Massive Colonies Research Articles

How monster storms shape fringing reefs: Observations from the 2020 Middle East Cyclone

AbstractIn March 2020, an unusually intense storm system struck the Gulf of Aqaba‐Eilat, resulting in severe shoreline damage. This brief account examines post‐storm observations of inconsistent damage patterns and structural changes along a specific coastal stretch located at the south beach of Eilat. Certain sections of the coastline experienced direct impact from extreme waves on the south‐southeast‐facing shallow reef, resulting in areas where rocks were completely stripped of corals due to sediment backwash. Conversely, areas characterized by ridges and deep troughs saw the loss of branching corals and some massive colonies, while many small corals survived. A neighboring area with a well‐developed fringing reef suffered lesser damage. Between the severely affected shallow reef and the robust fringing reef lies an unconsolidated slope that migrated eastward by at least 2 m following the storm, incorporating numerous coral colonies dislodged by the event. We propose that this slope advances with each major storm occurrence, influencing the characteristics of nearby shores and coral reefs. This case demonstrates how storm events, in conjunction with geomorphology, have a cumulative and significant impact not only on the structure of coral communities but also on the fundamental shape of coral reefs themselves. As climate change amplifies the range, intensity, and frequency of storms, comprehending these processes becomes increasingly crucial.

First Report with Molecular Confirmation of the Colonial Sphenopid Palythoa mutuki (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Zoantharia: Sphenopidae) Forming Massive Colonies in Southern Jeju Island, Korea

As the global sea surface water temperature increases due to climate change, some zooxanthellate species have extended their habitat range to higher latitudes. Palythoa species, a colonial zooxanthellate cnidarian, is one such example of a range-extending animal. Recently, massive colonies of zoantharians that appeared to be of Palythoa spp. were discovered in a subtidal area of southern Jeju Island. Because a zoantharian-dominated ecosystem could indicate an unhealthy status, the documentation of its occurrence and species identification are crucial for subsequent studies. In this study, we report and confirm the presence of massive Palythoa colonies in Taeheung and Topyeong, off the southern coast of Jeju Island, using in situ underwater images and identify the species by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer rDNA. The resulting Bayesian inference tree clearly demonstrates that the massive colonies consist of Palythoa mutuki and are closely related to P. mutuki collected from the Ryukyu Archipelago in southern Japan. These records provide evidence of the northward expansion of subtropical and tropical marine organisms.

Differential size frequency distribution of hard coral colonies across physical reef health gradients in Northeast Peninsula Malaysia

The size structure of a hard coral population reflects key demographic processes such as death, growth, and recruitment, and provides clues into recent ecological dynamics. Shrinking time intervals between mass disturbances (e.g., mass coral bleaching) result in demographic events that impact coral reef health and functionality. Analysis of size frequency distribution (SFD) of hard corals enables post hoc assessments of such demographic events and improves monitoring of coral reef health. Here, we present the first demographic study of Malaysian coral reefs and show the SFD of 36 morpho-taxa (n=4066 colonies), recorded along 27 × 10 m belt transects across three distinctive sites. We demonstrate a preponderance of small colonies (i.e., <20 cm, 84% of recorded colonies) and significant differences of taxon-specific SFD across physical reef health gradients (i.e., coral dominated to rubble dominated reefs). Physically degraded sites were significantly and consistently lower in coral recruitment, density, and diversity, while cover of coral rubble was higher. SFDs of abundant taxa were more negatively skewed (i.e., large colonies) and leptokurtic (i.e., peaky) at physically degraded sites. However, intra-taxonomic comparison revealed that absolute colony size was generally smaller at physically degraded sites, specifically for slow-growing massive colonies, but was larger for fast-growing Acropora and Fungia. Importantly, absolute colony size ranges were narrower at rubble dominated reefs and colony abundance declined across all size classes, resulting in the preponderance of medium-sized colonies in populations with more negatively skewed SFD. Therefore, our results support the notion that coral dominated reefs are assembled by predominantly smaller colonies. Conclusively, these results manifest that both the largest and the smallest individuals are eliminated at low cover reefs and community heterogeneity is impoverished. Ultimately, we highlight taxa with a balanced SFD (e.g., massive Dipsastraea, Porites spp. (rus), and massive Porites) despite the more frequent recurrence of mass disturbances.

