Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Langenkaemper, Aksel Alstad Mogstad, Ingrid Myrnes Hansen, Thierry Baussant, Oystein Bergsagel, Ingunn Nilssen, Tone Karin Frost, Tim Wilhelm Nattkemper
Summary: Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a promising technology for environmental monitoring, but its high dimensionality and complexity make the analysis challenging. This study investigated the impact of different stressor exposure patterns on the spectrum of cold water coral through laboratory experiments. A new software tool called HypIX was developed to explore the relationships between spectral signatures and experimental parameters in hyperspectral datasets. The results showed that corals exposed to particles had a larger change rate in spectrum, and the responses varied among coral samples, indicating individual tolerance levels. The proposed HypIX workflows can provide reproducible HSI analysis results.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erik E. Cordes, Amanda W. J. Demopoulos, Andrew J. Davies, Ryan Gasbarro, Alexandria C. Rhoads, Elizabeth Lobecker, Derek Sowers, Jason D. Chaytor, Cheryl L. Morrison, Alexis M. Weinnig, Sandra Brooke, Jay J. Lunden, Furu Mienis, Samantha B. Joye, Andrea M. Quattrini, Tracey T. Sutton, Catherine S. McFadden, Jill R. Bourque, Jennifer P. McClain-Counts, Brian D. Andrews, Melissa J. Betters, Peter J. Etnoyer, Gary A. Wolff, Bernie B. Bernard, James M. Brooks, Michael K. Rasser, Caitlin Adams
Summary: Cold-water coral reefs are important ecosystems supporting diverse communities. Recent surveys off the U.S. east coast have discovered a large reef complex on the Blake Plateau, with extreme temperature shifts and strong currents. The study also reveals unexplored habitat areas suitable for coral growth.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Leila Chapron, Pierre E. Galand, Audrey M. Pruski, Erwan Peru, Gilles Vetion, Sarah Robin, Franck Lartaud
Summary: The study found that cold-water corals show changes in their microbiome, lower energy reserves, and decreased skeletal growth at warmer temperatures, while both species quickly lose their specific bacterial signature and experience reduced physiological activity followed by death at extreme temperatures. In addition, the corals' negative response to colder temperatures suggests they are living close to their thermal optimum in the Mediterranean Sea. The species-specific response to temperature change highlights the potential dramatic impact of global warming on deep-sea reef-builders and associated biodiversity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ryan Gasbarro, Derek Sowers, Alex Margolin, Erik E. Cordes
Summary: Climate change is reshaping the planet's biodiversity, and proactive management of species and habitats based on climate predictions is necessary. This study builds habitat suitability models for Lophelia pertusa, a reef-forming coral, in the southeast United States and projects its occurrence probability in the future. The results reveal the current extent of reef habitat in the region and identify key areas for conservation.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lindsay Beazley, Ellen Kenchington, Michelle Korabik, Derek Fenton, Marty King
Summary: The discovery of a cold-water coral reef on the southeast edge of the Scotian Shelf in Canada in 2003 led to the establishment of the Lophelia Coral Conservation Area (LCCA) in 2004 to prevent further damage. Through the analysis of benthic images, it was found that the LCCA has been effective in facilitating the recovery of benthic communities, with an increase in epibenthic megafaunal species density and abundance within its boundaries. Monitoring of the reef structure every 7-10 years is recommended to evaluate the settlement and growth of deep-water corals.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Janina Vanessa Buescher, Armin Uwe Form, Max Wisshak, Rainer Kiko, Ulf Riebesell
Summary: The physiological sensitivity of cold-water corals to ocean change, particularly the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on dead coral framework, is poorly understood. This laboratory experiment investigated the effects of temperature and pCO(2) levels on the survival, growth, respiration, and degradation of cold-water coral. The results showed that warming promoted calcification while increasing pCO(2) led to decreased calcification and enhanced dissolution. Acidification initially mitigated the negative effects of warming on growth but at higher acidification levels, dissolution prevailed. Respiration rates increased with warming but were slightly suppressed by acidification. The study also found that acidification accelerated the degradation of dead coral framework. These findings suggest that long-term impacts beyond the projected levels of this century will lead to increased mortality and compromise the structural integrity of cold-water coral reefs.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diana C. Ballesteros-Contreras, Lina M. Barrios, Richard Preziosi
Summary: In 2013, Colombia established the first Deep Corals National Park, which serves as habitat for reef builders and other species. To improve the study of deep-sea coral habitats, new genetic markers were developed and tested in samples from the park.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
S. J. Hennige, A. I. Larsson, C. Orejas, A. Gori, L. H. De Clippele, Y. C. Lee, G. Jimeno, K. Georgoulas, N. A. Kamenos, J. M. Roberts
