scholarly journals Establishing microbial baselines to identify indicators of coral reef health

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Glasl ◽  
David G Bourne ◽  
Pedro R Frade ◽  
Nicole S Webster
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Ecosystem Impacts ◽  
Reef Health

Microorganisms make a significant contribution to reef ecosystem health and resilience via their critical role in mediating nutrient transformations, their interactions with macro-organisms and their provision of chemical cues that underpin the recruitment of diverse reef taxa. However, environmental changes often cause compositional and functional shifts in microbial communities that can have flow-on consequences for microbial-mediated processes. These microbial alterations may impact the health of specific host organisms and can have repercussions for the functioning of entire coral ecosystems. Assessing changes in reef microbial communities should therefore provide an early indicator of ecosystem impacts and would underpin the development of diagnostic tools that could help forecast shifts in coral reef health under different environmental states. Monitoring, management and active restoration efforts have recently intensified and diversified in response to global declines in coral reef health. Here we propose that regular monitoring of coral reef microorganisms could provide a rapid and sensitive platform for identifying declining ecosystem health that can complement existing management frameworks. By summarising the most common threats to coral reefs, with a particular focus on the Great Barrier Reef, and elaborating on the role of microbes in coral reef health and ecosystem stability, we highlight the diagnostic applicability of microbes in reef management programs. Fundamental to this objective is the establishment of microbial baselines for Australia's coral reefs.

scholarly journals Cross-Sectional Variations in Structure and Function of Coral Reef Microbiome With Local Anthropogenic Impacts on the Kenyan Coast of the Indian Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sammy Wambua ◽  
Hadrien Gourlé ◽  
Etienne P. de Villiers ◽  
Oskar Karlsson-Lindsjö ◽  
Nina Wambiji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Molecular Monitoring ◽  
Cross Sectional

Coral reefs face an increased number of environmental threats from anthropomorphic climate change and pollution from agriculture, industries and sewage. Because environmental changes lead to their compositional and functional shifts, coral reef microbial communities can serve as indicators of ecosystem impacts through development of rapid and inexpensive molecular monitoring tools. Little is known about coral reef microbial communities of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). We compared taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial communities inhabiting near-coral seawater and sediments from Kenyan reefs exposed to varying impacts of human activities. Over 19,000 species (bacterial, viral and archaeal combined) and 4,500 clusters of orthologous groups of proteins (COGs) were annotated. The coral reefs showed variations in the relative abundances of ecologically significant taxa, especially copiotrophic bacteria and coliphages, corresponding to the magnitude of the neighboring human impacts in the respective sites. Furthermore, the near-coral seawater and sediment metagenomes had an overrepresentation of COGs for functions related to adaptation to diverse environments. Malindi and Mombasa marine parks, the coral reef sites closest to densely populated settlements were significantly enriched with genes for functions suggestive of mitigation of environment perturbations including the capacity to reduce intracellular levels of environmental contaminants and repair of DNA damage. Our study is the first metagenomic assessment of WIO coral reef microbial diversity which provides a much-needed baseline for the region, and points to a potential area for future research toward establishing indicators of environmental perturbations.

scholarly journals Status of Coral Reefs in the Water of Spermonde, Makassar, South Sulawesi

2021 ◽  
Vol 324 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Ni Wayan Purnama Sari ◽  
Rikoh Manogar Siringoringo ◽  
Muhammad Abrar ◽  
Risandi Dwirama Putra ◽  
Raden Sutiadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Index Value

Observations of the condition of coral reefs have been carried out in Spermonde waters from 2015 to 2018. The method used in this observation uses Underwater Photo Transect (UPT), and the data obtained is analyzed using CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions) software. The results show that the percentage of coral cover has increased from year to year. The percentage of live coral cover in 2015 was 19.64%, 23.60 in 2016, 23.72% in 2017, and 27.83% in 2018. The increase in live coral cover from year to year is thought to occur due to the availability of nutrients. or increasing public awareness, considering this location is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Makassar. Coral reef health index values can be used to classify coral reef health. Through the analysis of the coral reef health index, an index value of 4 was obtained, which means that the condition of the coral reefs is in the “moderate” category.

