Predation on soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK Griffith
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Corals ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Bite Marks ◽  
First Time ◽  
Predation Rates

Quantitative evidence on predation rates on soft corals is presented for the first time. These measured predation rates were low. Less than 1% of the soft coral colonies present in mapped areas at Heron Island and Beaver Reefs had bite marks. Evidence suggests that over 51% of these bite marks were more than two months old. Predators included the mollusc Ovula ovum and two species of chaetodontid fishes that have not been recorded before as feeding on soft corals.

Occurrence of aggressive mechanisms during interactions between soft corals (Octocorallia : Alcyoniidae) and other corals on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Griffith
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Corals ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
Coral Reef Community ◽  
Reef Community ◽  
Coral Colony ◽  
Factors Influencing

This study found that on two reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, most coral colonies within 10 cm of a soft coral colony were interacting to the detriment of one or both colonies. Soft corals were more likely to interact with neighbouring hard corals than with other soft corals. The relative infrequency of ties indicated that two coral colonies were rarely equal competitively. Allelopathy and simple overgrowth were the major aggressive mechanisms of alcyoniids. Soft corals tended to simply overgrow neighbouring hard corals but used allelochemicals more frequently when the neighbour was another soft coral. Other factors influencing the type of aggressive mechanism used included the size of the neighbouring colony. The importance of this to a coral reef community after events such as Acanthaster planci infestations is discussed.

A MODEL OF ALLELOCHEMICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SOFT AND SCLERACTINIAN CORALS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

1993 ◽  
Vol 01 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.L. ANTONELLI ◽  
P.W. SAMMARCO ◽  
J.C. COLL
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Scleractinian Corals ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Central Question ◽  
Soft Corals ◽  
Allelopathic Interactions ◽  
Community Production

The mathematical theory of Volterra-Hamilton systems developed for modelling allelopathic interactions in sessile communities, is utilized here to model cost of terpene production of colonizing soft corals and their highly toxic effects on scleractinian corals of the Great Barrier Reef. The central question asked is what strategies of hard corals, if any, would enable them to survive colonization. Several detailed results are obtained relating quantitative measures of terpene production (v), soft coral encroachment (µ), allelopathic vigour (–K) and community production stability. The model predicts that any factor which reduces soft coral encroachment (which includes direct toxic effects) has survival value. Thus, spatial shapes and distributions of scleractinians or refuge in space, in themselves, may constitute viable “cost-effective” competitive defenses. It is unlikely, however, that scleractinian corals could evolve in such a way as to specifically neutralize terpenes directly, according to this model, although their species-specifically variable resistance to their effects can be accounted for.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Particle Emission from Ships Operating at Sea Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso F. Villa ◽  
Reece Brown ◽  
E. Rohan Jayaratne ◽  
L. Felipe Gonzalez ◽  
Lidia Morawska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Emission Factors ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Ship Emissions ◽  
Optimal Position ◽  
Exhaust Plume ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
First Time

Abstract. This research demonstrates the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to characterize the gaseous (CO2) and particle (10–500 nm) emissions of a ship at sea. The field study was part of the research voyage The Great Barrier Reef as a significant source of climatically relevant aerosol particles on-board the RV Investigator around the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Measurements of the RV Investigator exhaust plume were carried out while the ship was operating at sea, at a steady engine load of 30 %. The UAV system was flown autonomously using several different programmed paths. These incorporated different altitudes and distances behind the ship in order to investigate the optimal position to capture the ship plume. Five flights were performed, providing a total of 27 horizontal transects perpendicular to the ship exhaust plume. Results show that the most appropriate altitude and distance to effectively capture the plume was 25 m above sea level and 20 m downwind. Particle number (PN) emission factors (EF) were calculated in terms of number of particles emitted (#) per weight of fuel consumed (Kg fuel). Fuel consumption was calculated using the simultaneous measurements of plume CO2 concentration. Calculated EFPN were between 9.19 × 1014 and 5.15 × 1015 #∙(Kg fuel)−1. These values are in line with those reported in the literature for ship emissions ranging from 0.2 6.2 × 1016 #∙(Kg fuel)−1 to 6.2 × 1016 #∙(Kg fuel)−1. This UAV system successfully assessed ship emissions to derive emission factors (EFs) under real world conditions. This is significant as, for the first time, it provides a reliable, inexpensive and accessible way to assess and potentially regulate ship emissions.

scholarly journals The genus Lanocira Hansen, 1890 (Corallanidae: Isopoda: Crustacea) in tropical Australian waters

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2793 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
NIEL L. BRUCE ◽  
CONNI SIDABALOK
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Australian Species ◽  
Timor Sea ◽  
First Time

The genus Lanocira Hansen, 1890 is recorded from the southwestern Pacific for the first time. Lanocira grebarree sp. nov. from the Great Barrier Reef is described, and Lanocira gardineri Stebbing, 1904 and Lanocira sp. cf. anasicula Jones, 1982 are recorded from the Great Barrier Reef and Hibernia Reef, in the Timor Sea off Western Australia, respectively. Lanocira grebarree sp. nov. can be identified by the anteriorly rounded, upturned and short rostral process in males in combination with the lack of stiff setae on the dorsal surface of the pleotelson. The similar L. gardineri Stebbing, 1904 is distinguished from L. grebarree sp. nov. by the presence of stiff hyaline setae on the dorsal surface of the pleotelson. A key is provided to the Australian species of Lanocira.

