Coral Reef Sites Research Articles

Studies on Hatschekiasis in Some Red Sea Coral Reef Fishes at Aquarium of Hurghada Area

A total number of 77 marine fishes of 3 species represented as 23 Abu Sabib (Cheilinus lunulatus‏), 24 kosher Abu Lolo (Epinephelus fasciatus) and 30 Sigan (Siganus luridus) were collected seasonally between May 2014 and the end of April 2015 from coral reef sites along the shore of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) at Hurghada’s Red sea. They were investigated for detection of parasitic copepods. It was revealed that 31.16% of the examined marine fishes were infested. The detected species were belong to Genus Hatschekia Poche1902 from Cheilinus lunulatus‏with aprevalence78.26%, and from Siganus luridus with prevalence 20% while not detected in Epinephelus fasciatus. The total and seasonal prevalence of infestation in each fish species in relation to body weights and lengths were recorded. Besides, the histopathological alterations were studied and discussed.

Assessing coral health and disease from digital photographs and in situ surveys.

Methods for monitoring the status of marine communities are increasingly adopting the use of images captured in the field. However, it is not always clear how data collected from photographic images relate to historic data collected using traditional underwater visual census methods. Here, we compare coral health and disease data collected in situ by scuba divers with photographic images collected simultaneously at 12 coral reef sites. Five globally relevant coral diseases were detected on 194 colonies from in situ surveys and 79 colonies from photos, whilst 698 colonies from in situ surveys and 535 colonies from photos exhibited signs of compromised health other than disease. Comparisons of in situ surveys with photographic analyses indicated that the number of disease cases occurring in the examined coral populations (prevalence) was six times higher (4.5 vs. 0.8% of colonies), whilst compromised health was three times higher (14 vs. 4% of colonies) from in situ surveys. Skeletal eroding band disease, sponge overgrowth and presence of Waminoa flatworms were not detected in photographs, though they were identified in situ. Estimates of black band disease and abnormally pigmented coral tissues were similar between the two methods. Estimates of the bleached and healthy colonies were also similar between methods and photographic analyses were a strong predictor of bleached (r 2=0.8) and healthy (r 2=0.5) colony prevalence from in situ surveys. Moreover, when data on disease and compromised health states resulting in white or pale coral colony appearance were pooled, the prevalence of 'white' colonies from in situ (14%) and photographic analyses (11%) were statistically similar. Our results indicate that information on coral disease and health collected by in situ surveys and photographic analyses are not directly comparable, with in situ surveys generally providing higher estimates of prevalence and greater ability to identify some diseases and compromised states. Careful sampling of photographs can however identify signs of coral stress, including some coral diseases, which may be used to trigger early-warning management interventions.

Optimization of dissolved urea measurements in coastal waters with the combination of a single reagent and high temperature

Urea is an unstable and intermediate organic nitrogenous compound present in coastal environments and is derived from the excretion of some aquatic organisms and wastewater discharges. Urea plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle, where it is utilized by algae, including diatoms. However, there are very limited relevant data on the production, consumption, and degradation of urea because of the lack of appropriate measurement techniques. The conventional method is based on the formation of a colored product when urea reacts with diacetyl monoxime in a sulfuric acid solution. We examined the optimal conditions for the formation of the colored product; specifically, we evaluated different temperatures (22–80 °C), reaction times, mixing ratios of color reagents, and sample storage times. Application of the single mixed color-developing reagent (COLDER) at 70 °C resulted in the optimal formation of the colored product within a short reaction time of 60 min. This method was then used to measure dissolved urea in different coastal environments. The concentrations detected were as follows: 0.65–0.72, 0.49–0.58, and 1.09–2.28 µM urea-N at coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove sites, respectively. Our results showed high precision (SD = 0.02, CV = 1.2%), a low detection limit (0.03 µM urea-N), and a high recovery rate (94–99%). In summary, this high-temperature procedure for urea measurements should be valuable for obtaining high-precision data that can further the understanding of urea dynamics and its role in coastal ecosystems.

