Abnormal density of Culcita schmideliana delays recovery of a reef system in the Maldives following a catastrophic bleaching event

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Bruckner ◽  
Georgia Coward
Keyword(s):  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Reef Flat ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Bleaching Event ◽  
Sea Stars ◽  
Selective Effect ◽  
Reef System ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Coral Composition ◽  
Mass Bleaching

Culcita spp. are facultative corallivores that can have a selective effect on coral composition due to their feeding preference for Acropora spp. and Pocillopora spp. Although Culcita are normally rare (<0.5 per 100m2), mean densities of up to 9.2 sea stars per 100m2 were observed on a Maldivian reef system, with the highest numbers on the reef flat and reef crest. Culcita fed on 12 genera of corals, but showed a distinct preference for Pocillopora (51%) and Acropora (21%). Formerly the dominant corals on Maldivian reefs, these genera sustained 80–95% mortality from coral bleaching in 2016. Low numbers of juvenile acroporids and pocilloporids were slowly recolonising the reef, but 24% had recently been eaten by Culcita schmideliana. The abnormal abundance of C. schmideliana and high number of recently dead juvenile corals suggest that chronic predation by C. schmideliana could delay the recovery of reefs damaged by the 2016 mass bleaching event.

Skeletal isotope microprofiles of growth perturbations in Porites corals during the 1997?1998 mass bleaching event

Coral Reefs ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Suzuki ◽  
M. K. Gagan ◽  
K. Fabricius ◽  
P. J. Isdale ◽  
I. Yukino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching

scholarly journals A mass bleaching event involving clionaid sponges

Coral Reefs ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hill ◽  
C. Walter ◽  
E. Bartels
Keyword(s):  
Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching

scholarly journals CORAL REEF CONDITION IN RELATION TO CORAL REEF FISH ABUNDANCES BEFORE MASS BLEACHING EVENT IN SIMEULUE ISLANDS, ACEH

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Ulung Jantama Wisha ◽  
Koko Ondara ◽  
Wisnu Arya Gemilang ◽  
Guntur Adhi Rahmawan ◽  
Ruzana Dhiauddin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Bleaching Event ◽  
West Part ◽  
Aceh Province ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Fish Abundances ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching

Bordered with the Indian Ocean, Simeulue Islands is one of the outermost islands in Indonesia located in the west part of Aceh Province. Simeulue waters are productive areas due to the unpolluted condition yet and great of biomass. Three regions were particularly observed, those are Simeuluecut, Ganting, and Labuhan Bajau. In those areas, the existing marine tourism activities might influence the coral reef ecosystem studied. This study aimed to evaluate the condition of coral and coral reef fish in those three particular regions before mass bleaching event in 2016 triggered by ENSO. Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method was employed to record the percentage cover of coral, species diversity, and coral reef fish. Ganting waters was a moderate ecosystem area whith the percentage coverage was up to 45.62%. However, in Simeuluecut and Labuhan Bajau waters, the coral reef communities were excellent with coral percentage coverage reached 83.12% and 81.25 %, respectively. The highest  abundance genera of coral reef fish was observed in Simueluecut waters. This condition was changed oppositely in 2016 when mass bleaching threatened Simeulue waters due to temperature anomaly triggered by ENSO phenomenon. The temperature increases almost 3oC for 6 months that undoubtedly induced bleaching that about 50% of coral colonies were dramatically declined in coral coverage and coral recruitment. 

scholarly journals A study on the recovery of Tobago's coral reefs following the 2010 mass bleaching event

2016 ◽  
Vol 104 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salome Buglass ◽  
Simon D. Donner ◽  
Jahson B. Alemu I
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching

Predation by feeding aggregations of Drupella spp. inhibits the recovery of reefs damaged by a mass bleaching event

Coral Reefs ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1181-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Bruckner ◽  
Georgia Coward ◽  
Kathyrn Bimson ◽  
Tipwimon Rattanawongwan
Keyword(s):  
Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching

scholarly journals Non-bleached colonies of massive Porites may attract fishes for selective grazing during mass bleaching events

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3470
Author(s):  
Eri Ikeuchi ◽  
Yoshikazu Ohno ◽  
Akira Iguchi ◽  
Takashi Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Bleaching Event ◽  
First Report ◽  
Selective Grazing ◽  
Grazing Scar ◽  
Massive Porites ◽  
Mass Bleaching Event ◽  
Mass Bleaching

In this study we investigated the variation in grazing scar densities between bleached and non-bleached colonies of massive Porites species in Sekisei Lagoon (Okinawa, southwestern Japan) during a mass bleaching event in 2016. The grazing scar densities and bleaching susceptibility varied among neighboring colonies of massive Porites spp. However, non-bleached colonies had significantly more surface scars than bleached colonies. One explanation for these variations is that corallivorous fishes may selectively graze on non-bleached, thermally tolerant colonies. This is the first report of a relationship between grazing scars and the bleaching status of massive Porites spp. colonies during a mass bleaching event.

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