1
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Foo SA, Millican HR, Byrne M. Crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster spp.) feeding ecology across species and regions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172691. [PMID: 38663591 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172691] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The coral predators, crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster spp.) remain a major cause of extensive and widespread coral loss in Indo-Pacific coral reefs. With increased phylogenetic understanding of these seastars, at least five species appear to be present across different regions. We compare the feeding ecology of these species. Where acroporid corals are prevalent, Acanthaster spp. often exhibit a preference for these corals, with Porites being least preferred, as seen in most species including Acanthaster planci in the northern Indian Ocean and Acanthaster cf. solaris in the west Pacific. In the eastern Pacific, where Acropora is largely absent, Acanthaster cf. ellisii prey on a range of coral species, including Porites. Coral predation by COTS is influenced by several factors including food availability, coral nutritional value, protective crustaceans and coral defenses, with differences in feeding ecology and behaviour emerging across the different COTS species. Feeding behaviour of COTS can act to increase coral species richness by reducing the dominance of fast-growing species. In outbreaking populations, COTS impacts reef systems by reducing live coral cover, eroding reef complexity and causing shifts in reef trophic structure. Where data are available, we synthesise and contrast the feeding preferences and foraging behaviour of Acanthaster species, and their impact on coral assemblages across the different species and regions. For areas where focal predation on Acropora occurs, also the fastest growing coral with the greatest recovery potential following mass mortality events, the combination of climate change and COTS outbreaks presents an imminent threat to coral reefs. This is exacerbated by the dietary flexibility of Acanthaster species. The impacts of heatwaves, COTS and other stressors are creating a negative feedback loop accelerating coral reef decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna A Foo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Hayden R Millican
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Maria Byrne
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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2
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Dobbelaere T, Dekens A, Saint-Amand A, Alaerts L, Holstein DM, Hanert E. Hurricanes enhance coral connectivity but also superspread coral diseases. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17382. [PMID: 38923652 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17382] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Climate change poses an existential threat to coral reefs. A warmer and more acidic ocean weakens coral ecosystems and increases the intensity of hurricanes. The wind-wave-current interactions during a hurricane deeply change the ocean circulation patterns and hence potentially affect the dispersal of coral larvae and coral disease agents. Here, we modeled the impact of major hurricane Irma (September 2017) on coral larval and stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) connectivity in Florida's Coral Reef. We coupled high-resolution coastal ocean circulation and wave models to simulate the dispersal of virtual coral larvae and disease agents between thousands of reefs. While being a brief event, our results suggest the passage of hurricane Irma strongly increased the probability of long-distance exchanges while reducing larval supply. It created new connections that could promote coral resilience but also probably accelerated the spread of SCTLD by about a month. As they become more intense, hurricanes' double-edged effect will become increasingly pronounced, contributing to increased variability in transport patterns and an accelerated rate of change within coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dobbelaere
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | | | - Lauranne Alaerts
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Daniel M Holstein
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, College of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Emmanuel Hanert
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering (IMMC), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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3
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Webb M, Clements M, Selvakumaraswamy P, McLaren E, Byrne M. Chemosensory behaviour of juvenile crown-of-thorns sea star ( Acanthaster sp.), attraction to algal and coral food and avoidance of adult conspecifics. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240623. [PMID: 38807518 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0623] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific and habitat-mediated responses to chemical cues play key roles in structuring populations of marine species. We investigated the behaviour of herbivorous-stage juvenile crown-of-thorns sea stars (COTS; Acanthaster sp.) in flow-through choice chambers to determine if chemical cues from their habitat influence movement and their transition to become coral predators. Juveniles at the diet transition stage were exposed to cues from their nursery habitat (coral rubble-crustose coralline algae (CCA)), live coral and adult COTS to determine if waterborne cues influence movement. In response to CCA and coral as sole cues, juveniles moved towards the cue source and when these cues were presented in combination, they exhibited a preference for coral. Juveniles moved away from adult COTS cues. Exposure to food cues (coral, CCA) in the presence of adult cues resulted in variable responses. Our results suggest a feedback mechanism whereby juvenile behaviour is mediated by adult chemical cues. Cues from the adult population may deter juveniles from the switch to corallivory. As outbreaks wane, juveniles released from competition may serve as a proximate source of outbreaks, supporting the juveniles-in-waiting hypothesis. The accumulation of juveniles within the reef infrastructure is an underappreciated potential source of COTS outbreaks that devastate coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Webb
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M Clements
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - P Selvakumaraswamy
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - E McLaren
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M Byrne
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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Popovic I, Bergeron LA, Bozec YM, Waldvogel AM, Howitt SM, Damjanovic K, Patel F, Cabrera MG, Wörheide G, Uthicke S, Riginos C. High germline mutation rates, but not extreme population outbreaks, influence genetic diversity in a keystone coral predator. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011129. [PMID: 38346089 PMCID: PMC10861045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewontin's paradox, the observation that levels of genetic diversity (π) do not scale linearly with census population size (Nc) variation, is an evolutionary conundrum. The most extreme mismatches between π and Nc are found for highly abundant marine invertebrates. Yet, the influences of new mutations on π relative to extrinsic processes such as Nc fluctuations are unknown. Here, we provide the first germline mutation rate (μ) estimate for a marine invertebrate in corallivorous crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster cf. solaris). We use high-coverage whole-genome sequencing of 14 parent-offspring trios alongside empirical estimates of Nc in Australia's Great Barrier Reef to jointly examine the determinants of π in populations undergoing extreme Nc fluctuations. The A. cf. solaris mean μ was 9.13 x 10-09 mutations per-site per-generation (95% CI: 6.51 x 10-09 to 1.18 x 10-08), exceeding estimates for other invertebrates and showing greater concordance with vertebrate mutation rates. Lower-than-expected Ne (~70,000-180,000) and low Ne/Nc values (0.0047-0.048) indicated weak influences of population outbreaks on long-term π. Our findings are consistent with elevated μ evolving in response to reduced Ne and generation time length, with important implications for explaining high mutational loads and the determinants of genetic diversity in marine invertebrate taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Popovic
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lucie A. Bergeron
- Villum Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yves-Marie Bozec
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Samantha M. Howitt
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Frances Patel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Gert Wörheide
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns (SNSB)–Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
| | - Sven Uthicke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Cynthia Riginos
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Soltani S, Ghatrami ER, Nabavi SMB, Khorasani N, Naderi M. The correlation between echinoderms diversity and physicochemical parameters in marine pollution: A case study of the Persian Gulf coastline. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115989. [PMID: 38171165 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115989] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the correlation between echinoderms diversity and physicochemical parameters in the Persian Gulf coastline in Bushehr province in 4 seasons from March to December 2017. The physicochemical parameters including water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, pH and turbidity were measured at each sampling location. The results showed a significant correlation between echinoderms diversity and physicochemical parameters. The correlation coefficient of the Astropecten polyacanthus species with the parameters of temperature, DO, EC, salinity and turbidity was reported as -0.41, 0.64, -0.25, -0.44 and 0.60 respectively. This coefficient for the Ophiothrix fragilis species was reported as -0.68, 0.70, -0.21, -0.36 and -0.55 respectively. The results demonstrated that the most sensitive species were Astropecten polyacanthus and Ophiothrix fragilis respectively. The different species of echinoderms can be used as biological indicators of pollution in evaluating the physicochemical quality of marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Soltani
- Department of Environmental Science and Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Rajabzadeh Ghatrami
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramashahr, Iran.