Macro- and micro-scale spatial variation in the acoustic activity of snapping shrimp on coral reefs in the Pacific

Coral reef soundscapes are increasingly becoming recognized as critical factors in the study of reef dynamics, from the role they play in larval recruitment to the assessment of coral reef biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Snapping shrimp produce the predominant source of sound on most coral reefs at frequencies between 2 and 20 kHz. Their activity is influenced by a variety of abiotic factors. As such, coral reef soundscapes are prone to considerable flux and variation. However, this variation is still poorly understood on a variety of spatial and temporal scales, making it difficult to draw meaningful comparisons between the soundscapes of different reefs. We report on an effort to quantify the acoustic activity of snapping shrimp across 12 coral reef sites in the Pacific Ocean separated by distances ranging from hundreds of meters to thousands of kilometers, including reefs across the Hawaiian archipelago, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. We use data obtained from long-term, bottom...

Ecological assessments of the coral reef communities in the Eastern Caribbean and the effects of herbivory in influencing coral juvenile density and algal cover

AbstractCaribbean reefs have been unevenly surveyed, with many areas lacking baseline data. In this study, the current status of Orbicella reefs, a structurally complex forereef habitat, was quantified in an understudied region, the Eastern Caribbean. During 2011 the same observers surveyed benthic assemblages, coral juvenile density, herbivorous fishes, and invertebrates at 30 Orbicella reefs in four Eastern Caribbean areas: Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines (hereafter St Vincent). Not all Orbicella forereefs were functionally the same in the Eastern Caribbean. Benthic communities and herbivorous fishes varied greatly among islands. Hard coral had the highest overall percent cover on most reefs in this study, with an average cover of 22%, and was greater than fleshy macroalgal cover at 83% of the sites. Overall, coral juvenile density was low but was positively associated with higher densities of Diadema antillarum, highlighting the importance of herbivory on the reefs. Nearshore coral reefs in Barbados were in a better state than other areas, exhibiting higher coral cover dominated by spawning corals, higher densities of coral juveniles exhibiting higher coral cover dominated by spawning corals, higher densities of coral juveniles and D. antillarum. Low biomass of herbivorous fishes at a majority of the coral reef sites is of major concern for the functioning of these reefs. Conservation of parrotfishes and other herbivores is necessary given the abundance of algae on most of these reefs and the beneficial effect of their presence on coral juveniles. This is the first comprehensive study that compares the state of Orbicella reefs in the Eastern Caribbean, providing valuable information that will be useful in creating realistic targets for future management and conservation.

First deep screening of bacterial assemblages associated with corals of the Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Bacterial assemblages associated with the hermatypic corals Pocillopora damicornis and P. verrucosa, the surrounding seawater and the sediment at six coral reef sites in the north section of the Tropical Eastern Pacific were assessed using MiSeq Illumina sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rDNA. The bacterial microbiota in both coral species, seawater and sediment were stable to seasonal variations. Bacterial assemblages between the same substrates were not significantly different from each other in the six sites sampled. Interestingly, the bacterial composition between substrates within the same site was significantly different, or not, depending on the conservation status of the site. Moreover, we found species-specific bacterial OTUs in both coral species. Analyzing the relationship between bacterial composition and environmental variables revealed a positive correlation between bacterial assemblages and dissolved oxygen, ammonium and silicate.

Geographic extent and variation of a coral reef trophic cascade.

Trophic cascades caused by a reduction in predators of sea urchins have been reported in Indian Ocean and Caribbean coral reefs. Previous studies have been constrained by their site-specific nature and limited spatial replication, which has produced site and species-specific understanding that can potentially preclude larger community-organization nuances and generalizations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the extent and variability of the cascade community in response to fishing across ~23° of latitude and longitude in coral reefs in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The taxonomic composition of predators of sea urchins, the sea urchin community itself, and potential effects of changing grazer abundance on the calcifying benthic organisms were studied in 171 unique coral reef sites. We found that geography and habitat were less important than the predator-prey relationships. There were seven sea urchin community clusters that aligned with a gradient of declining fishable biomass and the abundance of a key predator, the orange-lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus). The orange-lined triggerfish dominated where sea urchin numbers and diversity were low but the relative abundance of wrasses and emperors increased where sea urchin numbers were high. Two-thirds of the study sites had high sea urchin biomass (>2,300kg/ha) and could be dominated by four different sea urchin species, Echinothrix diadema, Diadema savignyi, D.setosum, and Echinometra mathaei, depending on the community of sea urchin predators, geographic location, and water depth. One-third of the sites had low sea urchin biomass and diversity and were typified by high fish biomass, predators of sea urchins, and herbivore abundance, representing lightly fished communities with generally higher cover of calcifying algae. Calcifying algal cover was associated with low urchin abundance where as noncalcifying fleshy algal cover was not clearly associated with herbivore abundance. Fishing of the orange-lined triggerfish, an uncommon, slow-growing by-catch species with little monetary value drives the cascade and other predators appear unable to replace its ecological role in the presence of fishing. This suggests that restrictions on the catch of this species could increase the calcification service of coral reefs on a broad scale.

