be identified, with most of them characterized by dominance of massive and encrusting coral species. Both coral cover and generic richness were negatively correlated with dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the water column, indicating that nutrient pollution could potentially constrain the development of these urban coral communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, PR China
| | - Yu Sheung Law
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, PR China; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; HKBU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Continuing Education (IRACE), Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Zhai
- Shenzhen Marine Monitoring and Forecasting Center, Shenzhen 518000, PR China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Shenzhen Marine Monitoring and Forecasting Center, Shenzhen 518000, PR China
| | - Mingru Chen
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Urban Sea Ecological Conservation and Restoration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, PR China.
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, PR China; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; HKBU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Continuing Education (IRACE), Shenzhen, PR China.
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13
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Contingency planning for coral reefs in the Anthropocene; The potential of reef safe havens. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:107-124. [PMID: 35225326 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the global reliance on fossil fuels is essential to ensure the long-term survival of coral reefs, but until this happens, alternative tools are required to safeguard their future. One emerging tool is to locate areas where corals are surviving well despite the changing climate. Such locations include refuges, refugia, hotspots of resilience, bright spots, contemporary near-pristine reefs, and hope spots that are collectively named reef 'safe havens' in this mini-review. Safe havens have intrinsic value for reefs through services such as environmental buffering, maintaining near-pristine reef conditions, or housing corals naturally adapted to future environmental conditions. Spatial and temporal variance in physicochemical conditions and exposure to stress however preclude certainty over the ubiquitous long-term capacity of reef safe havens to maintain protective service provision. To effectively integrate reef safe havens into proactive reef management and contingency planning for climate change scenarios, thus requires an understanding of their differences, potential values, and predispositions to stress. To this purpose, I provide a high-level review on the defining characteristics of different coral reef safe havens, how they are being utilised in proactive reef management and what risk and susceptibilities they inherently have. The mini-review concludes with an outline of the potential for reef safe haven habitats to support contingency planning of coral reefs under an uncertain future from intensifying climate change.
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14
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Zhang Y, Ip JCH, Xie JY, Yeung YH, Sun Y, Qiu JW. Host-symbiont transcriptomic changes during natural bleaching and recovery in the leaf coral Pavona decussata. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150656. [PMID: 34597574 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150656] [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: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral bleaching has become a major threat to coral reefs worldwide, but for most coral species little is known about their resilience to environmental changes. We aimed to understand the gene expressional regulation underlying natural bleaching and recovery in Pavona decussata, a dominant species of scleractinian coral in the northern South China Sea. Analyzing samples collected in 2017 from the field revealed distinct zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll a concentration and transcriptomic signatures corresponding to changes in health conditions of the coral holobiont. In the host, normal-looking tissues of partially bleached colonies were frontloaded with stress responsive genes, as indicated by upregulation of immune defense, response to endoplasmic reticulum, and oxidative stress genes. Bleaching was characterized by upregulation of apoptosis-related genes which could cause a reduction in algal symbionts, and downregulation of genes involved in stress responses and metabolic processes. The transcription factors stat5b and irf1 played key roles in bleaching by regulating immune and apoptosis pathways. Recovery from bleaching was characterized by enrichment of pathways involved in mitosis, DNA replication, and recombination for tissue repairing, as well as restoration of energy and metabolism. In the symbionts, bleaching corresponded to imbalance in photosystems I and II activities which enhanced oxidative stress and limited energy production and nutrient assimilation. Overall, our study revealed distinct gene expressional profiles and regulation in the different phases of the bleaching and recovery process, and provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the holobiont's resilience that may determine the species' fate in response to global and regional environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Zhang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jack Chi-Ho Ip
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - James Y Xie
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yip Hung Yeung
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yanan Sun
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
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15
