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Navon G, Nordland O, Kaplan A, Avisar D, Shenkar N. Detection of 10 commonly used pharmaceuticals in reef-building stony corals from shallow (5-12 m) and deep (30-40 m) sites in the Red Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 360:124698. [PMID: 39122171 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Although pharmaceutically-active compounds (PhACs) are increasingly being found to be present in marine environments, their presence in coral reefs, already under threat from various stressors, has remains unexplored. This study focused on PhAC presence in two stony-coral genera, collected from different depths and sites in the Red Sea. The findings reveal the presence of ten different PhACs, with elevated concentrations detected in corals from shallow sites and in areas with heavy human activity. Notably, all samples contained at least one PhAC, with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole being the most prevalent compound, detected in 93% of the samples, at concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 2080 ng/g dry weight (dw) tissue, with an average concentration of 106 ng/g dw. These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation initiatives aimed at protecting coral-reef ecosystems from the escalating threat of anthropogenic contamination, including such potential risks as the development of antibiotic resistance in marine organisms and the disruption of critical spawning synchrony among coral populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Navon
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Olivia Nordland
- The Water Research Center, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Aviv Kaplan
- The Water Research Center, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Dror Avisar
- The Water Research Center, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Noa Shenkar
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and National Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.
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2
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Vered G, Shenkar N. Plastic pollution in a coral reef climate refuge: Occurrence of anthropogenic debris, microplastics, and plasticizers in the Gulf of Aqaba. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167791. [PMID: 37838039 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
The Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea, considered a coral reef refuge from the negative effects of climate change, is however being subjected to increasing amounts of plastic contamination. We quantified the levels of benthic plastic debris, microplastics, and plasticizers within the coral reef's surrounding seawater and sediment over time. Our results indicate that the coral reefs of the GoA have relatively lower levels of plastic pollution compared to reefs in other regions. The measured benthic debris in the Red Sea reefs was found to be 0.093 ± 0.091 item/m2 and fell within the reported levels found in other tropical coral reefs, with boating and fishing materials being the most abundant type. Deep mesophotic reefs were found to have significantly higher levels of benthic plastic debris compared to the shallower reefs. Microplastic levels in the surrounding seawater of the reef were 0.516 ± 0.317 microplastics/m3. These concentrations in the reef's surrounding waters are comparable to the levels observed in surface waters from the central Red Sea. The target plasticizers appeared infrequently in samples, and the concentrations for the majority of them were below the level of quantification (LOQ = 14.7 ng/l for water and 14.7 ng/g for sediment). The findings from this study provide a valuable scientific basis for shaping regional policies and implementing management strategies aimed at controlling and mitigating plastic pollution. Such policies can ensure the long-term protection of the reefs in the northern Red Sea, turning them into a secure coral refuge shielded from both global and local anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Vered
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel
| | - Noa Shenkar
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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3
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Fieseler CM, Al-Mudaffar Fawzi N, Helmuth B, Leitão A, Al Ainsi M, Al Mukaimi M, Al-Saidi M, Al Senafi F, Bejarano I, Ben-Hamadou R, D'Addario J, Mujthaba Dheen Mohamed A, Giraldes BW, Glowka L, Johnson MD, Lyons BP, Mateos-Molina D, Marshall CD, Mohammed S, Range P, Reza Shokri M, Wong JMK, Pyenson ND. Expanding ocean protection and peace: a window for science diplomacy in the Gulf. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230392. [PMID: 37771965 PMCID: PMC10523068 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The ecological state of the Persian or Arabian Gulf (hereafter 'Gulf') is in sharp decline. Calls for comprehensive ecosystem-based management approaches and transboundary conservation have gone largely unanswered, despite mounting marine threats made worse by climate change. The region's long-standing political tensions add additional complexity, especially now as some Gulf countries will soon adopt ambitious goals to protect their marine environments as part of new global environmental commitments. The recent interest in global commitments comes at a time when diplomatic relations among all Gulf countries are improving. There is a window of opportunity for Gulf countries to meet global marine biodiversity conservation commitments, but only if scientists engage in peer-to-peer diplomacy to build trust, share knowledge and strategize marine conservation options across boundaries. The Gulf region needs more ocean diplomacy and coordination; just as critically, it needs actors at its science-policy interface to find better ways of adapting cooperative models to fit its unique marine environment, political context and culture. We propose a practical agenda for scientist-led diplomacy in the short term and lines of research from which to draw (e.g. co-production, knowledge exchange) to better design future science diplomacy practices and processes suited to the Gulf's setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M. Fieseler
