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
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
Environmental Sciences
Raymond B. Banister, Robert van Woesik
Summary: An integrated Bayesian approach was used to determine which Florida reefs ranked highest in terms of Acropora cervicornis colony survival from 2012 to 2018. Results showed highly variable survival rates in different regions and reefs, with lower survival rates in reefs exposed to high wave energy and higher rates in Biscayne Bay. Spatial latent effects of low survival were detected, particularly between 2015 and 2017 in the middle and upper Florida Keys, emphasizing the need for strategic outplanting of nursery-reared colonies to optimize coral population recovery in Florida.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karen L. Neely, Kevin A. Macaulay, Kate S. Lunz
Summary: The decline and causes of decline of Acropora palmata population have been studied in this research. The analysis takes into account site, habitat, seasonal, and annual variability, and indicates that the population trajectories and stressors of A. palmata can differ significantly between sites. The study also finds that there are notable differences in stressors between the forereef and backreef environments, and habitat should be considered as an important variable in assessing A. palmata populations.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Robert van Woesik, Raymond B. Banister, Erich Bartels, David S. Gilliam, Elizabeth A. Goergen, Caitlin Lustic, Kerry Maxwell, Amelia Moura, Erinn M. Muller, Stephanie Schopmeyer, R. S. Winters, Diego Lirman
Summary: This study examines the survival of nursery-reared Acropora cervicornis colonies outplanted along the Florida reef tract between 2012 and 2018. Factors influencing their survival include coral-colony size at outplanting, reef habitat, geographical subregion, and the year of monitoring. Larger colonies outplanted to back-reef and fore-reef habitats in higher latitudes showed the highest survival rates, highlighting the need for refined restoration strategies.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paul Maneval, Charles A. Jacoby, Holden E. Harris, Thomas K. Frazer
Summary: Growing corals in nurseries and outplanting them to supplement declining natural populations have shown significant progress globally. Consideration of genotype selection and nursery design and location can lead to increased production and reduced maintenance efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanna R. R. Koch, Yuen Azu, Erich Bartels, Erinn M. M. Muller
Summary: As assisted sexual reproduction becomes more common in coral reef restoration, understanding the trade-offs between reproductive output and disease resistance is crucial. This study assessed the reproductive output of A. cervicornis genets with known disease resistance or susceptibility and found a positive correlation between colony size and fecundity, as well as a negative correlation between disease susceptibility and oocyte size. These findings are important for population management and active restoration efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanna R. R. Koch, Briana Matthews, Celia Leto, Cody Engelsma, Erich Bartels
Summary: With the decline of coral reefs worldwide, there is increased investment in restoration-based interventions, including asexual and sexual propagation. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of Florida's Coral Reef and is performing critical research and restoration activities related to assisted sexual reproduction (ASR). The study aims to optimize ASR of Acropora cervicornis and provides detailed protocols and general recommendations based on years of experience in coral sexual propagation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rocio Garcia-Uruena, Sheila A. Kitchen, Nikolaos Schizas
Summary: Using a standardized SNP array, two populations of Acropora cervicornis and one population of A. palmata were identified in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The study supports previous bio-physical model predictions and suggests the Panama-Colombia gyre as a possible isolating mechanism within the western Caribbean. However, the lower genetic diversity in both species, along with their relative isolation and high levels of reef degradation, raises concerns for conservation and may require species-specific management and restoration efforts.