The highly diversified rugose coral fauna from the Lower Givetian Meerbüsch quarry in the Eifel Hills (Germany)

Twenty taxa of Lower Givetian rugose corals have been investigated in the Dreimühlen Formation from the Meerbüsch quarry, in the Eifel Hills. The fauna consists mostly of solitary coralla associated with some fasciculate specimens of Disphyllum caespitosum (Goldfuss, 1826) and with large massive colonies of Argutastrea briceae (Rohart, 1988). The genus Marennophyllum n. gen. is introduced with Cystiphylloides marennense Coen-Aubert, 2019 as type species to include the solitary species previously assigned to the fasciculate genus Cystiphylloides Chapman, 1893. Three species are new: Marennophyllum wenningi n. sp., Grypophyllum schroederi n. sp. and Macgeea mistiaeni n.sp. The stratigraphic distribution of the material observed in Meerbüsch quarry is compared with that of the Middle Devonian in the Eifel Hills as a whole, the southern part of Belgium, and other countries of Western Europe. Some species such as Acanthophyllum heterophyllum (Milne-Edwards &amp; Haime, 1851), A. vermiculare (Goldfuss, 1826), Grypophyllum convolutum (Wedekind, 1925), Stringophyllum acanthicum (Frech, 1885) and Aristophyllum luetti Coen-Aubert, 1997 are also present at the northern margin of Gondwana (Ma’der in Morocco, Zemmour in Mauritania, and Alborz Mountains in Iran). The occurrence of Heliophyllum cf. cribellum Oliver &amp; Sorauf, 2002 in Meerbüsch quarry suggests an Eastern North American influence.

Lower Cretaceous corals from the Agrio Formation, Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina: Family Columastraeidae

This contribution presents the second part of the results of an ongoing systematic revision of the coral fauna from mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sedimentary facies of the Agrio Formation (upper Valanginian–upper Hauterivian) of the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina. Columastraeid corals (superfamily Cladocoroidea, that corresponds partly to the suborder Faviina) are represented by six species of the genus Eocolumastrea Löser and Zell, 2015, namely E. gortanii, E. magna, E. neuquensis, E. octaviae, E. cf. octaviae and E. sp. 2. Records of the species are close or match with their first appearances worldwide. The studied corals correspond to mostly ramose and secondarily massive colonies, that are here interpreted as capable of thriving in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic environments and settling on soft substrates and able to resist moderate turbidity, sedimentation, and storm influence. Correlation with other columastraeid Lower Cretaceous coral faunas shows affinity with those also recorded in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sedimentary facies, such as the Bisbee Basin.

Coral carpets- a novel ecological engineering tool aimed at constructing coral communities on soft sand bottoms