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Brian Helmuth
- Coastal Sustainability Institute and School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Mehsin Al Ainsi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Al Mukaimi
- Marine Science Department, College of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Mohammad Al-Saidi
- Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fahad Al Senafi
- Marine Science Department, College of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Ivonne Bejarano
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Radhouan Ben-Hamadou
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Ahmad Mujthaba Dheen Mohamed
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Lyle Glowka
- Biodiversity Strategies International, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Maggie D. Johnson
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Christopher D. Marshall
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Pedro Range
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Reza Shokri
- Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Tehran, Iran
| | - John M. K. Wong
- Aquatic Research Center, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nicholas D. Pyenson
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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4
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Eladawy A, Nakamura T, Yoshikai M. Multiscale hydrodynamics modeling reveals the temperature moderating role of the Northern Red Sea Islands. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115241. [PMID: 37480801 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
A growing interest in the hydrodynamics of the Red Sea has been observed since the beginning of the 21st century. However, the interaction between the Gulf of Suez (GOS) and the Red Sea along with possible natural mitigation mechanisms of heat stress on its southern coral reef zones have not been adequately investigated. This study evaluated different Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) simulations of the Red Sea using a nesting approach in the southern parts of the GOS to elucidate the three-dimensional nature of thermal variability. The developed regional ROMS model simulated the general circulation patterns and sea surface temperature on the TSUBAME 3.0 supercomputer operated by the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Ultimately, remotely sensed satellite data of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) spanning the period 2016-2020 were used to validate the regional model results. A further challenge posed by the scarcity of distributed depth-varying temperature data on the northern islands' region was overcome by using an offline nesting approach (i.e., incorporating boundary conditions from the parent domain) to simulate the local 3-D thermal regimes. Intriguingly, the results of the nested model scenarios confirmed unique northern islands-enhanced thermal moderating mechanisms where islands act as barriers to the impacts of the relatively warmer water originating from the eastern boundary current. Additionally, this study introduces a new approach to applying higher-resolution models to the precise spatial and temporal representation of thermal indices in a way that surpasses the widely adopted remote sensing approaches. In short, multiscale modeling provides a valuable approach for assessing the thermal regimes around one of the most precious marine ecosystems in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Eladawy
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1 W8-13, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1 W8-13, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
| | - Masaya Yoshikai
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1 W8-13, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan; Coastal Marine Group School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105 Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.
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5
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Kottuparambil S, Ashok A, Barozzi A, Michoud G, Cai C, Daffonchio D, Duarte CM, Agusti S. Tracking the early signals of crude oil in seawater and plankton after a major oil spill in the Red Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:69150-69164. [PMID: 37133655 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27111-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the immediate impacts of oil spills is essential to recognizing their long-term consequences on the marine environment. In this study, we traced the early (within one week) signals of crude oil in seawater and plankton after a major oil spill in October 2019 in the Red Sea. At the time of sampling, the plume had moved eastward, but we detected significant signs of incorporation of oil carbon into the dissolved organic carbon pool, resulting in a 10-20% increase in the ultraviolet (UV) absorption coefficient (a254) of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), elevated oil fluorescence emissions, and depletion of the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of the seawater. The abundance of the picophytoplankton Synechococcus was not affected, but the proportion of low nucleic acid (LNA) bacteria was significantly higher. Moreover, specific bacterial genera (Alcanivorax, Salinisphaera, and Oleibacter) were enriched in the seawater microbiome. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) suggested that such bacteria presented pathways for growing on oil hydrocarbons. Traces of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also detected in zooplankton tissues, revealing the rapid entry of oil pollutants into the pelagic food web. Our study emphasizes the early signs of short-lived spills as an important aspect of the prediction of long-term impacts of marine oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreejith Kottuparambil
