Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiwei Li, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Three-dimensional shallow benthic complexity provides valuable information for coral reef conservation and management, as it reflects the physical conditions and biodiversity of shallow coral reef environments. This study mapped global shallow water benthic complexity using satellite images and found that high complexity regions are mainly concentrated in areas with high benthic biodiversity. However, a significant portion of coral reef regions with high benthic complexity remains unprotected. The global coral reef benthic complexity map generated in this study can contribute to improving marine protected areas, reef conservation, and management.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(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
Genetics & Heredity
Suyu Zhang, Yue Song, Meiru Liu, Zengbao Yuan, Mengqi Zhang, He Zhang, Inge Seim, Guangyi Fan, Shanshan Liu, Xin Liu
Summary: In this study, genomes of three butterflyfish species and a closely related species from the Pomacanthidae family were reported, providing valuable genomic resources for further investigations into the genetic diversity and evolutionary adaptations of reef fish.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wentao Zhu, Yuxiao Ren, Xiangbo Liu, Duanjie Huang, Jingquan Xia, Ming Zhu, Hongyang Yin, Rouwen Chen, Xiubao Li
Summary: This study examines the impact of the Qiongdong upwelling on the coastal coral reefs of Hainan Island. The results show significant differences in environmental variables between upwelling and non-upwelling areas, with colder and saltier water and lower coral coverage in the upwelling areas. The upwelling areas also face severe threats from coastal development and local anthropogenic activities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Colleen Rodd, Steve Whalan, Craig Humphrey, Peter L. Harrison
Summary: Anthropogenic stressors have led to declines in reef-building corals. This study found that providing extra nutrients to coral larvae can increase settlement and survival rates, which is crucial for coral restoration.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William S. Fisher
Summary: The goal of coral reef management is to provide habitat for fish populations, and it requires reliable methods to characterize reef features that contribute to fish habitat. By examining data from broad-area reef surveys, correlations were found between fish population measures and physical coral features, particularly coral colony height. Characterizing this relationship will improve fishery management tools and support assessment of the decline in the physical stature of reefs worldwide.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Carolin Nieder, Chen-Pan Liao, Chen-Lu Lee, Kendall D. Clements, Shao-Lun Liu
Summary: The feeding interactions between coral reef fishes and the allelopathic macroalgae Galaxaura divaricata were observed, and it was found that the fishes targeted the nutrient-rich microscopic epiphytes on the surface of the algae rather than the algae itself. These observations substantiate the threat posed by the overgrowth of G. divaricata to coral recovery in degraded reef systems.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carsten G. B. Grupstra, Lauren I. Howe-Kerr, Jesse A. van der Meulen, Alex J. Veglia, Samantha R. Coy, Adrienne M. S. Correa
Summary: Animal waste is an important part of nutrient cycles and can transmit diverse microorganisms through trophic interactions. The feces of grazers/detritivores were found to cause more frequent and larger lesions on corals compared to the feces of corallivores, indicating the harmful microbial activity in grazer/detritivore feces. Analysis of bacterial diversity in feces from different fish species revealed potential differences in coral-associated bacteria and coral pathogens, suggesting the role of consumers in coral symbiont dispersal. These findings have significant implications for environmental management.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jacey C. Van Wert, Leila Ezzat, Katrina S. Munsterman, Kaitlyn Landfield, Nina M. D. Schiettekatte, Valeriano Parravicini, Jordan M. Casey, Simon J. Brandl, Deron E. Burkepile, Erika J. Eliason
Summary: Consumers play a crucial role in nutrient cycling through excretion and egestion. While the excretion of fish-derived inorganic nutrients has been studied extensively, the importance of egestion for nutrient cycling has been neglected. This study investigated the fecal nutrient content of different fish species on a coral reef and found that different species exhibit unique fecal nutrient concentrations.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mark Hamilton, James P. W. Robinson, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Shaun K. Wilson, M. Aaron MacNeil, Ameer Ebrahim, Nicholas A. J. Graham
