scholarly journals Presence of cleaner wrasse increases the recruitment of damselfishes to coral reefs

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 20150456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Sun ◽  
Karen L. Cheney ◽  
Johanna Werminghausen ◽  
Mark G. Meekan ◽  
Mark I. McCormick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Biological Communities ◽  
Common Group ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

Mutualisms affect the biodiversity, distribution and abundance of biological communities. However, ecological processes that drive mutualism-related shifts in population structure are often unclear and must be examined to elucidate how complex, multi-species mutualistic networks are formed and structured. In this study, we investigated how the presence of key marine mutualistic partners can drive the organisation of local communities on coral reefs. The cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus , removes ectoparasites and reduces stress hormones for multiple reef fish species, and their presence on coral reefs increases fish abundance and diversity. Such changes in population structure could be driven by increased recruitment of larval fish at settlement, or by post-settlement processes such as modified levels of migration or predation. We conducted a controlled field experiment to examine the effect of cleaners on recruitment processes of a common group of reef fishes, and showed that small patch reefs (61–285 m 2 ) with cleaner wrasse had higher abundances of damselfish recruits than reefs from which cleaner wrasse had been removed over a 12-year period. However, the presence of cleaner wrasse did not affect species diversity of damselfish recruits. Our study provides evidence of the ecological processes that underpin changes in local population structure in the presence of a key mutualistic partner.

scholarly journals Hubungan Rugositas Terumbu Karang terhadap Struktur Komunitas Ikan Corallivor dan Herbivor di Perairan Pemuteran, Bali

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Nidzar Muhammad Rafly ◽  
I Wayan Gede Astawa Karang ◽  
Widiastuti Widiastuti
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Herbivorous Fish ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
Herbivorous Fishes ◽  
The North ◽  
Fish Feeds ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

Reef fishes are the highest number of organisms that can be found in coral reefs in which the abundance depends on the healthy of this ecosystem. Reef fishes are mainly consisted of corallivorous and herbivorous fish. Corralivorous fish feeds on coral polyps while herbivorous fish feeds on algae. Therefore these fishes are an important indicators in the resilience of coral reefs. Studies showed that its abundance is strongly correlated with reef’s conture (rugosity). Pemuteran waters is one of developing tourists attraction in the north Bali island. However, the data of reef fishes and coral reefs in Pemuteran waters remain limited. Therefore, this research aimed to study the reef` condition and rugosity in Pemuteran waters, also to examine the correlation between reefs fishes and reefs rugosity in this area. There were four stations according to purposive sampling method. Data of corallivorous and herbivorous fishes were collected by using the underwater visual census with a 40 m2 transect. Reef rugosity index were determined by using chain transect method. Results showed that reef rugosity in Pemuteran waters was in the medium to high category. Reef rugosity has strong correlation with the total abundance and diversity of corallivorous fishes. However, reef rugosity was only strong correlated with the total abundance but not with the diversity of herbivorous fishes.

scholarly journals Natural bounds on herbivorous coral reef fishes

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1843) ◽  
pp. 20161716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Heenan ◽  
Andrew S. Hoey ◽  
Gareth J. Williams ◽  
Ivor D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Western Pacific Ocean ◽  
Biological Communities ◽  
Opposing Effects ◽  
Ecosystem State

Humans are an increasingly dominant driver of Earth's biological communities, but differentiating human impacts from natural drivers of ecosystem state is crucial. Herbivorous fish play a key role in maintaining coral dominance on coral reefs, and are widely affected by human activities, principally fishing. We assess the relative importance of human and biophysical (habitat and oceanographic) drivers on the biomass of five herbivorous functional groups among 33 islands in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Human impacts were clear for some, but not all, herbivore groups. Biomass of browsers, large excavators, and of all herbivores combined declined rapidly with increasing human population density, whereas grazers, scrapers, and detritivores displayed no relationship. Sea-surface temperature had significant but opposing effects on the biomass of detritivores (positive) and browsers (negative). Similarly, the biomass of scrapers, grazers, and detritivores correlated with habitat structural complexity; however, relationships were group specific. Finally, the biomass of browsers and large excavators was related to island geomorphology, both peaking on low-lying islands and atolls. The substantial variability in herbivore populations explained by natural biophysical drivers highlights the need for locally appropriate management targets on coral reefs.

