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
Environmental Sciences
O. Moav-Barzel, J. Erez, B. Lazar, J. Silverman
Summary: This study compares the changes in calcification and dissolution in the nature reserve reef in the Gulf of Eilat between 2000-2002 and 2015-2016. The results show an increase in calcification but a significant increase in nighttime dissolution in the latter period. This could be attributed to eutrophication caused by fish farming in the area, which led to the development of organisms and factors that contribute to dissolution.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. E. Cryer, C. Schlosser, N. Allison
Summary: The decrease in ocean pH and the presence of dissolved copper have negative impacts on the calcification, photosynthesis, and respiration of the tropical Stylophora pistillata coral. The effects are amplified when both stressors are combined.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ariel K. Pezner, Travis A. Courtney, Heather N. Page, Sarah N. Giddings, Cory M. Beatty, Michael D. DeGrandpre, Andreas J. Andersson
Summary: Spatial and temporal carbonate chemistry variability on coral reefs is influenced by a combination of seawater hydrodynamics, geomorphology, and biogeochemical processes, with their relative impacts differing by site. Lateral variability in carbonate chemistry parameters was found to be larger than vertical variability, and this variability was observed in conjunction with depth gradients, although it varied between sampling events depending on factors such as time of day and current flow modifications.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Francisco Medellin-Maldonado, Israel Cruz-Ortega, Esmeralda Perez-Cervantes, Orion Norzogaray-Lopez, Juan P. Carricart-Ganivet, Andres Lopez-Perez, Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
Summary: Experiments show that newly deceased colonies of Caribbean reef-building corals experience high rates of carbonate loss, potentially due to metabolic activity of endolithic organisms. By integrating field data, we estimate an average reduction of approximately 1.33 kg CaCO3 m-2, emphasizing the importance of considering biological and chemical dissolution processes in coral reef carbonate budgets.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Kristina K. Beck, Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb, Jurgen Laudien, Guenter Foersterra, Verena Haeussermann, Humberto E. Gonzalez, Juan Pablo Espinoza, Claudio Richter, Marlene Wall
Summary: The cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus in the Comau Fjord of Chile benefits from stable environmental conditions and shows high adaptability to new environments. Additionally, there is an inverse relationship between coral fitness and environmental variability.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Travis A. Courtney, James R. Guest, Alasdair J. Edwards, Romeo M. Dizon
Summary: The study suggests that the blue coral may become an important reef-builder under ocean warming due to its relative resistance to thermal stress and high skeletal density. Blue corals are locally distributed and may be underestimated in their ability to restore stressed reef environments.
Article
Limnology
Kristen T. Brown, Dorothea Bender-Champ, Michelle Achlatis, Rene M. van Der Zande, Andreas Kubicek, Storm B. Martin, Carolina Castro-Sanguino, Sophie G. Dove, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
Summary: The study quantified biogenic carbonate production, erosion, and dissolution within five distinct geomorphological habitats on Heron Reef in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Results showed significant spatial variations in carbonate budgets among different habitats, improving our understanding of carbonate cycling in coral reef ecosystems.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John T. Morris, Ian C. Enochs, Michael S. Studivan, Benjamin D. Young, Anderson Mayfield, Nash Soderberg, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Graham Kolodziej, Derek Manzello
Summary: This study examined the physiological and transcriptomic responses of common zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate Caribbean sponges to different pH conditions, including present-day and future ocean acidification scenarios. The results showed that the influence of ocean acidification on sponge bioerosion was nonlinear, with the highest rates observed under moderate pH conditions. However, under extreme end-of-century pH conditions, bioerosion rates plateaued or decreased, suggesting physiological impairment of the sponges. RNA-seq analysis revealed differentially expressed genes involved in stress response and suppressed metabolism. These findings have implications for the dissolution and long-term persistence of reef habitat structures.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Hanna C. C. Mantanona, Thomas M. M. DeCarlo
