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
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ana M. Palacio-Castro, Caroline E. Dennison, Stephanie M. Rosales, Andrew C. Baker
Summary: The study shows that the response of different coral species to heat stress is influenced by their algal symbiont community, and higher nutrient levels may make them more susceptible to these impacts. Acropora cervicornis is highly sensitive to the combination of high temperature and nutrients, while Orbicella faveolata and Siderastrea siderea demonstrate more stable responses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cheryl Hankins, Elizabeth Moso, Danielle Lasseigne
Summary: Experimental results show that the intake of microplastics by scleractinian coral is influenced by environmental factors, and long-term exposure has negative effects on their growth responses.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
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
Madeline L. Kaufman, Emily Watkins, Ruben van Hooidonk, Andrew C. Baker, Diego Lirman
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change poses the biggest threat to coral reefs, but efforts to restore these ecosystems are helping to buy time. Research shows that lesion recovery is crucial for colony survival, with significant variability in healing observed among different genets of Acropora cervicornis from Florida reefs with varying thermal regimes. Results indicate that temperature stress significantly slows down lesion recovery, with corals from warmer reefs showing greater healing potential under heat stress compared to corals from cooler reefs.
Article
Ecology
Harmony A. Martell
Summary: Research shows that stony corals have stress memory, but the costs and benefits are still unclear. By conducting experiments, it was found that different doses of thermal stress have a linear impact on symbiont density and chlorophyll in corals, but low doses can actually increase symbiont retention, which exhibits hormesis. This study is important for coral recovery and conservation.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
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
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
Veterinary Sciences
Sebastian Slagel, Kathryn Lohr, Keri O'Neil, Joshua Patterson
Summary: The study compared the effects of natural light and LED light on the growth, calcification, and photobiology of the coral Acropora cervicornis, finding that calcification was higher under LED light but photosynthetic efficiency was greater in natural light. The results suggest that more consistent light delivery and different spectral composition under LED conditions may explain the discrepancy between calcification and photosynthetic efficiency.
Article
Microbiology
J. Grace Klinges, Shalvi H. Patel, William C. Duke, Erinn M. Muller, Rebecca L. Vega Thurber
Summary: The study found that nutrient-enriched water increased total bacterial abundance, but only the addition of phosphate significantly changed the dominance of the parasite Aquarickettsia. This suggests that nutrient pollution may play a role in increasing coral disease susceptibility and severity.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara D. Williams, J. Grace Klinges, Samara Zinman, Abigail S. Clark, Erich Bartels, Marina Villoch Diaz Maurino, Erinn M. Muller
Summary: Effective coral restoration requires comprehensive investigations of targeted coral communities, including the coral host, symbiotic algae, and microbiome. This study found that the microbiomes of Acropora cervicornis genotypes differed based on the collection region, indicating that regional processes influenced bacterial community composition. Corals with low abundance of Aquarickettsia had higher species richness and diversity, suggesting their potential for restoration.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jason D. Selwyn, Steven V. Vollmer
Summary: Coral species in the Acropora genus play crucial ecological roles in coral reefs worldwide. In this study, the first annotated genome of the endangered Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, is presented. The genome was assembled and annotated using high-fidelity nanopore long-read sequencing, with gene annotations validated using mRNA sequencing. Comparative genomic analysis revealed unique features in A. cervicornis, including immune pathway contractions and signaling pathway expansions. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that A. cervicornis diverged from Indo-Pacific relatives around 41 million years ago. This annotated genome contributes to our understanding of the diverse Acropora genus and addresses evolutionary inquiries regarding speciation and hybridization.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sanaz Hazraty-Kari, Parviz Tavakoli-Kolour, Seiya Kitanobo, Takashi Nakamura, Masaya Morita
Summary: Elevated temperatures can cause coral bleaching and reef degradation. However, this study found that coral may have the ability to cope with thermal stress by producing more heat-tolerant larvae. The stressed coral fragments showed a trade-off in egg production, with an increase in egg number but a decrease in size. Additionally, larvae and recruits from the stressed colony had marginally higher survival rates in higher water temperatures, which may contribute to improving coral reef resilience.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Harmony A. Martell, Richard C. Zimmerman
Summary: The study found that acute heat exposure leads to a more pronounced physiological decline in corals despite lower thermal doses, while placing temperature exposures in degree heating times can better compare differences in physiological metabolism. When temperatures exceed 32 degrees Celsius, the ratio of daily gross photosynthesis to respiration fell below 1 in corals.
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
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sheila A. Kitchen, C. Cornelia Osborne, Nicole D. Fogarty, Iliana B. Baums
Summary: The study found that the morphology of Caribbean Acropora corals is not necessarily linked to their maternal species and cannot be predicted by mitochondrial haplogroups. Expert classification showed lower accuracy in identifying hybrids and A. palmata.
