Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jeremy Carlot, Mohsen Kayal, Hunter S. Lenihan, Simon J. Brandl, Jordan M. Casey, Mehdi Adjeroud, Ulisse Cardini, Alexandre Merciere, Benoit Espiau, Diego R. Barneche, Alessio Rovere, Laetitia Hedouin, Valeriano Parravicini
Summary: Sea-level rise is predicted to have major impacts on tropical coastlines, with coral reefs playing a key role in protecting against ocean waves by producing calcium carbonate. Recent research shows that recovering reefs may produce more calcium carbonate than previously estimated, thanks to the contribution of juvenile corals. However, recruitment failures following large-scale bleaching events could compromise the buffering effect of highly productive juvenile corals.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Hillary A. Smith, Stella E. Fulton, Ian M. Mcleod, Cathie A. Page, David G. Bourne
Summary: Manual removal of macroalgae can promote the recovery of inshore coral reefs and improve the composition of benthic reef organisms.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chloe Pozas-Schacre, Jordan M. Casey, Simon J. Brandl, Michel Kulbicki, Mireille Harmelin-Vivien, Giovanni Strona, Valeriano Parravicini
Summary: Research shows a remarkable consistency in trophic interactions across different bioregions in tropical coral reef food webs. These food webs are dominated by dietary specialists, making trophic pathways vulnerable to biodiversity loss. The existence of coral reef functioning is threatened by the reliance on species with narrow, specialized diets.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Pierre Baduel, Leandro Quadrana
Summary: Transposable elements (TEs) are major generators of large-effect mutations due to their ability to replicate across genomes, with chromatin-based mechanisms evolving to control their mutational potential at multiple levels. While most TE insertions are highly deleterious, some can provide key adaptive variation, making TEs potent genomic engines of adaptive innovation with their sensitivity to the environment and precise integration preferences. Recent research on the regulation and impact of transposition in nature has implications for species' evolutionary response to drastic environmental changes.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai I. Pacey, Ciemon F. Caballes, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Coral reefs are facing significant threats due to human activities, and extractive industries utilizing coral reef resources are under pressure to justify their environmental impact. In Australia, live scleractinian corals are harvested annually for the marine aquarium trade, but there is limited information on coral biomass in targeted stocks. This study establishes size-weight relationships for heavily targeted coral species in Australia, bridging the gap between catch reporting and stock assessments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Wei Huang, Ming Chen, Biao Song, Jiaqin Deng, Maocai Shen, Qiang Chen, Guangming Zeng, Jie Liang
Summary: Research on microplastic pollution in global coral reefs is lacking, and more studies are needed to understand the sources of microplastics and their interaction mechanisms with corals. The direct and indirect impacts of microplastics on coral species should be further investigated to address the potential risks from an ecosystem perspective.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
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
Geography, Physical
Hongqiang Yang, Wenfeng Deng, Hong Yan, Feifei Zhang
Summary: This special issue focuses on the evolution of coral reefs in the South China Sea and aims to enhance our understanding of Holocene environmental and climate changes in the region and their driving mechanisms. It consists of twenty-four papers organized into seven themes, covering various aspects of coral reefs and their records. The findings of this special issue contribute to a better understanding of Holocene paleoclimates and paleoenvironments in the South China Sea, as well as the development and protection of coral reef systems.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sonya L. Fiddes, Matthew T. Woodhouse, Todd P. Lane, Robyn Schofield
Summary: This study investigates the influence of coral-reef-derived DMS on atmospheric composition and climate, finding no robust evidence that it affects regional climate. The complexities of the aerosol-climate system are emphasized, with limitations of current modeling capabilities highlighted, particularly regarding convective responses to changes in aerosol.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joana Figueiredo, Christopher J. Thomas, Eric Deleersnijder, Jonathan Lambrechts, Andrew H. Baird, Sean R. Connolly, Emmanuel Hanert