Summary: Mass bleaching events lead to reduction in coral populations and calcium carbonate production, which weakens the ability of reefs to counter rising sea levels. This study used Raman spectrometry techniques to examine the biogeochemical response of long-lived corals before, during, and after bleaching. The findings indicate that the calcification process of coral-bleaching survivors is unexpectedly resilient.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Florita Flores, Joseane A. Marques, Sven Uthicke, Rebecca Fisher, Frances Patel, Sarit Kaserzon, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: This study found that the Great Barrier Reef is negatively impacted by the combined effects of the contaminant diuron and climate change, particularly affecting the physiological responses of corals, with photosynthesis being significantly affected. It suggests that water quality guideline values may need to be adjusted as climate conditions change.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kay L. Davis, Andrew P. Colefax, James P. Tucker, Brendan P. Kelaher, Isaac R. Santos
Summary: Global coral reef calcification is primarily driven by depth and benthic calcifier cover. Repeatedly studied reefs are experiencing an annual decline in calcification rates of 4.3% and an increase in organic productivity of 3% since 1970. This indicates a shift in essential metabolic processes of coral reef ecosystems, potentially leading to net dissolution worldwide around 2054.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Colleen B. Bove, Sarah W. Davies, Justin B. Ries, James Umbanhowar, Bailey C. Thomasson, Elizabeth B. Farquhar, Jess A. McCoppin, Karl D. Castillo
Summary: Global change driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions is causing unprecedented alterations to ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. A study on the physiological responses of three Caribbean coral species reveals that ocean warming and acidification have varying impacts on coral health, with different species exhibiting different responses to these stressors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yip Hung Yeung, James Y. Xie, Yu Zhao, Hiu Yan Yu, Chong Chen, William Weijia Lu, Jian-Wen Qiu
Summary: A 2-year study in subtropical Hong Kong waters revealed that external erosion caused by sea urchin grazing is the primary factor contributing to coral skeletal loss. Controlling the sea urchin population density is crucial to reducing coral erosion.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinqing Zheng, Chenying Wang, Huaxia Sheng, Gaofeng Niu, Xu Dong, Lingling Yuan, Tuo Shi
Summary: This study investigated the importance of symbiotic metabolite supply to scleractinian corals and the effects of ocean acidification on coral calcification. The findings suggest that while there were no significant differences in carbon assimilation among different pH treatments, nitrogen assimilation significantly decreased at pH 7.4. This decreased nitrogen assimilation could lead to reduced coral resilience to stressful events, highlighting the trade-off between coral hosts and symbionts in response to future climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Allyson DeMerlis, Amanda Kirkland, Madeline L. Kaufman, Anderson B. Mayfield, Nathan Formel, Graham Kolodziej, Derek P. Manzello, Diego Lirman, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Ian C. Enochs
Summary: The study shows that pre-acclimation to a variable temperature regime can enhance the thermal tolerance of corals, which is crucial for the restoration of coral reefs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael S. Studivan, Ashley M. Rossin, Ewelina Rubin, Nash Soderberg, Daniel M. Holstein, Ian C. Enochs
Summary: This study demonstrated that reef sediments can transmit Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) through indirect exposure between diseased and healthy corals. The study also identified 16 SCTLD indicator taxa associated with coral tissue loss. This research is important for our better understanding of the role of sediment microbial communities and coastal development activities in the persistence of SCTLD in the wider area.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erica K. Towle, E. Caroline Donovan, Heath Kelsey, Mary E. Allen, Hannah Barkley, Jeremiah Blondeau, Russell E. Brainard, Annie Carew, Courtney S. Couch, Maria K. Dillard, C. Mark Eakin, Kimberly Edwards, Peter E. T. Edwards, Ian C. Enochs, Chloe S. Fleming, Alexandra S. Fries, Erick F. Geiger, Laura Jay Grove, Sarah H. Groves, Matthew Gorstein, Adel Heenan, Matthew W. Johnson, Justine Kimball, Jennifer L. Koss, Tye Kindinger, Arielle Levine, Derek P. Manzello, Nathan Miller, Thomas Oliver, Jennifer C. Samson, Dione Swanson, Bernardo Vargas-Angel, T. Shay Viehman, Ivor D. Williams
Summary: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Conservation Program supports the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, which conducts standardized observations to assess the status of coral reef ecosystems in the United States. Despite an overall rating of "Good," most coral reefs are declining and vulnerable to further degradation, with climate change impacts being more pronounced than expected.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Philip M. Gravinese, Shelby A. Perry, Angelo Jason Spadaro, Albert E. Boyd, Ian C. Enochs
Summary: Coastal habitats are facing challenges of decreased seawater pH and increased temperature due to anthropogenic climate change. The Caribbean king crab plays a crucial role in Western Atlantic reefs by grazing macroalgae that competes with coral. A laboratory experiment found that juvenile king crabs are tolerant to changes associated with climate change, suggesting they could benefit coral reef restoration efforts to make them more resilient to warming and acidic oceans.