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ananya Ashok
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alan Barozzi
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Grégoire Michoud
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chunzhi Cai
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Agusti
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Shlesinger T, van Woesik R. Oceanic differences in coral-bleaching responses to marine heatwaves. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:162113. [PMID: 36773903 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anomalously high ocean temperatures have increased in frequency, intensity, and duration over the last several decades because of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and marine heatwaves. Reef-building corals are sensitive to such temperature anomalies that commonly lead to coral bleaching, mortality, and changes in community structure. Yet, despite these overarching effects, there are geographical differences in thermal regimes, evolutionary histories, and past disturbances that may lead to different bleaching responses of corals within and among oceans. Here we examined the overall bleaching responses of corals in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, using both a spatially explicit Bayesian mixed-effects model and a deep-learning neural-network model. We used a 40-year global dataset encompassing 23,288 coral-reef surveys at 11,058 sites in 88 countries, from 1980 to 2020. Focusing on ocean-wide differences we assessed the relationships between the percentage of bleached corals and different temperature-related metrics alongside a suite of environmental variables. We found that while high sea-surface temperatures were consistently, and strongly, related to coral bleaching within all oceans, there were clear geographical differences in the relationships between coral bleaching and most environmental variables. For instance, there was an increase in coral bleaching with depth in the Atlantic Ocean whereas the opposite was observed in the Indian Ocean, and no clear trend could be seen in the Pacific Ocean. The standard deviation of thermal-stress anomalies was negatively related to coral bleaching in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but not in the Indian Ocean. Globally, coral bleaching has progressively occurred at higher temperatures over the last four decades within the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, although, again, there were differences among the three oceans. Together, such patterns highlight that historical circumstances and geographical differences in oceanographic conditions play a central role in contemporary coral-bleaching responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Shlesinger
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne 32901, FL, USA
| | - Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne 32901, FL, USA.
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7
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Thirukanthan CS, Azra MN, Lananan F, Sara’ G, Grinfelde I, Rudovica V, Vincevica-Gaile Z, Burlakovs J. The Evolution of Coral Reef under Changing Climate: A Scientometric Review. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13050949. [PMID: 36899805 PMCID: PMC10000160 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In this scientometric review, we employ the Web of Science Core Collection to assess current publications and research trends regarding coral reefs in relation to climate change. Thirty-seven keywords for climate change and seven keywords for coral reefs were used in the analysis of 7743 articles on coral reefs and climate change. The field entered an accelerated uptrend phase in 2016, and it is anticipated that this phase will last for the next 5 to 10 years of research publication and citation. The United States and Australia have produced the greatest number of publications in this field. A cluster (i.e., focused issue) analysis showed that coral bleaching dominated the literature from 2000 to 2010, ocean acidification from 2010 to 2020, and sea-level rise, as well as the central Red Sea (Africa/Asia), in 2021. Three different types of keywords appear in the analysis based on which are the (i) most recent (2021), (ii) most influential (highly cited), and (iii) mostly used (frequently used keywords in the article) in the field. The Great Barrier Reef, which is found in the waters of Australia, is thought to be the subject of current coral reef and climate change research. Interestingly, climate-induced temperature changes in "ocean warming" and "sea surface temperature" are the most recent significant and dominant keywords in the coral reef and climate change area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Segaran Thirukanthan
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology (IMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Nerus 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Nor Azra
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology (IMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Nerus 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia
- Research Center for Marine and Land Bioindustry, Earth Sciences and Maritime Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Pemenang 83352, Indonesia
- Correspondence: (M.N.A.); (J.B.); Tel.: +609-6683785 (M.N.A.)
| | - Fathurrahman Lananan
- East Coast Environmental Research Institute, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Gong Badak Campus, Kuala Nerus 21300, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Gianluca Sara’
- Laboratory of Ecology, Earth and Marine Sciences Department, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Inga Grinfelde
- Laboratory of Forest and Water Resources, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
| | - Vite Rudovica
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Juris Burlakovs
- Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-261 Krakow, Poland
- Correspondence: (M.N.A.); (J.B.); Tel.: +609-6683785 (M.N.A.)
