scholarly journals Reef foraminifera as bioindicators of coral reef health in southern South China Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishah Norashikin Abdul A’ziz ◽  
Fatin Izzati Minhat ◽  
Hui-Juan Pan ◽  
Hasrizal Shaari ◽  
Wan Nurzalia Wan Saelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sediment Quality ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Southern South China Sea ◽  
Water And Sediment Quality ◽  
Assessment And Monitoring ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Reduced Water

AbstractPulau Tioman is a famous tourist island off Peninsular Malaysia with beautiful coral reefs. This study aims to assess the health of the coral reefs surrounding Pulau Tioman based on the application of the Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring Index (FI). Ten sampling sites around Pulau Tioman were studied with a total of 30 samples. Eight orders, 41 families, 80 genera, and 161 species of benthic foraminifera were identified. The agglutinated type of foraminifera constituted 2–8% of the total assemblages. Calcareous hyaline and porcelaneous groups represented 79% and 19% of the total assemblages, respectively. Symbiont-bearing taxa were the most common foraminifera. The results indicate that most of the sampling sites are conducive for coral reef growth with good recoverability from future stress to the ecosystem. However, several areas with higher coastal development and tourism have reduced water and sediment quality. Therefore, the limit on the number of visitors and tourists should be revised to enable coral growth and health. The FI values in this study showed a positive correlation with good water qualities and a negative correlation with organic matter enrichment. The FI is a good measure to assess the health of a coral reef and can be applied to other reef ecosystems around Malaysia.

Reef Foraminifera As Bioindicator Of Coral Reef Health in Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishah Norashikin Abdul A’ziz ◽  
Fatin Izzati Minhat ◽  
Pan Hui-Juan ◽  
Hasrizal Shaari ◽  
Wan Nurzalia Wan Saelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Assessment And Monitoring ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Coral Reef Area ◽  
Reduced Water

Abstract Pulau Tioman is one of the famous tourism islands in Peninsular Malaysia due to the beautiful terrestrial and coral reefs ecosystem. This study aims to assess and monitor the health of coral reef sites surrounding Pulau Tioman based on the application of Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring (FORAM) Index. A total of ten selected sampling sites from west and east side of Pulau Tioman were setup in front of the major beach areas around Pulau Tioman. At each site, 100 m transect was laid out from shore towards the reef slope and surface sediment samples were collected at 50 m intervals. Eight orders, 41 families, 80 genera and 161 species of benthic foraminifera were identified around Pulau Tioman. Amphistegina lessonii found to be the most dominant species and the least dominant species (< 4%) are Bolivina vadescens, Elphidium neosimplex, Heterolepa dutemplei, Heterolepa subhaidingerii, Mikrobelodontos bradyi, Milliolinella suborbicularis, Operculina discoidalis, Parahourinoides fragillissimus, Quinqueloculina incisa, Quinqueloculina sulcate, Triloculinella bertheliniana and Triloculinella parisa. The highest and lowest numbers of species was recorded at station J3 and station F3. The agglutinated type of foraminifera contributed between 2–8% of the total assemblages. Meanwhile, calcareous hyaline and porcelaneous group represent 79% and 19% of total assemblages respectively. Based on the functional groups, symbiont-bearing taxa were the most common foraminiferal found in most of the stations. The present study indicates that majority of sampling sites around Pulau Tioman are conducive for coral reef growth and could recover from any future bleaching events or temporary damage in the ecosystem. However, several areas with higher coastal development and tourism activities has reduced water quality (FI < 4) and chances of better reef recovery. Thus, the number of visitors and tourists should be revised in order to produce a better condition for coral reefs to grow. This assumption is based on the established results of the FORAM index. Thus, we suppose that FORAM index could be used together with coral reef health index in other reef ecosystems around Malaysia to determine the condition and status of coral reef area.

scholarly journals Status of Coral Reefs in the Water of Spermonde, Makassar, South Sulawesi

2021 ◽  
Vol 324 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Ni Wayan Purnama Sari ◽  
Rikoh Manogar Siringoringo ◽  
Muhammad Abrar ◽  
Risandi Dwirama Putra ◽  
Raden Sutiadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Index Value

Observations of the condition of coral reefs have been carried out in Spermonde waters from 2015 to 2018. The method used in this observation uses Underwater Photo Transect (UPT), and the data obtained is analyzed using CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions) software. The results show that the percentage of coral cover has increased from year to year. The percentage of live coral cover in 2015 was 19.64%, 23.60 in 2016, 23.72% in 2017, and 27.83% in 2018. The increase in live coral cover from year to year is thought to occur due to the availability of nutrients. or increasing public awareness, considering this location is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Makassar. Coral reef health index values can be used to classify coral reef health. Through the analysis of the coral reef health index, an index value of 4 was obtained, which means that the condition of the coral reefs is in the “moderate” category.

scholarly journals KONDISI TERUMBU KARANG PULAU MANTEHAGE KABUPATEN MINAHASA UTARA PROVINSI SULAWESI UTARA

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Ardy Kase ◽  
Indri Manembu ◽  
Joshian Schaduw
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Moderate Condition