Summary: Changes in fish assemblages after coral bleaching and mortality can affect fisheries, particularly fish productivity and turnover. In Seychelles, fish productivity increased on reefs recovering to coral-dominated habitats, especially in fished areas, while it remained stable on reefs that shifted to macroalgae-dominated regimes. The benthic recovery trajectory strongly influenced post-bleaching fish productivity, emphasizing the importance of herbivore and invertivore species in sustaining small-scale inshore fisheries following climate disturbances.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Casey L. Bowden, Robert P. Streit, David R. Bellwood, Sterling B. Tebbett
Summary: The blenny species, Ecsenius stictus, has a negligible influence on sediment dynamics on coral reefs despite its abundance. They preferentially feed and rest on elevated surfaces with low sediment loads.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ian R. Combs, Michael S. Studivan, Ryan J. Eckert, Joshua D. Voss
Summary: Since 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has caused significant declines in reef-building corals in Florida. This study combined SCTLD prevalence assessments with colony-level monitoring to understand disease dynamics, revealing that disease prevalence varied among different locations but did not change significantly over time. By using 3D photogrammetry to track the fate of infected coral colonies, researchers found that total colony area and healthy tissue area decreased significantly over time.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Juan Shi, Chunhou Li, Teng Wang, Jinfa Zhao, Yong Liu, Yayuan Xiao
Summary: Coral reefs, known as tropical rainforests in the ocean, have a rich diversity of fish species. China has 2855 species of coral reef fishes, which can be categorized into nearshore and offshore. The diversity of coral reef fish species has a significant positive correlation with coral species diversity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter L. Harrison, Dexter W. dela Cruz, Kerry A. Cameron, Patrick C. Cabaitan
Summary: Loss of foundation reef-corals is damaging reef communities globally, leading to a decline in ecosystem function. Active intervention and effective coral restoration techniques are needed to enhance coral recruitment and density. Enhancing larval supply significantly increases settlement on reefs, facilitating rapid re-establishment of breeding coral populations and enhancing fish abundance.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Graham Kolodziej, Michael S. Studivan, Arthur C. R. Gleason, Chris Langdon, Ian C. Enochs, Derek P. Manzello
Summary: Since 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease has spread throughout Florida's coral reef tract and the Caribbean, reaching the upper Florida Keys by 2016. Despite the presence of the disease at Cheeca Rocks, the impact on coral cover and community structure has been relatively low compared to other sites on Florida's coral reef tract, highlighting the potential role of this site in coral resilience.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Randi J. Sims, Meghnaa Tallapragada, Tokea G. Payton, Kara Noonan, Kathy L. Prosser, Michael J. Childress
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of a marine science professional development program on undergraduate experiential learning. The results showed that positive mentor experience led to increased knowledge of marine science and science communication skills. Students who participated in the program for a longer period were more likely to consider marine science important to their careers and continue their education. Furthermore, longer program involvement was associated with increased sense of belonging in science and understanding of climate change threat on the marine environment.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Communication
Meghnaa Tallapragada, Kathy L. Prosser, Kaitlyn F. Braffitt, Kelly E. Bridgeford, Emily C. Gleaton, Madeline G. Saverance, Kara R. Noonan, Tokea G. Payton, Randi J. Sims, Kylie M. Smith, Michael J. Childress
Summary: Participating in the informal learning experience "Something Very Fishy" had a positive impact on elementary school students' understanding of ocean conservation and interest in pursuing science careers, but did not significantly influence their conservation actions. Undergraduate students who engaged in marine science communication activities were more likely to choose careers in science communication based on their perceived efficacy and identification with the scientific community. Elementary school teachers' intentions to teach marine science and climate change in their classrooms were influenced by perceived norms around teaching these topics after accompanying their students to the SVF program.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION-A JOURNAL OF NATURE AND CULTURE
(2021)