scholarly journals Sediment suppresses herbivory across a coral reef depth gradient

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1016-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher H. R. Goatley ◽  
David R. Bellwood
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Reef Crest ◽  
Depth Gradient ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Natural Sediment ◽  
Fish Feeding ◽  
Sediment Loads

Sediments are a ubiquitous feature of all coral reefs, yet our understanding of how they affect complex ecological processes on coral reefs is limited. Sediment in algal turfs has been shown to suppress herbivory by coral reef fishes on high-sediment, low-herbivory reef flats. Here, we investigate the role of sediment in suppressing herbivory across a depth gradient (reef base, crest and flat) by observing fish feeding following benthic sediment reductions. We found that sediment suppresses herbivory across all reef zones. Even slight reductions on the reef crest, which has 35 times less sediment than the reef flat, resulted in over 1800 more herbivore bites (h −1 m −2 ). The Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes) were responsible for over 80 per cent of all bites observed, and on the reef crest and flat took over 1500 more bites (h −1 m −2 ) when sediment load was reduced. These findings highlight the role of natural sediment loads in shaping coral reef herbivory and suggest that changes in benthic sediment loads could directly impair reef resilience.

Prominence of environmental and anthropogenic agents on the occurrence of coral reef bleaching syndrome and coral diseases

2024 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 6139-2024
Author(s):  
MICHAŁ SCHULZ ◽  
ALEKSANDRA ŁOŚ ◽  
PATRYCJA SKOWRONEK ◽  
ANETA STRACHECKA
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Coral Diseases ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats ◽  
Negative Factors ◽  
Main Relationship

Coral reefs are the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They ensure the conservation of biodiversity and are a live habitat for 25% of all marine organisms. The main relationship on the coral reef is the symbiosis between corals and algae from the genus Symbiodinium (commonly called zooxanthellae). The authors of this publication have characterized and described the factors limiting the occurrence of coral reefs, including: water temperature, salinity, access to sunlight, contamination, physicochemical and hydromechanical parameters of water. Moreover anthropogenic threats to coral reefs have been specified, including diving tourism, ecological disasters (e.g. oil spills) and the development of marine aquaristics. Rapid changes in the basic living conditions are dangerous for corals and their symbionts and may cause the unsuitability of the new environment resulting in diseases such as coral bleaching. Corals bleaching is a disease associated with the break of the coral and algae relationship which results in a coral reef death on a global scale. Awareness of these negative factors, often related to human activity, may allow us to better understand the ecological processes that are the basis of reef functioning and might enable us to prevent and oppose to the changes and ecological recessions of coral reefs.

scholarly journals The Mauritius Oil Spill: What’s Next?

Pollutants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-28
Author(s):  
Davide Seveso ◽  
Yohan Didier Louis ◽  
Simone Montano ◽  
Paolo Galli ◽  
Francesco Saliu
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Biological Impact ◽  
Marine Oil ◽  
Restoration Techniques

In light of the recent marine oil spill that occurred off the coast of Mauritius (Indian Ocean), we comment here the incident, the containment method used by the local population, the biological impact of oil spill on two sensitive tropical marine ecosystems (coral reefs and mangrove forests), and we suggest monitoring and restoration techniques of the impacted ecosystems based on recent research advancements.

scholarly journals Bioinvasions of the Medfly Ceratitis capitata: Source Estimation Using DNA Sequences at Multiple Intron Loci

Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Davies ◽  
Francis X Villablanca ◽  
George K Roderick
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Ceratitis Capitata ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
The Status ◽  
Considerable Controversy ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
Traditional Population

Abstract The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a devastating agricultural pest that threatens to become established in vulnerable areas such as California and Florida. Considerable controversy surrounds the status of Californian medfly infestations: Do they represent repeated introductions or the persistence of a resident population? Attempts to resolve this question using traditional population genetic markers and statistical methods are problematic because the most likely source populations in Latin America were themselves only recently colonized and are genetically very similar. Here, significant population structure among several New World medfly populations is demonstrated through the analysis of DNA sequence variation at four intron loci. Surprisingly, in these newly founded populations, estimates of population structure increase when measures of subdivision take into account the relatedness of alleles as well as their frequency. A nonequilibrium, likelihood-based statistical test that utilizes multilocus genotypes suggests that the sole medfly captured in California during 1996 was introduced from Latin America and was less likely to be a remnant of an ancestral Californian population. Many bioinvasions are hierarchical in nature, consisting of several sequential or overlapping invasion events, the totality of which can be termed a metainvasion. Phylogenetic data from multilocus DNA sequences will be vital to understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that underlie metainvasions and to resolving their constituent levels.