Summary: The occurrence and proliferation of reef-forming corals are essential for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Understanding the ratio of live : dead coral through the 'Goldilocks Principle' can help model coral growth and stability, showing how corals optimize their habitat through engineering. By utilizing particle imaging velocimetry and numerical modelling, we can investigate the future of coral reef structures and the biodiversity they support.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vilhelm Fagerstrom, Goran Brostrom, Ann Larsson
Summary: The study reveals that pre-competent L. pertusa larvae exhibit upward swimming behavior, aiding in their drift near the surface in strong currents. However, their swimming speed decreases in the presence of turbulence, particularly near ocean boundaries. This new insight enhances understanding of the species' potential for long-distance dispersal and population connectivity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guillem Corbera, Claudio Lo Iacono, Gonzalo Simarro, Jordi Grinyo, Stefano Ambroso, Veerle A. Huvenne, Furu Mienis, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Ines Martins, Beatriz Mano, Covadonga Orejas, Ann Larsson, Sebastian Hennige, Andrea Gori
Summary: Despite being biodiversity hotspots, there is a lack of quantitative experimental studies on the main processes driving the morphological development of cold-water coral reefs. In this study, a flume experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of unidirectional flow on the growth and physiological condition of Lophelia pertusa. The results showed that the presence of coral framework influenced water flow dynamics and significantly affected coral growth and stress-related enzyme expression. Further experiments are needed to fully understand how variations in water hydrodynamics impact particle encounter and ion intake rates by coral nubbins located in different parts of a reef.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Carlos E. Gomez, Andrea Gori, Alexis M. Weinnig, Adam Hallaj, Hee Jin Chung, Erik E. Cordes
Summary: Seawater temperature significantly affects the metabolic response of cold-water corals, especially along the Southeast United States continental margin. Short-term experiments showed that temperature increase leads to increased metabolic functions and decreased feeding rates, potentially causing temperature-induced metabolic stress.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Uwe Wolfram, Marta Pena Fernandez, Samuel McPhee, Ewan Smith, Rainer J. Beck, Jonathan D. Shephard, Ali Ozel, Craig S. Erskine, Janina Buscher, Jurgen Titschack, J. Murray Roberts, Sebastian J. Hennige
Summary: Ocean acidification threatens deep-sea corals, leading to rapid loss of their reef habitat. Through experiments and models, we found that cold-water corals have remarkable mechanical properties, with strength surpassing concrete and nacre. Despite future oceanic conditions, their strength remains, albeit with reduced stiffness. Our models demonstrate how increased porosity increases the risk of coral habitat destruction. These findings aid conservation and management efforts for vulnerable marine ecosystems.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Kristina K. Beck, Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb, Jurgen Laudien, Guenter Foersterra, Verena Haeussermann, Humberto E. Gonzalez, Juan Pablo Espinoza, Claudio Richter, Marlene Wall
Summary: The cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus in the Comau Fjord of Chile benefits from stable environmental conditions and shows high adaptability to new environments. Additionally, there is an inverse relationship between coral fitness and environmental variability.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Giovanni Sanna, Janina V. V. Buescher, Andre Freiwald
Summary: This study compares the structural differences between cold-water corals and offshore corals using 3D scanning technology and finds that cold-water corals have higher volume compactness and surface complexity. The study also reveals that the structure of cold-water corals is influenced by current speed, while surface complexity is not significantly affected by current speed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Heran, Juergen Laudien, Rhian G. Waller, Verena Haussermann, Guenter Forsterra, Humberto E. Gonzalez, Claudio Richter
Summary: Little is known about the biology of cold-water corals, but through a three-year aquarium experiment, researchers described the reproductive mode, larval release periodicity, and early life stages of the solitary scleractinian coral Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) huinayensis. The study found that C. huinayensis is a brooder that releases planula larvae throughout the year, and the larvae undergo metamorphosis and develop tentacles after settling.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xinze Lu, Geoffrey J. Gilleaudeau, Brian Kendall
Summary: The Late Ordovician mass extinction is the first major extinction event in the Phanerozoic, but the reasons for the decline in global biodiversity before the extinction are not well understood.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Junyao Kang, Daniel D. Gregory, Benjamin Gill, Shiqiang Huang, Changxin Lai, Zhaoshan Chang, Huan Cui, Ivan Belousov, Shuhai Xiao
Summary: Sedimentary pyrite is an important geological archive, but it can be altered by diagenetic and hydrothermal processes. This study successfully trained machine learning algorithms to distinguish pyrite origins using trace element data. The approach was validated and applied to identify the origins of pyrite in two sedimentary successions in South China.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