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Hsiao WV, Lin YV, Lin HT, Denis V. Learning from differences: Abiotic determinism of benthic communities in Northern Taiwan. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 170:105361. [PMID: 34022419 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105361] [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: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Differences in the initial configuration of ecological communities may lead to contrasting trajectories when facing environmental changes. Here, we propose to uncover the determinism of benthic communities by carrying out a detailed investigation of their response to small-scale modification of environmental conditions, including physical, chemical, and geological factors. At ten locations (confounding site and depth) in Northern Taiwan, communities were delineated using a morpho-functional classification of the organisms. A k-means clustering was used to identify k homogenous groups among transects. Their environmental determinism was examined by combining this result with 16 environmental variables of transect conditions into a regression tree framework. Biotic and abiotic data were further analyzed with a Multivariate Regression Tree (MRT) to ascertain the hierarchical environmental determinism. The classifications produced by both approaches were compared using the Adjusted Rand index (ARI) to assess the predictive power of unsupervised clustering on its missing explanatory components (abiotic variables). k-means and MRT produced five clusters, respectively, with a similarity of 0.82 in ARI. Wave motion, followed by substrate types resolved most of the variance, while chemical factors in this study were uniform throughout the region. Comparable structures for both methods (clustering groups) demonstrated that the delineated clusters matched with contrasting environmental conditions which could be explained by the existence of various benthic communities. Further consideration of these different communities and their environmental context will be important in determining their trajectories under global changes and may help in the interpretation of community modifications with changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanchien Victoria Hsiao
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yuting Vicky Lin
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Ting Lin
- Institute of Oceanography, 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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16
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Yeung YH, Xie JY, Zhao Y, Yu HY, Chen C, Lu WW, Qiu JW. Rapid external erosion of coral substrate in subtropical Hong Kong waters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 169:112495. [PMID: 34052586 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112495] [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: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Erosion of coral substrate plays a crucial role in reef calcium carbonate budget, but little is known about erosion in subtropical corals. In a 2-year study of coral substrate erosion, we deployed Porites skeletal blocks at nine sites across subtropical Hong Kong waters. External erosion varied from 0.05 to 3.07 kg m-2 yr-1 and accounted for 23.4-99.2% of the total erosion. More than half of the study sites had substantial external erosion (> 1 kg m-2 yr-1), and the values were positively correlated with density of the sea urchin Diadema setosum. Excluding urchins from access to the skeletal blocks using cages reduced external erosion by more than 90%. Overall, our study revealed that external erosion caused by urchin grazing contributed predominantly to the total coral skeletal loss in Hong Kong waters. Control of sea urchin population is needed to reduce coral erosion in places with high urchin density. (149 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yip Hung Yeung
- Department of Biology and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Virtual University Park, Shenzhen, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China
| | - James Y Xie
- Department of Biology and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Biology and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Hiu Yan Yu
- Department of Biology and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chong Chen
- X-STAR, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - William Weijia Lu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Department of Biology and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Virtual University Park, Shenzhen, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China.
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17
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Kim T, Lee JCY, Kang DH, Duprey NN, Leung KS, Archana A, Baker DM. Modification of fatty acid profile and biosynthetic pathway in symbiotic corals under eutrophication. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 771:145336. [PMID: 33736184 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145336] [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: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic corals receive energy not only by ingesting food (e.g. plankton, inorganic/organic matter, i.e. heterotrophy), but also by endosymbiosis, which supplies photosynthates (dissolved inorganic carbon, i.e. autotrophy). These two sources of energy have distinct fatty acid (FA) profiles, which can be used to differentiate corals by their primary feeding mode. FA profiles have been applied as biomarkers to evaluate the quality of nutrition in the midst of environmental change. However, species-specific responses of coral FA profiles and biosynthetic pathway under cultural eutrophication are still unknown. We collected two coral species (Acropora samoensis, Platygyra carnosa) from sites with different levels of eutrophication to test for variations in FA profiles. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed to identify FA profiles and quantify their concentration. Our main findings are threefold: 1) chronic eutrophication inhibits corals' ability to synthesize essential FA; 2) PUFA:SFA ratio and certain FA biomarkers or their pathway can be successfully utilized to determine the relative degree of autotrophy and heterotrophy in corals; 3) under eutrophication, different FA profiles of coral host tissue are attributed to different feeding strategies. Thus, our research provides significant new insights into the roles of FA as a risk assessment tool in coral reef ecosystems under the pressure of eutrophication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taihun Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape d'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jetty C Y Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Do-Hyung Kang
- Jeju Marine Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, 2670 Iljudong-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Nicolas N Duprey
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute), Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kin Sum Leung
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Anand Archana
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape d'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - David M Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape d'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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