Hard bottom substrates that are the hallmark property of the coral reefs can be expanded by transforming sedimentary areas into engineered reefs. Testing this rationale, we developed here two preset coral-carpet prototypes (‘coral sods’; 6 units, each 7.5 m2), one containing branching species and one with both coral forms (mixed-units) that were transplanted on a soft bottom area, containing 10 coral species (five branching, five massive; 354 ramets from 30 genotypes and 181 whole-colonies). Ramets from branching genotypes were distributed in central and peripheral coral-sod locations, whereas all massive colonies were put in central locations. The ‘coral sod’ carpets were set-up at the Eilat, Red Sea nursery, held in place for 2–8 months, then transplanted into a highly hostile soft-bottom area (15 m depth) and monitored for up to 17 months. Results revealed high survival rates for corals in the peripheral/center positions (80–100%; most combinations). A fast increase in ecological volume (EV) was recorded during 447 residency days, up to 112% in EV for Acropora variabilis mixed-units in the peripheral position. There was no statistically significant difference between treatments and sod's locations, except for the Pocillopora. damicornis branching/mixed treatment. At day 514, corals' aerial coverage has increased from 50% at onset to 67.3% for the branching units and to 61.5% in the mixed-units. Larvae released from transplanted Stylophora pistillata corals outperformed those of natal colonies in the two following reproductive seasons, significantly higher in the first reproductive season when compared to the second. Coral recruitment (day 485) was up to 4 times higher in the centers compared to the peripheries, in both coral-sod types. Using gypsum sticks dissipation, we recorded reduced water velocities at lateral and uppermost colonial architectures and in the coral sod centers as compared to peripheries. These results reveal the first steps for improved ‘coral sod’ units aiming to shape sandy tropical areas into flourishing coral reef sites.

Monitoring and Characterizing Temporal Patterns of a Large Colony of Tadarida brasiliensis (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in Argentina Using Field Observations and the Weather Radar RMA1

Migratory colonies of up to thousands or millions of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) are present in temperate areas of America. The monitoring of these massive colonies is crucial to know their conservation status and to evaluate the important ecosystem services that they provide. The objectives of this study were to characterize and to monitor, with an interdisciplinary approach, one of the largest bat colonies in South America, located in La Calera (Córdoba, Argentina). This study includes eight years of field observations inside of their shelter and outside when the colony emerged. Moreover, these observations were complemented with one year of weather radar detections using the Radar Meteorológico Argentino 1 (RMA1). To determine if a detection is a true or false massive emergence of bats, an algorithm was designed. We observed that this large colony of T. brasiliensis is maternal and migratory, just like others in South and North America. This colony arrives in early spring and births occur two months later, migrations occur in early autumn, meanwhile the shelter is empty or inhabited only by a small group of individuals during the cold seasons. The colony was estimated at 900,000 individuals before births occurred. The radar detection was coincident with field observations, when a simultaneous emergence was observed, as well as in the monitoring throughout the year. This represents the first study made in South America using radar technology for monitoring a bat colony. We here demonstrate that RMA1 is a powerful tool for monitoring this colony in the long term, and even to alert possible changes in permanence in time or in the number of individuals.

Nutritional strategy for the preferential uptake of $${{\text{NO}}_{3}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ by Phaeocystis globosa

The cosmopolitan alga Phaeocystis globosa forms massive colonies during blooms. In addition to producing haemolytic toxins that affect the ecosystem, centimetre-sized colonies can block nuclear power plant cooling systems. Nitrogen plays a key role in P. globosa blooms; however, the preferred form of inorganic nitrogen taken up by colonies remains unknown. Therefore, we set up four groups with different nitrogen types and levels of enrichment. The culture medium and intracolonial fluid were sampled at different times for the determination of nutrient concentrations to elucidate the nutrient uptake strategy that presumably favours colonies. Although $${{\text{NH}}_{4}}^{ + } {\text{ {-} N}}$$ and $${{\text{NO}}_{2}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ were absorbed by the colonies, $${{\text{NO}}_{3}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ was the favoured nitrogen, and the average uptake rate of $${{\text{NO}}_{3}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ was significantly higher than that of $${{\text{NH}}_{4}}^{ + } {\text{{-}N}}$$ and $${{\text{NO}}_{2}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ in each group (P < 0.05). In the enriched groups, the replenishment of $${{\text{NO}}_{3}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ in the intracolonial fluid was faster than that of $${{\text{NH}}_{4}}^{ + } {\text{{-}N}}$$. The symbiotic bacteria and some biochemical processes may explain the differences in the nutrient concentrations inside and outside of the colonies. Considering the high consumption of $${{\text{NO}}_{3}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ during P. globosa blooms, controlling the concentration of $${{\text{NO}}_{3}}^{ - } {\text{{-}N}}$$ is key to preventing P. globosa blooms.