| | - Seyed Mohammad Bagher Nabavi
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran
| | - Nematollah Khorasani
- Department of Environmental Science and Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maziar Naderi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Downie AT, Cramp RL, Franklin CE. The interactive impacts of a constant reef stressor, ultraviolet radiation, with environmental stressors on coral physiology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168066. [PMID: 37890630 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168066] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals create one of the most biodiverse and economically important ecosystems on the planet. Unfortunately, global coral reef ecosystems experience threats from numerous natural stressors, which are amplified by human activities. One such threat is ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun; a genotoxic stressor that is a double-edged sword for corals as they rely on sunlight for energy. More intense UVR has been shown to have greater direct impacts on animal physiology, and these may be exacerbated by co-occurring stressors. The aim of this systematic literature review was to examine if the same applies to corals; that is, if the co-exposure of a constant stressor (UVR) with other stressors has a greater impact on coral physiology than if these stressors occurred separately. We reviewed the biochemical and cellular processes impacted by UVR and the defenses corals have against UVR. The main stressors investigated with UVR were temperature, nitrate, nutrient, oil, water motion, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). UVR generally worsened the physiological impacts of other stressors (e.g., by decreasing zooxanthellae and chlorophyll densities). There were species-specific differences in their tolerance to UVR (differences in zooxanthellae populations, sunscreen production and depth) and environmental stress (e.g., resilience to some oils), and that ambient levels of UVR were often beneficial (i.e., nullifying impacts of nitrates). We highlight areas of future investigation including examining and assessing other interacting stressors and their impacts (e.g., ocean acidification, ocean deoxygenation, toxins and pollutants), investigating impacts of multiple stressors with UVR on the coral microbiome, and elucidating the effects of multi-stressors with UVR across early-life history stages (especially larvae). UVR is a pervasive stressor to corals and can interact with other environmental conditions to compromise the resilience of corals. This environmental driver needs to be more comprehensively examined alongside climate change stressors (e.g., temperature increases, ocean acidification and hypoxia) to better understand future climate scenarios on reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Downie
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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7
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Rogers JGD, Plagányi ÉE, Babcock RC, Fletcher CS, Westcott DA. Improving coral cover using an integrated pest management framework. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2913. [PMID: 37615222 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2913] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Integrated pest management (IPM) leverages our understanding of ecological interactions to mitigate the impact of pest species on economically and/or ecologically important assets. It has primarily been applied in terrestrial settings (e.g., agriculture), but has rarely been attempted for marine ecosystems. The crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS), Acanthaster spp., is a voracious coral predator throughout the Indo-Pacific where it undergoes large population increases (irruptions), termed outbreaks. During outbreaks CoTS act as a pest species and can result in substantial coral loss. Contemporary management of CoTS on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) adopts facets of the IPM paradigm to manage these outbreaks through strategic use of direct manual control (culling) of individuals in response to ecologically based target thresholds. There has, however, been limited quantitative analysis of how to optimize the implementation of such thresholds. Here we use a multispecies modeling approach to assess the performance of alternative CoTS management scenarios for improving coral cover trajectories. The scenarios examined varied in terms of their ecological threshold target, the sensitivity of the threshold, and the level of management resourcing. Our approach illustrates how to quantify multidimensional trade-offs in resourcing constraints, concurrent CoTS and coral population dynamics, the stringency of target thresholds, and the geographical scale of management outcomes (number of sites). We found strategies with low target density thresholds for CoTS (≤0.03 CoTS min-1 ) could act as "Effort Sinks" and limit the number of sites that could be effectively controlled, particularly under CoTS population outbreaks. This was because a handful of sites took longer to control, which meant other sites were not controlled. Higher density thresholds (e.g., 0.04-0.08 CoTS min-1 ), tuned to levels of coral cover, diluted resources among sites but were more robust to resourcing constraints and pest population dynamics. Our study highlights trade-off decisions when using an IPM framework and informs the implementation of threshold-based strategies on the GBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G D Rogers
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Éva E Plagányi
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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8
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Chandler JF, Burn D, Caballes CF, Doll PC, Kwong SLT, Lang BJ, Pacey KI, Pratchett MS. Increasing densities of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, resolved using a novel survey method. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19306. [PMID: 37935784 PMCID: PMC10630282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46749-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent population irruptions of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster cf. solaris) are among the foremost causes of coral mortality on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Early intervention during the initiation of new population irruptions represents the best opportunity to effectively manage this threat. However, current survey methods are not sufficiently sensitive to detect changes in CoTS densities during the early onset of population irruptions. Using scooter-assisted large area diver-based (SALAD) surveys, this study revealed increasing densities of CoTS at Lizard Island from 2019 to 2022. Inferred densities of adult CoTS (which account for distinct sets of observed feeding scars where starfish were not detected) increased from 4.90 ha-1 (± 0.85 SE) in 2019 to 17.71 ha-1 (± 2.3 SE) in 2022. A wide range of size classes were recorded suggesting that recruitment over several years is contributing to increasing densities. Importantly, the sustained density increases reported here denote that renewed CoTS population irruptions may soon become fully established at Lizard Island and more broadly in the northern GBR, especially without early intervention through effective population management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie F Chandler
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
| | - Deborah Burn
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Ciemon F Caballes
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Peter C Doll
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Sarah L T Kwong
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Bethan J Lang
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Kai I Pacey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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9
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Peng C, Wang K, Wang W, Kuang F, Gao Y, Jiang R, Sun X, Dong X, Chen B, Lin H. Phytoplankton community structure and environmental factors during the outbreak of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish in Xisha Islands, South China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 235:116568. [PMID: 37422114 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116568] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
The "larval starvation hypothesis" proposed that the growing frequency of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS) outbreaks could be attributed to increased availability of phytoplankton. However, comprehensive field investigation on the living environment of CoTS larvae and the availability of phytoplankton are still lacking. A cruise was conducted in June 2022 in Xisha Islands, South China Sea, to study the interaction between environmental conditions and phytoplankton communities during CoTS outbreak period. The average concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (0.05 ± 0.01 μmol L-1), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (0.66 ± 0.8 μmol L-1) and chlorophyll a (0.05 ± 0.05 μg L-1) suggested that phytoplankton may be limited for CoTS larvae in Xisha Islands. Microscopic observation and high-throughput sequencing were used to study the composition and structure of the phytoplankton communities. Bacillariophyta predominated in phytoplankton communities with the highest abundance and species richness. 29 dominant species, including 4 species with size-range preferred by CoTS larvae, were identified in Xisha Islands. The diversity index of all stations indicated a species-rich and structure-stable phytoplankton community in Xisha Islands during the period of CoTS outbreak, which may contribute to CoTS outbreak. These findings revealed the structure of phytoplankton community and environmental factors in the study area during CoTS outbreak, providing the groundwork for future research into the causes and processes of CoTS outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conghui Peng
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Kang Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Fangfang Kuang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yahui Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Ronggen Jiang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xiuwu Sun
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xu Dong
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Baohong Chen
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Xiamen Ocean Vocational College, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Hui Lin
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
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10
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Doll PC, Uthicke S, Caballes CF, Patel F, Gomez Cabrera MDC, Lang BJ, Pratchett MS. Induction of larval settlement in crown-of-thorns starfish is not mediated by conspecific cues. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17119. [PMID: 37816798 PMCID: PMC10564929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44422-x] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster spp.) remain a major cause of coral reef degradation throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans and are inherently modulated by larval settlement and recruitment success. Gregarious larval settlement, as exhibited by many other ecologically important marine invertebrates, can catalyse population growth and replenishment. However, whether conspecific cues induce or influence the settlement of COTS larvae remains a critical information gap. This experimental study examined the induction of COTS settlement in response to a range of conspecific cues associated with early- and late-stage herbivorous juveniles, corallivorous juveniles and adults. Competent COTS larvae were generally not induced to settle by the presence of conspecifics or cues associated with conspecifics, while the settlement success of COTS in the presence of coralline algae was not inhibited or enhanced by adding conspecific conditioned seawater. Rather than being reinforced by gregarious settlement, the recruitment of COTS populations appears dependent on associative settlement cues (i.e., coralline algae and/or associated microbial communities) signalling suitable benthic habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Doll
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
| | - Sven Uthicke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Ciemon F Caballes
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- University of Guam - Marine Laboratory, Mangilao, GU, 96923, USA
| | - Frances Patel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | | | - Bethan J Lang
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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11
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Kroon FJ, Crosswell JR, Robson BJ. The effect of catchment load reductions on water quality in the crown-of-thorn starfish outbreak initiation zone. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115255. [PMID: 37688804 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS) population outbreaks contribute to coral cover decline on Indo-Pacific reefs. On the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), enhanced catchment nutrient loads are hypothesised to increase phytoplankton food for CoTS larvae in the outbreak initiation zone. This study examines whether catchment load reductions will improve water quality in this zone during the larval period. We defined the i) initiation zone's spatial extent; ii) larval stage's temporal extent; and iii) water quality thresholds related to larval food, from published information. We applied these to model simulations, developed to quantify the effect of catchment load reductions on GBR water quality (Baird et al., 2021), and found a consistently weak response of chlorophyll-a, total organic nitrogen and large zooplankton concentrations in the initiation zone. Model results indicate marine and atmospheric forcing are more likely to control the planktonic biomass in this zone, even during major flooding events purported to precede CoTS outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia.
| | | | - Barbara J Robson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU.
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12
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Speelman PE, Parger M, Schoepf V. Divergent recovery trajectories of intertidal and subtidal coral communities highlight habitat-specific recovery dynamics following bleaching in an extreme macrotidal reef environment. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15987. [PMID: 37727686 PMCID: PMC10506583 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs face an uncertain future punctuated by recurring climate-induced disturbances. Understanding how reefs can recover from and reassemble after mass bleaching events is therefore important to predict their responses and persistence in a rapidly changing ocean. On naturally extreme reefs characterized by strong daily temperature variability, coral heat tolerance can vary significantly over small spatial gradients but it remains poorly understood how this impacts bleaching resilience and recovery dynamics, despite their importance as resilience hotspots and potential refugia. In the macrotidal Kimberley region in NW Australia, the 2016 global mass bleaching event had a strong habitat-specific impact on intertidal and subtidal coral communities at our study site: corals in the thermally variable intertidal bleached less severely and recovered within six months, while 68% of corals in the moderately variable subtidal died. We therefore conducted benthic surveys 3.5 years after the bleaching event to determine potential changes in benthic cover and coral community composition. In the subtidal, we documented substantial increases in algal cover and live coral cover had not fully recovered to pre-bleaching levels. Furthermore, the subtidal coral community shifted from being dominated by branching Acropora corals with a competitive life history strategy to opportunistic, weedy Pocillopora corals which likely has implications for the functioning and stress resilience of this novel coral community. In contrast, no shifts in algal and live coral cover or coral community composition occurred in the intertidal. These findings demonstrate that differences in coral heat tolerance across small spatial scales can have large consequences for bleaching resilience and that spatial patchiness in recovery trajectories and community reassembly after bleaching might be a common feature on thermally variable reefs. Our findings further confirm that reefs adapted to high daily temperature variability play a key role as resilience hotspots under current climate conditions, but their ability to do so may be limited under intensifying ocean warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Elias Speelman
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Dept. of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Parger
- UWA Ocean Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Verena Schoepf
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Dept. of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- UWA Ocean Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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13
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Hawthorn A, Berzins IK, Dennis MM, Kiupel M, Newton AL, Peters EC, Reyes VA, Work TM. An introduction to lesions and histology of scleractinian corals. Vet Pathol 2023; 60:529-546. [PMID: 37519147 DOI: 10.1177/03009858231189289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Stony corals (Scleractinia) are in the Phylum Cnidaria (cnidae referring to various types of stinging cells). They may be solitary or colonial, but all secrete an external, supporting aragonite skeleton. Large, colonial members of this phylum are responsible for the accretion of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical waters that form the foundations of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems. Coral reefs worldwide, but particularly in the Caribbean, are experiencing unprecedented levels of disease, resulting in reef degradation. Most coral diseases remain poorly described and lack clear case definitions, while the etiologies and pathogenesis are even more elusive. This introductory guide is focused on reef-building corals and describes basic gross and microscopic lesions in these corals in order to serve as an invitation to other veterinary pathologists to play a critical role in defining and advancing the field of coral pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aine Hawthorn
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- U.S. Geological Survey, Seattle, WA
| | - Ilze K Berzins
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- One Water, One Health, LLC, Golden Valley, MN
| | | | | | - Alisa L Newton
- ZooQuatic Laboratory, LLC, Baltimore, MD
- OCEARCH, Park City, UT
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14
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Mos B, Mesic N, Dworjanyn SA. Variable food alters responses of larval crown-of-thorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidification. Commun Biol 2023; 6:639. [PMID: 37316528 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Phytoplankton abundance is decreasing and becoming more variable as the ocean climate changes. We examine how low, high, and variable phytoplankton food supply affected the survival, development, and growth of larval crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster sp. exposed to combined warming (26, 30 °C) and acidification (pH 8.0, 7.6). Larvae fed a low food ration are smaller, and develop slower and with more abnormalities than larvae fed a high ration. Larvae fed a variable food supply (low, followed by high ration) overcome the negative effects of low food on development rate and occurrence of abnormalities, but are 16-17% smaller than larvae fed the high ration continuously. Acidification (pH 7.6) slows growth and development and increases abnormalities regardless of the food regime. Warming slows growth and development, but these effects are mitigated by high food availability. As tropical oceans warm, the success of crown-of-thorns starfish larvae may depend on the abundance of their phytoplankton prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Mos
- Moreton Bay Research Station (MBRS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 37 Fraser Street, Dunwich, Minjerribah, QLD 4183, Australia.