Global microbialization of coral reefs.

Microbialization refers to the observed shift in ecosystem trophic structure towards higher microbial biomass and energy use. On coral reefs, the proximal causes of microbialization are overfishing and eutrophication, both of which facilitate enhanced growth of fleshy algae, conferring a competitive advantage over calcifying corals and coralline algae. The proposed mechanism for this competitive advantage is the DDAM positive feedback loop (dissolved organic carbon (DOC), disease, algae, microorganism), where DOC released by ungrazed fleshy algae supports copiotrophic, potentially pathogenic bacterial communities, ultimately harming corals and maintaining algal competitive dominance. Using an unprecedented data set of >400 samples from 60 coral reef sites, we show that the central DDAM predictions are consistent across three ocean basins. Reef algal cover is positively correlated with lower concentrations of DOC and higher microbial abundances. On turf and fleshy macroalgal-rich reefs, higher relative abundances of copiotrophic microbial taxa were identified. These microbial communities shift their metabolic potential for carbohydrate degradation from the more energy efficient Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway on coral-dominated reefs to the less efficient Entner-Doudoroff and pentose phosphate pathways on algal-dominated reefs. This 'yield-to-power' switch by microorganism directly threatens reefs via increased hypoxia and greater CO2 release from the microbial respiration of DOC.

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IN CORAL REEFS OF THE TAYRONA NATIONAL NATURAL PARK (COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN) IN RESPONSE TO SEASONAL UPWELLING

Coral reefs are subjected to physical changes in their surroundings including wind velocity, water temperature, and water currents that can affect ecological processes on different spatial and temporal scales. However, the dynamics of these physical variables in coral reef ecosystems are poorly understood. In this context, Tayrona National Natural Park (TNNP) in the Colombian Caribbean is an ideal study location because it contains coral reefs and is exposed to seasonal upwelling that strongly changes all key physical factors mentioned above. This study therefore investigated wind velocity and water temperature over two years, as well as water current velocity and direction for representative months of each season at a windand wave-exposed and a sheltered coral reef site in one exemplary bay of TNNP using meteorological data, temperature loggers, and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) in order to describe the spatiotemporal variations of the physical environment. Findings revealed that water temperatures (28.7 ± 0.8 °C and maximal 30.3 °C during non-upwelling; 25.1 ± 1.7 °C and minimal 20.3 °C during upwelling) exhibited no significant differences between sites and were negatively correlated with wind velocities (0.4 ± 0.3 m s-1 during non-upwelling and 1.8 ± 1.0 m s-1 with a maximum of 4.1 m s-1 during upwelling). Water current velocity was significantly higher at the exposed compared to the sheltered site during non-upwelling periods at a water depth of 8-10 m. During upwelling, water current velocities were also higher at the exposed site (6.4 cm s-1 exposed and 5.9 cm s-1 sheltered), but when wind speed surpassed 1.7 m s-1, no spatial differences occurred. Water currents showed a clockwise circulation during upwelling following the wind fields, but no clear circulation pattern during non-upwelling. Significant positive correlation between wind and water current velocity was detected at the sheltered, but not at the exposed site. Wind-stress at the exposed site affected water currents throughout the entire water column (at least 10 m deep) during both seasons, but reached only until 3-4 m water depth at the sheltered site during non-upwelling and down to 10 m during upwelling. Consequently, organisms at the exposed site experience constantly high water current exposure throughout the year. This may explain the pronounced site-specific reef community composition differences as water current velocity and circulation control distribution of invertebrate larvae and supply with plankton and essential nutrients.

