Rich Reef Research Articles

Structure of reef-building corals in tidal pools of a Marine Protected Area on the coastal zone of Royal Charlotte Bank, Eastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Brazilian coral reefs are the largest and richest reefs in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Despite their historical and tourist importance, coral reefs on the east coast of Brazil remained unknown until recently. This study evaluated the structure of the reef-building coral community in three tidal pools along a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance. The pool known as Dolphin Pool is the warmest and has a high abundance of stony coral Siderastrea spp. One endemic species is on the national list of threatened species. Despite the high frequency of water temperatures above the alert threshold for mass bleaching events, the tidal pools have high densities of adults and recruits of reef-building corals. The results highlight the importance of reef formations on the coastal zone of the Royal Charlotte Bank, given the uniqueness of this area, and reinforce the need for further research and adoption of adaptive conservation approaches.

Checklist, diversity descriptors and selected descriptions of a highly diverse intertidal sponge (Porifera) assemblage at Costa do Descobrimento (Bahia, Brazil).

Costa do Descobrimento is located in southern Bahia, Brazil, and only 22 species of sponges (Porifera) were known from the area until now, despite its important reef formations. In the present study, we report a checklist of the sponges of Costa do Descobrimento and their distribution in the studied reefs, with several species illustrated in life. We also describe nine new sponge records for this region, some of which are new records for Brazil, or new records of species previously only poorly known. We present alpha and beta diversity indices and compare the sponge assemblage of the sampled locations. Four reefs were considered: two fringing reefs (Arraial D'Ajuda-AA and Coroa Vermelha / Mutá-CVM) and two offshore Municipal Marine Park "Parque Municipal Marinho- (P.M.M. Coroa Alta-CA and P.M.M. Recife de Fora-RF). A total of 229 specimens were collected (224 Demospongiae, 2 Homoscleromorpha and 3 Calcarea). These were classified in 101 morphotypes. Studied materials included representatives of 15 orders, 34 families and 48 genera. The richest orders are Haplosclerida (29 spp.), Poecilosclerida (15 spp.) and Tetractinellida (11 spp.). The richest families were Chalinidae (24 spp.), Clionaidae (7 spp.) and Mycalidae and Suberitidae (6 spp. each). The richest genus is, by far, Haliclona (20 spp.). Only 13 species were shared among all four reefs surveyed, namely Amphimedon viridis, Cinachyrella alloclada, C. apion, Cladocroce caelum, Cliona varians, Dysidea robusta, Mycale (Naviculina) diversisigmata, Niphates erecta, Spirastrella hartmani, Tedania (Tedania) ignis, Terpios fugax, Tethya bitylastra and T. maza. The reefs with the highest richness were CA and CVM, and the lowest richness was observed in RF. The most similar reefs in terms of species composition were CA and CVM, while AA and RF were more dissimilar to the previous reefs, but also from each other. While the difference among CA, CVM and AA was mainly explained by species turnover, RF differed from the previous based on its lower richness (nestedness component). Even though CA and CVM were the richest reefs, AA presented the highest number of exclusive species, highlighting the uniqueness of this reef, and urging the inclusion of local beachrock fringing reefs in a more holistic conservation strategy at Costa do Descobrimento.

A coral hotspot from a hot past: The EECO and post-EECO rich reef coral fauna from Friuli (Eocene, NE Italy)