Oceanic δ13C, environmental changes and Carboniferous coral reef development: Records from Tianlin and Ziyun (southern China)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Maillet ◽  
Elias Samankassou
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Ocean Current ◽  
Late Devonian ◽  
Equatorial Position ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Devonian Extinction

<p>Metazoan reef builders receded globally during the Carboniferous, after the Late Devonian extinction event, with only few exceptions of coral-bearing bioconstructions reported worldwide. Among the latter, two exceptional extended coral reefs, dated as Late Viséan–Serpukhovian and Kasimovian-Gzhelian in age, respectively, were recently reported from southern China. The scarcity of coral buildups worldwide suggests global unfavorable conditions, with specific settings considered to represent refugia. To constrain these environmental conditions, seawater composition is reconstructed using carbon and oxygen isotopes originating from five measured sections located in southern China.</p><p>The resulting δ<sup>13</sup>C data reveals several environmental changes throughout the Carboniferous attributed to climate changes, ocean current variations, and proliferation of terrestrial plants. During the Late Viséan-earliest Serpukhovian, the high δ<sup>13</sup>C values (<sub>˜</sub>3‰) are interpreted as recording short-lived glacial events, with the expansion of ice-sheets in South America and eastern Australia. The scarcity of coral reef growth suggests that the cooling acted as an inhibiting factor during this period. Conversely, the development of the exceptional coral reefs in southern China could be explained by the persistence of warm oceanic currents in the epicontinental sea, located in equatorial position. During the Kasimovian-Gzhelian, the gradual δ<sup>13</sup>C positive shift from -0.7 to +4.7‰ coincides with a short-lived warming, which should be suitable for the recovery of coral communities. However, in spite of the mild climate, the scarcity of Pennsylvanian coral reef leads to consider other inhibiting factors (e.g. biological competition and aragonite seas). Interestingly, the disappearance of coral reefs in southern China correlates with negative δ<sup>13</sup>C shifts (e.g. Mid-Viséan, Late Gzhelian), interpreted as related to intensified upwellings.</p><p>The reconstitution of the Carboniferous environmental conditions documents several factors contributing to the metazoan reef demise and recovery subsequent to the Late Devonian extinction events, and adds to our current knowledge of the longest reef recovery in the Phanerozoic.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Potential contribution of fish restocking to the recovery of deteriorated coral reefs: an alternative restoration method?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uri Obolski ◽  
Lilach Hadany ◽  
Avigdor Abelson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Restoration Method

Counteracting the worldwide trend of coral reef degeneration is a major challenge for the scientific community. A crucial management approach to minimizing stress effects on healthy reefs and helping the recovery of disturbed reefs is reef protection. However, the current rapid decline of the world's reefs suggests that protection might be insufficient as a viable stand-alone management approach for some reefs. We thus suggest that the ecological restoration of coral reefs (CRR) should be considered as a valid component of coral reef management, in addition to protection, if the applied method is economically applicable and scalable. This theoretical study examines the potential applicability and outcomes of restocking grazers as a restoration tool for coral reef recovery – a tool that has not been applied so far in reef restoration projects. We studied the effect of restocking grazing fish as a restoration method using a mathematical model of degrading reefs, and analyzed the financial outcomes of the restocking intervention. The results suggest that applying this restoration method, in addition to protection, can facilitate reef recovery. Moreover, our analysis suggests that the restocking approach almost always becomes profitable within several years. Considering the relatively low cost of this restoration approach and the feasibility of mass production of herbivorous fish, we suggest that this approach should be considered and examined as an additional viable restoration tool for coral reefs.

scholarly journals KONDISI TERUMBU KARANG PULAU MANTEHAGE KABUPATEN MINAHASA UTARA PROVINSI SULAWESI UTARA

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Ardy Kase ◽  
Indri Manembu ◽  
Joshian Schaduw
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Moderate Condition