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8
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Sing Wong A, Vrontos S, Taylor ML. An assessment of people living by coral reefs over space and time. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:7139-7153. [PMID: 36168958 PMCID: PMC9827914 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human populations near ecosystems are used as both a proxy for dependency on ecosystems, and conversely to estimate threats. Consequently, the number of people living near coral reefs is often used in regional coral reef management, evaluation of risk at regional and global scales, and even considerations of funding needs. Human populations and their statistics, are ever-changing and data relating to coral reefs have not been updated regularly. Here, we present an up-to-date analysis of the abundance, and density of people living within 5-100 km of coral reef ecosystems along with population proportion, using freely available data sets and replicable methods. We present trends of changes in human populations living near coral reefs over a 20-year time period (2000-2020), divided by region and country, along with socio-economic denominations such as country income category and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We find that across 117 coral reef countries there are currently close to a billion people living within 100 km of a coral reef (~13% of the global population) compared with 762 million people in 2000. Population growth by coral reefs is higher than global averages. The Indian Ocean saw a 33% increase in populations within 100 km of a coral reef and 71% at 5 km. There are 60 countries with 100% of their population within 100 km of coral reefs. In SIDS, the proportion of the total population within 100 km of a coral reef is extremely high: 94% in 2020. Population density 5-10 km from coral reefs is 4× the global average. From 5 to 100 km, more people from lower-middle-income countries live by coral reefs than any other income category. Our findings provide the most up-to-date and extensive statistics on the regional and nation-level differences in population trends that play a large role in coral reef health and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Sing Wong
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterUK
| | - Spyridon Vrontos
- Department of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterUK
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9
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van Woesik R, Shlesinger T, Grottoli AG, Toonen RJ, Vega Thurber R, Warner ME, Marie Hulver A, Chapron L, McLachlan RH, Albright R, Crandall E, DeCarlo TM, Donovan MK, Eirin‐Lopez J, Harrison HB, Heron SF, Huang D, Humanes A, Krueger T, Madin JS, Manzello D, McManus LC, Matz M, Muller EM, Rodriguez‐Lanetty M, Vega‐Rodriguez M, Voolstra CR, Zaneveld J. Coral-bleaching responses to climate change across biological scales. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4229-4250. [PMID: 35475552 PMCID: PMC9545801 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The global impacts of climate change are evident in every marine ecosystem. On coral reefs, mass coral bleaching and mortality have emerged as ubiquitous responses to ocean warming, yet one of the greatest challenges of this epiphenomenon is linking information across scientific disciplines and spatial and temporal scales. Here we review some of the seminal and recent coral-bleaching discoveries from an ecological, physiological, and molecular perspective. We also evaluate which data and processes can improve predictive models and provide a conceptual framework that integrates measurements across biological scales. Taking an integrative approach across biological and spatial scales, using for example hierarchical models to estimate major coral-reef processes, will not only rapidly advance coral-reef science but will also provide necessary information to guide decision-making and conservation efforts. To conserve reefs, we encourage implementing mesoscale sanctuaries (thousands of km2 ) that transcend national boundaries. Such networks of protected reefs will provide reef connectivity, through larval dispersal that transverse thermal environments, and genotypic repositories that may become essential units of selection for environmentally diverse locations. Together, multinational networks may be the best chance corals have to persist through climate change, while humanity struggles to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global EcologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFloridaUSA
| | - Tom Shlesinger
- Institute for Global EcologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFloridaUSA
| | | | - Rob J. Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, KāneʻoheUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | | | - Mark E. Warner
- School of Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of DelawareLewesDelawareUSA
| | - Ann Marie Hulver
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Leila Chapron
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Rowan H. McLachlan
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of MicrobiologyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | | | - Eric Crandall
- Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Mary K. Donovan
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and School of Geographical Sciences and Urban PlanningArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Jose Eirin‐Lopez
- Institute of EnvironmentFlorida International UniversityMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Hugo B. Harrison
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Scott F. Heron
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Physics and Marine Geophysical LaboratoryJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingapore
| | - Adriana Humanes
- School of Natural and Environmental SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Thomas Krueger
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, KāneʻoheUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | - Derek Manzello
- Center for Satellite Applications and ResearchSatellite Oceanography & Climate DivisionNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - Lisa C. McManus
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, KāneʻoheUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | - Mikhail Matz
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jesse Zaneveld
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of WashingtonBothellWashingtonUSA