The early Paleogene “greenhouse” is the warmest geological period of the Cenozoic and a suitable source to unlock crucial information for better understanding how ecosystems such as coral reefs reacted to a climate much warmer than the present.Herein, we analyse in detail the rich museum coral collections from Friuli region (NE Italy) focusing only on the so-called reef corals, mostly colonial, and on those localities for which the age constraints are well-defined. We grouped the localities into four time-intervals within the Ypresian-Lutetian and thus within EECO (Early Eocene Climatic Optimum) and post-EECO phase, in order to assess the main changes in the following traits: 1) richness and relative abundance at the generic and species level; 2) relative abundance of growth forms; 3) colony size.By systematic revision we recognized a total of 37 genera and 103 species. During the EECO interval (late Ypresian or Cuisian), the diversity at both genus and species level was relatively low (21 genera, 37 species). An abrupt increase is then recorded in the post-EECO 1 interval (latest Ypresian), whereas a peak is reached in the earliest Lutetian (post-EECO 2) (35 genera, 90 species). These results undoubtedly show that a coral hotspot occurred in the region during the late Ypresian-early Lutetian time and highlight that corals of Friuli reacted positively immediately after the warming event of the EECO.This coral hotspot was the most diverse at global scale during the Ypresian and formed in a deltaic depositional setting, most probably in mesophotic conditions as suggested by the dominant growth forms, where rapid sediment accumulation, enhanced nutrient delivery and stressful climatic conditions reduced frame-building capacity.We finally document that corals were resilient to climate stressors and recovered before reefs which, in contrast, required much more time to achieve their buildup potential.

Spatial patterns of reef fishes and corals in the thermally extreme waters of Qatar

The Persian Gulf is a thermally extreme environment in which reef corals have adapted to survive through temperature ranges that would be lethal to corals from other regions. Despite offering a unique opportunity to better understand how corals from other regions may adapt in the future, through a changing climate, much of the Gulf coral and fish communities remain to be described. In the southwestern Gulf nation of Qatar few reef sites have been described to date. We here characterize reef communities from 16 sites around the Qatar Peninsula, encompassing depths from 3 to 25m. We found the healthiest coral reef communities to be in deeper offshore reefs, with high coral and fish species richness and high coral abundance, likely a result of their occurrence below summer thermocline depths and distance from urban pressures. In contrast, we found shallow reefs, both nearshore and offshore, to have low species richness and abundance relative to deeper reefs, presumably due to impacts from recurrent bleaching events and development pressures over recent decades. The results of this work underscore the Qatar Peninsula as being at the biogeographic epicenter of the wider Gulf. However, further temperature increases may push both fishes and corals over their physiological limits. Management efforts at both the regional and global level are needed to reduce thermal stressors and preserve the rich reef ecosystems found in the waters surrounding Qatar.

A Coral Hotspot from a Hot Past: The Eeco and Post-Eeco Rich Reef Coral Fauna from Friuli (Eocene, Ne Italy)

A Coral Hotspot from a Hot Past: The Eeco and Post-Eeco Rich Reef Coral Fauna from Friuli (Eocene, Ne Italy)

Trophic ecology and resource partitioning of Haemulidae species along the Northeastern Brazilian continental shelf

Abstract In the Southeastern Tropical Atlantic, Haemulidae family play an important role both environmentally, acting as a link between lower and higher trophic levels, and socioeconomically, being widely caught by artisanal fleets. This study aimed to describe the trophic ecology of three grunt species (Haemulon aurolineatum, H. plumierii and H. squamipinna) considering spatial, temporal and ontogenetic aspects, integrating stomach content and stable isotopes analysis. Sampling occurred in 26 stations along the Northeast of Brazil (04°– 09°S), in August 2015 and April 2017, using bottom trawling net. There was greater feeding intensity at night, at latitudes below 08°S and in the inner continental shelf. Higher values of δ¹⁵N were reported for H. aurolineatum and H. plumierii collected near coastline. The isotopic niche breadth indicated that H. aurolineatum has a narrower diet thanH. plumierii. For the three species, the trophic level ranged between three and four. Considering stomach content and isotopic niche, diet was similar comparing species. This trophic ecology pattern reveals a likewise use of the habitat, which may be essential for identifying priority areas for conservation on an ecosystem basis, especially in rich reef zones that are subject to several increasing pressures, such as those in Northeast Brazil.