Article
Ecology
Lydia J. Baker, Hannah G. Reich, Sheila A. Kitchen, J. Grace Klinges, Hanna R. Koch, Iliana B. Baums, Erinn M. Muller, Rebecca Vega Thurber
Summary: This study investigated the infection and ecology of the symbiont Candidatus Aquarickettsia rohweri in threatened Acropora corals, finding that the infection magnitude is influenced by coral host and geographic location. Phylogenomic analysis showed clustering by geographic region, with positive selection observed in Florida populations due to greater nutrient stress. Aquarickettsia was not found to codiversify significantly with coral animal or algal symbiont, suggesting horizontal transmission as the likely route of infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary Hagedorn, Christopher A. Page, Keri L. O'Neil, Daisy M. Flores, Lucas Tichy, Trinity Conn, Valerie F. Chamberland, Claire Lager, Nikolas Zuchowicz, Kathryn Lohr, Harvey Blackburn, Tali Vardi, Jennifer Moore, Tom Moore, Iliana B. Baums, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Kristen L. Marhaver
Summary: The study demonstrated the successful use of cryopreserved sperm for assisted gene flow in corals, showing it to be a viable conservation tool to increase genetic diversity in threatened marine populations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Philip M. Gravinese, Alex Douwes, Katherine R. Eaton, Erinn M. Muller
Summary: Global coastal waters have seen a 10% decline in oxygen concentrations since the mid-twentieth century, with ocean warming expected to worsen this trend. Research on the reef-building coral, Orbicella faveolata, showed that hypoxia and elevated temperature led to reduced oxygen consumption, with simultaneous exposure resulting in a significant decrease. This suggests that increased temperature may intensify the negative impacts of hypoxia on O. faveolata.
Correction
Ecology
Raymond B. Banister, Melbert T. Schwarz, Maoz Fine, Kim B. Ritchie, Erinn M. Muller
Article
Ecology
Raymond B. Banister, Melbert T. Schwarz, Maoz Fine, Kim B. Ritchie, Erinn M. Muller
Summary: This study focused on the differences in microbial communities of the seagrass species Cymodocea nodosa in natural environments, revealing that the microbial community of seagrass leaves remains consistent under different pH conditions, indicating a potential resilience of seagrass to environmental changes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kathryn H. Stankiewicz, Kate L. Vasquez Kuntz, Iliana B. Baums
Summary: The traditional method Delta K for determining population structure may underestimate the true number of clusters and be sensitive to uneven sampling. Using a combination of different estimators is recommended for more accurate results, as relying on a single estimator may not be sufficient in determining the optimal number of clusters.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elizabeth C. Shaver, Elizabeth McLeod, Margaux Y. Hein, Stephen R. Palumbi, Kate Quigley, Tali Vardi, Peter J. Mumby, David Smith, Phanor Montoya-Maya, Erinn M. Muller, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Ian M. McLeod, David Wachenfeld
Summary: Recent warm temperatures caused by climate change have led to coral bleaching and mortality worldwide. As a result, restoration has been embraced as a strategy to sustain coral reefs. However, few restoration programs are incorporating climate change and resilience into project design. This article provides recommendations for integrating resilience principles into restoration design and practice, to enhance coral reef recovery, resistance, and adaptation.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Jesus E. Arias-Gonzalez, Iliana B. Baums, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Carlos Prada, Sergio Rossi, Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado, Baruch Rinkevich
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eslam O. Osman, Samuel A. Vohsen, Fanny Girard, Rafaelina Cruz, Orli Glickman, Lena M. Bullock, Kaitlin E. Anderson, Alexis M. Weinnig, Erik E. Cordes, Charles R. Fisher, Iliana B. Baums
Summary: This study investigates the reliance of coral species living near deep-sea cold seeps on chemosynthetically-derived food and the impact of proximity to cold seeps. The researchers find that some coral species utilize chemosynthetically derived food and that the restructuring of the microbiome community may aid corals in utilizing seepage-derived carbon.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kate L. Vasquez Kuntz, Sheila A. Kitchen, Trinity L. Conn, Samuel A. Vohsen, Andrea N. Chan, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Christopher Page, Kristen L. Marhaver, Iliana B. Baums
Summary: The study reveals that somatic mutations in animals can be passed on to offspring, increasing genetic diversity and facilitating adaptation across generations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicholas J. MacKnight, Bradford A. Dimos, Kelsey M. Beavers, Erinn M. Muller, Marilyn E. Brandt, Laura D. Mydlarz
Summary: Infectious diseases pose a growing threat to coral reefs, altering community structure and reducing the functional contributions of susceptible species. This study provides insights into the progression of lesions and the genetic and adaptive mechanisms that lead to differences in disease risk.
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
Ecology
Holland Elder, Wyatt C. Million, Erich Bartels, Cory J. Krediet, Erinn M. Muller, Carly D. Kenkel
Summary: The sensitivity of reef-building coral to elevated temperature is influenced by their symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae. Changes in the composition of the endosymbiont community can increase coral thermal tolerance. This study investigates the persistence of a novel symbiosis between Acropora palmata and Durusdinium spp. two years after transplantation in natural reefs. The majority of surviving corals remained dominated by Durusdinium spp., indicating the potential effectiveness of symbiont modification as a management tool.
Article
Biology
Hanny E. Rivera, Anne L. Cohen, Janelle R. Thompson, Iliana B. Baums, Michael D. Fox, Kirstin S. Meyer-Kaiser
Summary: Ocean warming is causing coral mortality, but some heat-tolerant populations can replenish affected reefs. The Rock Islands in Palau harbor two thermally tolerant genetic lineages, which can provide tolerant larvae to neighboring areas, essential for coral survival.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)