Shallow Tropical Waters Research Articles

Geoacoustic inversion in shallow tropical waters for a silty and sandy seabed

Seabed parameters are inverted from ambient noise measurements at two shallow tropical environments with dissimilar seabed characteristics, a silty and a sandy seabed, using an approach that matches the measured and modeled complex vertical coherence. Coherence is modeled using the Green's function output from the model oases, along with theoretical formulation, for a range independent environment. Genetic algorithm is used to search the model parameter space consisting of sound speed, density, and attenuation in the sediment layers and half-space. Reasonable estimates have been obtained for the silty site, whereas the sandy site gave relatively poor parameter estimates due to reflective seabed and shipping interference.

Density, size, and biomass of Diadema mexicanum (Echinoidea) in Eastern Tropical Pacific coral reefs

Diadema is among the most abundant, widely dispersed, and ecologically important genera of sea urchin in tropical shallow waters. D. mexicanum is distributed from the Gulf of California to northern Peru, including the oceanic islands of Revillagigedo, Clipperton, Coco, Malpelo, and Galapagos, and it is one of the most important sea urchin species in Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) coral reefs. In the 1980s, El Nino caused high coral mortality, resulting in an increase in macroalgal cover. This resulted in higher sea urchin bioerosion activity, which weakened the reef frameworks. Considering the high vulnerability of the ETP coral reefs, the aim of this study was to determine regional differences in the density, size (test diameter), and biomass of D. mex- icanum at 12 localities in 4 countries between 2009 and 2010, and to determine possible causes of these differences. The average density, size, and biomass of D. mexicanum were 0.47 ± 0.15 ind. m �2 , 4.38 ± 1.50 cm, and 0.26 ± 0.33 g m �2 . The test size frequency that predominated was 2 to 3 cm. Predation by macrophagous fishes seems to be one of the most important factors that explains the presence of low densities and small size of sea urchins throughout the region. The increase in D. mexicanum predators is probably a result of overfishing of top predators.

Depositional conditions and revised age of the Permo-Triassic microbialites at Gaohua section, Cili County (Hunan Province, South China)

In many tropical shallow water regions the end-Permian mass extinction event occurs at the top fossiliferous packstone beds and is immediately followed by the development of microbialite facies. Both the age and redox conditions of the microbialite have been debated and both factors are addressed here in a study of the Gaohua section (Cili County, Hunan Province, China): specifically the size distribution of pyrite framboids and high-resolution conodont biostratigraphy. The framboids populations show a broad size range with examples up to 30microns in diameter, and indicating dysoxic but not anoxic depositional conditions. More intense dysoxia is recorded in interbedded laminated micrites but not beds of giant ooids. Both the Hindeodus parvus zone and Isarcicella isarcica zones were established with the microbialite beds being confined to the H. parvus zone. Therefore, the formation of microbialite postdates the end Permian main mass extinction and records oxygen-poor conditions even in a shallow-water setting such as Gaohua section at Cili.

Diurnal Variability of Ambient Noise in Shallow Tropical Waters, South Western Bay of Bengal

Ambient noise recorded at shallow southwestern Bay of Bengal during September 2010 has been analyzed for spectral characteristics in the band 0.1–5.0 kHz. The noise level (NL) exhibits diurnal periodicity in the band 0.5–2.0 kHz, during most of the day. The in situ wind data at the site correlates well with the NL, which also shows a diurnal cycle. Wavelet analysis further carried out establishes of the diurnal periodicity in wind/NL pattern during fair weather conditions under the influence of local wind effects. Wavelet coherence shows wind and noise to be in phase or wind leading noise. Diurnal variation in wind is more frequently observed along the coast in tropical regions due to differential heating of land and sea, and this has attributed to the NL pattern at the site. The period of measurement is also favorable for the formation of such localized circulation since it is the sunny unclouded period prior to the Bay of Bengal cyclone season and the northeast monsoon.

Extensive phenotypic plasticity of a Red Sea coral over a strong latitudinal temperature gradient suggests limited acclimatization potential to warming.

