scholarly journals COMPOSICIÓN DE LAS COMUNIDADES DE OCTOCORALES Y CORALES PÉTREOS Y LA INCIDENCIA DEL BLANQUEAMIENTO DEL 2005 EN JARDINES DE LA REINA, CUBA

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Hernández Fernández ◽  
Mayrene Guimarais Bermejo ◽  
Rodolfo Arias Barreto ◽  
Lídice Clero Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Stony Coral ◽  
Stony Corals ◽  
Montastraea Annularis ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Pseudopterogorgia Americana

En los años 2001 y 2005, se estudió la composición de las comunidades de octocorales y corales pétreos en el archipiélago de los Jardines de la Reina. Se analizó, en la comunidad de corales pétreos, la incidencia del blanqueamiento ocurrido en el 2005 en el Caribe. Para ello se establecieron doce estaciones de muestreo (siete en el arrecife frontal somero y cinco en el arrecife de cresta), en cada una de estas se estimó la densidad mediante el marco cuadrado de 1 m de lado. En el arrecife frontal somero se identificaron un total de 62 especies (26 de octocorales y 36 de corales), siendo las más abundantes: Pseudopterogorgia americana (2.4 colonias/m2), Eunicea flexuosa (1.1 colonias/m2), Siderastrea siderea (5.0 colonias/m2) y Agaricia agaricites (4.0 colonias/m2). En el arrecife de cresta se identificaron un total de 31 especies (13 de octocorales y 18 de corales), predominando: Briareum asbestinum (1.3 colonias/m2), Porites astreoides (2.5 colonias/m2) y Millepora complanata (1.0 colonias/m2). Las especies más sensibles al blanqueamiento fueron: A. agaricites , Millepora spp. y Montastraea annularis. En sentido general, dicho suceso tuvo una incidencia pobre sobre los corales pétreos. Es menester la ejecución de monitoreos al permitir ajustar los planes de manejo en función de los cambios que puedan ocurrir en la estructura de las comunidades bentónicas.ABSTRACT Octocoral and stony coral communities in the Jardines de la Reina archipelago (Cuba) were studied in 2001 and again in 2005. The incidence of the 2005 bleaching event in the Caribbean was analyzed in the stony coral community. Twelve sampling stations were established: seven in the shallow forereef and five in reef crests, with one square meter quadrants to estimate density. A total of 62 species (26 octocorals and 36 stony corals) were identified in the shallow forereef, including Pseudopterogorgia americana (2.4 colonies/m2), Eunicea flexuosa (1.1 colonies/m2), Siderastrea siderea (5.0 colonies/m2) and Agaricia agaricites (4.0 colonies/m2). In the reef crest, 31 species were identified (13 octocorals and 18 stony corals), with Briareum asbestinum (1.3 colonies/m2), Porites astreoides (2.5 colonies/m2) and Millepora complanata (1.0 colonies/m2) being the most abundant. The most sensitive species to bleaching were: A. agaricites, Millepora spp. and Montastraea annulariS. In general, this event showed a poor incidence with stony corals. Constant monitoring is necessary to adjust the management plan to the changes that may occur in the structure of the benthic communities.

scholarly journals Coverage Increases of Porites astreoides in Grenada Determined by Shifts in Size-Frequency Distribution

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 288
Author(s):  
Ryan G. Eagleson ◽  
John S. Lumsden ◽  
Lorenzo Álvarez-Filip ◽  
Christophe M. Herbinger ◽  
Ryan A. Horricks
Keyword(s):  
Coral Community ◽  
Scleractinian Corals ◽  
Area Measurement ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Size Frequency Distribution ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Caribbean