Two new species of alcyonacean-associated shrimp genus Alcyonohippolyte Marin, Okuno & Chan, 2010 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae) from the Great Barrier Reef of Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3123 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
IVAN MARIN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Lizard Island ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Organ Pipe ◽  
Antennular Peduncle

Two new species of symbiotic hippolytid shrimps of the genus Alcyonohippolyte Marin, Okuno & Chan, 2010 are described from Lizard Island, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Alcyonohippolyte tenuicarpus sp. nov. is associated with xeniid soft coral of the genus Heteroxenia Kolliker, 1874 and differs from the congeners by a long rostrum greatly exceeding antennular peduncle and slender carpal segments of pereiopod II. Alcyonohippolyte tubiporae sp. nov. is associated with organ pipe coral of the genus Tubipora Linnaeus, 1758, possibly T. musica Linnaeus, 1758 (Alcyonacea: Tubiporidae), and differs from the congeners by equal distal and proximal carpal segments of pereiopod II. Both species can be clearly separated from the congeners ecologically and by coloration.

Studies of Australian Soft Corals. XLIII. The Structure Elucidation of a New Diterpene From Alcyonium molle

1989 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
BF Bowden ◽  
JC Coll ◽  
MC Dai
Keyword(s):  
Absolute Configuration ◽  
High Field ◽  
Structure Elucidation ◽  
Kinetic Resolution ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
Soft Corals ◽  
Resolution Method ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
First Time

The isolation of a new cladiellin based diterpene (6), (1S,2R,3S,4R,SR,6S,8E,11S,12R,13S,14S)-3-acetoxy-2,12-dibutanoyloxycladiell-8-ene-4,11-diol is reported from the soft coral Alcyonium molle (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Alcyoniidae). The structure was deduced by high-field n.m.r. spectroscopy including 13C-lH shift correlated 2D n.m.r. experiments and n.O.e. measurements. The absolute configuration was based on the kinetic resolution method of Horeau. This highly derivatized diterpene (6) is the first alcyonacean derived metabolite to possess hydroxy functionalities protected as butyrate esters, although this feature is relatively common among gorgonacean metabolites. Gorgosterol (7), which cooccurs with (6) in A. molle was identified and its 13C n.m.r. spectrum reported for the first time.

New gnathiid isopod crustaceans (Cymothoida) from Heron Island and Wistari Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4609 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
JÖRUNDUR SVAVARSSON ◽  
NIEL L. BRUCE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
New Records ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
First Time ◽  
Gnathiid Isopod ◽  
Eleven Species

Eleven species including six new species of Gnathiidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoida) are reported from the Heron Island and Wistari Reef, Capricorn Group, southern Great Barrier Reef: Elaphognathia queenslandica sp. nov., Gnathia acrorudus sp. nov., Gnathia capricornica sp. nov., Gnathia carinodenta sp. nov., Gnathia formosa sp. nov. and Gnathia glaucostega sp. nov. Gnathia cornuta Holdich & Harrison, 1980 and Gnathia grutterae Ferreira, Smit & Davies, 2010 are for the first time reported from Heron Island and new records from Heron Island are provided for Gnathia biorbis Holdich & Harrison, 1980, Gnathia variobranchia Holdich & Harrison, 1980, and Gnathia wistari Svavarsson & Bruce, 2012. 

The last marine wilderness: spearfishing for trophy fishes in the Coral Sea

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHEW A. L. YOUNG ◽  
SIMON FOALE ◽  
DAVID R. BELLWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Pelagic Species ◽  
Coral Sea ◽  
History Of ◽  
First Time

SUMMARYIsolation can provide marine ecosystems with a refuge from human impacts. However, information on the biodiversity, ecology and fisheries of remote regions is often sparse. The proposed Coral Sea Marine Reserve could create one of the world's largest and most remote marine parks, yet little information is available to inform discussions. Fish captures from the Coral Sea and adjacent Great Barrier Reef (GBR) were assessed from reports contained in a chronology of spearfishing publications from 1953 to 2009, and reveal for the first time the history of recreational spearfishing in the Coral Sea. Although the area is perceived as relatively untouched, the data indicate that spearfishers have frequented Coral Sea reefs for at least 43 years and reported captures have increased exponentially. Post-1993 trophy captures in the Coral Sea (mean 23 kg) were larger than the adjacent GBR (9 kg). Reef species characterize the GBR catch, while large pelagic species characterize the Coral Sea catch. Provided that functionally important fishes are not targeted, the relatively small scale of recreational spearfishing and the focus on pelagic species suggests that spearfishing currently exerts limited pressure on the ecology of Coral Sea reefs.

scholarly journals The first records of Stenobermuda Schultz, 1982 and Tenupedunculus Schultz, 1979 from Australia, with description of two new species from the Great Barrier Reef (Isopoda, Asellota, Stenetriidae)

ZooKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 733 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Ji-Hun Song ◽  
Niel L. Bruce ◽  
Gi-Sik Min
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Incertae Sedis ◽  
Lizard Island ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
New Diagnosis ◽  
First Time

The genera Tenupedunculus Schultz, 1982 and Stenobermuda Schultz, 1979 are recorded for the first time from beyond the Southern Ocean, at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Tenupedunculusserrulatussp. n. and Stenobermudawaroogasp. n. are described from Heron Island and Lizard Island respectively, both in the Great Barrier Reef. The genus Tenupedunculus is revised and a new diagnosis presented, with Tenupedunculusvirginale Schultz, 1982, T.pulchrum (Schultz, 1982), and T.serrulatussp. n. being retained within the genus, and the remaining species here regarded as Stenetriidaeincertae sedis (eight species).

Defensive strategies of soft corals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of the Great Barrier Reef

Oecologia ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Sammarco ◽  
S. La Barre ◽  
J. C. Coll
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Soft Corals ◽  
Defensive Strategies
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