Global warming was reported to cause growth reductions in tropical shallow water corals in both, cooler and warmer, regions of the coral species range. This suggests regional adaptation with less heat-tolerant populations in cooler and more thermo-tolerant populations in warmer regions. Here, we investigated seasonal changes in the in situ metabolic performance of the widely distributed hermatypic coral Pocillopora verrucosa along 12° latitudes featuring a steep temperature gradient between the northern (28.5°N, 21–27°C) and southern (16.5°N, 28–33°C) reaches of the Red Sea. Surprisingly, we found little indication for regional adaptation, but strong indications for high phenotypic plasticity: Calcification rates in two seasons (winter, summer) were found to be highest at 28–29°C throughout all populations independent of their geographic location. Mucus release increased with temperature and nutrient supply, both being highest in the south. Genetic characterization of the coral host revealed low inter-regional variation and differences in the Symbiodinium clade composition only at the most northern and most southern region. This suggests variable acclimatization potential to ocean warming of coral populations across the Red Sea: high acclimatization potential in northern populations, but limited ability to cope with ocean warming in southern populations already existing at the upper thermal margin for corals.

Estimating the Potential Production of the Brown MusselPerna perna(Linnaeus, 1758) Reared in Three Tropical Bays by Different Methods of Condition Indices

Perna perna(Linnaeus, 1758) is the main marine bivalve mussel yielded commercially in Brazil. In spite of this, scientific data is very scarce regarding its productivity in tropical shallow waters. The Condition Index (CI) is used worldwide in mariculture to assess animal health, harvest time, and yield. In this study, the authors used CI results from nine different methods to assess the season effect on the mussel CI and also to evaluate the potential yield of three southern Brazilian bays. The results from nine CI methods were used for the comparison of the seasonality and yield of mussels reared in three marine bays. Sampling was carried out monthly within two 4-month periods, from December 2008 to August 2009. The results show a trend for seasonal effects on the CI results. The winter months showed the highest and the lowest values. Between bays, higher CI values were detected in animals reared at Sepetiba Bay, followed by Guanabara Bay and Ilha Grande Bay. We suggest that the CI (that considers the ratio between bivalve soft tissue wet weight and total length) should be used by fishermen, since this formula was able to detect differences between sites and is more easily applied.

MICROHABITAT PREFERENCE OF SEASTAR IN HARI ISLAND WATERS, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

The objective of this study was to explore the information on the microhabitat preference of asteroidea in Hari Island Waters, Southeast Sulawesi. The specimens were collected in August 2012 and December 2012. The methods used in this study were road sampling technique, freehandpicking, and observation. The geographical coordinate position of the asteroidea and microhabitat were recorded by using GPS and then mapped by using the ArcGIS 10.1. Asteroidea map was overlayed with microhabitat map to determine the microhabitat preference. The study found 9 species of asteroidea belonging to 7 generas, 4 families, and 2 orders. All the asteroidea were relatively common species in the tropical shallow waters. The species were distributed along sides of the island with majority found in the northern side. The dominant species, Linckia laevigata, was found in all microhabitat which had beed adapted to various microhabitat conditions and water fluctuation. Based on area of distribution and population density, seastar tended to use reef coral as its microhabitat preference since reef coral could serve as a food source and habitat protection. Keywords: Seastar, microhabitat preference, Hari island

MICROHABITAT PREFERENCE OF SEASTAR IN HARI ISLAND WATERS, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

<p>The objective of this study was to explore the information on the microhabitat preference of asteroidea in Hari Island Waters, Southeast Sulawesi. The specimens were collected in August 2012 and December 2012. The methods used in this study were road sampling technique, freehandpicking, and observation. The geographical coordinate position of the asteroidea and microhabitat were recorded by using GPS and then mapped by using the ArcGIS 10.1. Asteroidea map was overlayed with microhabitat map to determine the microhabitat preference. The study found 9 species of asteroidea belonging to 7 generas, 4 families, and 2 orders. All the asteroidea were relatively common species in the tropical shallow waters. The species were distributed along sides of the island with majority found in the northern side. The dominant species, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Linckia</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">laevigata</span>, was found in all microhabitat which had beed adapted to various microhabitat conditions and water fluctuation. Based on area of distribution and population density, seastar tended to use reef coral as its microhabitat preference since reef coral could serve as a food source and habitat protection.</p> <p>Keywords: Seastar, microhabitat preference, Hari island</p>

Morphological and genetic diversity of Briareum (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.