- Centre for Marine Science (CMS), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Naomi Mesic
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Symon A Dworjanyn
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
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15
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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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16
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Mendoza-Porras O, Nguyen TV, Shah RM, Thomas-Hall P, Bastin L, Deaker DJ, Motti CA, Byrne M, Beale DJ. Biochemical metabolomic profiling of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster): New insight into its biology for improved pest management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160525. [PMID: 36574554 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS), Acanthaster species, is a voracious coral predator that destroys coral reefs when in outbreak status. The baseline metabolite and lipid biomolecules of 10 COTS tissues, including eggs from gravid females, were investigated in this study to provide insight into their biology and identify avenues for control. Targeted and untargeted metabolite- and lipidomics-based mass spectrometry approaches were used to obtain tissue-specific metabolite and lipid profiles. Across all COTS tissues, 410 metabolites and 367 lipids were identified. Most abundant were amino acids and peptides (18.7%) and wax esters (17%). There were 262 metabolites and 192 lipids identified in COTS eggs. Wax esters were more abundant in the eggs (30%) followed by triacylglycerols (TG), amino acids, and peptides. The diversity of asterosaponins in eggs (34) was higher than in tissues (2). Several asterosaponins known to modulate sperm acrosome reaction were putatively identified, including glycoside B, asterosaponin-4 (Co-Aris III), and regularoside B (asterosaponin A). The saponins saponin A, thornasteroside A, hillaside B, and non-saponins dictyol J and axinellamine B which have been shown to possess defensive properties, were found in abundance in gonads, skin, and radial nerve tissues. Inosine and 2-hexyldecanoic acid are the most abundant metabolites in tissues and eggs. As a secondary metabolite of purine degradation, inosine plays an important role in purine biosynthesis, while 2-hexyldecanoic acid is known to suppress side-chain crystallization during the synthesis of amphiphilic macromolecules (i.e., phospholipids). These significant spatial changes in metabolite, lipid, and asterosaponin profiles enabled unique insights into key biological tissue-specific processes that could be manipulated to better control COTS populations. Our findings highlight COTS as a novel source of molecules with therapeutic and cosmetic properties (ceramides, sphingolipids, carnosine, and inosine). These outcomes will be highly relevant for the development of strategies for COTS management including chemotaxis-based biocontrol and exploitation of COTS carcasses for the extraction of commercial molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Mendoza-Porras
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Thao V Nguyen
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Rohan M Shah
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Peter Thomas-Hall
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Lee Bastin
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Dione J Deaker
- Marine Studies Institute, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Cherie A Motti
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Maria Byrne
- Marine Studies Institute, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - David J Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
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17
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Uthicke S, Robson B, Doyle JR, Logan M, Pratchett MS, Lamare M. Developing an effective marine eDNA monitoring: eDNA detection at pre-outbreak densities of corallivorous seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158143. [PMID: 35995149 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Outbreaks of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Seastar (CoTS) Acanthaster cf. solaris contribute significantly to coral reef loss. Control of outbreaks is hampered because standard monitoring techniques do not detect outbreaks at early (low density) stages, thus preventing early intervention. We previously demonstrated that eDNA monitoring can detect CoTS at intermediate densities. Here, we test whether detection probability can be improved by (i) targeted site selection or collection at specific times and (ii) moving from an average eDNA copy number approach (based on the limit of quantification) to a presence/absence approach (based on the limit of detection). Using a dataset collected over three years and multiple reef sites, we demonstrated that adding water residence age, sea surface level and temperature into generalized linear models explained low amounts of variance of eDNA copy numbers. Site specific CoTS density, by contrast, was a significant predictor for eDNA copy numbers. Bayesian multi-scale occupancy modelling of the presence/absence data demonstrated that the probability of sample capture (θ) on most reefs with intermediate or high CoTS densities was >0.8. Thus, confirming CoTS presence on these reefs would only require 2-3 samples. Sample capture decreased with decreasing CoTS density. Collecting ten filters was sufficient to reliably (based on the lower 95 % Credibility Interval) detect CoTS below nominal outbreak levels (3 Ind. ha-1). Copy number-based estimates may be more relevant to quantify CoTS at higher densities. Although water residence age did contribute little to our models, sites with higher residence times may serve as sentinel sites accumulating eDNA. The approach based on presence or absence of eDNA facilitates eDNA monitoring to detect CoTS densities below outbreak thresholds and we continue to further develop this method for quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Uthicke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia.
| | - Barbara Robson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Jason R Doyle
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Murray Logan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Miles Lamare
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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18
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Paramonov AS, Shulepko MA, Makhonin AM, Bychkov ML, Kulbatskii DS, Chernikov AM, Myshkin MY, Shabelnikov SV, Shenkarev ZO, Kirpichnikov MP, Lyukmanova EN. New Three-Finger Protein from Starfish Asteria rubens Shares Structure and Pharmacology with Human Brain Neuromodulator Lynx2. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20080503. [PMID: 36005506 PMCID: PMC9410279 DOI: 10.3390/md20080503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-finger proteins (TFPs) are small proteins with characteristic three-finger β-structural fold stabilized by the system of conserved disulfide bonds. These proteins have been found in organisms from different taxonomic groups and perform various important regulatory functions or act as components of snake venoms. Recently, four TFPs (Lystars 1–4) with unknown function were identified in the coelomic fluid proteome of starfish A. rubens. Here we analyzed the genomes of A. rubens and A. planci starfishes and predicted additional five and six proteins containing three-finger domains, respectively. One of them, named Lystar5, is expressed in A. rubens coelomocytes and has sequence homology to the human brain neuromodulator Lynx2. The three-finger structure of Lystar5 close to the structure of Lynx2 was confirmed by NMR. Similar to Lynx2, Lystar5 negatively modulated α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed in X. laevis oocytes. Incubation with Lystar5 decreased the expression of acetylcholine esterase and α4 and α7 nAChR subunits in the hippocampal neurons. In summary, for the first time we reported modulator of the cholinergic system in starfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S. Paramonov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Mikhail A. Shulepko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Alexey M. Makhonin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
- AI Centre, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya Str. 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim L. Bychkov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Dmitrii S. Kulbatskii
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Andrey M. Chernikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
- Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow University “Molecular Technologies of the Living Systems and Synthetic Biology”, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail Yu. Myshkin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
| | - Sergey V. Shabelnikov
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Prospect 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Zakhar O. Shenkarev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, State University, Institutskiy Per. 9, 141701 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail P. Kirpichnikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
- Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow University “Molecular Technologies of the Living Systems and Synthetic Biology”, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N. Lyukmanova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 16/10, 119997 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.P.); (M.A.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.L.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.M.C.); (M.Y.M.); (Z.O.S.); (M.P.K.)
- Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow University “Molecular Technologies of the Living Systems and Synthetic Biology”, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, State University, Institutskiy Per. 9, 141701 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
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19
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Oulhen N, Byrne M, Duffin P, Gomez-Chiarri M, Hewson I, Hodin J, Konar B, Lipp EK, Miner BG, Newton AL, Schiebelhut LM, Smolowitz R, Wahltinez SJ, Wessel GM, Work TM, Zaki HA, Wares JP. A Review of Asteroid Biology in the Context of Sea Star Wasting: Possible Causes and Consequences. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2022; 243:50-75. [PMID: 36108034 PMCID: PMC10642522 DOI: 10.1086/719928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSea star wasting-marked in a variety of sea star species as varying degrees of skin lesions followed by disintegration-recently caused one of the largest marine die-offs ever recorded on the west coast of North America, killing billions of sea stars. Despite the important ramifications this mortality had for coastal benthic ecosystems, such as increased abundance of prey, little is known about the causes of the disease or the mechanisms of its progression. Although there have been studies indicating a range of causal mechanisms, including viruses and environmental effects, the broad spatial and depth range of affected populations leaves many questions remaining about either infectious or non-infectious mechanisms. Wasting appears to start with degradation of mutable connective tissue in the body wall, leading to disintegration of the epidermis. Here, we briefly review basic sea star biology in the context of sea star wasting and present our current knowledge and hypotheses related to the symptoms, the microbiome, the viruses, and the associated environmental stressors. We also highlight throughout the article knowledge gaps and the data needed to better understand sea star wasting mechanistically, its causes, and potential management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Oulhen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Maria Byrne
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paige Duffin
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Marta Gomez-Chiarri
- Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
| | - Ian Hewson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jason Hodin
- Friday Harbor Labs, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington
| | - Brenda Konar
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska
| | - Erin K. Lipp
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Benjamin G. Miner
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
| | | | - Lauren M. Schiebelhut
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Merced, California
| | - Roxanna Smolowitz
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island
| | - Sarah J. Wahltinez
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Gary M. Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Thierry M. Work
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station, Honolulu, Hawaii
| | - Hossam A. Zaki
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - John P. Wares
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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20
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Xiao J, Wang W, Wang X, Tian P, Niu W. Recent deterioration of coral reefs in the South China Sea due to multiple disturbances. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13634. [PMID: 35910778 PMCID: PMC9332401 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
More frequent global warming events, biological disasters, and anthropogenic activities have caused extensive damage to coral reefs around the world. Coral reefs in the Xisha Islands (also known as the Paracel Islands) have been damaged following rounds of heatwaves and crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) outbreaks over recent decades. Based on a comprehensive community survey in 2020, we determined a diagnosis for the present state of six coral regions in the Xisha Islands. The findings suggested that these regions had a total of 213 species of scleractinian corals belonging to 43 genera and 16 families. Living coral coverage across sites was widely divergent and ranged from 0.40% (IQR: 7.74-0.27%) in Panshi Yu to 38.20% (IQR: 43.00-35.90%) in Bei Jiao. Coral bleaching prevalence was 23.90% (IQR: 41.60-13.30%) overall and topped out at 49.30% (IQR: 50.60-48.10%) in Bei Jiao. Five of the coral regions (all but Yongxing Dao) were under threat of CoTS outbreaks. High mortality combined with excellent recruitment rates suggested potential rehabilitation after recent deterioration. We employed a quantifiable Deterioration Index (DI) to evaluate the intensity of deterioration of coral reefs in the Xisha Islands. The results showed that Yongxing Dao and Langhua Jiao had low recent deterioration (DIrecent = 0.05, IQR: 0.07-0.02 and 0.04, IQR: 0.11-0.01, respectively), while Bei Jiao, Yongle Atoll, Yuzhuo Jiao, and Panshi Yu had high recent deterioration (DIrecent > 0.16). Different monitoring sites within the same coral region were heterogeneous with regards to all above indexes. Moreover, we reviewed and discussed potential disturbances that threaten the health of the Xisha Islands' corals. It is crucial to identify severely afflicted areas and find successful methods to better manage coral reef health in this region.
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21
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Culling corallivores improves short-term coral recovery under bleaching scenarios. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2520. [PMID: 35534497 PMCID: PMC9085818 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30213-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Management of coral predators, corallivores, is recommended to improve coral cover on tropical coral reefs under projected increasing levels of accumulated thermal stress, but whether corallivore management can improve coral cover, which is necessary for large-scale operationalisation, remains equivocal. Here, using a multispecies ecosystem model, we investigate intensive management of an invertebrate corallivore, the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris), and show that culling could improve coral cover at sub-reef spatial scales, but efficacy varied substantially within and among reefs. Simulated thermal stress events attenuated management-derived coral cover improvements and was dependent on the level of accumulated thermal stress, the thermal sensitivity of coral communities and the rate of corallivore recruitment at fine spatial scales. Corallivore management was most effective when accumulated thermal stress was low, coral communities were less sensitive to heat stress and in areas of high corallivore recruitment success. Our analysis informs how to manage a pest species to promote coral cover under future thermal stress events. This study uses multispecies modelling to show that the management of a coral predator, the crown-of-thorns starfish, could help corals recover following bleaching events. They show that management was most effective when heat stress severity for corals was low to moderate, when corals had lower heat sensitivity and when the recruitment rate of starfish was high.
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Crown of thorns starfish life-history traits contribute to outbreaks, a continuing concern for coral reefs. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:67-79. [PMID: 35225331 PMCID: PMC9023020 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Crown of thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster sp.) are notorious for their destructive consumption of coral that decimates tropical reefs, an attribute unique among tropical marine invertebrates. Their populations can rapidly increase from 0–1 COTS ha−1 to more than 10–1000 COTS ha−1 in short order causing a drastic change to benthic communities and reducing the functional and species diversity of coral reef ecosystems. Population outbreaks were first identified to be a significant threat to coral reefs in the 1960s. Since then, they have become one of the leading causes of coral loss along with coral bleaching. Decades of research and significant investment in Australia and elsewhere, particularly Japan, have been directed towards identifying, understanding, and managing the potential causes of outbreaks and designing population control methods. Despite this, the drivers of outbreaks remain elusive. What is becoming increasingly clear is that the success of COTS is tied to their inherent biological traits, especially in early life. Survival of larval and juvenile COTS is likely to be enhanced by their dietary flexibility and resilience to variable food conditions as well as their phenotypically plastic growth dynamics, all magnified by the extreme reproductive potential of COTS. These traits enable COTS to capitalise on anthropogenic disturbances to reef systems as well as endure less favourable conditions.
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Bozec Y, Hock K, Mason RAB, Baird ME, Castro‐Sanguino C, Condie SA, Puotinen M, Thompson A, Mumby PJ. Cumulative impacts across Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: a mechanistic evaluation. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yves‐Marie Bozec
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Karlo Hock
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Robert A. B. Mason
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Mark E. Baird
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Carolina Castro‐Sanguino
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | | | - Marji Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science & Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Angus Thompson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab School of Biological Sciences & ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
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Kroon FJ, Barneche DR, Emslie MJ. Fish predators control outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6986. [PMID: 34880205 PMCID: PMC8654818 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26786-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) have caused persistent and widespread loss of coral cover across Indo-Pacific coral reefs. The potential drivers of these outbreaks have been debated for more than 50 years, hindering effective management to limit their destructive impacts. Here, we show that fish biomass removal through commercial and recreational fisheries may be a major driver of CoTS population outbreaks. CoTS densities increase systematically with increasing fish biomass removal, including for known CoTS predators. Moreover, the biomass of fish species and families that influence CoTS densities are 1.4 to 2.1-fold higher on reefs within no-take marine reserves, while CoTS densities are 2.8-fold higher on reefs that are open to fishing, indicating the applicability of fisheries-based management to prevent CoTS outbreaks. Designing targeted fisheries management with consideration of CoTS population dynamics may offer a tangible and promising contribution to effectively reduce the detrimental impacts of CoTS outbreaks across the Indo-Pacific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.
| | - Diego R Barneche
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
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Pratchett MS, Caballes CF, Cvitanovic C, Raymundo ML, Babcock RC, Bonin MC, Bozec YM, Burn D, Byrne M, Castro-Sanguino C, Chen CCM, Condie SA, Cowan ZL, Deaker DJ, Desbiens A, Devantier LM, Doherty PJ, Doll PC, Doyle JR, Dworjanyn SA, Fabricius KE, Haywood MDE, Hock K, Hoggett AK, Høj L, Keesing JK, Kenchington RA, Lang BJ, Ling SD, Matthews SA, McCallum HI, Mellin C, Mos B, Motti CA, Mumby PJ, Stump RJW, Uthicke S, Vail L, Wolfe K, Wilson SK. Knowledge Gaps in the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star Acanthaster sp. on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:330-346. [PMID: 35015620 DOI: 10.1086/717026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractCrown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are among the most studied coral reef organisms, owing to their propensity to undergo major population irruptions, which contribute to significant coral loss and reef degradation throughout the Indo-Pacific. However, there are still important knowledge gaps pertaining to the biology, ecology, and management of Acanthaster sp. Renewed efforts to advance understanding and management of Pacific crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) on Australia's Great Barrier Reef require explicit consideration of relevant and tractable knowledge gaps. Drawing on established horizon scanning methodologies, this study identified contemporary knowledge gaps by asking active and/or established crown-of-thorns sea star researchers to pose critical research questions that they believe should be addressed to improve the understanding and management of crown-of-thorns sea stars on the Great Barrier Reef. A total of 38 participants proposed 246 independent research questions, organized into 7 themes: feeding ecology, demography, distribution and abundance, predation, settlement, management, and environmental change. Questions were further assigned to 48 specific topics nested within the 7 themes. During this process, redundant questions were removed, which reduced the total number of distinct research questions to 172. Research questions posed were mostly related to themes of demography (46 questions) and management (48 questions). The dominant topics, meanwhile, were the incidence of population irruptions (16 questions), feeding ecology of larval sea stars (15 questions), effects of elevated water temperature on crown-of-thorns sea stars (13 questions), and predation on juveniles (12 questions). While the breadth of questions suggests that there is considerable research needed to improve understanding and management of crown-of-thorns sea stars on the Great Barrier Reef, the predominance of certain themes and topics suggests a major focus for new research while also providing a roadmap to guide future research efforts.
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Byrne M, Minchin D, Clements M, Deaker DJ. The Waiting Stage, Prolonged Residency in Nursery Habitats by Juveniles of the Predatory Sea Star Marthasterias glacialis. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:219-230. [PMID: 35015618 DOI: 10.1086/715843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractGrowth and recruitment of the sea star Marthasterias glacialis was followed over six years in Lough Hyne, southwest Ireland. Juveniles from a 2-mm radius were found on algae at <1-2-m depth following what appeared to be gregarious larval settlement. Data from Lough Hyne and Mulroy Bay (northwest Ireland) indicated that algal habitat serves as a nursery area for juveniles of M. glacialis. Successive size frequency modes of the juveniles at Lough Hyne indicated slow growth over 6 years, to a mean radius of 20 mm. The absence of additional recruitment allowed monitoring of a discrete population. Recruits in the nursery habitat over the six years remained as waiting stage juveniles, a Peter Pan group with delayed maturity subsisting on a diet of epibionts. An initial sharp decline in numbers indicated post-settlement mortality, with subsequent decline likely due to migration to the adjacent shelly habitat, where subadult M. glacialis (30-70-mm radius) lives. In this habitat, M. glacialis preys on small bivalves and eventually joins the adult (maximum radius = 280 mm) population on open sediment, where it feeds on large bivalves. Size frequency distributions of the juveniles and adults showed growth over the six years, with the waiting stage sea stars slowly merging in size with the adult population. It appears that the supply of new individuals into the adult population may take place six or more years following settlement. Strong connectivity between life stage habitats and prolonged recruitment into the adult population may contribute to balanced exploitation of infaunal prey.