Rapid decline of a relatively high latitude coral assemblage at Weizhou Island, northern South China Sea

“Refuge theory” suggests that global warming would be beneficial to corals in high latitude waters. In theory, then, the Weizhou Island reef (21°00′–21°10′N, 109°00′–109°15′E), which is located in a relatively high latitude area in the northern South China Sea, is a refuge for corals under global warming. Yet, the corals here have degenerated significantly. We investigated the ecological status of the Weizhou Island reef in 2015 and recorded 11 families, 22 genera, and 41 coral species. The mean living coral cover has decreased from ~ 42% in 1984 to ~ 10% in 2015 and there are many dead Acropora in the study area, especially at the reef flat. Coral assemblage structure has undergone degradation with the dominant group shifting from high complexity branching, foliaceous and massive colonies to a simpler group of massive morphologies. The only sign indicating the corals here benefiting from global warming is the occurrence of a large amount of juvenile Porites lutea (31.91% of the total population), which represents the recovery potential of the Weizhou Island reefs. Further analysis concludes that the main reason for the rapid degeneration is escalating anthropogenic impact, such as seawater pollution, unsustainable tourism activities, ongoing overfishing, all of which degrade the local ecological environment. It seems that intensive anthropogenic activities have weakened the “refuge” function significantly. Decreasing living coral cover as well as degraded assemblage structure all suggest that Weizhou Island offers limited potential as refuge habitat for corals in the context of global warming and intensive human activities.

PB2068 THE CASTLEMAN DISEASE: HISTOLOGICAL VARIANTS, POEMS‐SYNDROME AND PRODUCTIVE PLASMA CELL VASCULITIS

Background:The Castleman disease (CD) is a rare, little‐studied disease characterized by lymphadenopathy with follicles hyperplasia and active neoangiogenesis. Occurs in the form of two histological variants: plasma cell and hyaline‐vascular. The total vasculitis in the vessels of internal organs, previously not noted by researchers, was revealed in the analysis of 2 sectional cases of CD.Aims:To study the state of microcirculatory vessels in patients with plasma cell and hyaline‐vascular type of CD in sections of biopsied lymph nodes.MethodsSections of biopsied lymph nodes were used. It was used hematoxylin‐eosin and reaction to antibodies to CD138 to identify plasma cells. In all patients with plasma cell variant cells were painted with antibodies to HSV‐8. Vessels estimated in perinodular tissue of capsule and fat. We examined 15 patients with CD. According to histology and CD138 content, the plasma cell variant was diagnosed in 8 patients, 7 men and 1 woman aged from 40 to 70 years. In 5 patients approved POEMS syndrome by the presence of M‐protein, disorders of neuro‐muscular conduction according to the electro‐neuromyography, and other symptoms. In 7 patients was diagnosed hyaline vascular type of CD, including 5 women and 2 men aged from 30 to 60 years.Results:In 1 patient with plasma cell variant of CD revealed HSV8 reaction with intranuclear staining antibodies. Vasculitis in the form of vascular walls thickening of the microcirculatory bloodstream with a decrease or obliteration of their lumen, wall fibrosis and plasma cell infiltration was found in all 15 patients. The most pronounced changes in the form of fibrosis, complete vascular obliteration and massive perivascular infiltration CD138+ cells by type of massive colonies of hundreds of cells were found in patients with the POEMS‐ syndrome. They also noted the location of single CD138 + cells inside the intima of the sclerosal vessels. Fibroplastic vascular changes in patients with POEMS‐syndrome were weirdly shaped in the form of “mood masks”. It coincided with massive osteosclerotic changes of the vertebrae on radiographs. Massive development of fibrosis corresponds to the POEMS pathogenesis. All patients with its presence later died.Summary/Conclusion:The Castleman disease, regardless of the histological variant, includes in its morphological pattern productive plasma cell vasculitis, most pronounced in the plasma‐cell variant with POEMS‐ syndrome.