Despite coral community collapse, the mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) is a species currently experiencing success throughout the Caribbean. The inshore reefs of Grenada were selected to study the influence of benthic factors on the abundance, size, and coverage of P. astreoides colonies. Surveys of reef communities along established 30 m transects were conducted at eight sites in 2014 and 2017 using a 0.5 m² quadrat. Coral Point Count was used to annotate the images, estimating the coverage of scleractinian corals, sponges, algae, and benthic substrates. Coverage, size, and abundance of P. astreoides colonies were quantified using the area measurement tool in ImageJ standardized against the quadrats. There were significant differences in benthic community assemblages between islands, selected sites, and between years. From 2014 to 2017 there was a significant decrease in the mean abundance of P. astreoides colonies and significant increases in mean colony size and coverage. The presence of P. astreoides colonies was significantly correlated with: rubble (−), sand (−); pavement (+); macroalgae (−); coralline algae (+); sponges (varying response); gorgonians (−); massive corals (+); and branching corals (−). P. astreoides follows similar recruitment patterns as other scleractinian corals. Observed changes in P. astreoides populations appear to indicate a recovery event following a disturbance, potentially tropical storm Chantal in 2013.

scholarly journals Changes in coral reef communities across a natural gradient in seawater pH

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. e1500328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah C. Barkley ◽  
Anne L. Cohen ◽  
Yimnang Golbuu ◽  
Victoria R. Starczak ◽  
Thomas M. DeCarlo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Skeletal Density ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems

Ocean acidification threatens the survival of coral reef ecosystems worldwide. The negative effects of ocean acidification observed in many laboratory experiments have been seen in studies of naturally low-pH reefs, with little evidence to date for adaptation. Recently, we reported initial data suggesting that low-pH coral communities of the Palau Rock Islands appear healthy despite the extreme conditions in which they live. Here, we build on that observation with a comprehensive statistical analysis of benthic communities across Palau’s natural acidification gradient. Our analysis revealed a shift in coral community composition but no impact of acidification on coral richness, coralline algae abundance, macroalgae cover, coral calcification, or skeletal density. However, coral bioerosion increased 11-fold as pH decreased from the barrier reefs to the Rock Island bays. Indeed, a comparison of the naturally low-pH coral reef systems studied so far revealed increased bioerosion to be the only consistent feature among them, as responses varied across other indices of ecosystem health. Our results imply that whereas community responses may vary, escalation of coral reef bioerosion and acceleration of a shift from net accreting to net eroding reef structures will likely be a global signature of ocean acidification.

scholarly journals Effects of the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Outbreak on Coral Communities and the Benthic Composition of Cozumel Reefs

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Estrada-Saldívar ◽  
Blanca A. Quiroga-García ◽  
Esmeralda Pérez-Cervantes ◽  
Omar O. Rivera-Garibay ◽  
Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
Keyword(s):  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Coral Tissue ◽  
Coral Mortality ◽  
Benthic Assemblages ◽  
Stony Coral ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Benthic Composition

In the Caribbean, disease outbreaks have emerged as significant drivers of coral mortality. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a novel white plague-type disease that was first reported off the Florida coast in 2014. This disease affects >20 coral species and is spreading rapidly throughout the Caribbean. In December 2018, SCTLD reached southwestern (SW) Cozumel, one of the healthiest reef systems in the Caribbean. In this study, we integrate data from multiple survey protocols conducted between July 2018 and April 2020 to track the progression of the outbreak in SW Cozumel and to quantify the impacts of SCTLD on coral communities and the benthic composition of reefs. Given that the SCTLD outbreak coincided with a period of prolonged thermal stress that concluded in widespread coral bleaching in autumn 2019, we also investigated whether this event further exacerbated coral mortality. Our findings show that SCTLD spread throughout SW Cozumel in only 2 months and reached a peak after only 5 months. By the summer of 2019, most of the afflicted corals were already dead. Species of the families Meandrinidae, Faviinae, and Montastraeidae showed 33–95% mortality. The widespread coral die-off caused an overall loss of 46% in coral cover followed by a rapid increase of algae cover across all surveyed reefs that persisted until at least April 2020. In November 2019, more than 15% of surveyed coral colonies were bleached. However, we did not find that bleaching further increased coral mortality at either the colony or the community level, which suggests that the coral communities were able to recover from this event despite still being affected by the disease. In conclusion, SCTLD is radically changing the ecology of coral reefs by decimating the populations of several key reef-builders and reconfiguring the benthic assemblages. The actions needed to restore coral populations have to be accompanied by stringent controls related to the effects of climate change, coastal development, and wastewater treatment to improve coral conditions and ecosystem resilience.

