The Probability of an Unrecoverable Coral Community in Dongsha Atoll Marine National Park Due to Recurrent Disturbances

In recent decades, coral reefs worldwide have been impacted annually by climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Marine parks are utilized to protect coral reef ecosystems and to ensure it is in sustainable use. In the present study, a 15-year change in coverage and composition of a hard coral community at Dongsha Atoll Marine National Park (DAMNP) was examined from 2005 to 2019. The reef has experienced several disturbances, including 11 typhoons and six coral bleaching events. A 34.39% decline in coral coverage had been recorded over the past 15 years in response to multiple and recurrent natural disturbances. The coral communities and functional ecology of the Dongsha Atoll changed during this period. The average dissimilarities in coral communities ranged from 55.38 to 59.02%. The dramatic decrease in the abundance of branching corals in addition to a slight increase in massive and encrusting corals suggest the habitat has simplified. The degraded coral reef communities represent a low resilience ecosystem, even though the DAMNP has been established. Without effective management, the coral reef ecosystem of the Dongsha Atoll may not persist due to repeated impacts from recurrent disturbances.

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Effects of terrestrial runoff on the coral communities in Santiago Bay, Colima, Mexican Pacific Coast

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v64i3.21817 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marco Agustín Liñán-Cabello ◽

Aramis Olivos-Ortiz ◽

Sonia Quijano-Scheggia ◽

Daniela Muñiz Anguiano ◽

María Luisa Reséndiz-Flores ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Pacific Coast ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Coral Community ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Mexican Pacific ◽

The Status ◽

Coral Communities ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽

Coral Health

Coral reef ecosystems are under stress of different origins, from factors including sedimentation, fragmentation, overfishing, and tourism, depending on their geographical location, depth, and proximity to recreation areas. In this study of Juluapan Lagoon, we examined the relationship between various water-quality attributes and the status indicators of the coral community at La Boquita reef. During 2011 (12 months of sampling), six monitoring stations in the Juluapan lagoon were established in order to observe the gradient of the distribution of the physicochemical parameters: three stations on the upper part, or BI, (S4 to S6) and three more in the lower part, or BII, (S1 to S3). A control station (CS) was located in the coral reef close to the lagoon channel, and where dissolved inorganic nutrients and cellular carbon content were determined. Additionally, we considered the monitoring of three of the eight largest coral structures/headlands of this community: the first was the station closest to the channel communicating with Juluapan lagoon (C1), the second was in the intermediate region with respect to that lagoon (C2), and the third was farthest from the channel (C3). Three line intercept transects (LIT) 30 m in length and perpendicular to the coast provenance were established in each station, and the parameters indicative of the status of corals were evaluated in an area of 60 m2 on each transect (180 m2 by the station). Turbidity, evidence of fishing, signs of settling, algal coverage, abundance of fish, rate of sediment, and coral health records (as for CoralWach chart) were determined in situ and from digital photographs and videos. Considering various community status indicators used in the reef area, we could recognize a state of general deterioration, which was reflected in the loss of 17 % of coral coverage. The main anthropogenic disturbances in adjacent areas to La Boquita reef included wastewater discharges into the lagoon, tourist developments in the coastal zone, deforestation and erosion resulting from inappropriate development, and the runoff of nutrients from agricultural lands nearby the lagoon. All these significantly contributed to the nutrient-enriched waters of the lagoon, especially in summer, with negative effects on the coral community. Continued exposure to these factors, coupled with the lack of control over other anthropogenic components, has promoted the maintenance of a chronic stress state in the studied coral community. Our findings highlight the need for the development of appropriate coastal management and conservation policies for the coral reefs of the Mexican Pacific Coast.

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Changes in coral reef communities across a natural gradient in seawater pH

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.1500328 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 (5) ◽

pp. e1500328 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Hannah C. Barkley ◽

Anne L. Cohen ◽

Yimnang Golbuu ◽

Victoria R. Starczak ◽

Thomas M. DeCarlo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Ocean Acidification ◽

Benthic Communities ◽

Coral Community ◽

Low Ph ◽

Coralline Algae ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Skeletal Density ◽

Coral Communities ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems

Ocean acidification threatens the survival of coral reef ecosystems worldwide. The negative effects of ocean acidification observed in many laboratory experiments have been seen in studies of naturally low-pH reefs, with little evidence to date for adaptation. Recently, we reported initial data suggesting that low-pH coral communities of the Palau Rock Islands appear healthy despite the extreme conditions in which they live. Here, we build on that observation with a comprehensive statistical analysis of benthic communities across Palau’s natural acidification gradient. Our analysis revealed a shift in coral community composition but no impact of acidification on coral richness, coralline algae abundance, macroalgae cover, coral calcification, or skeletal density. However, coral bioerosion increased 11-fold as pH decreased from the barrier reefs to the Rock Island bays. Indeed, a comparison of the naturally low-pH coral reef systems studied so far revealed increased bioerosion to be the only consistent feature among them, as responses varied across other indices of ecosystem health. Our results imply that whereas community responses may vary, escalation of coral reef bioerosion and acceleration of a shift from net accreting to net eroding reef structures will likely be a global signature of ocean acidification.