Summary: The study demonstrates that a 2-degree Celsius warming will reduce the dispersal distance of coral larvae and connectivity between reefs, impacting coral reef recovery and the spread of warm-adapted genes.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Ranjbar Jafarabadi, Mehdi Dashtbozorg, Eva Raudonyte-Svirbutaviciene, Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari
Summary: The study identified the presence of chlorinated paraffins in coral species at the Larak coral reef. Soft corals were found to accumulate more chlorinated paraffins than Scleractinian corals, with zooxanthellae and mucus accumulating more chlorinated paraffins than tissue and skeleton. Congener group patterns were dominated by C-13 for SCCPs and C-17 for MCCPs, with some alterations between mucus and other coral compartments. High loadings of chlorinated paraffins were detected in the skeletons of bleached corals, and a negative correlation between chlorinated paraffin levels and symbiodinium density was observed.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Floortje E. Roelvink, Curt D. Storlazzi, Ap R. van Dongeren, Stuart G. Pearson
Summary: The study shows that broader and shallower coral restoration projects are most effective in reducing wave-driven flooding, such as those on the upper fore reef and between the reef flat and shoreline, compared to deeper locations on the fore reef or at the reef crest. It suggests that planting more physically robust coral species in shallower and more energetic locations can increase the coastal hazard risk reduction potential of reef restoration.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tim Rice McClanahan, Maxwell Kodia Azali
Summary: Current coral reef future models rely on threshold (TM) and multivariate environmental variability models (VM), with VM based on General Additive Model showing more accurate predictions for coral cover by considering significant environmental and fisheries management variables and determining that common predictive variables are weak or not significant predictors of coral cover. By comparing the predictions of the two models for future coral cover, it was found that the VM is more accurate than the TM in predicting coral cover in 2050.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Kate M. Quigley, Margaux Hein, David J. Suggett
Summary: Efforts to protect and restore ecosystems globally are increasing, but there is a lack of clear framework for restoring coral reefs. This article proposes adopting lessons from terrestrial ecosystem restoration to accelerate coral reef restoration and summarizes the specific steps for reef restoration as a management strategy.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
William Leggat, Scott F. Heron, Alexander Fordyce, David J. Suggett, Tracy D. Ainsworth
Summary: Despite decades of research into coral bleaching, a standardized metric for comparing ecological observations and experimental simulations is still lacking. The introduction of the experimental Degree Heating Week (eDHW) metric aims to standardize the variable thermal conditions employed in experimental studies of coral bleaching.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher E. Cornwall, Steeve Comeau, Hollie Putnam, Verena Schoepf
Summary: Ocean warming and acidification are two major global threats to the persistence of coral reefs. Ocean warming poses a greater threat to future reef growth and function, while acidification has negative impacts on the calcification process of corals and coralline algae. Coralline algae have shorter generation times and may evolve more rapidly. Future reefs will be dominated by organisms with shorter generation times and plasticity or those that are inherently resilient to ocean warming and acidification.
EMERGING TOPICS IN LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emma F. Camp, Tim Kahlke, Brandon Signal, Clinton A. Oakley, Adrian Lutz, Simon K. Davy, David J. Suggett, William P. Leggat
Summary: The Symbiodiniaceae are a diverse family of marine dinoflagellates that have a symbiotic relationship with invertebrates. They are sensitive to thermal stress, and research shows that this sensitivity is influenced by both phylogenetic dependent and independent traits. To understand the drivers of Symbiodiniaceae heat stress tolerance, researchers have provided a dataset that includes transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome data.
