scholarly journals Citizen scientists highlight conservation value of a small subtropical reef, Flinders Reef, southeast Queensland, Australia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique G.G. Grol ◽  
Julie Vercelloni ◽  
Tania M. Kenyon ◽  
Elisa Bayraktarov ◽  
Cedric P. van den Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Moreton Bay ◽  
Marine Park

AbstractSubtropical reefs are unique ecosystems that require effective management – informed by regular ecological monitoring – to foster resilience to environmental changes. Resources to conduct monitoring are limited, and citizen science can complement data from local management agencies. Here, citizen science efforts document the ecological status of a subtropical reef, Flinders Reef, Moreton Bay Marine Park, Australia. Ecological surveys, following Reef Check Australia and CoralWatch protocols, were conducted by 44 trained volunteers. Ten sites at Flinders Reef were surveyed at 5-10 m depth in autumn and spring. Additionally, underwater photos and depth surveys were integrated with satellite imagery to create a detailed habitat map. Coral cover across sites ranged between 14% and 67%. Branching corals dominated the site with 67% cover and showed 89% dissimilarity in coral community composition compared to other sites. Coral community composition was mostly explained by spatial variation, of which 16% was influenced by wave exposure. Observed reef impacts including physical damage, unknown scars and coral disease were three times lower than studies on more accessible reefs in Moreton Bay Marine Park. Invertebrate abundance was relatively low (6.65 individuals per 100 m2), with the most abundant groups observed being sea urchins (Diademaspp.), gastropods (Drupellaspp.) and anemones. Butterflyfish were recorded at every site and were the most abundant fish group surveyed. Findings highlight the healthy condition of Flinders Reef, likely influenced by its offshore location and protection status as a ‘no-take’ zone. This study demonstrates that increasing the current 500m radius protection zone by a further 500m could double the protected area of coral, offering potential further conservation benefits. The findings resulting from the ecological data analysis and created benthic habitat map, provide an example of how citizen science based projects can assist marine park authorities and the public in ongoing conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Assessment Assessment of benthic and coral community structure in an inshore reef in Balok, Pahang, Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 872-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD FAIZ MOHD HANAPIAH ◽  
SHAHBUDIN SAAD ◽  
ZUHAIRI AHMAD ◽  
MUHAMMAD HAMIZAN YUSOF ◽  
MOHD FIKRI AKMAL KHODZORI
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Benthic Community ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Inshore Reef ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Challenging Environment

Abstract. Hanapiah MFM, Saad S, Ahmad Z, Yusof MH, Khodzori MFA. Assessment of benthic and coral community structure in an inshore reef in Balok, Pahang, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 20: 872-877. Inshore water reef closer to human activities are often neglected since they are not protected by marine park management. Little is known on how this reef responses to challenging environment in terms of abundance, diversity and benthic community composition. This study provides a quantitative assessment on the benthic community composition at 5 reef sites in Balok, Pahang, Malaysia and observed the ecological adaptation in the reef community towards turbid water environment. Balok reef has 39% overall coral cover with very low macroalgae abundance (4%). A total of 28 coral genera from 12 families have been recorded with Porites the most dominant genus in the coral assemblages. Most reef sites in Balok are categorized under conservation class 1 (CC1), which indicated that resilient and survival of the reef rely on stress-tolerators taxa. The data presented here showed that Balok reef is highly resilient towards constant exposure to high sedimentation and wave action.

scholarly journals Conservation value of a subtropical reef in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, highlighted by citizen-science efforts

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Monique G. G. Grol ◽  
Julie Vercelloni ◽  
Tania M. Kenyon ◽  
Elisa Bayraktarov ◽  
Cedric P. van den Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Wave Exposure ◽  
Site Location ◽  
Park Planning ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Subtropical Reefs

Subtropical reefs are important habitats for many marine species and for tourism and recreation. Yet, subtropical reefs are understudied, and detailed habitat maps are seldom available. Citizen science can help fill this gap, while fostering community engagement and education. In this study, 44 trained volunteers conducted an ecological assessment of subtropical Flinders Reef using established Reef Check and CoralWatch protocols. In 2017, 10 sites were monitored to provide comprehensive information on reef communities and to estimate potential local drivers of coral community structure. A detailed habitat map was produced by integrating underwater photos, depth measurements, wave-exposure modelling and satellite imagery. Surveys showed that coral cover ranged from 14% to 67%. Site location and wave exposure explained 47% and 16% respectively, of the variability in coral community composition. Butterflyfishes were the most abundant fish group, with few invertebrates being observed during the surveys. Reef impacts were three times lower than on other nearby subtropical reefs. These findings can be used to provide local information to spatial management and Marine Park planning. To increase the conservation benefits and to maintain the health of Flinders Reef, we recommend expanding the current protection zone from 500- to a 1000-m radius.

scholarly journals Functional consequences of the long-term decline of reef-building corals in the Caribbean: evidence of across-reef functional convergence

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 190298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Estrada-Saldívar ◽  
Eric Jordán-Dalhgren ◽  
Rosa E. Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
Chris Perry ◽  
Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Back Reef ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Carbonate Production ◽  
Fore Reef ◽  
Functional Integrity ◽  
Reef Zones

