Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Atsuko Fukunaga, John H. R. Burns, Kailey H. Pascoe, Randall K. Kosaki
Summary: Coral reefs worldwide are facing increased thermal stress due to global warming. A case study of a coral reef in Kapou (Lisianski) Island experienced unprecedented heat stress in 2014, resulting in coral bleaching and significant loss of live coral cover. The study shows that the newly available substrata created by the loss of coral were quickly colonized by the green macroalga Halimeda, and other algae began colonizing the reef between 2017 and 2021. Erosion of the reef substrata was evident, but the overall benthic diversity increased in 2021 due to the presence of other algae and an increase in hard substrata and turf algal cover. The study highlights the need for continued monitoring of coral and algal communities to track reef succession following mass coral mortality. The importance of this study is rated 8 out of 10.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nils Raedecker, Claudia Pogoreutz, Hagen M. Gegner, Anny Cardenas, Gabriela Perna, Laura Geissler, Florian Roth, Jeremy Bougoure, Paul Guagliardo, Ulrich Struck, Christian Wild, Mathieu Pernice, Jean-Baptiste Raina, Anders Meibom, Christian R. Voolstra
Summary: The study found that under heat stress, nitrogen fixation by coral-associated diazotrophs increased, but the additional fixed nitrogen was not assimilated by the coral tissue or the algal symbionts.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Victor Huertas, Renato A. Morais, Roberta M. Bonaldo, David R. Bellwood
Summary: Cumulative anthropogenic stressors are altering the physical and community structure of tropical reefs, resulting in reduced coral cover and a shift in coral species, which may impact coral predation behaviors.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Georgina M. Nicholson, Kendall D. Clements
Summary: This study investigates the diets of different parrotfish species and finds that they mainly target protein-rich micro-photoautotrophs. The research also reveals differences in the taxonomic composition of core biota among the parrotfish species, suggesting resource partitioning.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sterling B. Tebbett, Renato A. Morais, Christopher H. R. Goatley, David R. Bellwood
Summary: Environmental stressors can threaten the sustainability of ecosystem functions and services, with sediment accumulation in algal turfs leading to the collapse of coral reef ecosystems. However, monitoring and management of these stressors are currently lacking.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Heloise Rouze, Pierre E. Galand, Monica Medina, Pim Bongaerts, Michel Pichon, Gonzalo Perez-Rosales, Gergely Torda, Aurelie Moya, Jean-Baptiste Raina, Laetitia Hedouin
Summary: This study reported the deepest photosymbiotic scleractinian corals collected to date (172 m depth) and identified the associated symbiotic communities using amplicon sequencing. The results expand the reported depth range of photosynthetic scleractinian corals (0-172 m depth) and provide new insights on their symbiotic associations at lower depth extremes of tropical coral reefs.
Article
Fisheries
Rachel Zuercher, David Kochan, Alastair R. Harborne
Summary: The study examines the distribution of large-bodied parrotfishes on Florida reefs and identifies the major predictors of their presence. The results show that factors such as maximum hard substrate relief, surrounding reef area, and the availability of seagrass habitat are positively correlated with parrotfish presence. The study also highlights species-specific habitat preferences and suggests that these findings can improve management interventions and identify areas for protection.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
B. L. D. Uthpala Pushpakumara, Kshitij Tandon, Anusuya Willis, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: This study focuses on the bacterial communities associated with cultured strains of 5 Ostreobium clades using 16S rRNA sequencing. The research reveals the preferential associations between Ostreobium and 34 bacterial taxa, which are also present in their natural environment. The study also shows a significant congruence between the Ostreobium phylogeny and the community composition of its tightly associated microbiome.