Article
Ecology
U. Ashley Sum Yin, Christine Yang, Harmony A. Martell
Summary: The factors that influence nursery coral growth include time, fragment type, and genotype. It was found that growth rates at 61 days were faster than at 27 days, and apical fragments grew faster than proximal fragments in 2 out of 10 genets at 61 days. There were no significant genet growth differences at 27 days, but differences were detected in 61-day growth rates, suggesting that growth differences among distinct genets may not appear before 2 months.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wyatt C. Million, Maria Ruggeri, Sibelle O'Donnell, Erich Bartels, Trinity Conn, Cory J. Krediet, Carly D. Kenkel
Summary: Genotype-by-environment interactions are crucial for the persistence and restoration strategies of tropical coral reefs. Through a transplant experiment on Acropora cervicornis, we found significant GxE effects on coral size, shape, and survivorship, with individual-level morphological plasticity positively influencing growth and survival.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Dayana Rada-Osorio, Luis A. Gomez-Lemos, Rocio Garcia-Uruena
Summary: This study aimed to document the early life history of A. cervicornis, finding that embryogenesis lasted for 63 hours and larvae began to settle 8 days after fertilization. There were no significant differences in settlement between surfaces, but survival on rugose surfaces was lower due to sediment accumulation and turf algae.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Steven W. J. Canty, Graeme Fox, Jennifer K. Rowntree, Richard F. Preziosi
Summary: The study found low genetic diversity among coral colonies in hope spots like Cordelia Bank, but demonstrated subtle genetic differences within and among banks. Despite approximately 30% clonality across each bank, each identified genotype within the banks was unique.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monica D. Schul, Dagny-Elise Anastasious, Lindsay J. Spiers, Julie L. Meyer, Thomas K. Frazer, Anya L. Brown
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of white band disease on the microbiome of Acropora cervicornis corals. The study found that healthy corals and diseased corals differed in microbial composition, and microbial communities in diseased tissues were more similar to those in healthy tissues. Additionally, the microbiome of nursery-reared corals in the ocean nursery remained stable over a two-year period.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lauren T. Toth, Travis A. Courtney, Michael A. Colella, Selena A. Kupfner Johnson, Robert R. Ruzicka
Summary: Coral-reef degradation is causing reductions in reef-building capacity and its associated functions. The persistence of these functions depends on coral-reef management's ability to balance reef accretion and erosion. This study reconstructs the carbonate budgets of Florida Keys reefs from 1996 to 2019 and finds that most reefs had positive budgets historically, but declines in coral populations caused a shift to negative budgets. The study also suggests that coral restoration has the potential to mitigate declines in reef accretion.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jay Fisch, Crawford Drury, Erica K. Towle, Rivah N. Winter, Margaret W. Miller
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelly E. Spear, Alain Duran, Margaret W. Miller, Deron E. Burkepile
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2019)
Article
Ecology
J. Grace Klinges, Stephanie M. Rosales, Ryan McMinds, Elizabeth C. Shaver, Andrew A. Shantz, Esther C. Peters, Michael Eitel, Gert Woerheide, Koty H. Sharp, Deron E. Burkepile, Brian R. Silliman, Rebecca L. Vega Thurber
Correction
Ecology
J. Grace Klinges, Stephanie M. Rosales, Ryan McMinds, Elizabeth C. Shaver, Andrew A. Shantz, Esther C. Peters, Michael Eitel, Gert Woerheide, Koty H. Sharp, Deron E. Burkepile, Brian R. Silliman, Rebecca L. Vega Thurber
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
John Everett Parkinson, Andrew C. Baker, Iliana B. Baums, Sarah W. Davies, Andrea G. Grottoli, Sheila A. Kitchen, Mikhail V. Matz, Margaret W. Miller, Andrew A. Shantz, Carly D. Kenkel
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Fisheries
Sarah A. Gignoux-Wolfsohn, William F. Precht, Esther C. Peters, Brooke E. Gintert, Leslie S. Kaufman
DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mary C. Bridges, Cheryl M. Woodley, Esther C. Peters, Lisa A. May, Sylvia B. Galloway
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jan H. Landsberg, Yasunari Kiryu, Esther C. Peters, Patrick W. Wilson, Noretta Perry, Yvonne Waters, Kerry E. Maxwell, Lindsay K. Huebner, Thierry M. Work
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Margaret W. Miller, Kelly R. W. Latijnhouwers, Aric Bickel, Sandra Mendoza-Quiroz, Mark Schick, Keoki Burton, Anastazia T. Banaszak
Summary: This study presents preliminary results on settlement yield of coral larvae cultured in floating mesocosms, showing that specific facilities can effectively produce coral larvae that can be transplanted onto reefs. This method has great potential in restoring coral reef populations and genetic diversity.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carly J. Randall, Christine Giuliano, Katie Allen, Aric Bickel, Margaret Miller, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: Coral seeding is a promising intervention for reef restoration, but the high mortality of newly settled corals in degraded environments poses a challenge. This study tested different ceramic seeding-device designs and found that survival rates were moderate across the designs. However, there was a significant variation in survival rates between sites, suggesting that environmental conditions and community constituents may impact the success of coral seeding. Further investigations are needed to understand the drivers of coral survival and optimize the placement of seeding devices.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Anastazia T. Banaszak, Kristen L. Marhaver, Margaret W. Miller, Aaron C. Hartmann, Rebecca Albright, Mary Hagedorn, Peter L. Harrison, Kelly R. W. Latijnhouwers, Sandra Mendoza Quiroz, Valeria Pizarro, Valerie F. Chamberland
Summary: Reversing coral reef decline requires reducing environmental threats and actively restoring reef ecological structure and function. Coral breeding is a promising approach to reestablish genetically diverse coral communities, but currently faces challenges of low survival and limited spatial scale and species diversity. To increase the effectiveness and scale of coral breeding in restoration, research and cooperative innovation efforts should prioritize expanding restoration sites and species, improving broodstock selection, enhancing culture conditions, and scaling up infrastructure and technologies.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
