Article
Environmental Sciences
Scott D. Bachman, Joan A. Kleypas, Mark Erdmann, Edy Setyawan
Summary: Coral reefs are at great risk due to ocean warming, and it is important to identify areas where they can survive rising temperatures. This study analyzes data from a global ocean simulation and reveals regional differences in temperature variability caused by internal gravity waves. The results show that thermal refugia are limited to specific depths and locations, with Southeast Asia, the Coral Triangle, the Galapagos, and certain areas along the Pacific shelf of Central America being potential beneficiaries of cooling induced by internal gravity waves.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher Edward Cornwall, Steeve Comeau, Simon D. Donner, Chris Perry, John Dunne, Ruben van Hooidonk, Steve Ryan, Cheryl Annette Logan
Summary: Projecting the effects of climate change on net reef calcium carbonate production is crucial, especially considering corals' natural adaptive capacity to such change. This study estimates how symbiont evolution and shuffling may influence responses to ocean warming and acidification under different emissions scenarios. The results show that symbiont adaptive capacity can favor positive net reef calcium carbonate production, but the projections vary spatially and by emissions scenario.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alexandre C. C. Siqueira, Pooventhran Muruga, David R. R. Bellwood
Summary: The biodiversity of tropical reefs is characterized by the interaction between fishes and corals. However, only a minority of fish species strongly associate with live corals, and there is no coevolutionary pattern between the fish and coral lineages. The expansion of reef structures, rather than coral association, is more likely responsible for the Miocene fish diversification.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angelo Jason Spadaro, Mark J. Butler
Summary: The study shows that herbivorous crabs play a significant role in removing seaweed and promoting coral reef recovery. By reducing seaweed cover, increasing coral recruitment, and enhancing reef fish community abundance and diversity, the crabs can reverse the ecological phase shift on coral reefs away from seaweed dominance. Compared to manual scrubbing, the herbivory of crabs has a more lasting effect on reducing algae cover and restoring coral reefs.
Editorial Material
Biology
Line K. Bay, Emily J. Howells
Summary: The ability of corals to adapt to global warming may require trade-offs among the traits that contribute to their success as foundational species of coral reefs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nataliya Stashchuk, Vasiliy Vlasenko
Summary: The study found that different internal wave processes developed around the RBS seamount, with the parameters of short-scale internal waves sensitive to seasonal stratification. In winter, the dispersion of deep-water coral larvae is mainly controlled by bottom-trapped tidally generated internal waves.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Bing Lin, Yiwen Zeng, Gregory P. P. Asner, David S. S. Wilcove
Summary: By combining Instagram data from tourists and live coral cover maps in Hawaii, this study reveals that coral reefs both attract and suffer from coastal tourism. Higher live coral cover attracts more visitors, but their visitation contributes to subsequent reef degradation. This finding highlights the economic value of coral reefs and the importance of effective conservation management.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jenny Fong, Peter A. Todd
Summary: The study reveals that interactions between corals and macroalgae vary greatly across sites and seasons, with different coral species showing varying effects on macroalgae. It is important to consider seasonal fluctuations of macroalgae for understanding their overall long-term impacts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nadiezhda Santodomingo, Chris Perry, Zarinah Waheed, Muhammad Ali Bin Syed Hussein, Allia Rosedy, Kenneth G. Johnson
Summary: This study documented the magnitude, types, sources, and potential impacts of marine litter on six coral reefs in East Sabah. The research found that plastics dominate the litter, primarily single-use items, with discarded fishing gear also making up a significant portion. Litter pollution is more severe closer to urban developments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raymond L. Tyohemba, Marc S. Humphries, Michael H. Schleyer, Sean N. Porter
Summary: The accumulation of herbicides in coral reef invertebrates along the Maputaland coast of South Africa has been investigated. It was found that multiple herbicide residues were detected in 95% of the samples, with varying concentrations between species and sites. Soft corals and sponges had higher concentrations, while hard corals had lower concentrations. The study highlights the urgent need to assess the long-term effects of herbicide exposure on coral reef communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Bollati, Yaeli Rosenberg, Noa Simon-Blecher, Raz Tamir, Oren Levy, Danwei Huang
Summary: Urbanized coral reefs are often impacted by sedimentation and reduced light levels, but many coral species can still thrive under these disturbed conditions. A study on the transcriptomic response to sediment stress in corals found that exposure to sediment induced upregulation of genes related to energy metabolism and immune response, with anaerobic glycolysis and glyoxylate bypass enzymes being significantly affected. This suggests that hypoxia may be a driving factor for the molecular response of corals to sediment stress.