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice E. Webb, Ian C. Enochs, Ruben van Hooidonk, Rene M. van Wester, Nicole Besemer, Graham Kolodzier, T. Shay Viehman, Derek P. Manzello
Summary: In order for reef frameworks to persist, the production of calcium carbonate by corals and other calcifying organisms must exceed the losses caused by erosion. However, this balance is currently threatened by ocean warming and acidification. A modelling approach was developed to forecast habitat persistence under different emission scenarios and to examine the effects of restoration and coral thermal adaptation. The results showed that net carbonate production declines once the threshold for severe bleaching is reached, but mitigation and adaptation can delay the switch from net accretion to erosion.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael S. Studivan, Michelle Baptist, Vanessa Molina, Scott Riley, Matthew First, Nash Soderberg, Ewelina Rubin, Ashley Rossin, Daniel M. Holstein, Ian C. Enochs
Summary: Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a major threat to coral reef ecosystems in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Waterborne transmission is the primary mode of spread, and UV treatment of ballast water has limited effectiveness. Ballast water may pose a threat to the spread and persistence of SCTLD.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raffi R. Isah, Ian C. Enochs, Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone
Summary: Unregulated fish mariculture in Bolinao, Philippines has resulted in regional eutrophication and localized acidification of coral reefs. Water quality and carbonate chemistry parameters show variations between seasons. The study highlights the need to address both global acidification and local disturbances caused by fish mariculture.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle A. Johnston, Michael S. Studivan, Ian C. Enochs, Adrienne M. S. Correa, Nicole Besemer, Ryan J. Eckert, Kimberly Edwards, Ryan Hannum, Xinping Hu, Marissa Nuttall, Kelly O'Connell, Ana M. Palacio-Castro, George P. Schmahl, Alexis B. Sturm, Blake Ushijima, Joshua D. Voss
Summary: East and West Flower Garden Bank in the Gulf of Mexico experienced a disease outbreak in August 2022, with disease-like lesions observed on seven coral species. Rapid response cruises were conducted to characterize the disease, treat affected corals, and collect baseline images. This provides an opportunity to study coral disease in a relatively healthy ecosystem and inform mitigation efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
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
Sam J. Purkis, Hannah Shernisky, Peter K. Swart, Arash Sharifi, Amanda Oehlert, Fabio Marchese, Francesca Benzoni, Giovanni Chimienti, Gaelle Duchatellier, James Klaus, Gregor P. Eberli, Larry Peterson, Andrew Craig, Mattie Rodrigue, Juergen Titschack, Graham Kolodziej, Ameer Abdulla
Summary: The sedimentary signals of climatic and tectonic events are well-preserved in the hypersaline environment of brine pools discovered in the Gulf of Aqaba. These pools, famous for their extremophile microbes, provide a unique preservation environment for sedimentary sequences. By conducting bathymetric and geophysical observations, as well as sediment coring and brine sampling, researchers have identified a complex of brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba that can preserve stratigraphy spanning at least 1200 years and contain a combination of turbidites and tsunamigenic terrestrial sediment.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)