Diet and niche breadth variation in the marbled parrotfish,Leptoscarus vaigiensis, among coral reef sites in Kenya

Studies on feeding ecology of fishes are important for understanding ecosystem structure and function. This study tested the hypothesis of diet and niche breath variation in the marbled parrotfish (Leptoscarus vaigiensis) among coral reefs of different protection levels in Kenya. Fish samples were obtained from protected (Malindi and Watamu marine parks), moderately fished (Malindi and Watamu marine reserves) and highly fished (Vipingo and Kanamai) reefs. Total lengths of fish samples were measured and their stomach contents quantified using the point method. Seasonal dietary composition, niche breaths and feeding intensities were compared between the sites using multivariate statistics. Results showed the parrotfish is a predominantly reef macroalgal grazer. Fish from protected sites fed on diverse dietary items compared to those from reserves and highly fished sites. Fish niche breadths differed between sites and seasons. Higher niche breadths occurred in protected sites during the north-east monsoon, while higher values occurred at fished sites during the south-east monsoon season. This study, the first of its kind in Kenya and most of the western Indian Ocean, describes feeding in the marbled parrotfish and spatial variation in niche breadth as influenced by fishing pressure, environmental variability and biological interactions. Resume Les etudes sur l'ecologie alimentaire des poissons sont importantes pour bien comprendre la structure et la fonction de l'ecosysteme. Cette etude a teste l'hypothese d'une variation de regime alimentaire et de niche chez le poisson perroquet Leptoscarus vaigiensis dans des recifs coralliens soumis a des niveaux de protection differents au Kenya. Des echantillons de poissons furent preleves sur des recifs proteges (Parcs Marins de Malindi et de Watamu), peches avec moderation (Reserves Marines de Malindi et de Watamu) et intensement peches (Vipingo et Kanamai). La longueur totale de ces poissons a ete mesuree et leur contenu stomacal a ete quantifie par la Methode de point. La composition saisonniere du regime alimentaire, l’etendue des niches et l'intensite trophique furent comparees entre les sites au moyen de statistiques multivariees. Les resultats ont montre que le poisson perroquet est principalement un brouteur de macro-algues de recifs. Les poissons des sites proteges mangeaient des aliments plus varies que les poissons des reserves et des sites fortement peches. La taille des niches differait selon les sites et les saisons. Les niches etaient plus grandes dans les sites proteges pendant la mousson du nord-est alors que des valeurs plus elevees etaient relevees dans les sites peches pendant la saison de la mousson du sud-est. Cette etude, la premiere de ce genre au Kenya et dans la plus grande partie de l'ouest de l'ocean Indien, decrit l'alimentation du Leptoscarus vaigiensis et examine la variation spatiale de la taille des niches, influencee par la pression de la peche, la variabilite environnementale et les interactions biologiques.

Community metabolism in shallow coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, lower Florida Keys

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 538:35-52 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11385 Community metabolism in shallow coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, lower Florida Keys D. Turk1,2,*, K. K. Yates3, M. Vega-Rodriguez4, G. Toro-Farmer4, C. L’Esperance1, N. Melo5,6, D. Ramsewak7, M. Dowd1, S. Cerdeira Estrada8, F. E. Muller-Karger4, S. R. Herwitz9, W. R. McGillis2 1Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada 2LDEO, Columbia University, New York, NY 10964, USA 3U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA 4College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA 5Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA 6NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami 33149, USA 7Marine Sciences, The University of Trinidad and Tobago, TT, Trinidad and Tobago 8National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), Mexico City, 14010, Mexico 9UAV Collaborative, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA *Corresponding author: daniela.turk@dal.ca ABSTRACT: Diurnal variation of net community production (NEP) and net community calcification (NEC) were measured in coral reef and seagrass biomes during October 2012 in the lower Florida Keys using a mesocosm enclosure and the oxygen gradient flux technique. Seagrass and coral reef sites showed diurnal variations of NEP and NEC, with positive values at near-seafloor light levels >100–300 µEinstein m-2 s-1. During daylight hours, we detected an average NEP of 12.3 and 8.6 mmol O2 m-2 h-1 at the seagrass and coral reef site, respectively. At night, NEP at the seagrass site was relatively constant, while on the coral reef, net respiration was highest immediately after dusk and decreased during the rest of the night. At the seagrass site, NEC values ranged from 0.20 g CaCO3 m-2 h-1 during daylight to -0.15 g CaCO3 m-2 h-1 at night, and from 0.17 to -0.10 g CaCO3 m-2 h-1 at the coral reef site. There were no significant differences in pH and aragonite saturation states (Ωar) between the seagrass and coral reef sites. Decrease in light levels during thunderstorms significantly decreased NEP, transforming the system from net autotrophic to net heterotrophic. KEY WORDS: Coral reef · Seagrass · Production · Calcification · Florida Keys Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Turk D, Yates KK, Vega-Rodriguez M, Toro-Farmer G and others (2015) Community metabolism in shallow coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, lower Florida Keys. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 538:35-52. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11385 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 538. Online publication date: October 28, 2015 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2015 Inter-Research.