scholarly journals Multilocus genotyping reveals high heterogeneity and strong local population structure of the Plasmodium vivax population in the Peruvian Amazon

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Van den Eede ◽  
Gert Van der Auwera ◽  
Christopher Delgado ◽  
Tine Huyse ◽  
Veronica E Soto-Calle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Plasmodium Vivax ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Peruvian Amazon ◽  
Multilocus Genotyping ◽  
Vivax Population

scholarly journals Can we measure beauty? Computational evaluation of coral reef aesthetics

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas F. Haas ◽  
Marine Guibert ◽  
Anja Foerschner ◽  
Tim Co ◽  
Sandi Calhoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Monitoring Tool ◽  
Photographic Images ◽  
Aesthetic Appearance ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Monitoring Protocols ◽  
Aesthetic Values

The natural beauty of coral reefs attracts millions of tourists worldwide resulting in substantial revenues for the adjoining economies. Although their visual appearance is a pivotal factor attracting humans to coral reefs current monitoring protocols exclusively target biogeochemical parameters, neglecting changes in their aesthetic appearance. Here we introduce a standardized computational approach to assess coral reef environments based on 109 visual features designed to evaluate the aesthetic appearance of art. The main feature groups include color intensity and diversity of the image, relative size, color, and distribution of discernable objects within the image, and texture. Specific coral reef aesthetic values combining all 109 features were calibrated against an established biogeochemical assessment (NCEAS) using machine learning algorithms. These values were generated for ∼2,100 random photographic images collected from 9 coral reef locations exposed to varying levels of anthropogenic influence across 2 ocean systems. Aesthetic values proved accurate predictors of the NCEAS scores (root mean square error < 5 forN≥ 3) and significantly correlated to microbial abundance at each site. This shows that mathematical approaches designed to assess the aesthetic appearance of photographic images can be used as an inexpensive monitoring tool for coral reef ecosystems. It further suggests that human perception of aesthetics is not purely subjective but influenced by inherent reactions towards measurable visual cues. By quantifying aesthetic features of coral reef systems this method provides a cost efficient monitoring tool that targets one of the most important socioeconomic values of coral reefs directly tied to revenue for its local population.

scholarly journals Coral species composition drives key ecosystem function on coral reefs

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1921) ◽  
pp. 20192214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E. Richardson ◽  
Nicholas A. J. Graham ◽  
Andrew S. Hoey
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Algal Turf ◽  
Benthic Assemblages ◽  
Ecosystem Recovery ◽  
Visual Occlusion

Rapid and unprecedented ecological change threatens the functioning and stability of ecosystems. On coral reefs, global climate change and local stressors are reducing and reorganizing habitat-forming corals and associated species, with largely unknown implications for critical ecosystem functions such as herbivory. Herbivory mediates coral–algal competition, thereby facilitating ecosystem recovery following disturbance such as coral bleaching events or large storms. However, relationships between coral species composition, the distribution of herbivorous fishes and the delivery of their functional impact are not well understood. Here, we investigate how herbivorous fish assemblages and delivery of two distinct herbivory processes, grazing and browsing, differ among three taxonomically distinct, replicated coral habitats. While grazing on algal turf assemblages was insensitive to different coral configurations, browsing on the macroalga Laurencia cf. obtusa varied considerably among habitats, suggesting that different mechanisms may shape these processes. Variation in browsing among habitats was best predicted by the composition and structural complexity of benthic assemblages (in particular the cover and composition of corals, but not macroalgal cover), and was poorly reflected by visual estimates of browser biomass. Surprisingly, the lowest browsing rates were recorded in the most structurally complex habitat, with the greatest cover of coral (branching Porites habitat). While the mechanism for the variation in browsing is not clear, it may be related to scale-dependent effects of habitat structure on visual occlusion inhibiting foraging activity by browsing fishes, or the relative availability of alternate dietary resources. Our results suggest that maintained functionality may vary among distinct and emerging coral reef configurations due to ecological interactions between reef fishes and their environment determining habitat selection.

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