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Divergence of seafloor elevation and sea level rise in coral reef ecosystems

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-14-1739-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 1739-1772 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Kimberly K. Yates ◽

David G. Zawada ◽

Nathan A. Smiley ◽

Ginger Tiling-Range

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Coastal Hazards ◽

Carbonate Production ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽

Study Sites

Abstract. Coral reefs serve as natural barriers that protect adjacent shorelines from coastal hazards such as storms, waves, and erosion. Projections indicate global degradation of coral reefs due to anthropogenic impacts and climate change will cause a transition to net erosion by mid-century. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the combined effect of all of the processes affecting seafloor accretion and erosion by measuring changes in seafloor elevation and volume for five coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean over the last several decades. Regional-scale mean elevation and volume losses were observed at all five study sites and in 77 % of the 60 individual habitats that we examined across all study sites. Mean seafloor elevation losses for whole coral reef ecosystems in our study ranged from −0.09 to −0.8 m, corresponding to net volume losses ranging from 3.4  ×  106 to 80.5  ×  106 m3 for all study sites. Erosion of both coral-dominated substrate and non-coral substrate suggests that the current rate of carbonate production is no longer sufficient to support net accretion of coral reefs or adjacent habitats. We show that regional-scale loss of seafloor elevation and volume has accelerated the rate of relative sea level rise in these regions. Current water depths have increased to levels not predicted until near the year 2100, placing these ecosystems and nearby communities at elevated and accelerating risk to coastal hazards. Our results set a new baseline for projecting future impacts to coastal communities resulting from degradation of coral reef systems and associated losses of natural and socioeconomic resources.

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Coral reef diversity losses in China’s Greater Bay Area were driven by regional stressors

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abb1046 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (40) ◽

pp. eabb1046

Author(s):

Jonathan D. Cybulski ◽

Stefan M. Husa ◽

Nicolas N. Duprey ◽

Briony L. Mamo ◽

Toby P. N. Tsang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Inorganic Nitrogen ◽

Species Dominance ◽

Critical Gap ◽

The Past ◽

Bay Area ◽

Poor Water Quality ◽

Coral Communities ◽

And Function

Observations of coral reef losses to climate change far exceed our understanding of historical degradation before anthropogenic warming. This is a critical gap to fill as conservation efforts simultaneously work to reverse climate change while restoring coral reef diversity and function. Here, we focused on southern China’s Greater Bay Area, where coral communities persist despite centuries of coral mining, fishing, dredging, development, and pollution. We compared subfossil assemblages with modern-day communities and revealed a 40% decrease in generic diversity, concomitant to a shift from competitive to stress-tolerant species dominance since the mid-Holocene. Regions with characteristically poor water quality—high chl-a, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and turbidity—had lower contemporary diversity and the greatest community composition shift observed in the past, driven by the near extirpation of Acropora. These observations highlight the urgent need to mitigate local stressors from development in concert with curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Kelimpahan Mikroplastik Pada Sedimen Ekosistem Terumbu di Taman Nasional Laut Karimunjawa

Jurnal Kelautan Tropis ◽

10.14710/jkt.v24i1.9865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Sakti Imam Muchlissin ◽

Prastyo Abi Widyananto ◽

Agus Sabdono ◽

Ocky Karna Radjasa

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

National Park ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Initial Step ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Marine Biotechnology ◽