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Ebert TA. Life-History Analysis of Asterinid Starfishes. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:231-242. [PMID: 35015626 DOI: 10.1086/716913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe starfish family Asterinidae shows a diversity of reproductive modes, and a number of species have sufficient life-history data that can be used for analysis, using life-cycle graphs. These include four species that reproduce by fission (Aquilonastra yairi, Nepanthia belcheri, Aquilonastra burtonii, and Ailsastra heteractis), a viviparous species (Parvulastra vivipara), two species with benthic egg masses (Asterina gibbosa and Asterina phylactica), one with planktonic larvae that do not feed (Cryptasterina pentagona), and one with larvae that feed in the plankton (Patiria miniata). Species are compared using adult and first-year survival and, for some species, the age at first reproduction, number of offspring (eggs or newly released juveniles), and individual growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy model. The sensitivity of population growth, fitness, to changes in these traits is shown by elasticity analysis, which aids in understanding possible consequences of environmental forces as well as possible directions of selection.
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Hart MW, Guerra VI, Allen JD, Byrne M. Cloning and Selfing Affect Population Genetic Variation in Simulations of Outcrossing, Sexual Sea Stars. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:286-302. [PMID: 35015625 DOI: 10.1086/717293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractMany sea stars are well known for facultative or obligate asexual reproduction in both the adult and larval life-cycle stages. Some species and lineages are also capable of facultative or obligate hermaphroditic reproduction with self-fertilization. However, models of population genetic variation and empirical analyses of genetic data typically assume only sexual reproduction and outcrossing. A recent reanalysis of previously published empirical data (microsatellite genotypes) from two studies of one of the most well-known sea star species (the crown-of-thorns sea star; Acanthaster sp.) concluded that cloning and self-fertilization in that species are rare and contribute little to patterns of population genetic variation. Here we reconsider that conclusion by simulating the contribution of cloning and selfing to genetic variation in a series of models of sea star demography. Simulated variation in two simple models (analogous to previous analyses of empirical data) was consistent with high rates of cloning or selfing or both. More realistic scenarios that characterize population flux in sea stars of ecological significance, including outbreaks of crown-of-thorns sea stars that devastate coral reefs, invasions by Asterias amurensis, and epizootics of sea star wasting disease that kill Pisaster ochraceus, also showed significant but smaller effects of cloning and selfing on variation within subpopulations and differentiation between subpopulations. Future models or analyses of genetic variation in similar study systems might benefit from simulation modeling to characterize possible contributions of cloning or selfing to genetic variation in population samples or to understand the limits on inferring the effects of cloning or selfing in nature.
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Keesing JK. Optimal Foraging Theory Explains Feeding Preferences in the Western Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star Acanthaster sp. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:303-329. [PMID: 35015624 DOI: 10.1086/718141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe selectivity of crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) for different coral prey types was quantified in the field and laboratory and compared with a range of nutritional and food quality parameters as well as the growth performance of sea stars fed on different types of coral. Growth rates of small juvenile Acanthaster sp. without previous exposure to coral fed for 6.6 months on 15 individual species of corals showed that the highest rates of growth were achieved on the same types of corals for which adult sea stars show the strongest preference, both in the field and in controlled aquarium conditions. Small Acanthaster sp. (ca. 20 mm, 0.5 g) fed on Acropora formosa, Stylophora pistillata, Seriatopora hystrix, and Pocillopora damicornis increased in size by an average of 9.2-10.7 mm (4.2-5.6 g) per month, compared with 0.1-0.4 mm (0.004-0.028 g) per month on coralline algae fed controls and species such as Porites lutea, Porites lichen, Lobophyllia hemprichii, and Turbinaria mesenterina. Field studies on the same reef where the parents of these juvenile sea stars were collected demonstrated a strong sequential preference for acroporid and then pocilloporid corals, with faviid, merulinid, and poritid corals selected significantly less frequently than other corals when their relative abundance was taken into account. This order of preference by adult field-collected sea stars was confirmed and exhibited even more emphatically in aquarium experiments, where the relative abundance of prey species could be controlled. The growth experiments and measurements of comparative food value between preferred and non-preferred coral prey suggest that feeding preferences in Acanthaster sp. for Acropora and pocilloporids arose consistent with optimal foraging theory and evolved in response to this species being able to feed successfully and efficiently. The high abundance and, therefore, encounter rate of Acropora and pocilloporids is not considered to be an important factor in the evolution of feeding preferences, although relative abundance of alternative prey does affect selectivity. Individual growth and population fitness and reproductive output of Acanthaster sp. will be enhanced by preferential feeding on acroporid and pocilloporid corals, reinforcing the importance of optimal foraging theory in the evolution of feeding preferences.
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Doll PC, Messmer V, Uthicke S, Doyle JR, Caballes CF, Pratchett MS. DNA-Based Detection and Patterns of Larval Settlement of the Corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star ( Acanthaster sp.). THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:271-285. [PMID: 35015627 DOI: 10.1086/717539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractPopulation irruptions of the western Pacific crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster sp.) are a perennial threat to coral reefs and may be initiated by fluctuations in reproductive or settlement success. However, the processes dictating their early life history, particularly larval settlement, remain poorly understood given limitations in sampling larvae and newly settled juveniles in the field. Here, we introduce an innovative method to measure crown-of-thorns sea star settlement, using artificial settlement collectors and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction based on crown-of-thorns sea star-specific mitochondrial DNA primers. This study demonstrated the utility of this method and explored temporal and spatial patterns of crown-of-thorns sea star settlement on the Great Barrier Reef from 2016 to 2020. Settlement varied considerably between sampling periods at Rib Reef and peaked between October 2016 and January 2017. Our results further suggest that crown-of-thorns sea star larvae readily settle in shallow reef environments, with no preferential settlement detected between depths tested (4-12 m). Substantial variation between Great Barrier Reef regions was revealed in 2019-2020, because collectors deployed on reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef were >10 times as likely to record newly settled crown-of-thorns sea stars as reefs in the northern Great Barrier Reef near Lizard Island. The trends reported here add to our understanding of this critical life-history stage; however, further method validation and larger-scale studies are needed to address pertinent information gaps, such as the stock-recruitment dynamics of this species. Most importantly, fluctuations in crown-of-thorns sea star settlement can now be detected using this sampling protocol, which demonstrates its utility in heralding new and renewed population irruptions of this destructive sea star.
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Garzon-Garcia A, Burton JM, Lewis S, Bainbridge Z, De Hayr R, Moody P, Brodie J. The bioavailability of nitrogen associated with sediment in riverine plumes of the Great Barrier Reef. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112910. [PMID: 34536704 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study quantified the bioavailable nitrogen contribution from riverine plumes to Great Barrier Reef (GBR) coastal environments. The potential bioavailable nitrogen from two Dry Tropics riverine plumes was considerable [9 - 30% added to the end-of-catchment dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) load]. Particulate inorganic nitrogen conversion to DIN was an important process in short timeframes (25% to 100% of the generated load). The remaining load was contributed by microbial mineralisation of organic nitrogen. Flood plume sediment has potential to generate nitrogen once deposited and/or resuspended. Nitrogen generation was insignificant in a few plumes where immobilisation of nitrogen in bacteria biomass occurred. The source of organic matter in the plumes and availability of nitrogen relative to organic matter were important determinants of mineralisation/immobilisation. This research demonstrates that riverine plumes have potential to be considerable sources of bioavailable nitrogen to coastal environments of the GBR and that organic matter is a key bioavailability driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Garzon-Garcia
- Department of Environment and Science, PO Box 5078, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Joanne M Burton
- Department of Environment and Science, PO Box 5078, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Stephen Lewis
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville Q 4811, Australia
| | - Zoe Bainbridge
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville Q 4811, Australia
| | - Rob De Hayr
- Department of Environment and Science, PO Box 5078, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Philip Moody
- Department of Environment and Science, PO Box 5078, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Jon Brodie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville Q 4811, Australia
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Sill SR, Dawson TP. Climate change impacts on the ecological dynamics of two coral reef species, the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and crown-of-thorns starfish (Ancanthaster planci). ECOL INFORM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Warne DJ, Crossman KA, Jin W, Mengersen K, Osborne K, Simpson MJ, Thompson AA, Wu P, Ortiz J. Identification of two‐phase recovery for interpretation of coral reef monitoring data. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Warne
- School of Mathematical Sciences Faculty of Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Centre for Data Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers Brisbane Qld. Australia
| | | | - Wang Jin
- The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Kerrie Mengersen
- School of Mathematical Sciences Faculty of Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Centre for Data Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers Brisbane Qld. Australia
| | - Kate Osborne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Townsville Qld. Australia
| | - Matthew J. Simpson
- School of Mathematical Sciences Faculty of Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Centre for Data Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers Brisbane Qld. Australia
| | | | - Paul Wu
- School of Mathematical Sciences Faculty of Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Centre for Data Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld. Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers Brisbane Qld. Australia
| | - Juan‐C. Ortiz
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Townsville Qld. Australia
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McCloskey GL, Baheerathan R, Dougall C, Ellis R, Bennett FR, Waters D, Darr S, Fentie B, Hateley LR, Askildsen M. Modelled estimates of dissolved inorganic nitrogen exported to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112655. [PMID: 34265552 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Measuring stream pollutant loads across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment area (GBRCA) is challenging due to the spatial extent, climate variability, changing land use and evolving land management practices, and cost. Thus, models are used to estimate baseline pollutant loads. The eWater Source modelling framework is coupled with agricultural paddock scale models and the GBR Dynamic SedNet plugin to simulate dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) generation and transport processes across the GBRCA. Catchment scale monitoring of flow and loads are used to calibrate the models, and performance is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Modelling indicates almost half (47%) of the total modelled DIN load exported to the GBR lagoon is from the Wet Tropics, and almost half of the total modelled DIN load is from sugarcane areas. We demonstrate that using locally developed, customised models coupled with a complementary monitoring program can produce reliable estimates of pollutant loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L McCloskey
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia.