scholarly journals Correction to: Transcriptome of the caribbean stony coral Porites astreoides from three developmental stages

GigaScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer A Mansour ◽  
Joshua J C Rosenthal ◽  
C Titus Brown ◽  
Loretta M Roberson
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Stony Coral ◽  
The Caribbean

scholarly journals Transcriptome of the Caribbean stony coral Porites astreoides from three developmental stages

GigaScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer A. Mansour ◽  
Joshua J. C. Rosenthal ◽  
C. Titus Brown ◽  
Loretta M. Roberson
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Stony Coral ◽  
The Caribbean

Complex spatial patterns of genetic differentiation in the Caribbean mustard hill coral Porites astreoides

Coral Reefs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florentine Riquet ◽  
Aurélien Japaud ◽  
Flávia L. D. Nunes ◽  
Xaymara M. Serrano ◽  
Andrew C. Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
The Caribbean

scholarly journals REVISIÓN TAXONÓMICA DEL CORAL PORITES COLONENSIS (SCLERACTINIA: PORITIDAE) EN EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dagoberto E. Venera Pontón ◽  
Javier Reyes ◽  
Guillermo Diaz Pulido
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
South American ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
First Time

Porites colonensis is a coral from the Caribbean Sea; colonies are foliaceous, undulated, and plate-like. Polyps are dark brown or red with small bright white or green centers; pali are present in corallites and the septal plan is bisymmetrical, conformed by three fused ventral septa, a dorsal solitary septum, and two pairs of lateral septa at each side of the dorso-ventral axis. P. colonensis is similar and can be confused with the smooth varieties of Porites astreoides and Porites branneri. There are three specimens collected from Colombia and previously identified as P. colonensis: one from Golfo de Urabá (Darién ecoregion), other from Islas del Rosario (Coralline Archipelagos ecoregion), and another from an unspecified locality, in addition to one published observation from the Golfo de Urabá without collected specimens. A recent finding of other specimens in the Tayrona National Natural Park (TNNP, Tayrona ecoregion) and the absence of a rigorous taxonomic revision for all specimens collected from Colombia showed that it was necessary to review the presence and distribution of P. colonensis in the Colombian Caribbean. A taxonomic review was done for all specimens collected from Colombia and previously identified as P. colonensis. Then, the morphologic variability of specimens that were confirmed as P. colonensis was described. Only the specimens from TNNP agreed with the holotype description of P. colonensis, while others agreed with flat varieties of P. astreoides. Thus, the presence of P. colonensis is confirmed for the first time for Colombia, but its presence in other Colombian localities outside Tayrona ecoregion could not be demonstrated. This is the only confirmed record of this species for the South American continental shelf. Furthermore, the skeletal characteristics of Colombian P. colonensis corallites showed large variability, exceeding the ranges previously described for the species.

scholarly journals STATUS TERUMBU KARANG DI PERAIRAN PESISIR NEGERI HUKURILA

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45
Author(s):  
Dicky Sahetapy ◽  
Laura Siahainenia ◽  
Debby A J Selanno ◽  
Johannes M S Tetelepta ◽  
Novianty C Tuhumury
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Ecological Index ◽  
Stony Coral ◽  
The Status ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
Line Intercept