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10
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Al-Karablieh N, Al-Horani FA, Alnaimat S, Abu Zarga M. Prevalence of Vibrio coralliilyticus in stony coral Porites sp. in the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan. Lett Appl Microbiol 2022; 75:460-469. [PMID: 35639047 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the health of stony coral Porites sp. based on the presence of bacterial pathogens, specifically Vibrio coralliilyticus, in the Gulf of Aqaba, and to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on Porites sp. Porites sp. specimens were collected from the Marine Science Station (MSS) and a public beach (Yamanyeh) in Jordan. Mucus, water, and sediment samples were collected throughout the year. The Vibrio-like population was higher in diseased samples than in healthy samples and was slightly higher in Yamanyeh than in MSS in all samples. In samples from both sites, there was a seasonal variation in the Vibrio-like population, with a decline in population as the temperature reduced. All samples contained virulent isolates clustered with V. coralliilyticus strains. Inoculation of healthy Porites sp. fragments with virulent isolates and V. coralliilyticus strain caused bleaching of the coral after 48 h. Therefore, V. coralliilyticus represents a pathogenic agent which may contribute to bleaching in Porites sp. in the Gulf of Aqaba and may not be affected considerably by anthropogenic activities. This is the first report of a bacterial pathogen of corals in Jordan; future studies should identify other coral pathogens in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehaya Al-Karablieh
- Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.,Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Fuad A Al-Horani
- School of Marine Sciences, The University of Jordan, Aqaba, Jordan.,Marine Science Station, Aqaba, Jordan
| | | | - Musa Abu Zarga
- Chemistry Department, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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11
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Rosenberg Y, Simon‐Blecher N, Lalzar M, Yam R, Shemesh A, Alon S, Perna G, Cárdenas A, Voolstra CR, Miller DJ, Levy O. Urbanization comprehensively impairs biological rhythms in coral holobionts. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:3349-3364. [PMID: 35218086 PMCID: PMC9311646 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are in global decline due to climate change and anthropogenic influences (Hughes et al., Conservation Biology, 27: 261-269, 2013). Near coastal cities or other densely populated areas, coral reefs face a range of additional challenges. While considerable progress has been made in understanding coral responses to acute individual stressors (Dominoni et al., Nature Ecology & Evolution, 4: 502-511, 2020), the impacts of chronic exposure to varying combinations of sensory pollutants are largely unknown. To investigate the impacts of urban proximity on corals, we conducted a year-long in-natura study-incorporating sampling at diel, monthly, and seasonal time points-in which we compared corals from an urban area to corals from a proximal non-urban area. Here we reveal that despite appearing relatively healthy, natural biorhythms and environmental sensory systems were extensively disturbed in corals from the urban environment. Transcriptomic data indicated poor symbiont performance, disturbance to gametogenic cycles, and loss or shifted seasonality of vital biological processes. Altered seasonality patterns were also observed in the microbiomes of the urban coral population, signifying the impact of urbanization on the holobiont, rather than the coral host alone. These results should raise alarm regarding the largely unknown long-term impacts of sensory pollution on the resilience and survival of coral reefs close to coastal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaeli Rosenberg
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | - Noa Simon‐Blecher
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | - Maya Lalzar
- Bioinformatics Service UnitUniversity of HaifaHaifaIsrael
| | - Ruth Yam
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Aldo Shemesh
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Shahar Alon
- Faculty of EngineeringBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | | | - David J. Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Pharmacy and Molecular SciencesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Oren Levy
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
- The H. Steinitz Marine Biology LaboratoryThe Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of EilatEilatIsrael
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12
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Microplastics: impacts on corals and other reef organisms. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:81-93. [PMID: 35137913 PMCID: PMC9023018 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in a growing problem globally. In addition to the continuous flow of plastic particles to the environment from direct sources, and through the natural wear and tear of items, the plastics that are already there have the potential to breakdown further and therefore provide an immense source of plastic particles. With the continued rise in levels of plastic production, and consequently increasing levels entering our marine environments it is imperative that we understand its impacts. There is evidence microplastic and nanoplastic (MNP) pose a serious threat to all the world's marine ecosystems and biota, across all taxa and trophic levels, having individual- to ecosystem-level impacts, although these impacts are not fully understood. Microplastics (MPs; 0.1–5 mm) have been consistently found associated with the biota, water and sediments of all coral reefs studied, but due to limitations in the current techniques, a knowledge gap exists for the level of nanoplastic (NP; <1 µm). This is of particular concern as it is this size fraction that is thought to pose the greatest risk due to their ability to translocate into different organs and across cell membranes. Furthermore, few studies have examined the interactions of MNP exposure and other anthropogenic stressors such as ocean acidification and rising temperature. To support the decision-making required to protect these ecosystems, an advancement in standardised methods for the assessment of both MP and NPs is essential. This knowledge, and that of predicted levels can then be used to determine potential impacts more accurately.