Spatial and temporal variations in environmental variables in relation to phytoplankton composition and biomass in coral reef areas around Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Phytoplankton can indirectly indicate health status of coral reefs due to their sensitivity to changes in water quality parameters. This study explored the spatial and temporal variability in water quality and nutrients in relation to phytoplankton community composition and chlorophyll a concentration at Bawe, Mnemba, Chumbe and Pongwe coral reef sites in Unguja Island. In situ measurements of dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH were done every month for 1 year. Surface water samples were collected for determination of phytoplankton composition, nutrients and chlorophyll a concentration. Dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH did not differ significantly among the four sites (p > 0.05) but showed significant temporal variations among months (p < 0.05). Bawe had significantly higher phosphate concentration (1.45 ± 0.57 µg L−1) than Chumbe (0.74 ± 0.53 µg L−1), Mnemba (0.42 ± 0.30 µg L−1) and Pongwe (0.28 ± 0.10 µg L−1; p < 0.05). Similarly, Bawe had significantly higher nitrate concentration (0.81 ± 0.43 µg L−1) than Mnemba (0.33 ± 0.14 µg L−1) and Pongwe (0.24 ± 0.13 µg L−1; p < 0.05) but similar to Chumbe (0.90 ± 0.35 µg L−1; p > 0.05). However, values obtained at all the studied sites were less than 3 and 14 mg L−1 for phosphate and nitrate, respectively, for eutrophic oceans. Phytoplankton species were dominated by Bacillariophyceae (70.83 %) and some species identified such as Ceratium sp., Dinophysis sp., Protoperidinium sp., Prorocentrum sp., Oscillatoria sp. and Dictyocha fibula are known to produce toxins that affect fish species. Bawe had significantly higher chlorophyll a concentration (0.47 ± 0.07 mg L−1) than Mnemba (0.33 ± 0.04 mg L−1) and Chumbe (0.33 ± 0.04 mg L−1; p < 0.05). Chlorophyll a concentration was spatially inversely related to distance from Unguja town (p < 0.05) while it was temporally significantly positively correlated with dissolved oxygen, nitrate and phosphate (p < 0.05). The study revealed that, the coral reef sites have low nutrient levels and are in good health. The existence of toxic phytoplankton species suggests careful consumption of fisheries resources at the four coral reef sites and frequent monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) is required. The higher nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations at Bawe Island compared to other sites calls for mechanisms to limit the release of domestic sewage from households and hotels to safeguard the coral reefs.

Enhancing management effectiveness of invasive lionfish using distance sampling and detection probability

Abstract Invasive lionfish Pterois volitans and Pterois miles are one of the greatest threats to coral reef fisheries in the Caribbean. Management currently relies solely on removal, however, there is little understanding of spatial ecology of lionfish to inform management strategies and thus, increase their effectiveness. The use of detection probability and population density estimates from distance sampling as a method to: (a) estimate spatial and depth variations in detectability of lionfish to prioritize removal efforts; (b) reduce costs related to removal in the Caribbean; and (c) provide quantifiable baseline data against which management success can be measured was evaluated. Underwater visual transect surveys were conducted at varying depths at four coral reef sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands using perpendicular distance sampling. Detection functions were fitted to distance data from 299 lionfish sightings across 37 transects to explore variation in detectability among survey sites and depths. Lionfish were detected with a 15.9% (12.2–20.6%) (mean ± 95% CI) probability across all sampling. Detection probability was significantly higher in depths &lt; 15 m, however, lionfish density and mean size increased with depth. Population density on South Caicos reefs was estimated at 1679 (1140.4–2473.1) individuals per km2. Increased detection probability in shallower depths implies caution is needed in assessing management success at depth, and that removal methods and effort should be related specifically to depth and habitat factors. Distance sampling is an effective method for accurate estimation of lionfish population density and detection probability, providing metrics by which to identify priority management areas, and track population changes along with the success of removal efforts. As a result its integration into initial planning and continued monitoring aspects of lionfish management throughout the Caribbean is recommended. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Connectivity in the Intra-American Seas and implications for potential larval transport

