Article
Environmental Sciences
I. A. Madden, A. Mariwala, M. Lindhart, S. Narayan, K. K. Arkema, M. W. Beck, J. W. Baker, J. Suckale
Summary: Ecosystems like coral reefs play a role in reducing coastal flood risks, but their conservation is underinvested compared to engineered risk-mitigation structures. This is due to the difficulty in quantifying the risk-reduction benefits of coral reefs, which requires understanding their fragility to severe stresses. In this study, the authors propose a framework for assessing the fragility of coral reefs to hurricanes, based on data collected in the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico. They establish a correlation between hurricane impacts and coral mortality rates, and develop a fragility function for comparing the cost-effectiveness of coral reefs and engineered solutions to flood risk reduction.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara D. Williams, Cory S. Walter, Erinn M. Muller
Summary: The study on SCTLD epidemiology in the lower Florida Keys revealed that the disease first appeared in offshore and mid-channel reef sites, and showed a negative correlation with thermal stress. Additionally, it was found that the prevalence and tissue loss associated with SCTLD were higher in areas with more Montastraea cavernosa and Orbicella faveolata colonies.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
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
Oceanography
Mary E. Allen, David K. Loomis, Jerry J. Vaske
Summary: Social norms play a significant role in influencing the behaviors of tourists in coral reefs, with high norm power values indicating self-regulation and enforcement of desirable behaviors. Monitoring and targeting communication strategies may be needed for behaviors with relatively low norm power values to instill a sense of obligation and sanction. These findings have implications for promoting ocean stewardship and sustaining coral reef ecosystem services.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Daniel P. Owen, Matthew H. Long, William K. Fitt, Brian M. Hopkinson
Summary: This study estimated the contribution of different primary producers to the overall primary production on coral reefs, finding that the main producers varied between degraded and intact reef sites. By using a bottom-up approach, the researchers were able to provide more accurate estimates of production rates and validate the method's reliability through comparison with in situ measurements.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zoi Thanopoulou, Jacob Patus, Kathleen Sullivan Sealey
Summary: This study examines the patterns of occurrence of stony corals in nearshore waters of Florida Keys. It finds that the diversity of coral species is low and that certain species, such as Siderastrea radians and Porites divaricata, exhibit higher tolerance to eutrophic conditions. The study also shows significant differences in water quality parameters between sites with and without corals. These findings highlight the impacts of coastal eutrophication on the Florida Keys ecosystem and suggest the need for more conservative water quality thresholds to improve nearshore biodiversity and ecological functioning.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paul Hindsley, O. Ashton Morgan, John C. Whitehead
Summary: This paper investigates divers' preferences for artificial reef diving and their willingness to pay for specific site attributes in the Florida Keys. The study compares revealed preference and stated preference choices among divers, and also considers the presence of attribute non-attendance. The results indicate that the joint RP/SP models with stated attribute non-attendance are preferred, leading to a decrease in marginal WTP and variability of WTP estimates. The findings provide a framework for decision making to enhance welfare for divers.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren T. Toth, Travis A. Courtney, Michael A. Colella, Rob R. Ruzicka
Summary: SCTLD has had an unprecedented impact on the western Atlantic coral-reef ecosystems, causing a decline in reef-accretion potential and altering the composition of coral assemblages. The loss of reef-building corals has significantly decreased carbonate production, leading to a decline in their capacity for growth.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Erica P. Ross, Jack Butler, Thomas R. Matthews
Summary: Casitas are artificial structures used in the Caribbean for harvesting spiny lobsters. They have the potential to increase local species diversity and function similarly to coral heads in shelter-limited habitats. However, their ecological impact is largely unknown.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Heather N. Page, Clay Hewett, Hayden Tompkins, Emily R. Hall
Summary: This experiment assessed the impact of acidification on coral-algal, coral-sponge, and algal-sponge interactions. Results showed that sponges grew more volumetrically under acidification conditions and fleshy macroalgae had increased biomass when paired with a sponge.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Oceanography
Yulong Yao, Chunzai Wang