| | - R Baheerathan
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - C Dougall
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - R Ellis
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - F R Bennett
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - D Waters
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - S Darr
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - B Fentie
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - L R Hateley
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - M Askildsen
- Department of Resources, Queensland Government, Australia
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Garibaldi LA, Pérez-Méndez N, Cordeiro GD, Hughes A, Orr M, Alves-Dos-Santos I, Freitas BM, Freitas de Oliveira F, LeBuhn G, Bartomeus I, Aizen MA, Andrade PB, Blochtein B, Boscolo D, Drumond PM, Gaglianone MC, Gemmill-Herren B, Halinski R, Krug C, Maués MM, Piedade Kiill LH, Pinheiro M, Pires CSS, Viana BF. Negative impacts of dominance on bee communities: Does the influence of invasive honey bees differ from native bees? Ecology 2021; 102:e03526. [PMID: 34467526 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Invasive species can reach high abundances and dominate native environments. One of the most impressive examples of ecological invasions is the spread of the African subspecies of the honey bee throughout the Americas, starting from its introduction in a single locality in Brazil. The invasive honey bee is expected to more negatively impact bee community abundance and diversity than native dominant species, but this has not been tested previously. We developed a comprehensive and systematic bee sampling scheme, using a protocol deploying 11,520 pan traps across regions and crops for three years in Brazil. We found that invasive honey bees are now the single most dominant bee species. Such dominance has not only negative consequences for abundance and species richness of native bees but also for overall bee abundance (i.e., strong "numerical" effects of honey bees). Contrary to expectations, honey bees did not have stronger negative impacts than other native bees achieving similar levels of dominance (i.e., lack of negative "identity" effects of honey bees). These effects were markedly consistent across crop species, seasons and years, and were independent from land-use effects. Dominance could be a proxy of bee community degradation and more generally of the severity of ecological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Garibaldi
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural, Mitre 630, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, 8400, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural, Mitre 630, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, 8400, Argentina
| | | | - Guaraci D Cordeiro
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Kapitelgasse 4/6, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Alice Hughes
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Michael Orr
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Isabel Alves-Dos-Santos
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, n° 321, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Breno M Freitas
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Laboratório de Abelhas, Campus do Pici - R. Cinco, 100 - Pres. Kennedy, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60455-970, Brazil
| | - Favízia Freitas de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Bionomia, Biogeografia e Sistemática de Insetos, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, n° 668, Campus Universitário de Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Inter e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução, 1154, R. Barão de Jeremoabo, 668 - Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Gretchen LeBuhn
- San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, California, 94132, USA
| | - Ignasi Bartomeus
- Estación Biológica de Doñana del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, Cartuja TA-10, Edificio I, C. Américo Vespucio, s/n, Sevilla, 41092, Spain
| | - Marcelo A Aizen
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET, Quintral 1250, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, 8400, Argentina
| | - Patricia B Andrade
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Laboratório de Abelhas, Campus do Pici - R. Cinco, 100 - Pres. Kennedy, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60455-970, Brazil
| | - Betina Blochtein
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Danilo Boscolo
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Inter e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução, 1154, R. Barão de Jeremoabo, 668 - Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Patricia M Drumond
- Embrapa Mid-North, Av. Duque de Caxias n 5650 Buenos Aires, Teresina, Piauí, C.P 001 - 64008-780, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Gaglianone
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque California, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013-602, Brazil
| | | | - Rosana Halinski
- Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 - Prédio 30 - Partenon, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Krug
- Centro de Pesquisa Agroflorestal, Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Rodovia AM 010 Km 29 Estrada Manau/Itacoatiara, Manaus, Amazonas, 69010-970, Brazil
| | - Márcia Motta Maués
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Trav. Dr. Enéas Pinheiro, s/n°, Bairro do Marco, Belém, Pará, 66095-100, Brazil
| | - Lucia H Piedade Kiill
- Embrapa Tropical Semi-Arid, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, Zona Rural, Petrolina, Pernambuco, 56302-970, Brazil
| | - Mardiore Pinheiro
- Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, R. Major Antônio Cardoso 590, Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul, 97900-000, Brazil
| | - Carmen S S Pires
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB, Av. W5 Norte (final), Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Blandina Felipe Viana
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Inter e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução, 1154, R. Barão de Jeremoabo, 668 - Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil.,Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 1154, R. Barão de Jeremoabo, 668 - Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil
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Cannon SE, Aram E, Beiateuea T, Kiareti A, Peter M, Donner SD. Coral reefs in the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati: Resistance, resilience, and recovery after more than a decade of multiple stressors. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255304. [PMID: 34379665 PMCID: PMC8357116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are increasingly affected by a combination of acute and chronic disturbances from climate change and local stressors. The coral reefs of the Republic of Kiribati's Gilbert Islands are exposed to frequent heat stress caused by central-Pacific type El Niño events, and may provide a glimpse into the future of coral reefs in other parts of the world, where the frequency of heat stress events will likely increase due to climate change. Reefs in the Gilbert Islands experienced a series of acute disturbances over the past fifteen years, including mass coral bleaching in 2004-2005 and 2009-2010, and an outbreak of the corallivorous sea star Acanthaster cf solaris, or Crown-of-Thorns (CoTs), in 2014. The local chronic pressures including nutrient loading, sedimentation and fishing vary within the island chain, with highest pressures on the reefs in urbanized South Tarawa Atoll. In this study, we examine how recovery from acute disturbances differs across a gradient of human influence in neighboring Tarawa and Abaiang Atolls from 2012 through 2018. Benthic cover and size frequency data suggests that local coral communities have adjusted to the heat stress via shifts in the community composition to more temperature-tolerant taxa and individuals. In densely populated South Tarawa, we document a phase shift to the weedy and less bleaching-sensitive coral Porites rus, which accounted for 81% of all coral cover by 2018. By contrast, in less populated Abaiang, coral communities remained comparatively more diverse (with higher percentages of Pocillopora and the octocoral Heliopora) after the disturbances, but reefs had lower overall hard coral cover (18%) and were dominated by turf algae (41%). The CoTs outbreak caused a decline in the cover and mean size of massive Porites, the only taxa that was a 'winner' of the coral bleaching events in Abaiang. Although there are signs of recovery, the long-term trajectory of the benthic communities in Abaiang is not yet clear. We suggest three scenarios: they may remain in their current state (dominated by turf algae), undergo a phase shift to dominance by the macroalgae Halimeda, or recover to dominance by thermally tolerant hard coral genera. These findings provide a rare glimpse at the future of coral reefs around the world and the ways they may be affected by climate change, which may allow scientists to better predict how other reefs will respond to increasing heat stress events across gradients of local human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E. Cannon
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erietera Aram
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Coastal Fisheries Division, Bikenibeui, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati
| | - Toaea Beiateuea
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Coastal Fisheries Division, Bikenibeui, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati
| | - Aranteiti Kiareti
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Coastal Fisheries Division, Bikenibeui, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati
| | - Max Peter
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Coastal Fisheries Division, Bikenibeui, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati
| | - Simon D. Donner
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Lewis SE, Bartley R, Wilkinson SN, Bainbridge ZT, Henderson AE, James CS, Irvine SA, Brodie JE. Land use change in the river basins of the Great Barrier Reef, 1860 to 2019: A foundation for understanding environmental history across the catchment to reef continuum. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 166:112193. [PMID: 33706212 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Land use in the catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon has changed considerably since the introduction of livestock grazing, various crops, mining and urban development. Together these changes have resulted in increased pollutant loads and impaired coastal water quality. This study compiled records to produce annual time-series since 1860 of human population, livestock numbers and agricultural areas at the scale of surface drainage river basins, natural resource management regions and the whole Great Barrier Reef catchment area. Cattle and several crops have experienced progressive expansion interspersed by declines associated with droughts and diseases. Land uses which have experienced all time maxima since the year 2000 include cattle numbers and the areas of sugar cane, bananas and cotton. A Burdekin Basin case study shows that sediment loads initially increased with the introduction of livestock and mining, remained elevated with agricultural development, and declined slightly with the Burdekin Falls Dam construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen E Lewis
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
| | - Rebecca Bartley
- CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 2583, Brisbane, Queensland 4068, Australia
| | - Scott N Wilkinson
- CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Zoe T Bainbridge
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | | | - Cassandra S James
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Scott A Irvine
- Grazing Land Systems, Land Surface Sciences, Science and Technology Division, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Ecosciences Precinct, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jon E Brodie
- Deceased, Formally James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Condie SA, Anthony KRN, Babcock RC, Baird ME, Beeden R, Fletcher CS, Gorton R, Harrison D, Hobday AJ, Plagányi ÉE, Westcott DA. Large-scale interventions may delay decline of the Great Barrier Reef. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201296. [PMID: 34007456 PMCID: PMC8080001 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
On the iconic Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the cumulative impacts of tropical cyclones, marine heatwaves and regular outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) have severely depleted coral cover. Climate change will further exacerbate this situation over the coming decades unless effective interventions are implemented. Evaluating the efficacy of alternative interventions in a complex system experiencing major cumulative impacts can only be achieved through a systems modelling approach. We have evaluated combinations of interventions using a coral reef meta-community model. The model consisted of a dynamic network of 3753 reefs supporting communities of corals and CoTS connected through ocean larval dispersal, and exposed to changing regimes of tropical cyclones, flood plumes, marine heatwaves and ocean acidification. Interventions included reducing flood plume impacts, expanding control of CoTS populations, stabilizing coral rubble, managing solar radiation and introducing heat-tolerant coral strains. Without intervention, all climate scenarios resulted in precipitous declines in GBR coral cover over the next 50 years. The most effective strategies in delaying decline were combinations that protected coral from both predation (CoTS control) and thermal stress (solar radiation management) deployed at large scale. Successful implementation could expand opportunities for climate action, natural adaptation and socioeconomic adjustment by at least one to two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Condie