Mineralogical and Elemental Composition of Pectinatella magnifica and Its Statoblasts

Several massive colonies of Pectinatella magnifica have been observed during the summer almost every year since 1974 in agricultural reservoir ponds and lakes with dirty freshwater environments in Ishikawa, Japan, which has posed serious environmental problems on the shores of Hokuriku District. We collected Pectinatella magnifica during the summer at Kahokugata Lake and Makiyama agricultural reservoir pond in June and July 2016. However, scientific data for the statoblasts of Pectinatella magnifica are limited. Our results for scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses of Pectinatella magnifica indicated immobilization of the chemical elements that were involved in the mass during the summer. We also reported the characterization of an invasive species of bryozoan (Pectinatella magnifica) in lakes and ponds in Ishikawa, Japan, based on field observations in 2016. We studied the microstructure, mineralogy, chemical composition, and radioactivity associated with these organisms, using a combination of micro-techniques, SEM-EDS, associated with ICP-MS, and XRD. This study aims to illustrate the capability of Pectinatella magnifica to produce minerals within statoblasts and gelatinous material. Obtained results may indicate forming quartz, palygorskite, dolomite, bischofite, pyrolusite, and pyrite, associated with native sulfur and copper in the statoblast. The mass of gelatinous material contains talc and vermiculite as well as non-crystalline phase. The mechanism of biomineral formation has important implications for water–mineral–organism or microorganism interactions both in lower drainage basin systems, such as Kahokugata Lake, and upper water areas, such as Makiyama agricultural reservoir pond. Many types with variety of sizes and shapes of bryozoan (Pectinatella magnifica) were found in lakes and ponds in Japan. The biomineralization systems will be made available for use not only in researching bryozoans (Pectinatella magnifica), but also for environmental change systems from upstream to downstream of the lake. To date, there have been no reports on related electron microscopy observations, including the real-life occurrence of “bioremediation”. These observations could lead to simple methods of removing statoblasts of the invasive alien species Pectinatella magnifica from agricultural and reservoir environments, because there was limited microbial immobilization of the ions during the winter.

Regional and species specific sexual reproductive patterns of three zooxanthellate scleractinian corals across the Eastern Tropical Pacific

AbstractSexual reproduction of zooxanthellate scleractinian corals in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is influenced by the interactive effects of regional and local oceanographic conditions, as well as a variety of other environmental factors. Differences in spatial and temporal gamete development and reproductive patterns of three widespread scleractinian corals of this region—Pocillopora damicornis (branching colony morphology, characterized as hermaphrodite broadcaster), Pavona gigantea (massive colonies, characterized as gonochoric broadcaster/sequential co‐sexually hermaphroditic) and Porites panamensis (encrusting colonies, characterized as gonochoric brooder)—were evaluated at local and regional scales across the ETP. This area extended from the Gulf of California (24°N) to the southern coast of Ecuador (–1°S), including offshore islands, using existing data pooled from prior studies. Predictive models were employed based on environmental variables: sea surface temperature, daylight hours, diffuse attenuation co‐efficient at 490 nm and photosynthetically active radiation. Datasets were extracted from satellite images (https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov) and analysed using WAM_STATIST ver. 6.33® software to obtain monthly average data from each site. The spatial (region, sub‐region and site) and seasonal (wet, dry) variation in reproductive activity (% colonies with gametes) differed among the three species; significant interactions were season × sub‐region for P. damicornis, season × site (sub‐region) for P. gigantea, and season × site for P. panamensis, for which sub‐region was not considered as a factor. The predictive models also suggest that gamete production/maturation of P. damicornis and P. gigantea is influenced by local differences in sea surface temperature and daylight hours. Porites panamensis was not correlated with any environmental variable examined. Variations in local and regional reproductive developmental patterns are likely an acclimatization response by each species imposed by the timing and duration of local stressor events. This analysis has provided insights into the diverse local and regional physical drivers that affect species responses and acclimatization in sexual reproduction across the ETP.