Summary: This study reveals the distinct differences in the mean and trend between marine heatwaves (MHWs) and marine cold-spells (MCSs) across global coral reef zones. MHWs are projected to increase in frequency and duration, while MCSs are expected to decrease. Upper-ocean warming is identified as the main driver of the increase in MHWs and the decrease in MCSs. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the projected changes in extreme El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events for the occurrence of MHWs and coral bleaching in tropical oceans.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robert van Woesik, Tom Shlesinger, Andrea G. Grottoli, Rob J. Toonen, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Mark E. Warner, Ann Marie Hulver, Leila Chapron, Rowan H. McLachlan, Rebecca Albright, Eric Crandall, Thomas M. DeCarlo, Mary K. Donovan, Jose Eirin-Lopez, Hugo B. Harrison, Scott F. Heron, Danwei Huang, Adriana Humanes, Thomas Krueger, Joshua S. Madin, Derek Manzello, Lisa C. McManus, Mikhail Matz, Erinn M. Muller, Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, Maria Vega-Rodriguez, Christian R. Voolstra, Jesse Zaneveld
Summary: The global impacts of climate change are evident in every marine ecosystem, particularly on coral reefs where mass coral bleaching and mortality are common responses. Linking information across scientific disciplines and scales is a major challenge, but adopting an integrative approach can advance coral-reef science and guide conservation efforts. Establishing networks of protected reefs across national boundaries may be the best chance for corals to persist through climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ariel Greiner, Marco Andrello, Emily Darling, Martin Krkosek, Marie-Josee Fortin
Summary: The study aims to determine the connectivity of coral reefs and the level of future coral cover under global scenarios of coral bleaching loss and potential recovery. The findings emphasize the importance of maintaining functional coral reef habitat outside of predicted climate refugia to sustain connectivity globally.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Bleuel, Maria Grazia Pennino, Guilherme O. Longo
Summary: Global climate change poses a major threat to coral reefs, with ocean warming increasing the frequency and severity of coral bleaching events over time, leading to a reduction in coral cover and diversity. Predictions suggest that with ocean warming, coral distribution and cover will decrease and shift to new suitable extratropical reefs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Holland Elder, Virginia M. Weis, Jose Montalvo-Proano, Veronique J. L. Mocellin, Andrew H. Baird, Eli Meyer, Line K. Bay
Summary: Ocean warming poses a significant threat to reef ecosystems, and this study highlights the genetic basis and heritability of heat tolerance in corals. The findings suggest that certain genomic markers are responsible for heat tolerance, and specific combinations of these markers play a crucial role. The study also emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic adaptation in corals for their persistence in future warming conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sarah H. Groves, Daniel M. Holstein, Ian C. Enochs, Graham Kolodzeij, Derek P. Manzello, Marilyn E. Brandt, Tyler B. Smith
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Brooke E. Gintert, Derek P. Manzello, Ian C. Enochs, Graham Kolodziej, Renee Carlton, Arthur C. R. Gleason, Nuno Gracias
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Philip M. Gravinese, Ian C. Enochs, Derek P. Manzello, Robert van Woesik
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chris T. Perry, Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Peter J. Mumby, Shaun K. Wilson, Paul S. Kench, Derek P. Manzello, Kyle M. Morgan, Aimee B. A. Slangen, Damian P. Thomson, Fraser Januchowski-Hartley, Scott G. Smithers, Robert S. Steneck, Renee Carlton, Evan N. Edinger, Ian C. Enochs, Nuria Estrada-Saldivar, Michael D. E. Haywood, Graham Kolodziej, Gary N. Murphy, Esmeralda Perez-Cervantes, Adam Suchley, Lauren Valentino, Robert Boenish, Margaret Wilson, Chancey Macdonald
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander F. Humphreys, Jochen Halfar, James C. Ingle, Derek Manzello, Claire E. Reymond, Hildegard Westphal, Bernhard Riegl
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Derek P. Manzello, Mikhail Matz, Ian C. Enochs, Lauren Valentino, Renee D. Carlton, Graham Kolodziej, Xaymara Serrano, Erica K. Towle, Mike Jankulak
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Ecology
P. J. Edmunds, T. C. Adam, A. C. Baker, S. S. Doo, P. W. Glynn, D. P. Manzello, N. J. Silbiger, T. B. Smith, P. Fong
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2019)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Derek P. Manzello, Graham Kolodziej, Amanda Kirkland, Nicole Besemer, Ian C. Enochs
Summary: This study analyzed the long-term growth trends of two key coral species at the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, finding that their growth rates were significantly correlated with sea surface temperatures and negatively impacted by runoff from the Atchafalaya River. With the warming trend in ocean temperatures, coral growth at FGB has increased, but the prognosis is that bleaching events will become more damaging over time.