Coral reefs are coastal ecosystems with the highest level of diversity. Corals are invertebrates that are included in the Phylum Coelenterata (hollow animal) or Cnidaria. Whereas coral reefs are a collection of millions of polyps. Natural phenomena and various anthropogenic activities threaten the health and presence of Mantehage Island coral reefs and the lack of information about the health conditions of coral reefs on Mantehage Island. The purpose of this study is to determine the condition of coral reefs andto  provide baselines data on Mantehage Island. Data collection was done by using UPT  method (Underwater Photo Transect). Underwater Photo Transect carried out by underwater shooting using a digital camera that was shielded (housing). Image analysis were done using the CPCe software (Coral Point Count with Excel extensions). The results of coral reef health conditions at four stations on Mantehage Island shows, coral reef cover at each station as follows, station 1 (one) 53.00% were in good condition, station 2 (two) 25.40% were in a moderate condition, station 3 (three) 16.49% were in poor condition, and station 4 (four) 42.07% were in a moderate condition. From the four stations, the condition of Mantehage Island's coral reefs were in the moderate category with a percentage of 34.24%.Keywords:. Mantehage Island, Terumbu Karang, UPT, CPCe

scholarly journals Ascidians Outbreak: A Threat For Coral Reefs in Panjang Island, Jepara

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Haryanti ◽  
Diah Permata Wijayanti ◽  
Bambang Yulianto ◽  
Mada Triandala Sibero ◽  
Lutfillah Arief Ghinaa Shabrina
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Coral Disease ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
High Sedimentation ◽  
Reef Health

Eutrophication and sedimentation have become a major threat to coral reefs in nearby areas with anthropogenic activities. These threats are often accompanied by shifting ecosystems from coral-rich to fast-growing algae-dominated water, and high prevalence of coral disease. In Panjang Island, Jepara, we observed the outbreak of photosynthetic ascidians along with a high sedimentation at the eastern part of the island. The ascidians were seen overgrowing most substrates including corals, macroalgae, dead-coral-algae, and rubbles in April to May 2019. In July and August 2019, observation and data collection using quadrant transect were conducted to monitor the outbreak. The result showed that ascidians were still present in the area, despite becoming pale and smaller. This report shows that the outbreak of these photosynthetic ascidians was not persistent, however, the effect on coral reef health should not be overlooked.

scholarly journals A Plot for Sustainability – The Sustainable Development Goals as A Narrative

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David O. Obura
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Reef Health

The Sustainable Development Goals, while complex at first sight, express a simple narrative about the relationships between people and nature. This paper illustrates this in the context of a coral reef land or seascape supporting coastal people. Coral reefs, their health described by measures of coral and fish diversity and abundance, provide key services and benefits to people. These services directly support 10s of millions of jobs in multiple economic sectors in coastal and distant states, protect and harbor communities and cities across tropical coastlines, sustain use of living and non-living resources, provide transport infrastructure and valuable natural products, and in future may provide energy solutions. Through these multiple benefits, coral reefs contribute to reducing hunger and poverty, thus improving health, and potentially strengthening gender and social equality. However, access and use result in pressures that may drive decline in coral reef health. Broader land and seascape factors also affect reef health, including land-use change and altered freshwater flows, as well as climate change. Managing this complex system requires appropriate awareness and knowledge, governance mechanisms and investments by stakeholders. This narrative can be used from local to global levels, motivating actions and policy at and across these scales to sustain ecosystem function and use, for the oceans what is also increasingly called a blue economy.

scholarly journals Coral Reef Monitoring: From Cytological Parameters to Community Indices

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofer Ben-Tzvi ◽  
Mohammad Al-Zibdah ◽  
Vladimir Bresler ◽  
Yousef Jamal ◽  
Avigdor Abelson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Stressors ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Health State ◽  
Reef Community ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Ecological Parameters ◽  
Natural Reefs ◽  
Practical Implications

Sound-ecosystem-based management of coral reefs is largely based on indicators of reef health state. Currently there are various ecological parameters that serve as reef state indices; however, their practical implications are under debate. In the present study we examine an alternative parameter, the deterioration index (DI), which does not purport to replace the traditional indices but can provide a reliable, stand-alone indication of reef state. Patterns of cytological indices, which are considered as reliable indicators of environmental stressors, have been compared to ten selected reef community indices. The DI showed the highest correlations among community indices to the cytological indices in artificial reefs and high correlation in natural reefs as well. Our results suggest that in cases of lacking adequate monitoring abilities where a full set of community indices cannot be obtained, the DI can serve in many cases as the preferred, stand-alone indicator of coral reef state.

scholarly journals The Invisible Threat: How Microplastics Endanger Corals

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Bednarz ◽  
Miguel Leal ◽  
Eric Béraud ◽  
Joana Ferreira Marques ◽  
Christine Ferrier-Pagès
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Internal Damage ◽  
Nutritious Food ◽  
False Sense ◽  
Waves And Currents ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
The Invisible