At the southern limits of the Devonian reef zone: Palaeoecology of the Aferdou el Mrakib reef (Givetian, eastern Anti‐Atlas, Morocco)

Devonian reefs of north‐western Gondwana represent the southernmost record of shallow‐water coral reefs in the Palaeozoic. However, few studies have attempted to date palaeoecological reconstructions of these high‐latitude reefal buildups. This study provides the first detailed palaeoecological analysis of Aferdou el Mrakib, an isolated, Givetian coral‐stromatoporoid reef, which developed in a semirestricted basin in the south‐eastern part of the Rheic Ocean. The study documents spatial facies variability and succession of faunal replacements accompanying progressive reef accretion towards the sea surface. The investigations included both autochthonous communities found at the base of the reef and, partially, within the reef core, and allochthonous deposits of reef‐derived skeletal debris that accumulated in the fore‐reef setting. Contrary to some previous suggestions, the study shows that the Aferdou reef shared many characteristics of classical Middle Devonian coral‐stromatoporoid buildups, including the ecological succession, limited role of calcareous algae, and development within the range of the euphotic zone, but likely below the zone of regular water agitation. Critical factors in the facies development and temporal changes in the character of reef building were the palaeobathymetry, dominant sedimentary and circulation regimes, level of wave energy, and, possibly, light availability. Distinctive features of the palaeoecology of Aferdou el Mrakib are the dominance of massive colonies of heliolitid tabulates and a subordinate role of massive stromatoporoids, both explained here primarily as a result of increased water turbidity in the high‐latitude sedimentary basin. The growth of the high‐latitude coral‐stromatoporoid reefs in the south‐eastern Rheic Ocean was favoured by a combination of the exceptionally warm climate and plate tectonic configuration typifying the Devonian. Of critical importance appears the palaeogeographic position of the Rheic, which resulted in the seawater circulation in the ocean being dominated by tropical water masses, with restricted inflow of cold water from the circumpolar oceanic circulation.

Reworking processes and deposits in coral reefs during (very) high-energy events: Example from a Pleistocene coral formation (125 ka), La Désirade Island, Lesser Antilles

Abundant literature has documented the ecological impact of very high-energy (hurricane-type) events and high-energy (storm-type) events on modern coral reefs and sediment transport. In previous studies, sedimentary processes are often deduced from geophysical image analysis and scuba diving observations. Few field-based studies have been devoted to the impact of (very) high-energy disturbance on the structure and ecology of Holocene and Pleistocene coral reefs, and very few to the sedimentary processes acting around these reefs.This research examines the structure of the late Pleistocene (end of MIS5e stage) reefs of La Désirade Island, Guadeloupe Archipelago, Lesser Antilles, and focuses on the poorly known reworking processes and related coral-breccia sedimentation surrounding these reefs. Fieldwork was performed to document two coral-fragment-rich breccia interbedded with coral patches. The breccia predominantly show the same petrography but differ in their internal structure, showing a “massive breccia” type and a “stratified breccia” type. This work infers that these breccia are the result of gravity-induced high-density mass flows triggered by high to very-high energy events such as storms and hurricanes. Damage and reworking vary according to the type of (very) high-energy event. Prior to transport, storms are thought to have broken the heads of branching and columnar coral colonies, and broken and overturn isolated lamellar and massive colonies. Hurricanes (particularly their eye walls) may have reworked much more sediment than storms, and may have also destabilised entire several metre-sized columnar colonies from the flank of coral patch reefs. We propose the name “coral debrite” for these coral breccia deposits caused by gravity-induced debris flows.The reworked deposits are interbedded between two coral reef levels, of which the main coral-species vertical succession should record the end of Marine Isotope Stage 5e sea-level rise. Thus, reworking is believed to occur during the transitional stage between a glacial and an interglacial period.