Coral reef is one of the important coastal ecosystems that have high biodiversity. This study aims to analyze the composition of the taxa and the distribution of coral species, the ecological index of coral communities and the status of coral reefs. The research was conducted from April-May 2019 in the coastal waters of Hukurila Village, South Leitimur District, Ambon City. Collecting coral data by using the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method. Determination of coral reef condition based on percent data (value) of coral reef cover. During the study, 116 species of stony coral from 49 genera and 16 families were found, which 50 species of them are protected and 23 species of ornamental coral. The similarity index of stony coral species between coral reef locations ranges from 0.52-0.76 or there is the similarity of stony coral species between locations coral reef in the amount of 52-76%. The coral reefs of Hukurila Village have high diversity of coral species, with a low dominance of coral species in the community, and the compatibility of coral species in the community is classified as stable. Acropora corals contributed a low covering percent value (9.98%), while Non-Acropora corals contributed a relatively high percent of covering value (43.56%). The status of coral reefs between locations in the coastal waters of Hukurila Village is in the criteria of good (healthy).   ABSTRAK Terumbu karang merupakan salah satu ekosistem pesisir penting yang emiliki kenanekaragaman hayati tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis komposisi taksa dan sebaran spesies karang, indeks ekologi kominitas karang dan status terumbu karang. Penelitian dilakukan dari April-Mei 2019 di perairan pesisir Negeri Hukurila Kecamatan Leitimur Selatan Kota Ambon. Pengumpulan data karang menggunakan metode Line Intercept Transect (LIT). Penentuan kondisi terumbu karang berdasarkan data (nilai) persen penutupan karang batu. Selama penelitian ditemukan 116 spesies karang batu dari 49 genera dan 16 famili, dimana 50 spesies diantaranya dilindungi dan 23 spesies karang hias. Indeks similaritas spesies karang batu antar stasiun terumbu karang berkisar antara 0,52-0,76 atau terdapat kesamaan spesies karang batu antar lokasi terumbu karang sebesar 52-76%. Terumbu karang Negeri Hukurila memiliki diversitas spesies karang tinggi, dengan dominansi spesies karang rendah dalam komunitas, dan keserasian spesies karang dalam komunitas tergolong stabil. Karang Acropora memberi kontribusi nilai persen penutupan rendah (9,98%), sementara karang Non-Acropora memberi kontribusi nilai persen penutupan karang batu relatif tinggi (43,56%). Status terumbu karang antar stasiun terumbu perairan pesisir Negeri Hukurila berada dalam kriteria baik (sehat).   Kata kunci: terumbu, karang batu, keragaman spesies, kesamaan, persen penutupan

scholarly journals An emerging coral disease outbreak decimated Caribbean coral populations and reshaped reef functionality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip ◽  
F. González-Barrios ◽  
Esmeralda Pérez-Cervantes ◽  
Ana Molina-Hernandez ◽  
Nuria Estrada-Saldívar
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Coral Disease ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Carbonate Production ◽  
Coral Abundance ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Physical Functionality

Abstract Diseases are major drivers of the deterioration of coral reefs, linked to major declines in coral abundance, reef functionality, and reef-related ecosystems services1-3. An outbreak of a new disease is currently rampaging through the populations of the remaining reef-building corals across the Caribbean region. The outbreak was first reported in Florida in 2014 and reached the northern Mesoamerican reef by summer 2018, where it spread across the ~ 450-km reef system only in a few months4. Rapid infection was generalized across all sites and mortality rates ranged from 94% to < 10% among the 21 afflicted coral species. This single event further modified the coral communities across the region by increasing the relative dominance of weedy corals and reducing reef functionality, both in terms of functional diversity and calcium carbonate production. This emergent disease is likely to become the most lethal disturbance ever recorded in the Caribbean, and it will likely result in the onset of a new functional regime where key reef-building and complex branching acroporids (a genus apparently unaffected) will once again become conspicuous structural features in reef systems with yet even lower levels of physical functionality.

Physiological Response to Thermal Stress of the Caribbean Corals Orbicella annularis and Porites astreoides

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-57
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Sot ◽  
Alex Edgardo Me ◽  
Koralis Reyes-Mald ◽  
Alberto Miguel Sab
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Physiological Response ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
The Caribbean
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