scholarly journals Biological controls to manage Acropora-eating flatworms in coral aquaculture

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Barton ◽  
C Humphrey ◽  
DG Bourne ◽  
KS Hutson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Host ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Egg Capsules ◽  
Peppermint Shrimp ◽  
Polyclad Flatworms ◽  
Ornamental Trade

Coral aquaculture is expanding to supply the marine ornamental trade and active coral reef restoration. A common pest of Acropora corals is the Acropora-eating flatworm Prosthiostomum acroporae, which can cause colonial mortality at high infestation densities on Acropora spp. We investigated the potential of 2 biological control organisms in marine aquaria for the control of P. acroporae infestations. A. millepora fragments infested with adult polyclad flatworms (5 flatworms fragment-1) or single egg clusters laid on Acropora skeleton were cohabited with either sixline wrasse Pseudocheilinus hexataenia or the peppermint shrimp Lysmata vittata and compared to a control (i.e. no predator) to assess their ability to consume P. acroporae at different life stages over 24 h. P. hexataenia consumed 100% of adult flatworms from A. millepora fragments (n = 9; 5 flatworms fragment-1), while L. vittata consumed 82.0 ± 26.76% of adult flatworms (mean ± SD; n = 20). Pseudocheilinus hexataenia did not consume any Prosthiostomum acroporae egg capsules, while L. vittata consumed 63.67 ± 43.48% (n = 20) of egg capsules on the Acropora skeletons. Mean handling losses in controls were 5.83% (shrimp system) and 7.50% (fish system) of flatworms and 2.39% (fish system) and 7.50% (shrimp system) of egg capsules. Encounters between L. vittata and P. hexataenia result in predation of P. acroporae on an Acropora coral host and represent viable biological controls for reducing infestations of P. acroporae in aquaculture systems.

Optimizing industrial-scale coral reef restoration: comparing harvesting wild coral spawn slicks and transplanting gravid adult colonies

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 758-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Doropoulos ◽  
Jesper Elzinga ◽  
Remment ter Hofstede ◽  
Mark van Koningsveld ◽  
Russell C. Babcock
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Industrial Scale ◽  
Reef Restoration

Predation on a newly-stocked long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) by the batwing coral crab (Carpilius corallinus) on a coral reef restoration site

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C Sharp ◽  
Brian A Reckenbeil
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Reef Site ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Restoration Site

This photograph documents a batwing coral crab (Carpilius corallinus) preying on the sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) on a coral reef site enhanced with artificial shelter and staghorn coral. This interaction illustrates an interaction that to be better understood to develop a restoration strategy that harnesses positive ecological processes.

Mitigating Impacts of Natural Hazards on Fishery Ecosystems

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Ecosystem Goods And Services ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Land Use Decisions ◽  
Management Advice

<em>Abstract</em>.—The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami left a vast amount of destruction in its wake on land and in the sea. About 60% of coral reefs in the affected areas of Thailand were damaged, at least in the shallowest 10–20-m (33–66-ft) depth zones. Many damaged reef, beach, and mangrove areas in Thailand and Sri Lanka were high value tourist attractions or provided other important ecosystem goods and services. We were part of a fortuitous partnership of people with experience in reef restoration, coral reef science, marine debris removal, construction, professional scuba diving, business, marketing, and environmental nongovernmental organizations. We helped organize and fund multiple restoration and cleanup projects that restored damaged and detached sea fans in Similan Islands Marine National Park, restored hard corals, removed more than 453.59 metric tons of marine debris, and provided sustainable management advice to local stakeholders and decision makers. We later became involved in advising emergency management agencies on disaster preparedness and response. We use our reef-dominated experiences as a case study to suggest broader lessons learned for natural scientists to be involved in, and for emergency managers to consider, for mitigating and planning for future natural disaster impacts on fishery ecosystems. We also provide some coral-reef specific lessons regarding reattachment of large sea fans, triaging and organizing large-scale volunteer marine debris recovery, and other coral ecosystem restoration efforts. We argue that “natural” disasters can cause significant damage to reefs and other ecosystems and that much damage results from human sources that are not natural and can be mitigated or prevented (such as siting and land-use decisions that lead to debris affecting reefs). Thus, we disagree with those who say natural events like hurricanes or tsunamis “are not appropriate for reef restoration” (Precht 2006; Symons et al. 2006). Further, governments need to recognize the economic and inherent values of ecosystem goods and services in natural disaster response legislation and policies (e.g., The Stafford Act in the United States) to improve outcomes for society. We also argue that ecosystem advocates need to adopt the language of emergency management.

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