A major challenge in marine ecology is to describe patterns of larval dispersal and population connectivity, as well as their underlying processes. We re-assessed broad-scale population connectivity with a focus on the 18 coral reef hot spots in the Intra-American Seas described in Roberts (Science 278:1454–1457, 1997), by including seasonal and inter-annual variability in potential larval dispersal. While overall dispersal patterns were in agreement with previous findings, further statistical analyses show that dispersal patterns driven by mean circulation initially described by Roberts (Science 278:1454–1457, 1997) can significantly underestimate particle connectivity envelopes. The results from this study indicate that seasonal and inter-annual variability in circulation are crucial in modulating both dispersal distance and directional anisotropy of virtual larvae over most coral reef sites and that certain larval hotspots are likely more strongly connected than originally thought. Improved larval dispersal transport envelopes can enhance the accuracy of probability estimates which, in turn, may help to explain episodic larval settlement in certain times and places, and guide spatial management such as marine protected areas.

Spatio-temporal variation in density of microphytoplankton genera in two tropical coral reefs of Mauritius

Spatial and temporal (seasonal and interannual) variation in microphytoplankton was investigated at two tropical coral reef sites off Mauritius (Belle Mare [BM] and Flic-en-Flac [FEF]), from 2010 to 2012. Each site was divided into three zones: coast, lagoon and reef. Microphytoplankton, nutrient and chlorophyll a samples were collected, and physico-chemical parameters were measured in situ. A total of 56 microphytoplankton genera were identified (43 diatoms, 8 dinoflagellates and 5 cyanobacteria). Total microphytoplankton density exhibited spatial and temporal variation, being higher at BM and near the coast, and mostly high in summer. Nutrient concentrations were highest near the coast as a result of run-off events and anthropogenic inputs, especially during heavy rainfall, and this resulted in elevated total microphytoplankton density. There were no clear diversity patterns at the two sites or within the different zones. At both sites, Navicula, Cocconeis and Fragilaria were the dominant diatoms, and Gymnodinium, Alexandrium and Protoperidinium were the dominant dinoflagellates. There was a shift in dominance from Navicula in summer to Fragilaria in winter. This seasonal shift may reflect how these species respond differently to environmental change, which could have implications for primary production at spatial and temporal scales.

Nitrogen fixation rates in algal turf communities of a degraded versus less degraded coral reef

Algal turf communities are ubiquitous on coral reefs in the Caribbean and are often dominated by N2-fixing cyanobacteria. However, it is largely unknown (1) how much N2 is actually fixed by turf communities and (2) which factors affect their N2 fixation rates. Therefore, we compared N2 fixation activity by turf communities at different depths and during day and night-time on a degraded versus a less degraded coral reef site on the island of Curacao. N2 fixation rates measured with the acetylene reduction assay were slightly higher in shallow (5–10-m depth) than in deep turf communities (30-m depth), and N2 fixation rates during the daytime significantly exceeded those during the night. N2 fixation rates by the turf communities did not differ between the degraded and less degraded reef. Both our study and a literature survey of earlier studies indicated that turf communities tend to have lower N2 fixation rates than cyanobacterial mats. However, at least in our study area, turf communities were more abundant than cyanobacterial mats. Our results therefore suggest that turf communities play an important role in the nitrogen cycle of coral reefs. N2 fixation by turfs may contribute to an undesirable positive feedback that promotes the proliferation of algal turf communities while accelerating coral reef degradation.

Molecular phylogenetics and morphology of Gambierdiscus yasumotoi from tropical eastern Australia

Here the occurrence of the species Gambierdiscus yasumotoi is reported for the first time along a latitudinal gradient spanning more than 1550km of the Australian Great Barrier Reef (GBR), a region with endemic ciguatera fish poisoning. G. yasumotoi was found at three tropical and sub tropical coral reef sites, Raine Island (northern GBR), Nelly Bay (central GBR) and Heron Island (southern GBR), indicating a wide-ranging distribution in tropical and subtropical eastern Australia. Specimens from Australia broadly fitted the original description of G. yasumotoi, but differed in some aspects, showing some similarities to Gambierdiscus ruetzleri. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear rRNA gene sequences and morphological analyses showed specimens to be intermediate between the two species G. yasumotoi and G. ruetzleri. The full intraspecific diversity of these two species appears to be incompletely known, and these two species may represent a species complex. Strains of this species from other sites around the world have been found to produce an as yet unknown toxin, possibly an analogue of maitotoxin.