Purposive Sampling ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽

The Impact

Eleven billion microplastic particles are entangled in coral reef ecosystems in the Asia - Pacific Region. The presence of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems in Indonesia, especially in the Karimunjawa Marine National Park, was found as many as 22.7 and 12.8 particles / kilogram samples in two locations. The presence of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems allows threats to the health of coral reefs. Therefore, the importance of this study is to complement the data on the distribution of microplastics in the Karimunjawa Marine National Park as an initial step for conservation and mitigation of the impact of plastic/ microplastic pollution. Sampling using purposive sampling method. Sediment collection using SCUBA set and sediment grab at a depth of 3 - 5 meters. ± 1000 g of sediment was taken and stored in double zip lock plastic. The samples were then analyzed by microplastics in the Tropical Marine Biotechnology Laboratory, FPIK UNDIP. The results showed that the greatest abundance of microplastics was in the Karang Tengah area with the number of microplastics 96 particles / kilogram, and the farthest in the Ujung Gelam and Lego was 11 particles / kilogram. Research shows that the abundance of microplastics in areas with human activities such as tourism, ports, and boat routes has a high abundance compared to conservation areas or areas with little human activity. It is hoped that the available data from this type of research will be able to produce decisions on conservation measures in Karimunjawa Marine National Park. Sebelas miliar partikel mikroplastik terjerat pada ekosistem terumbu karang di Kawasan Asia – Pasifik. Keberadaan mikroplastik pada ekosistem terumbu karang di Indonesia, khususnya di Taman Nasional Laut Karimunjawa, ditemukan sebanyak 22,7 dan 12,8 partikel/kilogram sampel di dua lokasi. Keberadaan mikroplastik di ekosistem terumbu karang memungkinkan adanya ancaman terhadap kesehatan terumbu karang. Oleh karena itu pentingnya penelitian ini untuk melengkapi data sebaran mikroplastik di Kawasan Taman Nasional Laut Karimunjawa sebagai langkah awal konservasi dan mitigasi dari dampak polusi plastik/mikroplastik. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Pengambilan sedimen menggunakan SCUBA set dan sediment grab pada kedalaman 3 – 5 meter. Sedimen diambil ± 1000 gr dan disimpan dalam plastik double zip lock. Sampel kemudian dianalisis mikroplastik di laboratorium Tropical Marine Biotechnology, FPIK UNDIP. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa kelimpahan mikroplastik terbesar pada daerah karang tengah dengan jumlah mikroplastik 96 partikel/kilogram, dan terkecil pada perairan ujung gelam dan lego yaitu sebanyak 11 partikel/kilogram. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kelimpahan mikroplastik didaerah dengan aktivitas manusia seperti pariwisata, pelabuhan, dan jalur kapal memiliki kelimpahan tinggi dibanding dengan daerah konservasi atau daerah dengan aktivitas manusia yang kecil. diharapkan dengan data yang tersedia dari penelitian sejenis ini, mampu menghasilkan keputusan terhadap langkah konservasi di Taman Nasional Laut Karimunjawa.

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Ecological Aspects of the Distribution of Reef Corals in the Netherlands Antilles

Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde ◽

10.1163/26660644-04502002 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 181-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Rolf P. M. Bak

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Growth Form ◽

Coral Species ◽

Water Movement ◽

General Pattern ◽

Coral Community ◽

Salinity Range ◽

Acropora Palmata ◽

Deep Reef ◽

Coral Communities

The vertical and horizontal patterns of the distribution of corals and coral reefs (to a depth of 90 m) are discussed in relation to the environmental factors: geomorphology of the bottom, available substrate, light, turbidity, sedimentation, water movement and temperature. There is a general pattern which is comparable to other well-developed Caribbean reefs. However, as in other areas variations are found, e.g. the depth and growth form of Acropora palmata will depend on the degree of exposure to water movement. There are strong correlations between the environmental variables and the occurrence of coral species and their growth form, the species composition of coral communities and the character of the coral reef. In some cases the relationship is not that obvious. The absence of Agaricia species at certain points along the coast of Aruba and the dominance of Sargassum on the deep bottom at some places along the windward coast of Curaçao is not yet explained. The relative importance of the different factors in an environmental setting is shown by a comparison of reef communities and reef habitats with a coral community of a muddy, shallow inland bay. The community of the bay consists, apart from the hardier coral species, of corals which are characteristic of the deep reef: Scolymia lacera, S. cubensis and Helioseris cucullata. These corals are adapted to sedimentation and low light intensities and are apparently able to withstand a temperature and salinity range much broader than that of their deep reef habitat. The paucity of corals and coral reef development around the islands of the Windward Group (deeper habitat included) can generally be explained by the morphology of the sea floor, the lack of suitable substrate and the effect of hurricanes. The exposed coasts of Saba and St. Eustatius, being virtually unexplored, may have richer coral growth. A new list of species of the Scleractinia of the Leeward and Windward groups, consisting of 57 species, is included.

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Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae)

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.8.e53712 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Benjamín Delgado-Pech ◽

Antonio Almazán-Becerril ◽

Jorge Peniche-Pérez ◽

José Adán Caballero-Vázquez

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Benthic Communities ◽

Animal Tissues ◽

The Past ◽

Fish Flesh ◽

Routine Monitoring ◽

Mexican Caribbean ◽

The Family ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems

The family Acanthuridae is a key component of coral reef ecosystems as it controls macroalgae biomass buildup. During routine monitoring of benthic communities in the Mexican Caribbean, we observed unusual behaviour of a group of Acanthurus chirurgus, which were feeding on a tuna head left on site by travel tour personnel. This phenomenon has been documented in other herbivorous fish species, especially in places where tourism is a major coastal activity. Although many Acanthurus seek additional sources of protein by feeding on detritus, it is unusual for them to feed directly on fish flesh. Acanthurus chirurgus will incorporate proteins from animal tissues whenever the opportunity arises. Such opportunities occurred rarely in the past, but have become more frequent recently, related to increasing tourism activities where flesh is used as bait to attract the surrounding fauna.