Article
Ecology
Ian C. Enochs, Lauren T. Toth, Amanda Kirkland, Derek P. Manzello, Graham Kolodziej, John T. Morris, Daniel M. Holstein, Austin Schlenz, Carly J. Randall, Juan L. Mate, James J. Leichter, Richard B. Aronson
Summary: In this study, the composition and erosion activities on coral blocks in two coral reef gulfs in the eastern tropical Pacific were analyzed, revealing that the balance between bioerosion and calcification activities depends on rich trophic needs and environmental conditions, suggesting the unpredictable impact of contributing species on habitats.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John Morris, Ian Enochs, Alice Webb, Didier de Bakker, Nash Soderberg, Graham Kolodziej, Derek Manzello
Summary: Ocean acidification is expected to affect coral reef ecosystems by changing calcification, bioerosion, and physiology of marine organisms. The study found that diurnal fluctuations in carbonate chemistry can impact the bioerosion rates of sponges, and this effect may be intensified by photosynthetic symbionts.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Heidi K. K. Hirsh, Thomas A. A. Oliver, Hannah C. C. Barkley, Johanna L. K. Wren, Stephen G. G. Monismith, Derek P. P. Manzello, Ian C. C. Enochs
Summary: To accurately predict the impacts of ocean acidification on shallow-water ecosystems, it is crucial to consider the biogeochemical impact of local benthic communities and the connectivity between offshore and onshore water masses. Estimation of residence time can help quantify this connectivity and determine the influence of benthic ecosystems on the chemistry of the water column. The study provides estimates of nearshore residence time for Guam and demonstrates the importance of including residence time in models to better predict biogeochemical variability in coral reef environments.
AQUATIC GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yingqi Zhang, Shelby E. Gantt, Elise F. Keister, Holland Elder, Graham Kolodziej, Catalina Aguilar, Michael S. Studivan, Dana E. Williams, Dustin W. Kemp, Derek P. Manzello, Ian C. Enochs, Carly D. Kenkel
Summary: Contrary to expectations, the study found that purebred larval offspring of the nearshore mountainous star coral exhibited higher survival rates and lower stress response gene expression profiles under elevated temperature. One potential explanation could be the compromised reproductive output of the nearshore population due to summer bleaching events, resulting in lower storage lipid content in their gametes.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ian C. Enochs, Derek P. Manzello, Paul R. Jones, S. Jack Stamates, Thomas P. Carsey
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Adrienne J. Sutton, Richard A. Feely, Stacy Maenner-Jones, Sylvia Musielwicz, John Osborne, Colin Dietrich, Natalie Monacci, Jessica Cross, Randy Bott, Alex Kozyr, Andreas J. Andersson, Nicholas R. Bates, Wei-Jun Cai, Meghan F. Cronin, Eric H. De Carlo, Burke Hales, Stephan D. Howden, Charity M. Lee, Derek P. Manzello, Michael J. McPhaden, Melissa Melendez, John B. Mickett, Jan A. Newton, Scott E. Noakes, Jae Hoon Noh, Solveig R. Olafsdottir, Joseph E. Salisbury, Uwe Send, Thomas W. Trull, Douglas C. Vandemark, Robert A. Weller
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2019)
Article
Paleontology
Alexander F. Humphreys, Jochen Halfar, James C. Ingle, Derek Manzello, Claire E. Reymond, Hildegard Westphal, Bernhard Riegl
JOURNAL OF FORAMINIFERAL RESEARCH
(2019)