Article
Ecology
A. L. Brown, E. A. Hamman, J. S. Shima, J. P. Wares, C. W. Osenberg
Summary: Phenotypic variation in corals exposed to vermetid gastropods can show plastic responses influenced by prior exposure, with differences in traits like calcification, tissue thickness, microbial composition, and more. These phenotypic differences may be heritable, as indicated by distinct genetic variation in coral mitotypes with and without vermetids. Understanding how different coral genotypes respond to environmental stressors like vermetid gastropods can provide insights into the resilience and trajectory of coral reef ecosystems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pedro H. C. Pereira, Gislaine V. Lima, Antonio V. F. Pontes, Luis G. F. Cortes, Erandy Gomes, Claudio L. S. Sampaio, Taciana Kramer Pinto, Ricardo J. Miranda, Andrei Tiego Cunha Cardoso, Julia Caon Araujo, Jose Carlos Sicoli Seoane
Summary: Thermal stress is the main cause of coral reef degradation, and its effects on Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) reefs have been under-studied. The SWA is a hotspot for coral endemism, with a high risk of extinction due to low-functional redundancy. Previous studies have suggested the possibility of a thermal refuge in the SWA, but our findings indicate a different trend. We report an unprecedented coral mortality event in the largest coastal Brazilian Marine Protected Area (MPA) following the worst thermal stress event since 1985.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Debashish Bhattacharya, Timothy G. Stephens, Amanda I. Tinoco, Robert H. Richmond, Phillip A. Cleves
Summary: Climate change and anthropogenic stressors have led to the degradation and loss of coral reefs, driving research in genomics, proteomics, and genetics to identify resilient species and populations for restoration. The relatively isolated and species-poor coral reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago provide an ideal platform for advancing coral biology and conservation efforts.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary K. Donovan, Deron E. Burkepile, Chelsey Kratochwill, Tom Shlesinger, Shannon Sully, Thomas A. Oliver, Gregor Hodgson, Jan Freiwald, Robert van Woesik
Summary: Climate change poses a serious threat to coral reefs, leading to coral bleaching and mortality, and global mass coral mortality events highlight the importance of mitigating climate change to protect coral reefs. Local stressors such as high abundance of macroalgae or urchins intensify coral loss and in combination with increasing heat stress, exacerbate coral mortality. Effective local management practices, combined with global efforts to mitigate climate change, offer hope for the survival of coral reefs in the Anthropocene era.
Article
Ecology
Carly J. Randall, Lauren T. Toth, James J. Leichter, Juan L. Mate, Richard B. Aronson
Article
Ecology
Scott C. Burgess, Erika C. Johnston, Alex S. J. Wyatt, James J. Leichter, Peter J. Edmunds
Summary: Variation among functionally similar species in their response to environmental stress plays a crucial role in buffering ecosystems from changing states. In the case of the common Indo-Pacific coral Pocillopora, cryptic species exhibited differences in their bleaching response to prolonged ocean heating, highlighting the importance of uncovering response diversity for resilience in ecosystems. The identification of morphologically similar species that differ in their response to stress has significant implications for maintaining ecological functions and driving resilience in coral-dominated systems.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Erika C. Johnston, Alex S. J. Wyatt, James J. Leichter, Scott C. Burgess
Summary: Cryptic species that appear morphologically similar may coexist due to slow competitive exclusion rates or lack of ecological similarity. Through genetic identification and extensive sampling, differences in relative abundance of Pocillopora species across depth gradients were uncovered, indicating that these cryptic species are not ecologically similar and show specificity in their associations with environmental factors such as light and temperature. The community composition patterns were associated with differences in water temperature cooling between deeper and shallower waters.