Coral reefs are one of the most endangered habitats due to climate change, but not enough attention has been paid to how plastic pollution affects coral reef health. Plastics are massively produced worldwide for many purposes and they degrade very slowly, breaking down into tiny, invisible particles of 5 mm or less, called microplastics. When these tiny particles reach coral reefs, they harm corals by constantly rubbing on them through the action of waves and currents. Corals may also ingest microplastics and get a false sense of “fullness,” which results in the coral not feeding on nutritious food. Within the coral, microplastics may block the gut and cause internal damage. Also, microplastics, which are already made of chemicals, can pick up pollutants and harmful microorganisms from the seawater and transfer them to the coral. A reduction of microplastics pollution is therefore urgent.

scholarly journals Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Bayraktarov ◽  
Anastazia T. Banaszak ◽  
Phanor Montoya Maya ◽  
Joanie Kleypas ◽  
Jesús E. Arias-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Project Duration ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Latin American Countries

AbstractCoral reefs worldwide are degrading due to climate change, overfishing, pollution, coastal development, bleaching and diseases. In areas where natural recovery is negligible or protection through management interventions insufficient, active restoration becomes critical. The Reef Futures symposium in 2018 brought together over 400 reef restoration experts, businesses, and civil organizations, and galvanized them to save coral reefs through restoration or identify alternative solutions. The symposium highlighted that solutions and discoveries from long-term and ongoing coral reef restoration projects in Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean and Eastern Tropical Pacific were not well known internationally. Therefore, a meeting of scientists and practitioners working in these locations was held to compile the data on the extent of coral reef restoration efforts, advances and challenges. Here, we present unpublished data from 12 coral reef restoration case studies from five Latin American countries, describe their motivations and techniques used, and provide estimates on total annual project cost per unit area of reef intervened, spatial extent as well as project duration. We found that most projects used direct transplantation, the coral gardening method, micro-fragmentation or larval propagation, and aimed to optimize or scale-up restoration approaches (51%) or provide alternative, sustainable livelihood opportunities (15%) followed by promoting coral reef conservation stewardship and re-establishing a self-sustaining, functioning reef ecosystem (both 13%). Reasons for restoring coral reefs were mainly biotic and experimental (both 42%), followed by idealistic and pragmatic motivations (both 8%). The median annual total cost from all projects was $93,000 USD (range: $10,000 USD - $331,802 USD) (2018 dollars) and intervened a median spatial area of 1 ha (range: 0.06 ha - 8.39 ha). The median project duration was 3 years; however, projects have lasted up to 17 years. Project feasibility was high with a median of 0.7 (range: 0.5 - 0.8). This study closes the knowledge gap between academia and practitioners and overcomes the language barrier by providing the first comprehensive compilation of data from ongoing coral reef restoration efforts in Latin America.

scholarly journals Establishing microbial baselines to identify indicators of coral reef health

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Glasl ◽  
David G Bourne ◽  
Pedro R Frade ◽  
Nicole S Webster
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Ecosystem Impacts ◽  
Reef Health

Microorganisms make a significant contribution to reef ecosystem health and resilience via their critical role in mediating nutrient transformations, their interactions with macro-organisms and their provision of chemical cues that underpin the recruitment of diverse reef taxa. However, environmental changes often cause compositional and functional shifts in microbial communities that can have flow-on consequences for microbial-mediated processes. These microbial alterations may impact the health of specific host organisms and can have repercussions for the functioning of entire coral ecosystems. Assessing changes in reef microbial communities should therefore provide an early indicator of ecosystem impacts and would underpin the development of diagnostic tools that could help forecast shifts in coral reef health under different environmental states. Monitoring, management and active restoration efforts have recently intensified and diversified in response to global declines in coral reef health. Here we propose that regular monitoring of coral reef microorganisms could provide a rapid and sensitive platform for identifying declining ecosystem health that can complement existing management frameworks. By summarising the most common threats to coral reefs, with a particular focus on the Great Barrier Reef, and elaborating on the role of microbes in coral reef health and ecosystem stability, we highlight the diagnostic applicability of microbes in reef management programs. Fundamental to this objective is the establishment of microbial baselines for Australia's coral reefs.

How Like A Reef

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Helmreich ◽  
Sophia Roosth ◽  
Michele Friedner
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Science Studies ◽  
Feminist Science Studies ◽  
Figurative Meaning ◽  
Donna Haraway ◽  
Feminist Science ◽  
History Of ◽  
Reef Health

This chapter examines the history of coral reef science by drawing on the work of the feminist science studies scholar Donna Haraway. This history moves from early British preoccupations with coral structure, which had reefs as a sort of architecture, to anthropological visions of coral as a metaphor for culture, to reproductive ecological fascinations with the spawning sexways of corals, to contemporary readings of coral genomes for signs of reef health in the age of warming and acidifying seas. The chapter uses Haraway's notion of the “figure” to highlight change and continuity in coral science. It argues that coral reefs can attune their human visitors and inquisitors to empirical and epistemological questions of scale and context— where context, drawing upon a once-upon-a-time literal, but now more figurative, meaning, refers to a “weaving together.”

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