Coral growth bands recorded trace elements associated with the Fundão dam collapse

In November 2015, the collapse of the Fundão dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil) carried over 40 × 106 m3 of iron ore tailings into the Doce river and caused massive environmental and socioeconomic impacts across the watershed. The downstream mudslide scavenged contaminants deposited in the riverbed, and several potentially toxic elements were further released through reduction and solubilization of Fe oxy-hydroxides under estuarine conditions. A turbidity plume was formed off the river mouth, but the detection of contaminants’ dispersion in the ocean remains poorly assessed. This situation is specially concerning because Southwestern Atlantic's largest and richest reefs are located 70-250 km to the north of the Doce river mouth, and the legal dispute over the extent of monitoring, compensation and restoration measures are based either on indirect evidence from modeling or on direct evidence from remote sensing and contaminated organisms. Coral skeletons can incorporate trace elements and are considered good monitors of marine pollution, including inputs from open cut mining. Here, we studied a Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) coral colony collected 220 km northward to the river mouth, using X-rays for assessing growth bands and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry to recover trace elements incorporated in growth bands formed between 2014 and 2018. A threefold positive Fe anomaly was identified in early 2016, associated with negative anomalies in several elements. Variation in Ba and Y was coherent with the region's sedimentation dynamics, but also increased after 2016, akin to Pb, V and Zn. Coral growth rates decreased after the disaster. Besides validating M. cavernosa as a reliable archive of ocean chemistry, our results evidence wide-reaching sub-lethal coral contamination in the Abrolhos reefs, as well as different incorporation mechanisms into corals’ skeletons.

Community assembly of coral reef fishes along the Melanesian biodiversity gradient.

The Indo-Pacific is home to Earth’s most biodiverse coral reefs. Diversity on these reefs decreases from the Coral Triangle east through the islands of Melanesia. Despite this pattern having been identified during the early 20th century, our knowledge about the interaction between pattern and process remains incomplete. To evaluate the structure of coral reef fish communities across Melanesia, we obtained distributional records for 396 reef fish species in five taxa across seven countries. We used hierarchical clustering, nestedness, and multiple linear regression analyses to evaluate the community structure. We also compiled data on life history traits (pelagic larval duration, body size and schooling behavior) to help elucidate the ecological mechanisms behind community structure. Species richness for these taxa along the gradient was significantly related to longitude but not habitat area. Communities are significantly nested, indicating that species-poor communities are largely composed of subsets of the species found on species rich reefs. These trends are robust across taxonomic groups except for the Pomacentridae, which exhibit an anti-nested pattern, perhaps due to a large number of endemic species. Correlations between life history traits and the number of reefs on which species occurred indicate that dispersal and survival ability contribute to determining community structure. We conclude that distance from the Coral Triangle dominates community structure in reef fish; however, conservation of the most species-rich areas will not be sufficient alone to conserve the vivid splendor of this region.

Ecosistemas coralinos del Área de Conservación Osa, Costa Rica: estructura y necesidades de conservación