Functional integrity on coral reefs is strongly dependent upon coral cover and coral carbonate production rate being sufficient to maintain three-dimensional reef structures. Increasing environmental and anthropogenic pressures in recent decades have reduced the cover of key reef-building species, producing a shift towards the relative dominance of more stress-tolerant taxa and leading to a reduction in the physical functional integrity. Understanding how changes in coral community composition influence the potential of reefs to maintain their physical reef functioning is a priority for their conservation and management. Here, we evaluate how coral communities have changed in the northern sector of the Mexican Caribbean between 1985 and 2016, and the implications for the maintenance of physical reef functions in the back- and fore-reef zones. We used the cover of coral species to explore changes in four morpho-functional groups, coral community composition, coral community calcification, the reef functional index and the reef carbonate budget. Over a period of 31 years, ecological homogenization occurred between the two reef zones mostly due to a reduction in the cover of framework-building branching ( Acropora spp.) and foliose-digitiform ( Porites porites and Agaricia tenuifolia ) coral species in the back-reef, and a relative increase in non-framework species in the fore-reef ( Agaricia agaricites and Porites astreoides ). This resulted in a significant decrease in the physical functionality of the back-reef zone. At present, both reef zones have negative carbonate budgets, and thus limited capacity to sustain reef accretion, compromising the existing reef structure and its future capacity to provide habitat and environmental services.

scholarly journals Current Ecological Status of Remote Coral Reefs of Clipperton Island, Tropical Eastern Pacific

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Pogoreutz ◽  
Eric E. G. Clua ◽  
JOSE DE JESUS ADOLFO TORTOLERO LANGARICA
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Live Coral Cover

Abstract Clipperton, an uninhabited and remote coral atoll from the Eastern Pacific, is an important steppingstone area that harbors a high marine biodiversity. Despite its biogeographic importance, little information on the ecological status of its coral reefs is available from the last decade. Herein, we characterized the benthic coral community and health status among four different shallow reef-zones (North to South) of Clipperton during the Tara Pacific expedition in 2018. The benthic composition and coverage percentage, as well as occurrence of a pink-spotted coral phenotype (trematodiasis infection) was assessed. Total live coral cover on Clipperton reefs was 66% (55-85%), differing between sites, with massive Porites and branching Pocillopora corals dominating the benthic community with an average 48% (32-66%), and 15% (3-21%), respectively. While Clipperton reefs exhibited significant live coral cover overall, the trematode infection was commonly observed, with a higher occurrence in massive corals (Porites 27%, and Pavona 31%). This observation is possibly related to the combined effects of previously heatwaves, and local inputs of guano-derived nutrients discharged during storms and hurricanes. These results demonstrates that even highly remote reefs supporting high coral cover can be subjected to local and global threats, including but not limited to parasite prevalence, likely in relation to natural disturbances such as thermal stress and tropical cyclones.

scholarly journals Cross-Shelf Variation in Coral Community Response to Disturbance on the Great Barrier Reef

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Mellin ◽  
Angus Thompson ◽  
Michelle J. Jonker ◽  
Michael J. Emslie
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Light Attenuation ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Outer Shelf ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Chronic Stressors

Changes in coral reef health and status are commonly reported using hard coral cover, however such changes may also lead to substantial shifts in coral community composition. Here we assess the extent to which coral communities departed from their pre-disturbance composition following disturbance (disassembly), and reassembled during recovery (reassembly) along an environmental gradient across the continental shelf on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. We show that for similar differences in coral cover, both disassembly and reassembly were greater on inshore reefs than mid- or outer-shelf reefs. This pattern was mostly explained by spatial variation in the pre-disturbance community composition, of which 28% was associated with chronic stressors related to water quality (e.g., light attenuation, concentrations of suspended sediments and chlorophyll). Tropical cyclones exacerbated the magnitude of community disassembly, but did not vary significantly among shelf positions. On the outer shelf, the main indicator taxa (tabulate Acropora) were mostly responsible for community dissimilarity, whereas contribution to dissimilarity was distributed across many taxa on the inner shelf. Our results highlight that community dynamics are not well captured by aggregated indices such as coral cover alone, and that the response of ecological communities to disturbance depends on their composition and exposure to chronic stressors.

SHALLOW WATER HABITAT MAPPING AND REEF FISH STOCK ESTIMATION USING HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE DATA

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincentius P. Siregar ◽  
Sam Wouthuyzen ◽  
Andriani Sunuddin ◽  
Ari Anggoro ◽  
Ade Ayu Mustika
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Fish Density ◽  
Fish Stock ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Stock Estimation