Article
Ecology
Anny Cardenas, Jean-Baptiste Raina, Claudia Pogoreutz, Nils Raedecker, Jeremy Bougoure, Paul Guagliardo, Mathieu Pernice, Christian R. Voolstra
Summary: The structure and function of the endolithic microbiome in corals are linked to bleaching susceptibility. Corals that are resistant to bleaching have endolithic microbiomes with greater functional diversity and redundancy, and lower endolithic primary productivity, possibly due to the dominance of chemolithotrophs. Lower primary production within the skeleton may help maintain nutrient-limiting conditions in the coral-algal symbiosis under heat stress.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sterling B. Tebbett, David R. Bellwood
Summary: Algal turfs are a productive component of coral reef ecosystems, with depth being the primary driver of turf productivity rates and turnover mainly related to turf biomass. However, limited data availability and methodological constraints constrain our understanding of their productivity. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving our knowledge of algal turf dynamics on coral reefs.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yayuan Xiao, Chunhou Li, Teng Wang, Lin Lin, Jiatong Guo, Qiumei Quan, Yong Liu
Summary: Parrotfish diversity in the South China Sea was investigated using DNA barcoding. A DNA barcode database was established, and genetic distance analysis showed close genetic relationships within South China Sea parrotfish. However, 6 out of 21 species could not be identified using DNA barcodes. This study complements the lack of parrotfish DNA barcode sequences and provides valuable information for further research on parrotfish diversity in the South China Sea.
Article
Ecology
Ethan C. Cissell, Caren E. Eckrich, Sophie J. McCoy
Summary: The concurrent rise of conspicuous benthic cyanobacterial mats and coral diseases globally indicates the degradation of coral reefs. Recent research has shown a potential interaction between the expanding cyanobacterial mats and coral disease, particularly black band disease. This interaction poses urgent conservation concerns and challenges for future research.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eylem Elma, Martin Gullstrom, Saleh A. S. Yahya, Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, Holly K. East, Magnus Nystrom
Summary: We studied the extent of post-bleaching impacts caused by the 2014-2016 El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event on benthic community structure (BCS) and herbivores (fish and sea urchins) on seven fringing reefs in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The results showed that all reef sites experienced post-bleaching alterations in BCS, with high coral mortality and increased turf algae cover. Herbivorous fish biomass increased after bleaching, correlated with turf algae increase in some reefs, while sea urchin densities significantly declined or disappeared. The severity of the impact varied across reefs, with greater impact on protected reefs compared to unprotected reefs. Our study provides a relevant reference point for future research and contributes to understanding post-bleaching impacts, trends, and evaluation of coral reef health and resilience in the region.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Timothy C. Tricas, Kelly S. Boyle
Summary: The study demonstrates that parrotfish bite sounds can be used to estimate their feeding patterns on coral reefs, and are correlated with factors such as day length and tide range. Regular sampling by multiple acoustic monitors may be a cost-efficient and valuable tool for monitoring the health, degradation, and recovery of large coral reef areas.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara. M. M. Stieb, Fabio Cortesi, Luiz Jardim de Queiroz, Karen. L. L. Carleton, Ole Seehausen, N. Justin Marshall
Summary: This study investigates the expression of visual pigment gene (opsin) in coral reef fishes and finds that algivorous species with orange/red colors exhibit high expression of long-wavelength-sensitive (lws) opsin. This enhances their ability to detect algae and orange/red-colored conspecifics, possibly enabling social signalling.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Georgina M. Nicholson, Kendall D. Clements
Summary: The research shows that interspecific differences in cranial morphology among parrotfish species, such as Scarus and Chlorurus, reflect trophic partitioning in feeding substrata, indicating that these species achieve nutritional resource differentiation by utilizing different feeding substrata.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Georgina M. Nicholson, Kendall D. Clements
Summary: Niche differentiation is important for the maintenance of biodiversity and species coexistence, and this study highlights the extensive trophic niche partitioning between parrotfishes. The specialized feeding behavior of Scarus spinus on protein-rich microphotoautotrophs associated with crustose coralline algae is revealed, emphasizing the need for high-resolution species-specific dietary data for parrotfishes.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Georgina M. Nicholson, Kendall D. Clements
Summary: This study investigates the diets of different parrotfish species and finds that they mainly target protein-rich micro-photoautotrophs. The research also reveals differences in the taxonomic composition of core biota among the parrotfish species, suggesting resource partitioning.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Georgina M. Nicholson, Kendall D. Clements
Summary: Diet in fish is influenced by multiple factors including nutritional requirements, trophic morphology, and resource availability. This study examined the spatial variation in trophic resources for parrotfish on the Great Barrier Reef by combining microhistology and rRNA barcoding. The results showed that filamentous cyanobacteria are the dominant biota on feeding substrata, and they are a key feeding target for parrotfishes along with other microscopic photoautotrophs.
Correction
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Georgina M. Nicholson, Kendall D. Clements