Coral reefs are coastal ecosystems with the highest level of diversity. Corals are invertebrates that are included in the Phylum Coelenterata (hollow animal) or Cnidaria. Whereas coral reefs are a collection of millions of polyps. Natural phenomena and various anthropogenic activities threaten the health and presence of Mantehage Island coral reefs and the lack of information about the health conditions of coral reefs on Mantehage Island. The purpose of this study is to determine the condition of coral reefs andto  provide baselines data on Mantehage Island. Data collection was done by using UPT  method (Underwater Photo Transect). Underwater Photo Transect carried out by underwater shooting using a digital camera that was shielded (housing). Image analysis were done using the CPCe software (Coral Point Count with Excel extensions). The results of coral reef health conditions at four stations on Mantehage Island shows, coral reef cover at each station as follows, station 1 (one) 53.00% were in good condition, station 2 (two) 25.40% were in a moderate condition, station 3 (three) 16.49% were in poor condition, and station 4 (four) 42.07% were in a moderate condition. From the four stations, the condition of Mantehage Island's coral reefs were in the moderate category with a percentage of 34.24%.Keywords:. Mantehage Island, Terumbu Karang, UPT, CPCe

scholarly journals Exploring the Lack of Funding for Coral Reef Research and it’s Effects on Coral Reef Management and Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Bushnell ◽  
Soo Park
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Marine Biology ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
College Professor ◽  
Initial Assumption ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems

Climate change is greatly harming coral reefs (Gibbs and West, 2019). It is important to research how to help these coral reefs build resilience against climate change but research programs are severely underfunded (Johnston et al. 2020). This paper explored how lack of funding prevents scientists from saving coral reefs and how scientists themselves can be affected. The goal of this paper was to bring to light the struggles faced in the midst of underfunding to feasibly gain support from politicians and government officials to promote funding for these programs. Through three virtual interviews with two scientists and one college professor, I gathered personal experiences from these participants on how coral reefs are being affected today, why research is necessary, and how lack of funding prevents the restoration of these reefs. With the use of a thematic analysis, I was able to recognize common themes between the interviews in order to conclude how lack of program funding prevents scientists from managing and restoring these coral reef ecosystems. The initial assumption for this paper was that coral reef research is underfunded because coral reefs are considered less important, however, the analysis of the data for this paper concluded that all research programs are underfunded. In essence, marine biology, in general, is underfunded as opposed to mainly research on coral reefs. As a result, scientists can be very limited in their abilities to conduct research.

Reef Foraminifera As Bioindicator Of Coral Reef Health in Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishah Norashikin Abdul A’ziz ◽  
Fatin Izzati Minhat ◽  
Pan Hui-Juan ◽  
Hasrizal Shaari ◽  
Wan Nurzalia Wan Saelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Assessment And Monitoring ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Coral Reef Area ◽  
Reduced Water

Abstract Pulau Tioman is one of the famous tourism islands in Peninsular Malaysia due to the beautiful terrestrial and coral reefs ecosystem. This study aims to assess and monitor the health of coral reef sites surrounding Pulau Tioman based on the application of Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring (FORAM) Index. A total of ten selected sampling sites from west and east side of Pulau Tioman were setup in front of the major beach areas around Pulau Tioman. At each site, 100 m transect was laid out from shore towards the reef slope and surface sediment samples were collected at 50 m intervals. Eight orders, 41 families, 80 genera and 161 species of benthic foraminifera were identified around Pulau Tioman. Amphistegina lessonii found to be the most dominant species and the least dominant species (< 4%) are Bolivina vadescens, Elphidium neosimplex, Heterolepa dutemplei, Heterolepa subhaidingerii, Mikrobelodontos bradyi, Milliolinella suborbicularis, Operculina discoidalis, Parahourinoides fragillissimus, Quinqueloculina incisa, Quinqueloculina sulcate, Triloculinella bertheliniana and Triloculinella parisa. The highest and lowest numbers of species was recorded at station J3 and station F3. The agglutinated type of foraminifera contributed between 2–8% of the total assemblages. Meanwhile, calcareous hyaline and porcelaneous group represent 79% and 19% of total assemblages respectively. Based on the functional groups, symbiont-bearing taxa were the most common foraminiferal found in most of the stations. The present study indicates that majority of sampling sites around Pulau Tioman are conducive for coral reef growth and could recover from any future bleaching events or temporary damage in the ecosystem. However, several areas with higher coastal development and tourism activities has reduced water quality (FI < 4) and chances of better reef recovery. Thus, the number of visitors and tourists should be revised in order to produce a better condition for coral reefs to grow. This assumption is based on the established results of the FORAM index. Thus, we suppose that FORAM index could be used together with coral reef health index in other reef ecosystems around Malaysia to determine the condition and status of coral reef area.