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kenneth R. N. Anthony
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Russ C. Babcock
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark E. Baird
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Roger Beeden
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Rebecca Gorton
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Daniel Harrison
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
- Marine Studies Centre, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alistair J. Hobday
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Éva E. Plagányi
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Matthews SA, Mellin C, Pratchett MS. Larval connectivity and water quality explain spatial distribution of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks across the Great Barrier Reef. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2020; 87:223-258. [PMID: 33293012 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2020.08.007] [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] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Outbreaks of the coral eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthasts cf. solaris) occur in cyclical waves along the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), contributing significantly to the decline in hard coral cover over the past 30 years. One main difficulty faced by scientists and managers alike, is understanding the relative importance of contributing factors to COTS outbreaks such as increased nutrients and water quality, larval connectivity, fishing pressure, and abiotic conditions. We analysed COTS abundances from the most recent outbreak (2010-2018) using both boosted regression trees and generalised additive models to identify key predictors of COTS outbreaks. We used this approach to predict the suitability of each reef on the GBR for COTS outbreaks at three different levels: (1) reefs with COTS present intermittently (Presence); (2) reefs with COTS widespread and present in most samples and (Prevalence) (3) reefs experiencing outbreak levels of COTS (Outbreak). We also compared the utility of two auto-covariates accounting for spatial autocorrelation among observations, built using weighted inverse distance and weighted larval connectivity to reefs supporting COTS populations, respectively. Boosted regression trees (BRT) and generalised additive mixed models (GAMM) were combined in an ensemble model to reduce the effect of model uncertainty on predictions of COTS presence, prevalence and outbreaks. Our results from best performing models indicate that temperature (Degree Heating Week exposure: relative importance=13.1%) and flood plume exposure (13.0%) are the best predictors of COTS presence, variability in chlorophyll concentration (12.6%) and flood plume exposure (8.2%) best predicted COTS prevalence and larval connectivity potential (22.7%) and minimum sea surface temperature (8.0%) are the best predictors of COTS outbreaks. Whether the reef was open or closed to fishing, however, had no significant effect on either COTS presence, prevalence or outbreaks in BRT results (<0.5%). We identified major hotspots of COTS activity primarily on the mid shelf central GBR and on the southern Swains reefs. This study provides the first empirical comparison of the major hypotheses of COTS outbreaks and the first validated predictions of COTS outbreak potential at the GBR scale incorporating connectivity, nutrients, biophysical and spatial variables, providing a useful aid to management of this pest species on the GBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Matthews
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
| | - C Mellin
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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40
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Sandin SA, Eynaud Y, Williams GJ, Edwards CB, McNamara DE. Modelling the linkage between coral assemblage structure and pattern of environmental forcing. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200565. [PMID: 33204448 PMCID: PMC7657928 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Geographical comparisons suggest that coral reef communities can vary as a function of their environmental context, differing not just in terms of total coral cover but also in terms of relative abundance (or coverage) of coral taxa. While much work has considered how shifts in benthic reef dynamics can shift dominance of stony corals relative to algal and other benthic competitors, the relative performance of coral types under differing patterns of environmental disturbance has received less attention. We construct an empirically-grounded numerical model to simulate coral assemblage dynamics under a spectrum of disturbance regimes, contrasting hydrodynamic disturbances (which cause morphology-specific, whole-colony mortality) with disturbances that cause mortality independently of colony morphology. We demonstrate that the relative representation of morphological types within a coral assemblage shows limited connection to the intensity, and essentially no connection to the frequency, of hydrodynamic disturbances. Morphological types of corals that are more vulnerable to mortality owing to hydrodynamic disturbance tend to grow faster, with rates sufficiently high to recover benthic coverage during inter-disturbance intervals. By contrast, we show that factors causing mortality without linkage to morphology, including those that cause only partial colony loss, more dramatically shift coral assemblage structure, disproportionately favouring fast-growing tabular morphologies. Furthermore, when intensity and likelihood of such disturbances increases, assemblages do not adapt smoothly and instead reveal a heightened level of temporal variance, beyond which reefs demonstrate drastically reduced coral coverage. Our findings highlight that adaptation of coral reef benthic assemblages depends on the nature of disturbances, with hydrodynamic disturbances having little to no effect on the capacity of reef coral communities to resist and recover with sustained coral dominance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A. Sandin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA
| | - Yoan Eynaud
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA
| | - Gareth J. Williams
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Clinton B. Edwards
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA
| | - Dylan E. McNamara
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography/Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
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An Investigation into the Genetic History of Japanese Populations of Three Starfish, Acanthaster planci, Linckia laevigata, and Asterias amurensis, Based on Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequences. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2519-2528. [PMID: 32471940 PMCID: PMC7341131 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (COTS), are common in coral reefs of Indo-Pacific Ocean. Since they are highly fecund predators of corals, periodic outbreaks of COTS cause substantial loss of healthy coral reefs. Using complete mitochondrial DNA sequences, we here examined how COTS outbreaks in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan are reflected by the profile of their population genetics. Population genetics of the blue starfish, Linckia laevigata, which lives in the Ryukyu Archipelago, but not break out and the northern Pacific sea star, Asterias amurensis, which lives in colder seawater around the main Islands of Japan, were also examined as controls. Our results showed that As. amurensis has at least two local populations that diverged approximately 4.7 million years ago (MYA), and no genetic exchanges have occurred between the populations since then. Linckia laevigata shows two major populations in the Ryukyu Archipelago that likely diverged ∼6.8 MYA. The two populations, each comprised of individuals collected from coast of the Okinawa Island and those from the Ishigaki Island, suggest the presence of two cryptic species in the Ryukyu Archipelago. On the other hand, population genetics of COTS showed a profile quite different from those of Asterias and Linckia. At least five lineages of COTS have arisen since their divergence ∼0.7 MYA, and each of the lineages is present at the Okinawa Island, Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island. These results suggest that COTS have experienced repeated genetic bottlenecks that may be associated with or caused by repeated outbreaks.
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Burn D, Matthews S, Caballes CF, Chandler JF, Pratchett MS. Biogeographical variation in diurnal behaviour of Acanthaster planci versus Acanthaster cf. solaris. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228796. [PMID: 32078663 PMCID: PMC7032693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.) are among the most extensively studied coral reef taxa, largely owing to their devastating impacts on live coral cover during population outbreaks. Much of this research has however, been conducted in the western Pacific, although it is now apparent that there are several distinct species of Acanthaster spp. across the Indo-Pacific. The purpose of this study was to test for biogeographical variation in behaviour, comparing between Acanthaster planci at Lankanfushi Island in the Maldives and Acanthaster cf. solaris at Rib Reef on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The extent to which CoTS were exposed (cf. concealed within or beneath coral substrates) was substantially higher (63.14%) for A. planci at Lankanfushi Island, compared to 28.55% for A. cf. solaris at Rib Reef, regardless of time of day. More importantly, only 52% of individuals were exposed at night at Rib Reef compared to >97% at reefs around Lankanfushi Island. Biogeographic variation in the behaviour of Acanthaster spp. was independent of differences in the size structure of starfish and coral cover at specific study sites, but may be attributable to other environmental factors such as habitat complexity or prey availability. This is the first study to explicitly test for biogeographical differences in the biology and behaviour of Acanthaster spp., potentially linked to species-specific differences in the causes and explanations of population outbreaks. However, we did not find evidence at this stage of differences in behavior among regions, rather behavioural differences observed were most likely products of different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Burn
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samuel Matthews
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ciemon F. Caballes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Ultra Coral Australia, Paget, Queensland, Australia
| | - Josie F. Chandler
- Gili Lankanfushi Resort, Lankanfushi Island, North Male Atoll, Maldives
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Dumas P, Fiat S, Durbano A, Peignon C, Mou-Tham G, Ham J, Gereva S, Kaku R, Chateau O, Wantiez L, De Ramon N'Yeurt A, Adjeroud M. Citizen Science, a promising tool for detecting and monitoring outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster spp. Sci Rep 2020; 10:291. [PMID: 31937842 PMCID: PMC6959260 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57251-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring potentially devastating coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) populations at scales relevant to management is a challenging task. Here, we investigated a citizen science approach to detect COTS outbreaks and prioritize management responses. Between 2014 and 2018, 38 000 COTS were recorded through 641 online observation reports submitted across New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji by private stakeholders (51%), NGOs (22%), business operator (11%), research/government agencies (16%). COTS were observed in multiple areas, including in remote/inhabited reefs where they had never been reported. A three-level classification was developed to discriminate risk areas and propose operational guidelines to streamline management actions. About two-thirds of reports had low abundances (<10 starfish sighted) and could be addressed with low priority. Verification surveys at 65 reef sites confirmed outbreaks in half of the cases, along with high peak densities (7 000 ind.ha-1). Combining professional and non-professional observers increased the detection range (+27%) and the number of COTS detections (+129%). Citizen reports were eventually followed by removal campaigns organized within diverse institutional frameworks. While citizen monitoring has intrinsic limitations, we advocate that it constitutes a complementary and promising approach to support the ongoing management efforts in all countries affected by COTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Dumas
- IRD, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, BP A5, Nouméa, New Caledonia.
- Fisheries Department of Vanuatu, PMB 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu.