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
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Gijs G. Hendrickx, Peter M. J. Herman, Jasper T. Dijkstra, Curt D. Storlazzi, Lauren T. Toth
Summary: The study focuses on the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, developing a biophysical model that includes various environmental factors to better understand the processes affecting coral growth and reef development. The model is significant in considering hydrodynamics in the feedback loop, marking a step forward in predicting the persistence of coral reefs in the face of climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dominique N. Gallery, Michelle L. Green, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Elizabeth A. Lenz, Lauren T. Toth
Summary: Increases in local and global stressors have led to major declines in coral populations throughout the western Atlantic. However, the mustard hill coral, Porites astreoides, has shown an increase in abundance due to its resilience and genetic diversity. This species has a higher chance of maintaining resilience in the face of current and future disturbances compared to many other western Atlantic species.
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Correction
Biodiversity Conservation
Dominique N. Gallery, Michelle L. Green, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Elizabeth A. Lenz, Lauren T. Toth
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Robin Elahi, Peter J. Edmunds, Ruth D. Gates, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Brian B. Barnes, Iliana Chollett, Travis A. Courtney, James R. Guest, Elizabeth A. Lenz, Lauren T. Toth, T. Shay Viehman, Ivor D. Williams
Summary: Identifying intact areas within ecosystems and understanding the factors influencing their existence is crucial for effective management. This study analyzed a large dataset from the United States and U.S. Territories to identify factors associated with coral oases. The results showed that light attenuation was a key factor for oasis occurrence, while the impact of other environmental predictors varied with the scale of observation. Human population density and sea-surface temperature variability also influenced oasis occurrence. The model developed in this study can help prioritize reef areas for conservation and inform management strategies.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joshua Bennett-Williams, Christina Skinner, Alex S. J. Wyatt, Rona A. R. McGill, Trevor J. Willis
Summary: The application of stable isotope analysis (SIA) in elasmobranch trophic ecology is increasing, but there is inconsistency in the choice of tissue pre-treatment methods. Different tissues and species have different isotope biases, suggesting a need for standardized treatment methods. The choice of treatment method can significantly impact the estimation of prey contributions to elasmobranch diet.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
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
Ecology
Jonathan D. Cybulski, Christina Skinner, Zhongyue Wan, Carmen K. M. Wong, Robert J. Toonen, Michelle R. Gaither, Keryea Soong, Alex S. J. Wyatt, David M. Baker
Summary: Fish exhibit individual specialization in trophic strategies, but few studies have characterized this variation during trophic niche analysis, limiting our understanding of aquatic food web dynamics. This study used Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) to investigate the trophodynamics of reef fish species. The results showed significant variation in reef fish isotope compositions both within and among guilds, suggesting within-species specializations. Furthermore, the addition of delta S-34 helped to further characterize their isotopic niches and evaluate potential trophic strategies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Christina Skinner, Yu-De Pei, Naoko Morimoto, Toshihiro Miyajima, Alex S. J. Wyatt
Summary: This study used stable isotope analysis to examine resource use strategies of two planktivorous damselfish species in the Puerto Galera embayment in the Philippines, and found size-based and seasonal differences in their feeding patterns. By adding delta S-34 to the analysis, it was possible to detect the impacts of seasonal and body size changes on resource use more accurately.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alex S. J. Wyatt, James J. Leichter, Libe Washburn, Li Kui, Peter J. Edmunds, Scott C. Burgess
Summary: Marine heatwaves hidden beneath the surface, induced by ocean eddies and internal waves, pose a threat to coastal ecosystems by causing unexpected heating and severe coral bleaching and mortality. Previous assessments of marine heatwaves (MHWs) have mainly relied on sea-surface temperature data, without considering heating across ecosystem depths. This study used a unique combination of satellite data, high-resolution in-situ temperature measurements, and sea level anomalies to reveal subsurface MHWs that were paradoxical compared to surface temperature metrics and associated with unexpected coral bleaching.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lauren T. Toth, Curt D. Storlazzi, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Ellen Quataert, Johan Reyns, Robert McCall, Anastasios Stathakopoulos, Zandy Hillis-Starr, Nathaniel Hanna Holloway, Kristen A. Ewen, Clayton G. Pollock, Tessa Code, Richard B. Aronson
Summary: This study examines the impact of coral restoration on future coastal flooding using a combination of coral-growth measurements, carbonate-budget assessments, and hydrodynamic modeling. The findings suggest that successful restoration of Acropora palmata can mitigate the effects of coastal flooding and allow reefs to keep pace with sea-level rise.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)