Article
Biology
Hannah G. G. Reich, Emma F. F. Camp, Liza M. M. Roger, Hollie M. M. Putnam
Summary: This review explores the role of trace metals in the physiological performance and functional ecology of coral holobiont in oligotrophic environments. It emphasizes the importance of metal exchanges among holobiont partners and their contribution to partner compatibility, stress coping ability, and overall organismal fitness and distribution. The review also highlights the influence of abiotic factors and climate change on trace metal availability and the potential consequences for coral survival. Future research directions are suggested to further understand the impacts of trace metals on coral holobiont symbioses and nutrient cycling in coral ecosystems.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Defne Sahin, Verena Schoepf, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Damian P. Thomson, Ben Radford, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent due to climate change, causing stress and mortality in marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. The impact of heatwaves on coral bleaching sensitivity varies depending on species and heating rate. This study found that faster heating rates lead to more severe bleaching and decline in coral health, and the use of heating rate can enhance predictions of the local impact of heatwaves on coral ecosystems.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lorna Howlett, Emma F. Camp, John Edmondson, Russell Hosp, Ben Taylor, Philip Coulthard, David J. Suggett
Summary: Tourism-led stewardship projects in the Great Barrier Reef have implemented coral propagation and out-planting practices to improve ecosystem function. Benthic surveys conducted over a 24-month period showed significant increases in hard coral cover at some out-planting sites, particularly for commonly out-planted genera. Despite variations in coral community responses, this tourism-led approach has demonstrated potential for increasing hard coral cover through coral propagation.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Paige Strudwick, Justin Seymour, Emma F. Camp, Christine Roper, John Edmondson, Lorna Howlett, David J. Suggett
Summary: Coral propagation and out-planting play a vital role in reef stewardship, but their impact on the coral microbiome and long-term survival is still unclear. A study in three reef sites found significant changes in bacterial communities of transplanted corals within 7 days to 1.5 months. However, after 1.5 months, bacterial communities became similar across sites, suggesting the influence of other factors on long-term survival.
Article
Biology
Trent D. D. Haydon, Jennifer L. L. Matthews, Justin R. R. Seymour, Jean-Baptiste Raina, Jamie E. E. Seymour, Kathryn Chartrand, Emma F. F. Camp, David J. J. Suggett
Summary: Anthropogenic stressors lead to declines in reef conditions and coral health. Studying coral populations in extreme habitats can provide insights into their future functionality. By comparing the metabolite profiles of Pocillopora acuta colonies in mangrove and adjacent reef environments, we found that mangrove populations exhibit metabolic plasticity to resist high-temperature exposure. Specific metabolites may serve as biomarkers of heat tolerance, providing novel insight into adaptive coral resilience to elevated temperatures.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Correction
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Verena Schoepf, Christopher E. Cornwall, Svenja M. Pfeifer, Steven A. Carrion, Cinzia Alessi, Steeve Comeau, Malcolm T. Mcculloch
Article
Environmental Sciences
Verena Schoepf, Justin H. Baumann, Daniel J. Barshis, Nicola K. Browne, Emma F. Camp, Steeve Comeau, Christopher E. Cornwall, Hector M. Guzman, Bernhard Riegl, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa, Brigitte Sommer
Summary: The worldwide decline of coral reefs has led to renewed interest in coral communities at the edge of environmental limits. These communities have potential to function as resilience hotspots and climate change refugia, providing insights into future coral reef conditions. However, inconsistent definitions and usage of terms like "marginal" and "extreme" have posed challenges for categorizing and synthesizing data about these poorly studied communities. Therefore, a new conceptual framework is proposed to redefine marginal and extreme coral communities based on environmental conditions and ecological criteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Federica Scucchia, Paul Zaslansky, Chloe Boote, Annabelle Doheny, Tali Mass, Emma F. Camp
Summary: The rapid rate of climate change necessitates new management strategies to protect coral reefs. This study investigates stress-tolerant corals in mangrove lagoons and shows that while they are able to survive in extreme conditions, there are genetic and energetic compromises that may reduce their competitive fitness in future harsher environments. The coral skeletons from mangroves have lower density, thickness, and higher porosity, indicating redirection of metabolic energy towards stress response functions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Natasha Bartels, Nicole J. Dilernia, Lorna Howlett, Emma F. Camp
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Jane Lubchenco, Emma F. Camp, Cristian A. Vargas, Dyhia Belhabib, Zuzy Anna, Diva J. Amon, Anna Metaxas, Harriet Harden-Davies
Summary: This article introduces the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reflects on priorities for action on ocean health and biodiversity over the next seven years.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
Maya Powell, Verena Schoepf, Sarah Solomon, Chris Lippens, Anastasia Dulskiy, Karl Castillo
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)