Costa Rica es considerado uno de los 20 países del mundo con mayor biodiversidad, entre los que destacan sus ecosistemas arrecifales. Más precisamente, el Pacífico Sur, el Área de Conservación Osa, se ha considerado como una de las zonas más diversas en estos ecosistemas. Estos arrecifes han sido estudiados desde inicios de los años 80’s, pero enfocándose solamente en la cobertura coralinos de estos arrecifes. Por lo tanto, la presente investigación busca realizar una evaluación actualizada y con una metodología estándar él estado de varios componentes de los sistemas arrecifales de esta región. Entre el 2013 y el 2014, se visitaron cinco localidades: Dominicalito, Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, Reserva Biológica Isla del Caño, Península de Osa y Golfo Dulce, donde se evaluaron 27 sitios. En ellos se realizó la evaluación, a dos profundidades, de: cobertura del fondo, rugosidad del arrecife, diversidad y densidad de macroinvertebrados, así como la diversidad y biomasa de peces arrecifales. En términos generales los arrecifes de ACOSA, son moderadamente complejos y en ellos predominan el tapete algal (62.7%), mientras que la cobertura de coral vivo es moderada (16.5%). Se observó una diferencia entre la cobertura de tipos de sustratos por localidad, la cual puede estar atribuida a condiciones ambientales adversas (i.e. sedimentación, contaminación) para su desarrollo. Sin embargo, los arrecifes coralinos de Golfo Dulce e Isla del Caño muestran una notable recuperación al compararla con estudios previos. Se observaron 35 taxa de macroinvertebrados en los sitios estudiados, en su mayoría (58%) fueron poco abundantes u ocasionales. La mayor diversidad y densidad de macroinvertebrados se observó en Golfo Dulce y se determinaron diferencias significativas entre localidades. Este estudio brinda una línea base para muchos de estos organismos en varios de los sitios. Los equinoideos Diadema mexicanum y Eucidaris thouarsii fueron los organismos predominantes, y se reporta el cambute (Lobatus galeatus) en varios de los sitios de muestreo. De las 90 especies de peces, 10 fueron las de mayor ocurrencia y densidad. No hubo diferencias significativas en la diversidad y riqueza de especies de peces observadas entre localidades, pero si en la biomasa y en la composición de la comunidad íctica entre los sitios. Los sitios de la Isla del Caño fueron los más diversos de toda ACOSA, presentan biomasas importantes y de niveles tróficos altos. Mientras que Golfo Dulce difirió con respecto a las demás localidades. Según los resultados observados, los arrecifes de ACOSA presentan una alta biodiversidad. Las condiciones del de los ecosistemas indican que más esfuerzos de conservación, uso sostenible y manejo efectivo de loa recursos en tierra como en el mar deben ser implementados. El monitoreo ecológico va a proveer de la información sobre las tendencias y las relaciones entre el estado de los ecosistemas arrecifales y las condiciones ambientales.

Degradation status and deathly factor for coral death reefs in Co To islands

Co To Islands hold a particularly important position in political situation and marine economic development of the Northern part of the Vietnam Sea. In the past time, the Islands has a developed coral reef with over 70 species of hard corals, a high degree of coral coverage a rich reef community with 133 species ofreef fishes, 17 species of crustaceans and many other species of mollusks.However, the exploitation of aquatic resources in these islands at recent time 2002-2006 years using destructive technical measures, especially cyanide chemicals has heavily reduced the biodiversity and natural resources in these islands. The survey results urgently realized in 2006 by NDAREP, ICUN, IMRE and RIMF showed that coral reefs were seriously damaged. Coverage of alive coral ferociously being from 60 to 80%, in some localities nearly 100%, has been reduced to 10 - 15%, evenly below 5%.According to the results of a survey on the environment status in Co To islands recently carried out in 2007-2009 years, the environmental conditions there at present times are completely including hychological, nutrient and pesticicles cyanide factors. Other mechanical damaged factors as mine fishing, storms are alsoeliminated. Therefore, the deathly factors that caused the degradation and death for coral reefs in Co To inlands that must be the fishing using cyanide toxic chemicals during recent time 2002-2006.

Determinants of the steep species–area relationship of coral reef fishes

The increase in species richness with area is known as the species–area relationship (SPAR). Although several mutually non-exclusive processes may produce the SPAR, the null, often ignored, hypothesis states that a SPAR can be generated by random placement alone. The log–log-transformed SPAR of coral reef fishes on small patch-reefs revealed a steep slope of 0.55. However, this slope was dependent on the cumulative area of the reef examined and was therefore affected by random placement. After statistically removing the contribution of random placement from the SPAR, the slope was estimated to be 0.21. This is consistent with estimates from other, mostly terrestrial, systems. Furthermore, a randomization procedure, where the probability of fishes to reach a patch was proportional to reef area, showed that the field measured SPAR did not differ from random placement. In addition, fish assemblages on species poor reefs did not form subsets of species rich reefs (i.e., no nestedness) beyond that expected from random placement. Steep log–log-transformed SPARs can be formed by random placement alone, indicating that caution should be used when assigning an ecological meaning to SPARs generated from small spatial scales.

Coral reefs: beyond mortality?

