17 Temporal ultrastructure changes in staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) sperm: implications for fertility

2022 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 242
Author(s):  
L. Penfold ◽  
J. Wyffels ◽  
K. O’Neil ◽  
A. Moura
Keyword(s):  
Acropora Cervicornis

An ecological shift in a remote coral atoll of Belize over 25 years

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY R. McCLANAHAN ◽  
NYAWIRA A. MUTHIGA
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Acropora Cervicornis ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Herbivorous Fishes ◽  
Patch Reefs ◽  
The Past ◽  
Algal Abundance ◽  
The Caribbean

Many coral reefs in the Caribbean, and elsewhere, have undergone changes from hard coral to fleshy algal dominance over the past two decades which has often been interpreted as a localized response to eutrophication and fishing. Here, data on the abundance of hard corals and algae from lagoonal patch reefs distributed throughout a large (260 km2) remote reef atoll located approximately 30 km offshore from the sparsely-populated coast of Belize, Central America, are compared with a study of these patch reefs conducted 25 years previously. Data and observations indicate that these patch reefs have undergone a major change in their ecology associated with a 75% reduction in total hard coral, a 99% loss in the cover of Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata, and a 315% increase in algae, which are mostly erect brown algae species in the genera Lobophora, Dictyota, Turbinaria and Sargassum. Such changes have been reported from other Caribbean reefs during the 1980s, but not on such a remote reef and the present changes may be attributed primarily to both a disease that began killing Acropora in this region in the mid 1980s and a reduction in herbivory. The low level of herbivory may be attributable to the disease-induced loss of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in 1983, or fishing of herbivorous fishes, but both explanations are speculative. The present density of fisherfolk is low, and their efforts are not targetted at herbivorous fishes, and population densities of D. antillarum 14 years after the mortality are <1 individual per 1000 m2, but there is no comparative data from before the die off. There is, however, no indication that these major changes occurred on the fore reef, because A. palmata is abundant and erect algal abundance is low. We suggest that reported changes in other Caribbean reefs are not necessarily or exclusively influenced by local human factors such as localized intense eutrophication or fishing.

A Comparison of Damselfish Densities on Live Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) and Coral Rubble in Dry Tortugas National Park

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison A. Wilkes ◽  
Melissa M. Cook ◽  
Anthony L. DiGirolamo ◽  
John Eme ◽  
Jeff M. Grim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Acropora Cervicornis ◽  
Coral Rubble ◽  
Dry Tortugas

scholarly journals Blending coral restoration science and practice: A novel approach to Acropora population enhancement.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica S Levy ◽  
Kayla J Ripple ◽  
Ken Nedimyer ◽  
Scott R Winters
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Acropora Cervicornis ◽  
Recovery Plan ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Restoration Techniques ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Tract ◽  
Restoration Strategies

Florida and Caribbean coral reefs are in a state of unprecedented decline. Reefs once dominated by branching, hard-coral species, Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata, have lost upwards of 98% of Acroporid cover in recent decades. This decline is attributed to multiple, compounding factors. As these threats continue, there is a clear need for innovative methods to bolster remaining populations thus signaling to managers that intervention is needed to support recovery of the species. The urgency around coral decline has prompted practitioners to try a variety of restoration techniques. While promising, efforts need to incorporate best-practices of supporting genetic diversity, ecological function, and resiliency for successful coral restoration outcomes. Herein we present novel approaches to coral population enhancement (coral restoration) that blend science and practice. Guided by NOAA’s Acropora Recovery Plan, we have implemented an ambitious restoration plan to outplant 50,700 corals using both Acropora species across eight reefs along the Florida Reef Tract. The restoration strategies presented here are designed to meet several population-based recovery objectives and criteria identified in the Acropora Recovery Plan including: increasing abundance, promoting genetic diversity, promoting recruitment, and disease mitigation (as informed by monitoring).

scholarly journals Genotype by environment interactions in coral bleaching

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1946) ◽  
pp. 20210177
Author(s):  
Crawford Drury ◽  
Diego Lirman
Keyword(s):  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Acropora Cervicornis ◽  
Genotype By Environment ◽  
Significant Enrichment ◽  
Reef Tract ◽  
Reef Decline

Climate-driven reef decline has prompted the development of next-generation coral conservation strategies, many of which hinge on the movement of adaptive variation across genetic and environmental gradients. This process is limited by our understanding of how genetic and genotypic drivers of coral bleaching will manifest in different environmental conditions. We reciprocally transplanted 10 genotypes ofAcropora cervicornisacross eight sites along a 60 km span of the Florida Reef Tract and documented significant genotype × environment interactions in bleaching response during the severe 2015 bleaching event. Performance relative to site mean was significantly different between genotypes and can be mostly explained by ensemble models of correlations with genetic markers. The high explanatory power was driven by significant enrichment of loci associated DNA repair, cell signalling and apoptosis. No genotypes performed above (or below) bleaching average at all sites, so genomic predictors can provide practitioners with ‘confidence intervals' about the chance of success in novel habitats. These data have important implications for assisted gene flow and managed relocation, and their integration with traditional active restoration.

scholarly journals Experimental antibiotic treatment identifies potential pathogens of white band disease in the endangered Caribbean coral Acropora cervicornis

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1788) ◽  
pp. 20140094 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Sweet ◽  
A. Croquer ◽  
J. C. Bythell
Keyword(s):  
Coral Disease ◽  
Causal Agent ◽  
Acropora Palmata ◽  
Acropora Cervicornis ◽  
Coral Diseases ◽  
White Band ◽  
Disease Causation ◽  
Community Shifts ◽  
White Band Disease ◽  
Experimental Treatments

Coral diseases have been increasingly reported over the past few decades and are a major contributor to coral decline worldwide. The Caribbean, in particular, has been noted as a hotspot for coral disease, and the aptly named white syndromes have caused the decline of the dominant reef building corals throughout their range. White band disease (WBD) has been implicated in the dramatic loss of Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmata since the 1970s, resulting in both species being listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red list. The causal agent of WBD remains unknown, although recent studies based on challenge experiments with filtrate from infected hosts concluded that the disease is probably caused by bacteria. Here, we report an experiment using four different antibiotic treatments, targeting different members of the disease-associated microbial community. Two antibiotics, ampicillin and paromomycin, arrested the disease completely, and by comparing with community shifts brought about by treatments that did not arrest the disease, we have identified the likely candidate causal agent or agents of WBD. Our interpretation of the experimental treatments is that one or a combination of up to three specific bacterial types, detected consistently in diseased corals but not detectable in healthy corals, are likely causal agents of WBD. In addition, a histophagous ciliate ( Philaster lucinda ) identical to that found consistently in association with white syndrome in Indo-Pacific acroporas was also consistently detected in all WBD samples and absent in healthy coral. Treatment with metronidazole reduced it to below detection limits, but did not arrest the disease. However, the microscopic disease signs changed, suggesting a secondary role in disease causation for this ciliate. In future studies to identify a causal agent of WBD via tests of Henle–Koch's postulates, it will be vital to experimentally control for populations of the other potential pathogens identified in this study.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document