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "Corail", 58 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France.
| | - Sylvie Fiat
- IRD, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, BP A5, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | | | | | | | - Jayven Ham
- Fisheries Department of Vanuatu, PMB 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Sompert Gereva
- Fisheries Department of Vanuatu, PMB 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Rocky Kaku
- Fisheries Department of Vanuatu, PMB 9045, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Olivier Chateau
- Aquarium des Lagons de Nouméa, 61 promenade Roger Laroque, 98 800, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Laurent Wantiez
- Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4, 98851, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Antoine De Ramon N'Yeurt
- Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "Corail", 58 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France
- IRD, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, UPVD 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France
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45
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Matthews SA, Shoemaker K, Pratchett MS, Mellin C. COTSMod: A spatially explicit metacommunity model of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish and coral recovery. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2020; 87:259-290. [PMID: 33293013 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2020.09.001] [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] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Outbreaks of the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) have been responsible for 40% of the decline in coral cover on the GBR over the last 35 years. With the intensity and frequency of bleaching and cyclonic disturbances increasing, effectively managing these outbreaks may allow reefs an opportunity to recover from these cumulative impacts. Significant research effort has been directed toward developing regional scale models for COTS outbreaks, but these have yet to be fit explicitly to long term time series at the scale of the entire GBR, nor do previous research efforts incorporate explicit estimates of cumulative disturbance history. We developed a stage-based metapopulation model for COTS at a 1×1km resolution using long-term time series and modelled estimates of COTS larval connectivity, nutrient concentrations and important vital rates estimated from the literature. We coupled this metapopulation model to an existing spatially explicit model of coral cover growth, disturbance and recovery across the GBR from 1996 to 2017 to create a metacommunity model. Our results were validated against a spatially and temporally extensive dataset of COTS and coral cover across the GBR, predicting an average coral decline of 1.3% p.a. across the GBR, and accurately recreating coral cover trajectories (mean prediction error=7.1%) and COTS outbreak classification (accuracy=80%). Sensitivity analyses revealed that overall model accuracy was most sensitive to larval predation (boosted regression tree; relative importance=46.7%) and two parameters defining juvenile density dependent mortality (21.5% and 17.5%). The COTS model underestimated peak COTS densities particularly in the Swains and Townsville sectors of the reef, while overestimating COTS density during non-outbreak years. A better understanding of inter-annual variability in larval connectivity, and regionally variable density dependence for adult COTS life stages may improve model fit during these extreme outbreak events. Our model provides a platform to develop upon, and with improvements to estimates of larval connectivity and larval predation could be used to simulate the effects of implementing varying combinations of COTS interventions. This research highlights the importance of the early life history stages of COTS as drivers of outbreak dynamics, emphasizing the need for further empirical research to estimate these parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Matthews
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
| | - K Shoemaker
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - C Mellin
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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van Woesik R, Cacciapaglia CW. Carbonate production of Micronesian reefs suppressed by thermal anomalies and Acanthaster as sea-level rises. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224887. [PMID: 31730649 PMCID: PMC6857905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are essential to millions of island inhabitants. Yet, coral reefs are threatened by thermal anomalies associated with climate change and by local disturbances that include land-use change, pollution, and the coral-eating sea star Acanthaster solaris. In combination, these disturbances cause coral mortality that reduce the capacity of reefs to produce enough carbonate to keep up with sea-level rise. This study compared the reef-building capacity of shallow-water inner, patch, and outer reefs in the two islands of Pohnpei and Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia. We identified which reefs were likely to keep up with sea-level rise under different climate-change scenarios, and estimated whether there were differences across habitats in the threshold of percentage coral cover at which net carbonate production becomes negative. We also quantified the influence of A. solaris on carbonate production. Whereas the northwestern outer reefs of Pohnpei and Kosrae had the highest net rates of carbonate production (18.5 and 16.4 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1, respectively), the southeastern outer reefs had the lowest rates of carbonate production (1.2–1.3 and 0.7 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1, respectively). The patch reefs of Pohnpei had on average higher net carbonate production rates (9.5 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1) than the inner reefs of both Pohnpei and Kosrae (7.0 and 7.8 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1, respectively). A. solaris were common on Kosrae and caused an average reduction in carbonate production of 0.6 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1 on Kosraean reefs. Northern outer reefs are the most likely habitats to keep up with sea-level rise in both Pohnpei and Kosrae. Overall, the inner reefs of Pohnpei and Kosrae need ~ 5.5% more coral cover to generate the same amount of carbonate as outer reefs. Therefore, inner reefs need special protection from land-use change and local pollution to keep pace with sea-level rise under all climate-change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global Ecology, Department of Ocean Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Christopher William Cacciapaglia
- Institute for Global Ecology, Department of Ocean Engineering and Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, United States of America
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Larcombe P, Ridd P. Viewpoint: The need for a formalised system of Quality Assurance for Environmental Policy-Science and for improved policy advice to Government on the Great Barrier Reef. Reply to - "Support for improved quality control but misplaced criticism of GBR science" by Britta Schaffelke, Katharina Fabricius, Frederieke Kroon, Jon Brodie, Glenn De'ath, Roger Shaw, Diane Tarte, Michael Warne, Peter Thorburn (Marine Pollution Bulletin 129: 357-363, 2018). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 143:50-57. [PMID: 31789165 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Piers Larcombe
- RPS MetOcean Pty Ltd, 31 Bishop St., Jolimont 6014, Australia; School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia (M004), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Peter Ridd
- 34 Mango Avenue, Mundingburra, Townsville 4812, Australia
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Tebbett SB, Bellwood DR. Functional links on coral reefs: Urchins and triggerfishes, a cautionary tale. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 141:255-263. [PMID: 30249458 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Urchins are ubiquitous components of coral reefs ecosystems, with significant roles in bioerosion and herbivory. By controlling urchin densities, triggerfishes have been identified as keystone predators. However, the functional linkages between urchins and triggerfishes, in terms of distributional patterns and concomitant effects on ecosystem processes, are not well understood, especially in relatively unexploited systems. To address this we censused urchins and triggerfishes on two cross-shelf surveys on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) at the same times and locations. We also evaluated the role of urchins in bioerosion. Although urchin abundance and triggerfish biomass varied by 80% and nearly 900% across sites, respectively, this variability was driven primarily by shelf position with no evidence of top-down control on urchins by triggerfishes. Low urchin abundances meant urchins only played a minor role in bioerosion. We highlight the potential variability in functional links, and contributions to ecosystem processes, among regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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Wilmes JC, Caballes CF, Cowan ZL, Hoey AS, Lang BJ, Messmer V, Pratchett MS. Contributions of pre- versus post-settlement processes to fluctuating abundance of crown-of-thorns starfishes (Acanthaster spp.). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 135:332-345. [PMID: 30301045 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Numerous hypotheses have been put forward to account for population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfishes (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.), which place specific importance on either pre- or post-settlement mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to specifically assess the contributions of pre- versus post-settlement processes in the population dynamics of CoTS. Given the immense reproductive potential of CoTS (>100 million eggs per female), persistent high densities would appear inevitable unless there were significant constraints on larval development, settlement success, and/or early post-settlement growth and survival. In terms of population constraints, pre- and post-settlement processes are both important and have additive effects to suppress densities of juvenile and adult CoTS within reef ecosystems. It is difficult, however, to assess the relative contributions of pre- versus post-settlement processes to population outbreaks, especially given limited data on settlement rates, as well as early post-settlement growth and mortality. Prioritising this research is important to resolve potential effects of anthropogenic activities (e.g., fishing) and habitat degradation on changing population dynamics of CoTS, and will also improve management effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Wilmes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Red Fish Blue Fish Marine, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
| | - Ciemon F Caballes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Ultra Coral Australia, Paget, QLD 4740, Australia
| | - Zara-Louise Cowan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE 19958, USA
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Bethan J Lang
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Vanessa Messmer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
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Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star Acanthaster cf. solaris Has Tissue-Characteristic Microbiomes with Potential Roles in Health and Reproduction. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00181-18. [PMID: 29728381 PMCID: PMC6007096 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00181-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns sea stars (CoTS; Acanthaster species complex) cause substantial coral loss; hence, there is considerable interest in developing prevention and control strategies. We characterized the microbiome of captive CoTS and assessed whether dysbiosis was evident in sea stars during a disease event. Most tissue types had a distinct microbiome. The exception was female gonads, in which the microbiomes were highly variable among individuals. Male gonads were dominated (>97% of reads) by a single Mollicutes-related operational taxonomic unit (OTU). Detailed phylogenetic and microscopy analysis demonstrated the presence of a novel Spiroplasma-related bacterium in the spermatogenic layer. Body wall samples had high relative abundance (43 to 64% of reads) of spirochetes, likely corresponding to subcuticular symbionts reported from many echinoderms. Tube feet were characterized by Hyphomonadaceae (24 to 55% of reads). Pyloric cecal microbiomes had high alpha diversity, comprising many taxa commonly found in gastrointestinal systems. The order Oceanospirillales (genera Endozoicomonas and Kistimonas) was detected in all tissues. A microbiome shift occurred in diseased individuals although differences between tissue types were retained. The relative abundance of spirochetes was significantly reduced in diseased individuals. Kistimonas was present in all diseased individuals and significantly associated with diseased tube feet, but its role in disease causation is unknown. While Arcobacter was significantly associated with diseased tissues and Vibrionaceae increased in diversity, no single OTU was detected in all diseased individuals, suggesting opportunistic proliferation of these taxa in this case. This study shows that CoTS have tissue-characteristic bacterial communities and identifies taxa that could play a role in reproduction and host health. IMPORTANCE Coral-eating crown-of-thorns sea stars (CoTS; Acanthaster species complex) are native to the Indo-Pacific, but during periodic population outbreaks they can reach extreme densities (>1,000 starfish per hectare) and function as a pest species. On the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, CoTS have long been considered one of the major contributors to coral loss. There has been significant investment in a targeted control program using lethal injection, and there is interest in developing additional and complementary technologies that can increase culling efficiencies. The biology of CoTS has been studied extensively, but little is known about their associated microbiome. This cultivation-independent analysis of the CoTS microbiome provides a baseline for future analyses targeting the functional role of symbionts, the identification of pathogens, or the development of reproduction manipulators.
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