The primary problem hindering the study of octocorals is the disordered situation regarding their taxonomy, chiefly caused by insufficient knowledge of valid morphological taxonomic characters. Briareum is an octocoral genus found in the Atlantic and Pacific in shallow tropical and subtropical waters, and occurs in both encrusting and branching colony forms. Their simple morphology and morphological plasticity have hindered taxonomic understanding of this genus. In this study three morphologically distinct types (= type-1, -2, and -3) of Briareum from the Ryukyu Archipelago and their genetic diversity were examined. Colony, anthostele morphology, and sclerite length were examined for each type. Four molecular markers (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, mitochondrial mismatch repair gene, nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)) were used to evaluate molecular phylogenetic status of these variations. Although one morphological type ("deep" small colonies, = type-3) showed small differences in nuclear ITS2 sequences compared to the other two types, the remaining types had identical sequences for all molecular markers examined. The results suggest extremely low genetic diversity despite highly variable morphology of Briareum species in Okinawa. Nevertheless, considering the distribution patterns and discontinuous morphology of type-3 compared to the other two morphotypes, genetic isolation of type-3 is plausible. In Briareum, small variances in nuclear ITS2 sequences of type-3 may have much more importance than in molecular phylogenies of other octocorals. Further phylogenetic investigations and comparison with Briareum specimens from other regions are necessary to conclusively taxonomically identify the three types.

Biomimicking micropatterned surfaces and their effect on marine biofouling.

When synthetic materials are submerged in marine environments, dissolved matter and marine organisms attach to their surfaces by a process known as marine fouling. This phenomenon may lead to diminished material performance with detrimental consequences. Bioinspired surface patterning and chemical surface modifications present promising approaches to the design of novel functional surfaces that can prevent biofouling phenomena. In this study, we report the synergistic effects of surface patterns, inspired by the marine decapod crab Myomenippe hardwickii in combination with chemical surface modifications toward suppressing marine fouling. M. hardwickii is known to maintain a relatively clean carapace although the species occurs in biofouling communities of tropical shallow subtidal coastal waters. Following the surface analysis of selected specimens, we designed hierarchical surface microtopographies that replicate the critical features observed on the crustacean surface. The micropatterned surfaces were modified with zwitterionic polymer brushes or with layer-by-layer deposited polyelectrolyte multilayers to enhance their antifouling and/or fouling-release potential. Chemically modified and unmodified micropatterned surfaces were subjected to extensive fouling tests, including laboratory assays against barnacle settlement and algae adhesion, and field static immersion tests. The results show a statistically significant reduction in settlement on the micropatterned surfaces as well as a synergistic effect when the microtopographies are combined with grafted polymer chains.

Remote sensing of euphotic depth in shallow tropical inland waters of Lake Naivasha using MERIS data

Freshwater resources are deteriorating rapidly due to human activities and climate change. Remote sensing techniques have shown potential for monitoring water quality in shallow inland lakes, especially in data-scarce areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the spectral diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd(λ)) of the water column, in order to map the euphotic depth (Zeu) of Lake Naivasha, Kenya using the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). Intensive in situ radiometric and limnological data collection was undertaken at Lake Naivasha. Atmospheric correction was done on the MERIS images using MERIS Neural Network algorithms, Case 2 Waters (C2R) and Eutrophic Lakes processors and the bright pixel atmospheric correction algorithm (BPAC). The Eutrophic Lakes processor gave the most accurate atmospherically corrected remote sensing reflectances at 490nm compared to the other processors, with mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 47% and a root mean square error (RMSE) 43%, with BPAC giving negative reflectances in the blue spectral range. In situ Kd and Zeu models were calibrated and validated using above- and under-water radiometric measurements, and tested on the Neural Network atmospheric correction processed MERIS images. The Eutrophic Lakes estimates were the most accurate, with an RMSE of 0.26m−1 and MAPE of 18% for Kd(490) and RMSE of 0.17m and MAPE of 14% for Zeu. The Zeu maps produced from MERIS images clearly show the variation of euphotic depth both in space and time. These results indicate the suitability of MERIS to monitor euphotic depth and other water quality parameters of shallow inland water bodies.

Fossil Chondrichthyes from the central eastern Pacific Ocean and their paleoceanographic significance

The study of the chondrichthyan fauna from the Angostura, Onzole, Canoa and Jama formations, in the Neogene of Bordón and Manabí basins, Ecuador, reveals the presence of 30 taxa, including the deep water shark †Chlamydoselachus landinii sp. nov. The assemblages are dominated by tropical shallow and deep water chondrichthyans, suggesting paleoenvironments associated with a short platform shelf bordering a deep margin. These assemblages are the most diverse shark and ray association known from the Tropical Central Eastern Pacific Ocean in the South American coastal basin, and provide new information on the paleoecology and paleodiversity of Neogene chondrichthyans.