Shallow marine waters comprise diverse benthic types forming habitats for reef fish community, which important for the livelihood of coastal and small island inhabitants. Satellite imagery provide synoptic map of benthic habitat and further utilized to estimate reef fish stock. The objective of this research was to estimate reef fish stock in complex coral reef of Pulau Pari, by utilizing high resolution satellite imagery of the WorldView-2 in combination with field data such as visual census of reef fish. Field survey was conducted between May-August 2013 with 160 sampling points representing four sites (north, south, west, and east). The image was analy-zed and grouped into five classes of benthic habitats i.e., live coral (LC), dead coral (DC), sand (Sa), seagrass (Sg), and mix (Mx) (combination seagrass+coral and seagrass+sand). The overall accuracy of benthic habitat map was 78%. Field survey revealed that the highest live coral cover (58%) was found at the north site with fish density 3.69 and 1.50 ind/m2at 3 and 10 m depth, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest live coral cover (18%) was found at the south site with fish density 2.79 and 2.18  ind/m2 at 3 and 10 m depth, respectively. Interpolation on fish density data in each habitat class resulted in standing stock reef fish estimation:  LC (5,340,698 ind), DC (56,254,356 ind), Sa (13,370,154 ind), Sg (1,776,195 ind) and Mx (14,557,680 ind). Keywords: mapping, satellite imagery, benthic habitat, reef fish, stock estimation

scholarly journals Collection of Environmental Variables and Bacterial Community Compositions in Marian Cove, Antarctica, during Summer 2018

Data ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Hyo-Ryeon Kim ◽  
Jae-Hyun Lim ◽  
Ju-Hyoung Kim ◽  
Il-Nam Kim
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Marine Bacteria ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Composition Data ◽  
Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽  
Class Level ◽  
Earth’S Climate

Marine bacteria, which are known as key drivers for marine biogeochemical cycles and Earth’s climate system, are mainly responsible for the decomposition of organic matter and production of climate-relevant gases (i.e., CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄). However, research is still required to fully understand the correlation between environmental variables and bacteria community composition. Marine bacteria living in the Marian Cove, where the inflow of freshwater has been rapidly increasing due to substantial glacial retreat, must be undergoing significant environmental changes. During the summer of 2018, we conducted a hydrographic survey to collect environmental variables and bacterial community composition data at three different layers (i.e., the seawater surface, middle, and bottom layers) from 15 stations. Of all the bacterial data, 17 different phylum level bacteria and 21 different class level bacteria were found and Proteobacteria occupy 50.3% at phylum level following Bacteroidetes. Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria, which belong to Proteobacteria, are the highest proportion at the class level. Gammaproteobacteria showed the highest relative abundance in all three seawater layers. The collection of environmental variables and bacterial composition data contributes to improving our understanding of the significant relationships between marine Antarctic regions and marine bacteria that lives in the Antarctic.

scholarly journals Abundant Citizen Science Data Reveal That the Peacock Butterfly Aglais io Recently Became Bivoltine in Belgium

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 683
Author(s):  
Marc Herremans ◽  
Karin Gielen ◽  
Jos Van Kerckhoven ◽  
Pieter Vanormelingen ◽  
Wim Veraghtert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Science Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Online Portal ◽  
Spring Generation ◽  
Reproductive Cycles ◽  
New Generation

The peacock butterfly is abundant and widespread in Europe. It is generally believed to be univoltine (one generation per year): adults born in summer overwinter and reappear again in spring to reproduce. However, recent flight patterns in western Europe mostly show three peaks during the year: a first one in spring (overwintering butterflies), a second one in early summer (offspring of the spring generation), and a third one in autumn. It was thus far unclear whether this autumn flight peak was a second new generation or consisted of butterflies flying again in autumn after a summer rest (aestivation). The life cycle of one of Europe’s most common butterflies is therefore still surprisingly inadequately understood. We used hundreds of thousands of observations and thousands of pictures submitted by naturalists from the public to the online portal observation.orgin Belgium and analyzed relations between flight patterns, condition (wear), reproductive cycles, peak abundances, and phenology to clarify the current life history. We demonstrate that peacocks have shifted towards two new generations per year in recent decades. Mass citizen science data in online portals has become increasingly important in tracking the response of biodiversity to rapid environmental changes such as climate change.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Turns Life-Science Students into “Citizen Scientists”: Data Indicate Multiple Negative Effects of Urbanization on Biota

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2992
Author(s):  
Jens Schirmel
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Pollinating Insects ◽  
Impact Of Urbanization ◽  
Data Collections ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions strongly affect the higher education community and require diverse teaching strategies. We designed a course where we combined online teaching with independently conducted ecological data collections by students using a “citizen science” approach. The aim was to analyze the impact of urbanization on biota by comparing urban and rural grasslands. Seventy-five students successfully conducted the data collections and the results provide evidence for prevailing negative effects of urbanization. Individual numbers of ground-dwelling invertebrates (−25%) and pollinating insects (−33%) were generally lower in urban sites. Moreover, animal and seed predation were reduced in urban grasslands, indicating the potential of urbanization to alter ecosystem functions. Despite the general limitations of online teaching and citizen science approaches, outcomes of this course showed this combination can be a useful teaching strategy, which is why this approach could be used to more actively involve students in scientific research.

Coral community composition and carbonate production in an urbanized seascape

2021 ◽  
pp. 105322
Author(s):  
Chin Soon Lionel Ng ◽  
Yong Kit Samuel Chan ◽  
Nhung Thi Hong Nguyen ◽  
Yuichi Preslie Kikuzawa ◽  
Shu Qin Sam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Carbonate Production
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