Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abigail Engleman, Kieran Cox, Sandra Brooke
Summary: The study highlights the contribution of dead coral to reef complexity and the potential implications for coral reef conservation. Dead coral maintains more varied profile curvatures and higher fractal dimensions compared to live or non-coral substrate, providing alternative insights into the mechanisms driving structural complexity on reefs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leah Maurer, Lauren Puishys, Nancy Kim Pham Ho, Craig Dahlgren, Tanya Y. Kamerman, Scott Martin, M. Andrew Stamper
Summary: This study analyzes the survival and design durability of two coral nurseries in The Bahamas, showing that the design is very durable with materials showing a life expectancy of five years or more. The survivorship ranged from 70 to 97% and only two maintenance visits a year were required.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brett M. Lewis, David S. Suggett, Peter J. Prentis, Luke D. Nothdurft
Summary: This study establishes an attachment model for Acropora millepora coral and provides insights into the key steps of asexual propagation. The model allows for evaluating attachment effectiveness, optimizing species-substrate compatibility, and achieving successful coral outplanting.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diane L. Brinkman, Florita Flores, Heidi M. Luter, F. Mikaela Nordborg, Maxime Brooks, Thomas F. Parkerton, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: The risks posed by petroleum spills to coral reefs are not well understood. This study aims to quantify the toxicity thresholds of aromatic hydrocarbons to reef-building corals. The results show that Acropora millepora is more sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons compared to other corals and aquatic taxa.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joicye Hernandez-Zulueta, Leopoldo Diaz-Perez, Alex Echeverria-Vega, Gabriela Georgina Nava-Martinez, Miguel angel Garcia-Salgado, Fabian A. Rodriguez-Zaragoza
Summary: This study used sequencing analysis to investigate the bacterial microbiota associated with different coral species and sediments, and their relationship with environmental variables. The results showed that the bacterial assemblages in different corals and sediments varied and were influenced by environmental factors. However, no significant differences were found in the bacterial assemblages between different sites for apparently healthy corals and sediments. The relative abundance of different bacterial families also varied in coral, sediment, and seawater samples.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin M. M. Mason, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Tomohiro Sugihara, Makoto Iwasaki, Vladlen Slepak, David J. J. Miller, Yusuke Sakai, Akihisa Terakita
Summary: We identified six opsins from a coral species, including three novel opsins. We characterized the properties of four of these opsins and found that opsins 1 and 6 can activate Gs-type G protein in a light-dependent manner, with maximum sensitivities at 472 nm and 476 nm, respectively. Opsin 4 can induce intracellular Ca2+ increases through light-dependency. Our findings reveal that corals possess multiple opsins that regulate light-dependent signaling through different cascades.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geology
Tara R. Clark, George Roff, Tess Chapman, Hannah Markham-Summers, Nicholas M. Hammerman, Faye Liu, Yuexing Feng, John M. Pandolfi, Jian-xin Zhao
Summary: The overall status of many reefs in the Great Barrier Reef is uncertain due to the lack of detailed broad-scale studies. The relative role of various threats in impacting individual reefs is generally unclear. A novel approach using uranium-thorium dating of dead corals was adopted to reconstruct historical disturbance events at Rib and Davies Reefs, providing a reliable benchmark to assess recovery and monitor coral communities effectively.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sanaz Hazraty-Kari, Masaya Morita, Parviz Tavakoli-Kolour, Saki Harii
Summary: Seawater temperature rise due to climate change negatively impacts coral reef communities. The study investigated the response of Acropora tenuis larvae to thermal stress and its effect on their thermal tolerance during the juvenile stage. Larvae were exposed to different temperatures and their settlement success and survival were assessed. The results showed that larval thermal stress did not enhance thermal tolerance in juveniles, posing a potential threat to their resilience against heatwaves.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dana E. Williams, Allan J. Bright, Olivia M. Williamson, Amelia Moura, Mark C. Ladd
Summary: This article provides the first reports of spawning activity by outplanted Acropora palmata colonies on reefs in Florida, USA. The observation of light spawning from A. palmata colonies in 2021 and 2022 indicates that restoration efforts for A. palmata may be close to achieving self-sustaining populations that can produce viable larvae. The gametes collected from the outplanted colonies yielded high fertilization rates and viable larvae, suggesting the potential for an increase in the population's genotypic diversity upon successful recruitment to the reef.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Emad Hussein, Abdul-Salam F. Juhmani, Jacob H. Jacob, Mahmoud A. Telfah, Mutaz A. Abd Al-razaq, Fuad A. Al-Horani, Mazhar Salim Al Zoubi, Hanan Malkawi
Summary: This study aims to understand the response of corals to local environmental stressors and the variation in coral mucus-associated bacterial communities. The results showed that the bacterial communities were influenced by local anthropogenic impacts and coral diseases, and some bacterial isolates had antibacterial activity.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Christine Ferrier-Pages, Miguel C. Leal, Ricardo Calado, Dominik W. Schmid, Frederic Bertucci, David Lecchini, Denis Allemand