Improved Accuracy of Chlorophyll-a Concentration Estimates from MODIS Imagery Using a Two-Band Ratio Algorithm and Geostatistics: As Applied to the Monitoring of Eutrophication Processes over Tien Yen Bay (Northern Vietnam)

Sea eutrophication is a natural process of water enrichment caused by increased nutrient loading that severely affects coastal ecosystems by decreasing water quality. The degree of eutrophication can be assessed by chlorophyll-a concentration. This study aims to develop a remote sensing method suitable for estimating chlorophyll-a concentrations in tropical coastal waters with abundant phytoplankton using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra imagery and to improve the spatial resolution of MODIS/Terra-based estimation from 1 km to 100 m by geostatistics. A model based on the ratio of green and blue band reflectance (rGBr) is proposed considering the bio-optical property of chlorophyll-a. Tien Yen Bay in northern Vietnam, a typical phytoplankton-rich coastal area, was selected as a case study site. The superiority of rGBr over two existing representative models, based on the blue-green band ratio and the red-near infrared band ratio, was demonstrated by a high correlation of the estimated chlorophyll-a concentrations at 40 sites with values measured in situ. Ordinary kriging was then shown to be highly capable of predicting the concentration for regions of the image covered by clouds and, thus, without sea surface data. Resultant space-time maps of concentrations over a year clarified that Tien Yen Bay is characterized by natural eutrophic waters, because the average of chlorophyll-a concentrations exceeded 10 mg/m3 in the summer. The temporal changes of chlorophyll-a concentrations were consistent with average monthly air temperatures and precipitation. Consequently, a combination of rGBr and ordinary kriging can effectively monitor water quality in tropical shallow waters.

Bacterial diversity of the sediments transiting through the gut of Holothuria scabra (Holothuroidea; Echinodermata)

This work analyzes bacterial diversity of sediments transiting through the gut of Holothuria scabra which is an important bioturbator in tropical shallow waters. This edible holothurian species has a social and economic importance for coastal populations in many developing countries. Bacterial biodiversity was analyzed by sequencing the 16S rRNA of bacterial cultures and clones. DAPI and FISH methods were used to determine and compare the number of bacteria found in the various gut compartments. A total of 116 phylotypes belonging to the γ-Proteobacteria (60.5 %), α-Proteobacteria (24.5 %), Bacteroidetes (6 %), Actinobacteria (2.75 %), Fusobacteria (1.75 %), Firmicutes (1.75 %), Cyanobacteria (1.75 %) and δ-Proteobacteria (1 %) were identified. The number of bacteria is significantly greater (1.5×) in the foregut than in the ambient sediments. The number of bacteria significantly decreases in the midgut and remains stable until defecation. Some γ-Proteobacteria, especially Vibrio, are less affected by digestion than other bacterial taxa. The season has an impact on the bacterial diversity found in the sediments transiting through the gut: in the dry season, γ-Proteobacteria are the most abundant taxon, while α-Proteobacteria dominate in the rainy season. Vibrio is the most frequent genus with some well-known opportunistic pathogens like V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus and V. proteolyticus. Findings show that sediment-associated microbial communities are significantly modified by H. scabra during their transit through the gut which supports the view that holothurians play a substantial role in the structuring of bacterial communities at the sediment–seawater interface.

The Southern Brown Shrimp, Farfantepenaeus subtilis (Pérez Farfante, 1967) (Decapoda: Penaeidae), a new migrant in the Mediterranean Sea

Penaeid shrimps are important resources for worldwide fisheries and aquaculture (Sunden & Davis, 1991). They inhabit shallow and inshore tropical and subtropical waters, and support important fishe...

Dynamics of wood fall colonization in relation to sulfide concentration in a mangrove swamp

Wood debris are an important component of mangrove marine environments. Current knowledge of the ecological role of wood falls is limited by the absence of information on metazoan colonization processes over time. The aim of this study was to provide insights to their temporal dynamics of wood eukaryotic colonization from a shallow water experiment in a mangrove swamp. Combined in situ chemical monitoring and biological surveys revealed that the succession of colonizers in the mangrove swamp relates with the rapid evolution of sulfide concentration on the wood surface. Sulfide-tolerant species are among the first colonizers and dominate over several weeks when the sulfide content is at its maximum, followed by less tolerant opportunistic species when sulfide decreases. This study supports the idea that woody debris can sustain chemosynthetic symbioses over short time-scale in tropical shallow waters.