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13
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Preserving Community’s Environmental Interests in a Meta-Ocean Governance Framework towards Sustainable Development Goal 14: A Mechanism of Promoting Coordination between Institutions Responsible for Curbing Marine Pollution. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13179983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The United Nations has recently recognised the global community’s environmental interests in ocean governance through the Sustainable Development Goal 14. The marine environmental protection targets stand in need of rejuvenating international environmental law, which fosters interconnection between oceans, climate, and terrestrial ecosystems. The existing literature on this aspect of ocean governance, however, is segregated and lacks an ecosystem-based approach. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the literature on ocean governance with an ecosystem-based approach becomes essential and is conducted through this research. This research has proposed that ocean governance programmes and plans need to be re-arranged under established legal frameworks at national and regional levels. Such a challenge can be addressed by taking the elements of governance provided by the list of targets of sustainable development goals. This research has facilitated the given hypothesis via a meta-ocean-governance framework that incorporates a deliberate regional monitoring system, intergovernmental review, capacity building techniques, national action through strong institutions, scientific decision making, and policy coherence. The idea is to fit the conceptualisation of ocean governance under international environmental law in the existing initiatives within a box of institutions to coordinate and encourage an ecosystem-based approach.
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14
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Gajdzik L, DeCarlo TM, Aylagas E, Coker DJ, Green AL, Majoris JE, Saderne VF, Carvalho S, Berumen ML. A portfolio of climate-tailored approaches to advance the design of marine protected areas in the Red Sea. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:3956-3968. [PMID: 34021662 PMCID: PMC8453993 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Intensified coastal development is compromising the health and functioning of marine ecosystems. A key example of this is the Red Sea, a biodiversity hotspot subjected to increasing local human pressures. While some marine-protected areas (MPAs) were placed to alleviate these stressors, it is unclear whether these MPAs are managed or enforced, thus providing limited protection. Yet, most importantly, MPAs in the Red Sea were not designed using climate considerations, likely diminishing their effectiveness against global stressors. Here, we propose to tailor the design of MPAs in the Red Sea by integrating approaches to enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation. First, including coral bleaching susceptibility could produce a more resilient network of MPAs by safeguarding reefs from different thermal regions that vary in spatiotemporal bleaching responses, reducing the risk that all protected reefs will bleach simultaneously. Second, preserving the basin-wide genetic connectivity patterns that are assisted by mesoscale eddies could further ensure recovery of sensitive populations and maintain species potential to adapt to environmental changes. Finally, protecting mangrove forests in the northern and southern Red Sea that act as major carbon sinks could help offset greenhouse gas emissions. If implemented with multinational cooperation and concerted effort among stakeholders, our portfolio of climate-tailored approaches may help build a network of MPAs in the Red Sea that protects more effectively its coastal resources against escalating coastal development and climate instability. Beyond the Red Sea, we anticipate this study to serve as an example of how to improve the utility of tropical MPAs as climate-informed conservation tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gajdzik
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Present address:
Division of Aquatic ResourcesDepartment of Land and Natural ResourcesState of HawaiʻiHonoluluHI96813USA
| | - Thomas M. DeCarlo
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Present address:
College of Natural and Computational SciencesHawaiʻi Pacific UniversityHonoluluHI96813USA
| | - Eva Aylagas
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Darren J. Coker
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Alison L. Green
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - John E. Majoris
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Vincent F. Saderne
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Michael L. Berumen
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
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15
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Shlesinger T, van Woesik R. Different population trajectories of two reef-building corals with similar life-history traits. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1379-1389. [PMID: 33666226 PMCID: PMC8252767 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Increases in the frequency and intensity of acute and chronic disturbances are causing declines of coral reefs world‐wide. Although quantifying the responses of corals to acute disturbances is well documented, detecting subtle responses of coral populations to chronic disturbances is less common, but can also result in altered population and community structures. We investigated the population dynamics of two key reef‐building Merulinid coral species, Dipsastraea favus and Platygyra lamellina, with similar life‐history traits, in the Gulf of Eilat and Aqaba, Red Sea from 2015 to 2018, to assess potential differences in their population trajectories. Demographic processes, which included rates of survival, growth, reproduction and recruitment were used to parametrize integral projection models and estimate population growth rates and the likely population trajectories of both coral species. The survival and reproduction rates of both D. favus and P. lamellina were positively related to coral colony size, and elasticity analyses showed that large colonies most influenced population dynamics. Although both species have similar life‐history traits and growth morphologies and are generally regarded as ‘stress‐tolerant’, the populations showed contrasting trajectories—D. favus appears to be increasing whereas P. lamellina appears to be decreasing. As many corals have long‐life expectancies, the process of local and regional decline might be subtle and slow. Ecological assessments based on total living coral coverage, morphological groups or functional traits might overlook subtle, species‐specific trends. However, demographic approaches capable of detecting subtle species‐specific population changes can augment ecological studies and provide valuable early warning signs of decline before major coral loss becomes evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Shlesinger
