scholarly journals Microalgae, a Boring Bivalve and a Coral—A Newly Described Association Between Two Coral Reef Bioeroders Within Their Coral Host

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Fordyce ◽  
T D Ainsworth ◽  
W Leggat
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Coral Host ◽  
Chlorophyll B ◽  
Green Microalgae ◽  
Isopora Palifera ◽  
Chlorophyll Concentrations

Synopsis Bioeroding organisms play an important part in shaping structural complexity and carbonate budgets on coral reefs. Species interactions between various bioeroders are an important area of study, as these interactions can affect net rates of bioerosion within a community and mediate how bioeroders respond to environmental change. Here we test the hypothesis that the biomass of endolithic bioeroding microalgae is positively associated with the presence of a macroboring bivalve. We compared the biomass and chlorophyll concentrations of microendolithic biofilms in branches of the coral Isopora palifera (Lamarck, 1816) that were or were not inhabited by a macroboring bivalve. Those branches with a macroborer present hosted ∼80% higher microbial biomass compared to adjacent branches from the same coral with no macroborer. Increased concentrations of chlorophyll b indicated that this was partly due to a greater abundance of green microalgae. This newly described association has important implications for the coral host as both the bivalve and the microalgae have been hypothesized as symbiotic.

scholarly journals Light Capture, Skeletal Morphology, and the Biomass of Corals’ Boring Endoliths

mSphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Fordyce ◽  
T. D. Ainsworth ◽  
W. Leggat
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Skeletal Structure ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Green Microalgae ◽  
Skeletal Morphology ◽  
Light Capture ◽  
Chlorophyll Concentrations

ABSTRACT There is a growing interest in the endolithic microbial biofilms inhabiting skeletons of living corals because of their contribution to coral reef bioerosion and the reputed benefits they provide to live coral hosts. Here, we sought to identify possible correlations between coral interspecific patterns in skeletal morphology and variability in the biomass of, and chlorophyll concentrations within, the endolithic biofilm. We measured five morphological characteristics of five coral species and the biomasses/chlorophyll concentrations of their endolithic microbiome, and we compare interspecific patterns in these variables. We propose that the specific density of a coral’s skeleton and its capacity for capturing and scattering incident light are the main correlates of endolithic microbial biomass. Our data suggest that the correlation between light capture and endolithic biomass is likely influenced by how the green microalgae (obligatory microborers) respond to skeletal variability. These results demonstrate that coral species differ significantly in their endolithic microbial biomass and that their skeletal structure could be used to predict these interspecific differences. Further exploring how and why the endolithic microbiome varies between coral species is vital in defining the role of these microbes on coral reefs, both now and in the future. IMPORTANCE Microbial communities living inside the skeletons of living corals play a variety of important roles within the coral meta-organism, both symbiotic and parasitic. Properly contextualizing the contribution of these enigmatic microbes to the life history of coral reefs requires knowledge of how these endolithic biofilms vary between coral species. To this effect, we measured differences in the morphology of five coral species and correlate these with variability in the biomass of the skeletal biofilms. We found that the density of the skeleton and its capacity to trap incoming light, as opposed to scattering it back into the surrounding water, both significantly correlated with skeletal microbial biomass. These patterns are likely driven by how dominant green microalgae in the endolithic niche, such as Ostreobium spp., are responding to the skeletal morphology. This study highlights that the structure of a coral’s skeleton could be used to predict the biomass of its resident endolithic biofilm.

scholarly journals Turbid Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future—A Review

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Adi Zweifler (Zvifler) ◽  
Michael O’Leary ◽  
Kyle Morgan ◽  
Nicola K. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Reef Complex ◽  
Sediment Input

Increasing evidence suggests that coral reefs exposed to elevated turbidity may be more resilient to climate change impacts and serve as an important conservation hotspot. However, logistical difficulties in studying turbid environments have led to poor representation of these reef types within the scientific literature, with studies using different methods and definitions to characterize turbid reefs. Here we review the geological origins and growth histories of turbid reefs from the Holocene (past), their current ecological and environmental states (present), and their potential responses and resilience to increasing local and global pressures (future). We classify turbid reefs using new descriptors based on their turbidity regime (persistent, fluctuating, transitional) and sources of sediment input (natural versus anthropogenic). Further, by comparing the composition, function and resilience of two of the most studied turbid reefs, Paluma Shoals Reef Complex, Australia (natural turbidity) and Singapore reefs (anthropogenic turbidity), we found them to be two distinct types of turbid reefs with different conservation status. As the geographic range of turbid reefs is expected to increase due to local and global stressors, improving our understanding of their responses to environmental change will be central to global coral reef conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Using virtual reality to estimate aesthetic values of coral reefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 172226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Vercelloni ◽  
Sam Clifford ◽  
M. Julian Caley ◽  
Alan R. Pearse ◽  
Ross Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Holistic Conservation ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
Aesthetic Values