Depositional facies and geochemistry of the Kangan formation in the South Pars Field, Persian Gulf (Iran)

The Kangan Formation is one of the largest carbonate reservoirs located in the South Pars Field, which is one of the major gas fields in the central basin of the Persian Gulf. Facies analyses indicate that the Kangan carbonates are formed in four microfacies belts: tidal flat, lagoon, shoal, and shallow open marine, in a platform ramp environment. The predominance of tidal flat sediments along with the oolitic shoal facies and lack of a large shoal reef indicate a homoclinal-ramp system. Major and minor elements and carbon and oxygen isotope values were used to determine the original carbonate mineralogy of the Kangan Formation. The data indicate aragonite carbonate mineralogy in a closed diagenetic system. The Kangan Formation displays a gradual upward increase in δ13C values and variation in δ18O with changing lithologies. Palaeotemperature calculation, based on the heaviest δ18O values in limestone micrites and dolomicrites, range from 36 to 44 °C, respectively. The isotopic compositions of the Kangan carbonates indicate that they were deposited in shallow tropical waters. Stratigraphic analysis indicates four major transgressive and regressive events of nearly two million years’ average duration, which controlled the development of two depositional sequences and their systems tracts.

An anatomical description of a miniaturized acorn worm (hemichordata, enteropneusta) with asexual reproduction by paratomy.

The interstitial environment of marine sandy bottoms is a nutrient-rich, sheltered habitat whilst at the same time also often a turbulent, space-limited, and ecologically challenging environment dominated by meiofauna. The interstitial fauna is one of the most diverse on earth and accommodates miniaturized representatives from many macrofaunal groups as well as several exclusively meiofaunal phyla. The colonization process of this environment, with the restrictions imposed by limited space and low Reynolds numbers, has selected for great morphological and behavioral changes as well as new life history strategies.Here we describe a new enteropneust species inhabiting the interstices among sand grains in shallow tropical waters of the West Atlantic. With a maximum body length of 0.6 mm, it is the first microscopic adult enteropneust known, a group otherwise ranging from 2 cm to 250 cm in adult size. Asexual reproduction by paratomy has been observed in this new species, a reproductive mode not previously reported among enteropneusts.Morphologically, Meioglossus psammophilus gen. et sp. nov. shows closest resemblance to an early juvenile stage of the acorn worm family Harrimaniidae, a result congruent with its phylogenetic placement based on molecular data. Its position, clearly nested within the larger macrofaunal hemichordates, suggests that this represents an extreme case of miniaturization. The evolutionary pathway to this simple or juvenile appearance, as chiefly demonstrated by its small size, dense ciliation, and single pair of gill pores, may be explained by progenesis. The finding of M. psammophilus gen. et sp. nov. underscores the notion that meiofauna may constitute a rich source of undiscovered metazoan diversity, possibly disguised as juveniles of other species.

Papuan Bird’s Head Seascape: Emerging threats and challenges in the global center of marine biodiversity

The Bird’s Head Seascape located in eastern Indonesia is the global epicenter of tropical shallow water marine biodiversity with over 600 species of corals and 1,638 species of coral reef fishes. The Seascape also includes critical habitats for globally threatened marine species, including sea turtles and cetaceans. Since 2001, the region has undergone rapid development in fisheries, oil and gas extraction, mining and logging. The expansion of these sectors, combined with illegal activities and poorly planned coastal development, is accelerating deterioration of coastal and marine environments. At the same time, regency governments have expanded their marine protected area networks to cover 3,594,702ha of islands and coastal waters. Low population numbers, relatively healthy natural resources and a strong tenure system in eastern Indonesia provide an opportunity for government and local communities to collaboratively manage their resources sustainably to ensure long-term food security, while meeting their development aspirations.

Molecular phylogeny of the subgenus Holothuria (Selenkothuria) Deichmann, 1958 (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida)

The subgenus Selenkothuria comprises 12 species of tropical shallow water sea cucumbers that share morphological features, such as rods in the body wall and tube feet, modified tentacles for suspension feeding, and cryptic colours. The taxonomic status of this taxon has been controversial, but currently it is accepted as a subgenus of the genus Holothuria. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial genes [cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), 16S RNA] of ten species of Selenkothuria and related subgenera showed the polyphyly of this subgenus; monophyly was rejected by a likelihood ratio test. A geographical split divides the species of this subgenus into three different groups: one Indo-West-Pacific (IWP) group and two American groups. The IWP group is more closely related to Holothuria (Semperothuria) cinerascens and to other subgenera such as Roweothuria, Holothuria, and Vaneyothuria, whereas the two American groups are more closely related to each other and to some species of the subgenus Halodeima. These results suggest multiple parallel originations and diversification of ossicle morphology within the subgenus Selenkothuria. The current scheme of subgenera for the genus Holothuria is not supported, suggesting the need for a new classification. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165, 109–120.