scholarly journals Potential contribution of fish restocking to the recovery of deteriorated coral reefs: an alternative restoration method?

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uri Obolski ◽  
Lilach Hadany ◽  
Avigdor Abelson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Restoration Method

Counteracting the worldwide trend of coral reef degeneration is a major challenge for the scientific community. A crucial management approach to minimizing stress effects on healthy reefs and helping the recovery of disturbed reefs is reef protection. However, the current rapid decline of the world’s reefs suggests that protection might be insufficient as a viable stand-alone management approach for some reefs. We thus suggest that the ecological restoration of coral reefs (CRR) should be considered as a valid component of coral reef management, in addition to protection, if the applied method is economically applicable and scalable. This theoretical study examines the potential applicability and outcomes of restocking grazers as a restoration tool for coral reef recovery—a tool that has not been applied so far in reef restoration projects. We studied the effect of restocking grazing fish as a restoration method using a mathematical model of degrading reefs, and analyzed the financial outcomes of the restocking intervention. The results suggest that applying this restoration method, in addition to protection, can facilitate reef recovery. Moreover, our analysis suggests that the restocking approach almost always becomes profitable within several years. Considering the relatively low cost of this restoration approach and the feasibility of mass production of herbivorous fish, we suggest that this approach should be considered and examined as an additional viable restoration tool for coral reefs.

scholarly journals Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline S. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Coral Reef Resilience ◽  
Global Action ◽  
Coral Reef Degradation

Irrefutable evidence of coral reef degradation worldwide and increasing pressure from rising seawater temperatures and ocean acidification associated with climate change have led to a focus on reef resilience and a call to “manage” coral reefs for resilience. Ideally, global action to reduce emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be accompanied by local action. Effective management requires reduction of local stressors, identification of the characteristics of resilient reefs, and design of marine protected area networks that include potentially resilient reefs. Future research is needed on how stressors interact, on how climate change will affect corals, fish, and other reef organisms as well as overall biodiversity, and on basic ecological processes such as connectivity. Not all reef species and reefs will respond similarly to local and global stressors. Because reef-building corals and other organisms have some potential to adapt to environmental changes, coral reefs will likely persist in spite of the unprecedented combination of stressors currently affecting them. The biodiversity of coral reefs is the basis for their remarkable beauty and for the benefits they provide to society. The extraordinary complexity of these ecosystems makes it both more difficult to predict their future and more likely they will have a future.

scholarly journals Ascidians Outbreak: A Threat For Coral Reefs in Panjang Island, Jepara

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Haryanti ◽  
Diah Permata Wijayanti ◽  
Bambang Yulianto ◽  
Mada Triandala Sibero ◽  
Lutfillah Arief Ghinaa Shabrina
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Coral Disease ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
High Sedimentation ◽  
Reef Health

Eutrophication and sedimentation have become a major threat to coral reefs in nearby areas with anthropogenic activities. These threats are often accompanied by shifting ecosystems from coral-rich to fast-growing algae-dominated water, and high prevalence of coral disease. In Panjang Island, Jepara, we observed the outbreak of photosynthetic ascidians along with a high sedimentation at the eastern part of the island. The ascidians were seen overgrowing most substrates including corals, macroalgae, dead-coral-algae, and rubbles in April to May 2019. In July and August 2019, observation and data collection using quadrant transect were conducted to monitor the outbreak. The result showed that ascidians were still present in the area, despite becoming pale and smaller. This report shows that the outbreak of these photosynthetic ascidians was not persistent, however, the effect on coral reef health should not be overlooked.

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