Coral reef organisms as bioregion indicators off Halmahera, Moluccas, Indonesia

Abstract In the planning of marine protected areas for the conservation of coral reef systems, it is important to be able to distinguish between certain bioregions, i.e. regions with distinct species assemblages. This was done off western Halmahera (Moluccas, Indonesia), where three such bioregions were distinguished based on species inventories of 41 coral reef sites. The relative value of species belonging to different trophic groups was examined with regard to their possible role as indicators for these three regions. The study focused on ascidians (Ascidiacea), macroalgae, mushroom corals (Fungiidae), and a selection of coral‐associated gastropods (Epitoniidae and Coralliophilidae). The best results for the detection of bioregions were obtained when datasets of all four trophic groups were pooled. When comparing the taxa and their indicator values, ascidians were the most suitable, followed by macroalgae, corals and gastropods with 98, 83, 71 and 66 % certainties, respectively. The occurrence of 17 species correlated strongly with the bioregions, which therefore were identified as potential indicator species consisting of 13 ascidians, three macroalgae, and one mushroom coral. These data suggest that ascidians have a significant value as indicators to evaluate bioregion boundaries. Water quality measurements indicated that salinity and turbidity could be responsible for at least part of the differences between the species assemblages in the three bioregions. © 2014 The Authors. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Acoustic telemetry validates a citizen science approach for monitoring sharks on coral reefs.

Citizen science is promoted as a simple and cost-effective alternative to traditional approaches for the monitoring of populations of marine megafauna. However, the reliability of datasets collected by these initiatives often remains poorly quantified. We compared datasets of shark counts collected by professional dive guides with acoustic telemetry data from tagged sharks collected at the same coral reef sites over a period of five years. There was a strong correlation between the number of grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) observed by dive guides and the telemetry data at both daily and monthly intervals, suggesting that variation in relative abundance of sharks was detectable in datasets collected by dive guides in a similar manner to data derived from telemetry at these time scales. There was no correlation between the number or mean depth of sharks recorded by telemetry and the presence of tourist divers, suggesting that the behaviour of sharks was not affected by the presence of divers during our study. Data recorded by dive guides showed that current strength and temperature were important drivers of the relative abundance of sharks at monitored sites. Our study validates the use of datasets of shark abundance collected by professional dive guides in frequently-visited dive sites in Palau, and supports the participation of experienced recreational divers as contributors to long-term monitoring programs of shark populations.

Biogeography and Change among Regional Coral Communities across the Western Indian Ocean

Coral reefs are biodiverse ecosystems structured by abiotic and biotic factors operating across many spatial scales. Regional-scale interactions between climate change, biogeography and fisheries management remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluated large-scale patterns of coral communities in the western Indian Ocean after a major coral bleaching event in 1998. We surveyed 291 coral reef sites in 11 countries and over 30° of latitude between 2004 and 2011 to evaluate variations in coral communities post 1998 across gradients in latitude, mainland-island geography and fisheries management. We used linear mixed-effect hierarchical models to assess total coral cover, the abundance of four major coral families (acroporids, faviids, pocilloporids and poritiids), coral genus richness and diversity, and the bleaching susceptibility of the coral communities. We found strong latitudinal and geographic gradients in coral community structure and composition that supports the presence of a high coral cover and diversity area that harbours temperature-sensitive taxa in the northern Mozambique Channel between Tanzania, northern Mozambique and northern Madagascar. Coral communities in the more northern latitudes of Kenya, Seychelles and the Maldives were generally composed of fewer bleaching-tolerant coral taxa and with reduced richness and diversity. There was also evidence for continued declines in the abundance of temperature-sensitive taxa and community change after 2004. While there are limitations of our regional dataset in terms of spatial and temporal replication, these patterns suggest that large-scale interactions between biogeographic factors and strong temperature anomalies influence coral communities while smaller-scale factors, such as the effect of fisheries closures, were weak. The northern Mozambique Channel, while not immune to temperature disturbances, shows continued signs of resistance to climate disturbances and remains a priority for future regional conservation and management actions.