Summary: This review discusses the impact of underwater noise on coral reef organisms, with a focus on how different factors influence the sensitivity of organisms to noise. It highlights the need for measures from governments, the shipping industry and individual users to address global noise emission on coral reefs and emphasizes the importance of policies and research in managing this issue.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Florita Flores, Joseane A. Marques, Sven Uthicke, Rebecca Fisher, Frances Patel, Sarit Kaserzon, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: This study found that the Great Barrier Reef is negatively impacted by the combined effects of the contaminant diuron and climate change, particularly affecting the physiological responses of corals, with photosynthesis being significantly affected. It suggests that water quality guideline values may need to be adjusted as climate conditions change.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexander B. Modys, Anton Oleinik, Richard A. Mortlock, Lauren T. Toth, William F. Precht
Summary: This study establishes a new high-resolution record of coral community development off southeast Florida during a period of variable climate in the late Holocene. The findings indicate that cold-sensitive reef-building coral communities expanded to the high-latitude reefs off southeast Florida during a period of regional warming, suggesting a link between regional oceanographic climate and the expansion of these coral communities. This has important implications for future range expansions of reef-building coral communities in response to modern climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leila Chapron, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Dustin W. Kemp, Ann M. Hulver, Elise F. Keister, Anastasios Stathakopoulos, Lucy A. Bartlett, Erin O. Lyons, Andrea G. Grottoli
Summary: Transplanted Acropora palmata colonies along Florida's offshore coral reef show a west-to-east gradient in coral physiology and site-specific coral-associated microbiomes. The unique oceanographic conditions in the Dry Tortugas enhance coral growth and survivorship, influencing the microbiome. Restoration efforts in the Dry Tortugas and other areas with higher food availability could be most effective for A. palmata.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jane Xu, Oliver Mead, Aurelie Moya, Cuneyt Caglar, David J. J. Miller, Marcin Adamski, Maja Adamska
Summary: Branching scleractinian corals are niche-constructing organisms with the ability to regenerate quickly. This study identified genes involved in the regeneration process and found similarity to genes involved in wound healing and regeneration in other species. Comparing results from different experimental conditions demonstrated the feasibility of using corals as experimental models in fundamental biology research.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Shelby. E. E. Gantt, Elise. F. F. Keister, Alicia. A. A. Manfroy, Dakotah. E. E. Merck, William. K. K. Fitt, Erinn. M. M. Muller, Dustin. W. W. Kemp
Summary: The worldwide decline in coral populations has led to the development of various coral conservation and restoration groups. This study compares the physiological condition of land-based nursery corals with wild conspecific populations. The findings show that nursery corals are similar in terms of metabolism, but differ in terms of biomass, symbiotic algae pigmentation, and Symbiodiniaceae populations, indicating substantial photoacclimation processes during outplanting.
Article
Pediatrics
Cailin E. E. Kellum, Keri M. M. Kemp, Sylvie Mrug, Jennifer S. S. Pollock, Michael E. E. Seifert, Daniel I. I. Feig
Summary: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and indicators of future CVD risk, such as vascular stiffness. The impact of ACEs during adolescence is unclear, and studying the relationship between ACEs and blood pressure and vascular function is important for developing prevention strategies.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elise F. Keister, Shelby E. Gantt, Hannah G. Reich, Kira E. Turnham, Timothy G. Bateman, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp
Summary: Coral reefs worldwide are declining, but some populations in Palau, Micronesia are better adapted to survive in warmer and more acidic oceans. These coral populations can resist and recover from thermal stress better than their offshore counterparts. The difference in tissue biomass and energy reserves between the nearshore and offshore colonies may be explained by the increased metabolic demand of the warmer and more acidic nearshore environment. Despite the differences in symbiont species and prey availability, the lipid compositions of colonies from both habitats were similar. The regulation of colony biomass and energy reserves may be influenced by various factors, but they converge to a similar homeostatic set point under different environmental conditions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
William A. Norfolk, Erin K. Lipp
Summary: This study demonstrates and evaluates the effectiveness of pVSV102 plasmid as a tool for tagging Vibrio and related species. The results show that pVSV102 is a stable GFP plasmid that can be used to tag a broad range of vibrios and enable easy differentiation within complex mixtures of cells.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
William A. Norfolk, Carolina Melendez-Declet, Erin K. Lipp
Summary: The mucus membrane is the front line of defense against pathogens in corals. Understanding disease transmission in corals is complicated, but most of the established transmission pathways are associated with damage rather than evasion of immune defenses. However, this study suggests that ingestion may be an important pathway for the transmission of coral pathogens that bypasses the mucus membrane.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Kathryn P. Sutherland, Ashton Griffin, Andrew Park, James W. Porter, Scott F. Heron, C. Mark Eakin, Brett Berry, Dustin W. Kemp, Keri M. Kemp, Erin K. Lipp, John P. Wares
Summary: The declining coral populations worldwide require identification of risks and drivers leading to these declines. A predictive model for white pox disease (WPX) in Acropora palmata was developed using disease surveys and environmental data. The model revealed that colony size was the most influential predictor for WPX occurrence and water quality parameters and wind speeds also played a role. The model can support targeted management actions and disease surveillance.
DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Allison M. Lewis, Matthew R. Nitschke, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, William K. Fitt, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Todd C. LaJeunesse
Summary: This study identified five new species in the genus Cladocopium, which are widespread and have diverse hosts. These findings are important for understanding ecological research, genetic research, and conservation efforts in the face of environmental changes.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Physiology
Keri Kemp, Pooja Nagaraj, Catheryn Orihuela, Robin Lorenz, Craig Maynard, Jennifer Pollock, Traci Jester
Article
Ecology
Theresa R. Erlenbach, John P. Wares
Summary: As global temperatures warm, species must adapt to a changing climate or transition to a different location suitable for their survival. Understanding the extent to which species are able to do so, particularly keystone species, is imperative to ensuring the survival of key ecosystems. This study focuses on the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa and how populations in different regions respond to temperature changes, using a combination of oxygen consumption assays and genomic divergence analyses. The results reveal differences in oxygen consumption and gene expression between mussel populations from Georgia and Massachusetts, emphasizing the importance of studying integrative patterns of genomic and phenotypic variation in key species and their response to climate change.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
K. N. Petersen, J. P. Wares
Summary: The study reveals positive relationships between mussel density and species richness, as well as between within-species genomic diversity and density of that species in freshwater mussel communities. However, it does not robustly support the expectation of correlated genomic and species diversity. This research advances the important frontier of community-wide genomic assessment and highlights the variability in relationships among different levels of organization and interactions with the broader ecosystem.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melina Giakoumis, Gonzalo E. Pinilla-Buitrago, Lukas J. Musher, John P. Wares, Stuart J. E. Baird, Michael J. Hickerson
Summary: This study investigates hybridization and environmental selection in sea star populations in the North Atlantic. The researchers use genomic analysis and environmental models to show that hybrid zones exist and are influenced by environmental selection. These findings are important for understanding species divergence and adaptation to changing environments.
Article
Biology
Dustin W. Kemp, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Allison M. Lewis, Drew C. Wham, Robin T. Smith, Mark E. Warner, Todd C. Lajeunesse
Summary: Symbiotic mutualisms are crucial for ecosystems and species, including reef-building corals. The benefits and nutrient exchange between corals and endosymbiotic dinoflagellates are influenced by environmental conditions. This study found that corals associated with Durusdinium trenchii or Cladocopium spp. exhibited similar nutrient exchange under normal temperatures, but heat-exposed colonies with D. trenchii experienced less physiological stress while maintaining high carbon assimilation and nutrient transfer. Contrary to prevailing notions, this suggests that high-functioning mutualisms can occur in host-symbiont combinations adapted to high-temperature environments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leila Chapron, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Dustin W. Kemp, Ann M. Hulver, Elise F. Keister, Anastasios Stathakopoulos, Lucy A. Bartlett, Erin O. Lyons, Andrea G. Grottoli
Summary: Transplanted Acropora palmata colonies along Florida's offshore coral reef show a west-to-east gradient in coral physiology and site-specific coral-associated microbiomes. The unique oceanographic conditions in the Dry Tortugas enhance coral growth and survivorship, influencing the microbiome. Restoration efforts in the Dry Tortugas and other areas with higher food availability could be most effective for A. palmata.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
M. S. Popecki, J. P. Wares, K. F. Stanger-Hall
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John P. Wares
Summary: Observations have shown that biodiversity, especially coastal marine species, is redistributing itself as the environment changes. Historical surveys can help identify distribution patterns in species that are not typically monitored. A recent study found that the southern ribbed mussel, Geukensia granosissima, has almost disappeared from the Atlantic coast of Florida.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