The scale of the collapse of coral reef communities in 1998 following a warming episode (Wilkinson, 2000) was unprecedented, and took many people by surprise. The Indian Ocean was the worst affected with a coral mortality over 75% in many areas such as the Chagos Archipelago (Sheppard, 1999), Seychelles (Spencer et al., 2000) and Maldives (McClanahan, 2000). Several other locations were affected at least as much, with mortality reaching 100% (to the nearest whole number); this is being compiled by various authors (e.g., CORDIO, in press). For example, in the Arabian Gulf, coral mortality is almost total across many large areas of shallow water (Sheppard, unpublished; D. George and D. John, personal communication). The mortality is patchy of course, depending on currents, location inside or outside lagoons, etc., but it is now possible to swim for over 200 m and see not one remaining living coral or soft coral on some previously rich reefs.

A bleaching event on a Brazilian coral reef

Clovis B. Castro & Debora O. PiresMuseu Nacional da Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroDepartamento de lnvertebrados(Quinta da Boa Vista s/na, 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil)Brazil has the only coral reefs of the westernSouth Atlantic, which are scattered alongapproximately 2,000 km. Many reef areas are stillpoorly known, but the Abrolhos area (approximatelybetween latitudes 17°20'S and 18°IO'S), located on anexpansion of the continental shelf, is considered tohave the largest and richest reefs in the AtlanticOcean south of the Amazon River (Laborel, 1970).AlI 15 species of stony reef coraIs recorded for Braziloccur in these reefs and five are endemic to Brazil.In 1992, a coral-cover monitoring programwas initiated at the Vicosa Reef

Conservation and the Tropical Marine Aquarium Trade

Although mainly developed in the last ten years, the international trade in tropical marine aquarium fishes has now reached remarkable proportions; in the U. S. A. the annual sales of aquaria, aquarium supplies, and aquarium fishes, probably approach US$ 600 millions, while estimates of the numbers of marine aquarium fishes exported each year from the Philippines alone range from about 3 to over 30 millions, valued at approximately US$ 1.25 million to over 6 millions. The exporting areas include the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Mauritius, the U.S.A. (Hawaii and Florida), and several Caribbean islands. The main importing countries are the U.S.A., Hong Kong, West Germany, Japan, U.K., Italy, Belgium, Canada, Australia, France, Holland, and Switzerland.Species extermination through this trade alone is scarcely conceivable, but local extinctions may occur, and indirect effects of collection of these fishes include accompanying destruction of the coral-reef habitat, changes in natural ecosystems, and the possibility of successful introduction of exotic species into areas where they did not occur previously (notably, Indo-Pacific species into the Caribbean). Clearly the trade will continue; but the current exploitation is inefficient, and controls must be applied both towards rational utilization of the resource and, as the most accessible and richest reefs are the most heavily exploited, towards a reduction of conflict between different uses of the resource.

Echinoids, Algal Lawn and Coral Recolonization

As a result of studies of coral reefs in the Sudanese Red Sea, I wish to suggest that the recolonization of rock areas in the rich reef crest cone1,2 may be facilitated by the grazing of the algal lawn by echinoids. Although the settlement of coral planulae (the free-swimming larvae) has not been investigated3, growth studies suggest that the larva is damaged by filamentous algae4 and therefore requires a bare rock surface for successful settlement, metamorphosis and early growth.

Ethiopia

WE have to go back to the days of Rome for the mode of development inaugurated by Italy in its new Empire of Ethiopia. It started with road-making, on which at one time 60,000 Italians were employed, and already more than 3,000 miles of macadamized highways have been built out of 7,000 miles planned. At the same time the Italian scientific societies were mobilized to collect and tabulate the facts relating to earth, air and water. Lake Tana is stated to be of little importance to the Nile floods. Alluvial gold was discovered and is now being worked, but there is no likelihood of rich reefs. Platinum seems possibly to be of more importance, and there was also discovered copper and iron ores, but no petroleum. The fauna and flora were surveyed in connexion with their adaptation to various altitudes and meteorological conditions. Ethiopia An Empire in the Making. By Ferdinando Quaranta. Pp. xx + 120 + 23 plates. (London: P. S. King and Son, Ltd., 1939.) 7s. 6d. net.