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Coral Reef Zone Analysis in Development of Segmentation Ecotourism in Karimunjawa National Park

Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research ◽

10.9734/ajfar/2019/v4i430062 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Aramita Livia Ardis ◽

Mega Laksmini Syamsudin ◽

Herman Hamdani ◽

Lantun Paradhita Dewanti

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Carrying Capacity ◽

National Park ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Remote Sensing Technology ◽

Sensing Technology ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems

Karimunjawa is one of the main destinations that present underwater beauty that is quite popular. But due to increased tourism activities provide economic benefits but also have a negative impact on coral reef ecosystems so that prudent and sustainable management is needed, these characteristics are felt capable of being helped by remote sensing technology. The purpose of this research is to analyze the coral reef zoning for the development of ecotourism segmentation and the carrying capacity of coral reef ecosystems and to map the condition of coral reef ecosystems in the Karimunjawa National Park area through remote sensing technology. The method used in data collection uses a survey method which is divided into 2 types in-situ conducted on 19th April 2019 to 2nd May 2019 and ex-situ taken for 4 years for coral cover and 1 year for sea surface temperature. By using quantitative descriptive analysis, land suitability results are obtained based on the land suitability index approach and the percentage of coral cover in determining the mapping of ecotourism segmentation areas. The results of this research show that through in-situ approach, data collection in three stations on Sintok and Menjangan Kecil Islands has good coral cover while Cemara Besar is damaged. The appropriate Tourism Conformity Index value is on Menjangan Kecil Island while the other two stations are not so that the carrying capacity calculation is only done on the appropriate and very appropriate island. Inversely proportional through the analysis of the Scenic Beauty Estimation value, Cemara Besar Island which shows a high value while on the Menjangan Kecil Island the lowest. Spatial analysis shows that the fluctuation in sea surface temperature during one year is not too significant and is still limited to the optimum temperature range for coral growth so that it does not affect the conditions causing damage to coral reefs, called bleaching. Looking at the distribution of coral reefs via satellite, over the past 4 years shows an increase in dead coral cover leaving 6,752,802 m2 in 2019.

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Coral Reef Cover and Diversity on Tinabo Besar Island, Taka Bonerate National Park, South Sulawesi

Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research ◽

10.9734/ajfar/2021/v12i130225 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 21-25

Author(s):

Ivan Aditama ◽

. Junianto

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Coral Reef ◽

National Park ◽

Average Percentage ◽

South Sulawesi ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽

Park Area ◽

Index Value ◽

Line Intercept

Research related to coral reef cover and diversity on Tinabo Besar Island was carried out in 2018, so it is necessary to conduct further research to determine the cover and diversity of coral reefs on Tinabo Besar Island in a sustainable manner (Time series) in order to improve the quality of coral reef ecosystems in the waters and management of national park area. This research was conducted from 9 July 2019 to 7 August 2019 at Taka Bonerate National Park, Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Location of data collection on Tinabo Besar Island. The data taken includes coral reef cover with 4 stations representing the wind directions, namely north, south, east, and west. Coral reef data were collected using the LIT (Line Intercept Transact) method. Based on the research results, it was concluded that the percentage of coral reef cover on the island of Tinabo Besar, Taka Bonerate National Park, South Sulawesi ranged from 25.80% to 45.80%. The diversity is in the medium category with the index value (H') ranging from 1 - 3 based on the Shannon - Wienner Index. The average percentage of life corals from the four stations is moderately damaged.

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Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in Seawater and Corals From Reef Region of Sanya Bay, China

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.728745 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Xinming Lei ◽

Hao Cheng ◽

Yong Luo ◽

Yuyang Zhang ◽

Lei Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Hainan Island ◽

Coral Community ◽

Coral Tissue ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Polyp Size ◽

Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽

Seawater Environment ◽

Sanya Bay

Microplastics (MPs) contamination is widespread in the coral reef ecosystems leading to the exposure of both corals and other biotas. Knowledge gaps still exist concerning patterns in MPs abundance spatially. This work quantified the MPs abundance and characteristics in the seawater and corals in the Sanya Bay, Hainan Island. MPs abundance was detected in the seawater and coral samples ranging from 15.50 to 22.14 items L–1, and 0.01 to 3.60 items polyp–1, respectively. We found the predominant size and type of MPs in seawater and corals were smaller than 2 mm and fiber. Further analysis revealed that the characteristics of MPs in the corals were significantly different from those in the seawater environment, indicating that the MPs are selectively enriched in corals. Furthermore, the MPs particles ingested and retained in coral tissue may be related to the polyp size. This study shows that MPs are present in the whole coral reef region and the coral community structure would be potentially harmed by these contaminants.

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