Givetian rugose corals from the Zemmour in Mauritania

1. Introduction The Givetian of the Zemmour is well exposed to the north of Bir Moghreim (formerly Fort Trinquet), in the northern part of Mauritania (Fig. 1). It was investigated in great detail, from a lithologic and biostratigraphic point of view, by Sougy (1964) who gathered among others a large collection of rugose corals in the early Sixties. Part of these specimens was sent to Professor Marius Lecompte of the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium and is now stored in the Collection of Palaeontology of the Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique at Brussels. Three Givetian species of massive rugose corals have been identified in the Zemmour by Coen-Aubert (2013); these are Phillipsastrea torreana (Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1851), P. kergarvanensis Coen-Aubert & Plusquellec, 2007 and P. sobolewi (Rozkowska, 1956). Besides two massive colonies belonging to Argutastrea Crickmay, 1960 and Iowaphyllum Stumm, 1949, a diverse fauna of mostly solitary rugose corals is described in this paper. Unfortunately, the Givetian of the Zemmour is not dated or subdivided with much precision as there are nearly no recent studies on other groups of fossils and as there are no block samples available for the extraction of microfossils such as conodonts. Figure 1. General setting in Northwestern Africa. 2. Geological setting and material The Givetian of the Zemmour has been summarized with some detail by Coen-Aubert (2013), on the basis of the three main sections investigated by

Turning casualty into opportunity: fragmenting dislodged colonies is effective for restoring reefs of a Mediterranean endemic coral

Within the framework of ecosystem-based management, restoration appears as a sensible option to counteract the global decline of coral reefs. Several techniques involving sexual and asexual coral propagules have been used for the restoration of reefs. Culturing of fragments has proved fruitful since it takes advantage of the capability of corals to asexually reproduce, providing a number of novel colonies that can be replanted. This method however, when using fragments detached from a colony, might be stressful for the wild donor. Astroides calycularis is an endemic and endangered Mediterranean scleractinian coral forming massive colonies mostly at shallow depth. It is subject to anthropogenic impact, particularly from damage due to accidental contacts by SCUBA divers, and it is expected to suffer from sea storms of increasing power under the projected climate change scenarios. Corals of opportunity (i.e. dislodged colonies found alive on the seabed) may be a useful resource for the restoration of A. calycularis reefs, given that the fragment-based transplant technique is effective for this species as it is for other massive corals. A one-year transplant experiment was carried out along an exposed rocky shore in NW Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) to test the feasibility of using fragments of corals of opportunity for restoration purposes. The transplants revealed high survival rates and higher number of new polyps than in control colonies. The original size of transplanted fragments did not influence their capability to bud new polyps and was not related to their survival rate. The applied technique provides the opportunity to restore rocky reefs, even the very shallow ones, through direct transplant of coral fragments, thus making reef restoration a feasible option in ecosystem-based management plans for this species.

Differences in Growth and Calcification Rates in the Reef-Building Coral Porites lobata: The Implications of Morphotype and Gender on Coral Growth

Corals display different growth forms as an adaptive response to both local and global environmental conditions. Despite the importance of morphologic variability on corals, growth and calcification rates of different coral morphotypes have been poorly recorded in the Eastern Pacific. The purpose of this study was to compare annual extension rate (cm yr-1), skeletal density (g cm-3), calcification rate (g cm-2 yr-1) and tissue thickness (mm) of males and females colonies in three different morphotypes of the common reef-building coral Porites lobata; columnar, massive, and free-living (corallith) forms. The results show significant differences in all 4-growth parameters between morphotypes over a 6-year interval, and also differences between males and females in most morphotypes. Massive colonies presented 15-33% faster annual rates compared with columnar and free-living. Male colonies showed 30-40% faster annual rates than females for both columnar and corallith morphologies. These data exhibit the extensive plasticity of this species and highlight the fact that each morphotype x gender group produced a different physiological response to environmental conditions. Therefore, these information reveal that P. lobata from the Eastern Tropical Pacific develops different morphologies to allow it to maintain coral species population, characteristics that enhance the species possibility to further its distribution across the reef-framework

Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) infesting cave-dwelling bats in Gabon: diversity, dynamics and potential role in Polychromophilus melanipherus transmission

BackgroundEvidence of haemosporidian infections in bats and bat flies has motivated a growing interest in characterizing their transmission cycles. In Gabon (Central Africa), many caves house massive colonies of bats that are known hosts of Polychromophilus Dionisi parasites, presumably transmitted by blood-sucking bat flies. However, the role of bat flies in bat malaria transmission remains under-documented.MethodsAn entomological survey was carried out in four caves in Gabon to investigate bat fly diversity, infestation rates and host preferences and to determine their role in Polychromophilus parasite transmission. Bat flies were sampled for 2–4 consecutive nights each month from February to April 2011 (Faucon and Zadie caves) and from May 2012 to April 2013 (Kessipoughou and Djibilong caves). Bat flies isolated from the fur of each captured bat were morphologically identified and screened for infection by haemosporidian parasites using primers targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.ResultsAmong the 1,154 bats captured and identified as Miniopterus inflatus Thomas (n = 354), Hipposideros caffer Sundevall complex (n = 285), Hipposideros gigas Wagner (n = 317), Rousettus aegyptiacus Geoffroy (n = 157, and Coleura afra Peters (n = 41), 439 (38.0 %) were infested by bat flies. The 1,063 bat flies recovered from bats belonged to five taxa: Nycteribia schmidlii scotti Falcoz, Eucampsipoda africana Theodor, Penicillidia fulvida Bigot, Brachytarsina allaudi Falcoz and Raymondia huberi Frauenfeld group. The mean infestation rate varied significantly according to the bat species (ANOVA, F(4,75) = 13.15, P < 0.001) and a strong association effect between bat fly species and host bat species was observed. Polychromophilus melanipherus Dionisi was mainly detected in N. s. scotti and P. fulvida and less frequently in E. africana, R. huberi group and B. allaudi bat flies. These results suggest that N. s. scotti and P. fulvida could potentially be involved in P. melanipherus transmission among cave-dwelling bats. Sequence analysis revealed eight haplotypes of P. melanipherus.ConclusionsThis work represents the first documented record of the cave-dwelling bat fly fauna in Gabon and significantly contributes to our understanding of bat fly host-feeding behavior and their respective roles in Polychromophilus transmission.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1625-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Vittaria appalachiana continues to provide insight into the biology of ferns: A commentary on two studies recently published in American Journal of Botany.

Vittaria appalachiana continues to provide insight into the biology of ferns: A commentary on two studies recently published in American Journal of Botany.

Palaeoenvironmental analysis of scleractinian reef corals from the Oligo–Miocene Qom Formation in the Vartun section (northeastern Esfahan, central Iran)

This paper presents a review of palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of scleractinian corals from the Oligo–Miocene Qom Formation in northeastern Esfahan, central Iran. A total of nine genera and four species of colonial corals are identified, including Platycoenia iranica, Goniopora sp., Porites sp., Tarbellastraea reussiana, Solenastrea sp., Favites neglecta, Leptoria sp., Hydnophora cf. pulchra, Hydnophora sp., and Madracis (?) sp. These corals, all parts of massive colonies, are indicative of a reefal environment, with the main constituents, including Leptoria and Hydnophora, possessing massive meandroid, massive hydnophoroid and massive mushroom- to dome-shaped hydnophoroid colonies. The corals identified here are generally indicative of the upper photic zone and shallow water depths of less than 20 m. In the reefal environment, these corals built a wave-resistant and rigid carbonate framework in the form of a reef-front zone encapsulated by environmental conditions including low sedimentation rates and high wave energy. The occurrence of Goniopora and Porites with distinct calicles reflects clearer waters in the external part of the reefal environment.