Aesthetic value, or beauty, is important to the relationship between humans and natural environments and is, therefore, a fundamental socio-economic attribute of conservation alongside other ecosystem services. However, beauty is difficult to quantify and is not estimated well using traditional approaches to monitoring coral-reef aesthetics. To improve the estimation of ecosystem aesthetic values, we developed and implemented a novel framework used to quantify features of coral-reef aesthetics based on people's perceptions of beauty. Three observer groups with different experience to reef environments (Marine Scientist, Experienced Diver and Citizen) were virtually immersed in Australian's Great Barrier Reef (GBR) using 360° images. Perceptions of beauty and observations were used to assess the importance of eight potential attributes of reef-aesthetic value. Among these, heterogeneity, defined by structural complexity and colour diversity, was positively associated with coral-reef-aesthetic values. There were no group-level differences in the way the observer groups perceived reef aesthetics suggesting that past experiences with coral reefs do not necessarily influence the perception of beauty by the observer. The framework developed here provides a generic tool to help identify indicators of aesthetic value applicable to a wide variety of natural systems. The ability to estimate aesthetic values robustly adds an important dimension to the holistic conservation of the GBR, coral reefs worldwide and other natural ecosystems.

scholarly journals Using 3D photogrammetry from ROV video to quantify cold-water coral reef structural complexity and investigate its influence on biodiversity and community assemblage

Coral Reefs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1007-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Price ◽  
Katleen Robert ◽  
Alexander Callaway ◽  
Claudio Lo lacono ◽  
Rob A. Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Community Assemblage ◽  
3D Photogrammetry ◽  
Water Coral

A Sea Country Learning Partnership in Times of Anthropocenic Risk: Offshore Coral Reef Education and Our Story of Practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Whitehouse ◽  
Marie Taylor ◽  
Neus (Snowy) Evans ◽  
Tanya Doyle ◽  
Juanita Sellwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Local Schools ◽  
Rapid Environmental Change ◽  
Civic Environmentalism

AbstractThis is a researched account of an offshore coral reef education partnership formed during a time of rapid environmental change (the coral bleaching events in the years 2015 to 2017). The aim of the partnership is to encourage a learning connection with Sea Country. Framed as civic environmentalism, this article explores the dimensions of practice between a reef tourism provider, local schools, a local university, and local Indigenous rangers that enables primary, secondary and university students, rangers, and educators to travel together on day trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef and islands and have immersive and sharing educational experiences. Offshore environmental education and higher quality marine education is increasingly important in the Anthropocene, when Australian reefs are subject to the pressures of climate change and other impacts other impacts that diminish their resilience.

scholarly journals Linking fishes to multiple metrics of coral reef structural complexity using three-dimensional technology

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. González-Rivero ◽  
A. R. Harborne ◽  
A. Herrera-Reveles ◽  
Y.-M. Bozec ◽  
A. Rogers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Multiple Metrics

scholarly journals Using 3D micro-geomorphometry to quantify interstitial spaces of an oyster cluster

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwanmok Kim ◽  
Vincent Lecours ◽  
Peter C. Frederick
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Empirical Relationships ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Interstitial Volume ◽  
Curvature Measures ◽  
Technological Limitations

In ecology, it is assumed that the characteristics (e.g. shape, size) of interstitial spaces found in a variety of habitats affect the colonization of species, species interactions, and species composition. However, those characteristics have traditionally been difficult to measure due to technological limitations. In this study, we used the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique to measure the physical characteristics of interstitial spaces in a small oyster cluster. The point cloud (and mesh) of the oyster cluster derived from SfM photogrammetry was found to be accurate enough (mean error of 0.654 mm) to conduct 3D geomorphometric analyses. We present an example of measures of curvature, roughness, interstitial volume, surface area, and openness for three 3D interstitial spaces. The interpretation of those measures enabled establishing which interstitial spaces were the most likely to be used as a shelter for an average crab. Those spaces are characterized by smaller openness and higher roughness and curvature measures. This initial quantitative 3D characterization of an oyster cluster is the first step in establishing empirical relationships between structural complexity of biological structures like oyster clusters and their ecological role for instance in predator-prey interactions. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of combining SfM photogrammetry with geomorphometry for fine-scale ecological studies.

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