Growth and survival of Pocillopora damicornis (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) coral fragments and their potential for coral reef restoration in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Cores of coral reef frameworks along an upwelling gradient in Panamá show that reef ecosystems in the tropical eastern Pacific collapsed for 2500 years, representing as much as 40% of their history, beginning about 4000 years ago. The principal cause of this millennial-scale hiatus in reef growth was increased variability of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and its coupling with the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The hiatus was a Pacific-wide phenomenon with an underlying climatology similar to probable scenarios for the next century. Global climate change is probably driving eastern Pacific reefs toward another regional collapse.

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Long-term natural and human perturbations and current status of Clipperton Atoll, a remote island of the Eastern Pacific

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc060207 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 207 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Christian H. Jost ◽

Serge Andréfouët

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Eastern Pacific ◽

Current Status ◽

Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽

Remote Island ◽

The World ◽

The Future ◽

Human Perturbations ◽

History Of

Clipperton Atoll is one of the most isolated tropical island in the world and the only atoll of the eastern Pacific. Its outer slopes also make the largest coral reef of this region. Clipperton is a remarkable site for the geochemistry of its closed eutrophic stratified lagoon, the influence of both tropical eastern Pacific and Oceania gene pool on coral reef communities, the low diversity of the marine and land fauna, and for the equilibrium of its land ecosystem. The three components of the Clipperton Atoll seascape (coral reef-lagoon-land) all appear to have remarkable properties and history. All components experienced important changes in the last century due to anthropogenic (importation of exogenous species) or natural perturbations (closing of passes, coral bleaching). Here, we review the history of these three systems (land-lagoon-coral reef) and provide new insights of the current status of the atoll based on recent surveys and high resolution IKONOS satellite imagery. Most dramatic changes occurring in the last decades include explosion in crab Gecarcinus planatus population, almost-complete desertification of the island and increase in Masked Boobies Sula dactylatra population, making Clipperton Atoll one of the most important sites for this specie in the world. This review intends to provide a sound basis to discuss the future of Clipperton balanced between conservation and development priorities, and to raise awareness on the future of a delicate ecosystem.

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Coral farming: effects of light, water motion and artificial foods

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315411001500 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 721-729 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Zac H. Forsman ◽

Bethany K. Kimokeo ◽

Christopher E. Bird ◽

Cynthia L. Hunter ◽

Robert J. Toonen

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Optimal Growth ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Low Flow ◽

Constant Flow ◽

Pocillopora Damicornis ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Light Water ◽

Reef Restoration ◽

Water Motion

Improved coral cultivation will facilitate the reduction of wild harvesting, reef restoration, preservation of biodiversity, and the use of corals as model experimental organisms. In this study, we examine species-specific responses in growth and survival of corals from the effects of light, water motion and artificial (i.e. non-living aquarium trade) food supplements. Three species representing distinct, diverse and abundant coral genera were chosen (Montipora capitata(Mc), Porites compressa (Pc) and Pocillopora damicornis (Pd)) for three experiments to examine: (1) the interaction of water flow and light on growth and survival of Mc and Pc; (2) the effects of artificial foods on Mc, Pc and Pd; and (3) the effects of increasing dosage of artificial foods in an open system on Mc and Pc. Pc thrived at the highest light levels with low flow, while Mc exhibited bleaching and reduced growth in the same conditions and grew best in shaded treatments. High constant flow (~11 cm s-1) resulted in slightly less overall growth than low constant flow (~4 cm s-1). Some artificial foods resulted in a significant increase in growth in Mc and Pd, but not in Pc. These combined results suggest that Mc may be more heterotrophic than Pc. This study illustrates that each species has unique requirements for optimal growth conditions that can be determined by relatively simple and low cost experiments, but that ideal conditions for one species might not be generalized to others.

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Filling the gaps: first record of the Crown-of-thorns Starfish, Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758) (Spinulosida: Acanthasteridae), at Gorgona Island, Colombia, Tropical Eastern Pacific

Check List ◽

10.15560/13.3.2112 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 2112

Author(s):

Fernando A. Zapata ◽

María Del Mar Palacios ◽

Valentina Zambrano ◽

Melina Rodríguez-Moreno

Keyword(s):

Coral Reefs ◽

Geographic Distribution ◽

First Record ◽

Eastern Pacific ◽

Pocillopora Damicornis ◽

Acanthaster Planci ◽

Tropical Eastern Pacific

We report the occurrence of a major corallivore, the Crown-of-thorns Starfish Acanthaster planci, on the coral reefs of Gorgona Island, Tropical Eastern Pacific. Three individuals were sighted on opposite sides of the island, where they fed on small coral colonies of Pavona varians and Pocillopora damicornis. These sightings are noteworthy in light of reports that have demonstrated that the geographic distribution of A. planci is gradually increasing in the equatorial eastern Pacific, particularly south of the Gulf of Chiriquí (Panama) where it was previously absent.

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