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
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16
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Banc-Prandi G, Cerutti JMB, Fine M. Recovery assessment of the branching coral Stylophora pistillata following copper contamination and depuration. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 162:111830. [PMID: 33234258 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Most contemporary coral reefs live under both global (e.g. warming and acidification) and local (e.g. overfishing, pollution) stressors, which may synergistically undermine their resilience to thermal bleaching and diseases. While heavy metal toxicity in reefs has been well characterized, information on corals recovery from acute contamination is lacking. We studied for 42 days the ability of the coral Stylophora pistillata from the Gulf of Aqaba (northern Red Sea) to recover from a short (3 days) and prolonged (14 days) copper (Cu) contamination (1 μg L-1), after 11 ('Exp3/D11') and 28 ('Exp14/D28') days of depuration, respectively. Cu caused a decrease in chlorophyll content after 3 days, and in net photosynthesis (Pn) after 14 and 42 days. 'Exp14/D28' showed successful recovery based on Pn and relative electron transport rate, as opposed to 'Exp3/D11'. Results suggest the depuration time may be of greater importance than the exposure period to recover from such contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilhem Banc-Prandi
- The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 88103, Israel.
| | - Julia M B Cerutti
- The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 88103, Israel
| | - Maoz Fine
- The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 88103, Israel
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17
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DeCarlo TM. The past century of coral bleaching in the Saudi Arabian central Red Sea. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10200. [PMID: 33150088 PMCID: PMC7587059 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate knowledge of the spatial and temporal patterns of coral bleaching is essential both for understanding how coral reef ecosystems are changing today and forecasting their future states. Yet, in many regions of the world, the history of bleaching is poorly known, especially prior to the late 20th century. Here, I use the information preserved within skeleton cores of long-lived Porites corals to reconstruct the past century of bleaching events in the Saudi Arabian central Red Sea. In these cores, skeletal "stress bands"-indicative of past bleaching-captured known bleaching events that occurred in 1998 and 2010, but also revealed evidence of previously unknown bleaching events in 1931, 1978, and 1982. However, these earlier events affected a significantly lesser proportion of corals than 1998 and 2010. Therefore, coral bleaching may have occurred in the central Red Sea earlier than previously recognized, but the frequency and severity of bleaching events since 1998 on nearshore reefs is unprecedented over the past century. Conversely, corals living on mid- to outer-shelf reefs have not been equally susceptible to bleaching as their nearshore counterparts, which was evident in that stress bands were five times more prevalent nearshore. Whether this pattern of susceptible nearshore reefs and resistant outer-shelf reefs continues in the future remains a key question in forecasting coral reef futures in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M DeCarlo
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.,College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
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18
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The World Coral Conservatory (WCC): A Noah's ark for corals to support survival of reef ecosystems. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000823. [PMID: 32925901 PMCID: PMC7529426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Global change causes widespread decline of coral reefs. In order to counter the anticipated disappearance of coral reefs by the end of this century, many initiatives are emerging, including creation of marine protected areas (MPAs), reef restoration projects, and assisted evolution initiatives. Such efforts, although critically important, are locally constrained. We propose to build a “Noah's Ark” biological repository for corals that taps into the network of the world’s public aquaria and coral reef scientists. Public aquaria will serve not only as a reservoir for the purpose of conservation, restoration, and research of reef-building corals but also as a laboratory for the implementation of operations for the selection of stress-resilient and resistant genotypes. The proposed project will provide a global dimension to coral reef education and protection as a result of the involvement of a network of public and private aquaria. Global change is causing a widespread decline in coral reefs. This Community Page article proposes to build the World Coral Conservatory, a “Noah's Ark” biological repository that taps into the network of the world’s public aquaria and coral reef scientists, in order to preserve the fast-disappearing biodiversity of coral reefs.
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