Utilisation of Titanium and Titanium Dioxide as Scaffolds for Proliferating Coral Reef

2021 ◽  
Vol 1016 ◽  
pp. 1497-1502
Author(s):  
Masato Ueda ◽  
Chihiro Sawatari ◽  
Tomoyuki Takahashi ◽  
Hiroaki Tsuruta ◽  
Hidenobu Tokushige ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Artificial Seawater ◽  
Inorganic Substance ◽  
Restoration Techniques ◽  
Surface Modified ◽  
Dioxide Film ◽  
Planula Larva

Estimated 30 percent or more of coral reefs are now in danger of extinction by coastal construction increases and global temperatures rise. Several restoration techniques such as fragmentation, forming, Biorock have been developed in the past few years. In vertebrates such as mammals, osteoblast is known to form the bones composed of hydroxyapatite. Therefore, bone substitutional devices are generally surface modified to improve the adhesion of osteoblasts on the surfaces. Titanium dioxide film is often employed as the surface material for hard tissue substitutes made of titanium and its alloys. In hard corals, on the other hand, the soft tissue covered on the skeletons made of calcium carbonate has osteoblasts as well. The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential of titanium (Ti) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) as scaffolds for proliferating coral reefs by analysing the several interfacial reactions. The rods of pure Ti were anodised in aqueous phosphoric acid at a constant voltage of 80 V. The surfaces were confirmed to be anatase type TiO2. The coral fragments were kept in contact with the rods in a lab-scale aquarium with artificial seawater for several days. The colony of polyps vigorously expanded on the surfaces. Fragments of coral were placed on pure Ti, TiO2 coated pure Ti in Petri dishes and were reared in artificial seawater. Fine spherical precipitates of calcium carbonate with aragonite structure, which is the same inorganic substance as corals, were observed radially and regularly on the surfaces of TiO2. In addition, the adherence of planula larva to the sputtered TiO2 film was observed by using a QCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance) method. The approach and adhesion of planula larva to the surface could be detected by monitoring the resonance frequency and resistance. The surfaces might have a great potential in coral reef regenerations.

scholarly journals Global declines in coral reef calcium carbonate production under ocean acidification and warming

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. e2015265118
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Cornwall ◽  
Steeve Comeau ◽  
Niklas A. Kornder ◽  
Chris T. Perry ◽  
Ruben van Hooidonk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Scale Effects ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Ocean Warming ◽  
Carbonate Production ◽  
Near Term

Ocean warming and acidification threaten the future growth of coral reefs. This is because the calcifying coral reef taxa that construct the calcium carbonate frameworks and cement the reef together are highly sensitive to ocean warming and acidification. However, the global-scale effects of ocean warming and acidification on rates of coral reef net carbonate production remain poorly constrained despite a wealth of studies assessing their effects on the calcification of individual organisms. Here, we present global estimates of projected future changes in coral reef net carbonate production under ocean warming and acidification. We apply a meta-analysis of responses of coral reef taxa calcification and bioerosion rates to predicted changes in coral cover driven by climate change to estimate the net carbonate production rates of 183 reefs worldwide by 2050 and 2100. We forecast mean global reef net carbonate production under representative concentration pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 will decline by 76, 149, and 156%, respectively, by 2100. While 63% of reefs are projected to continue to accrete by 2100 under RCP2.6, 94% will be eroding by 2050 under RCP8.5, and no reefs will continue to accrete at rates matching projected sea level rise under RCP4.5 or 8.5 by 2100. Projected reduced coral cover due to bleaching events predominately drives these declines rather than the direct physiological impacts of ocean warming and acidification on calcification or bioerosion. Presently degraded reefs were also more sensitive in our analysis. These findings highlight the low likelihood that the world’s coral reefs will maintain their functional roles without near-term stabilization of atmospheric CO2 emissions.

Factors Affecting Coral Recruitment and Calcium Carbonate Accretion Rates on a Central Pacific Coral Reef

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Franziska Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Benthic Community ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Benthic Organisms ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Accretion Rates

<p>Coral recruitment and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) accretion are fundamental processes that help maintain coral reefs. Many reefs worldwide have experienced degradation, including a decrease in coral cover and biodiversity. Successful coral recruitment helps degraded reefs to recover, while CaCO₃ accretion by early successional benthic organisms maintains the topographic complexity of a coral reef system. It is therefore important to understand the processes that affect coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion rates in order to understand how coral reefs recover from disturbances.  The aim of this thesis was to determine how biophysical forcing factors affect coral recruitment, calcification and bioerosion on a pristine coral reef. I used artificial settlement tiles to measure coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion at ten sites (four on the fore reef, four on the Western Reef Terrace and two at the Entrance Channel) at Palmyra Atoll. Fungia skeletons and pieces of dead coral rock were used to measure bioerosion rates, which were combined with the CaCO₃ accretion rates to obtain a net CaCO₃ budget of the reef substratum. Interactions between coral recruits and other benthic organisms on the settlement tiles were recorded to determine the settlement preferences and competitive strength of coral recruits. The settlement preference of Pocillopora damicornis for divots shaped like steephead and bumphead parrotfish bites marks was determined by adding P. damicornis larvae to a container with a settlement tile with the aforementioned divots.  I found that coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion are influenced by biophysical forcing factors. Most pocilloporids likely recruit close to their parents while the origin of poritid larvae is much more distant. Pocilloporid recruitment rates were also significantly correlated with the successional stage of the benthic community on the settlement tiles, especially the cover of biofilm and bryozoa. Biofilm and crustose coralline algae (CCA) were preferred as settlement substrata by coral larvae, however both pocilloporids and poritids settled on a large number of different benthic substrata. P. damicornis larvae showed a significant settlement preference for divots shaped like parrotfish bite marks over a flat settlement surface. Coral recruits were good competitors against encrusting algae but were often outcompeted by filamentous and upright algae. Settlement tiles were almost entirely colonised by benthic organisms within three to twelve months of deployment. The mass of CaCO₃ deposited onto the settlement tiles negatively correlated with herbivore grazing pressure on the benthic community. Bioerosion rates within pieces of coral (internal bioerosion) increased over time but overall bioerosion rates (internal and external) rarely exceeded CaCO₃ deposition by CCA.  My results show how variability in biophysical forcing factors leads to natural variation in coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion. This thesis highlights the importance of measuring herbivore grazing, CCA and turf algae cover to gain a better understanding of reef resilience. I conclude that models constructed for Caribbean reefs may not be suited to predict resilience in Pacific reefs and that within the Pacific, two different kinds of resilience models need to be constructed, one for human-inhabited coral reefs and one for uninhabited coral reefs.</p>

Review Lecture - Living corals

1968 ◽  
Vol 169 (1017) ◽  
pp. 329-344 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Living Coral ◽  
Precise Nature ◽  
Functional Aspects

Coral reefs have a dramatic impact owing to their frequent vast extent; above sea level they may form the basis of inhabited islands while below the surface they constitute major hazards to navigation. Perhaps for this reason the precise nature of the animals primarily responsible for their creation tends to be overlooked. Literature on the ‘coral reef problem a matter of primarily geological and geographical concern, is far greater than that on corals themselves. It is as though these animals have become buried under the vast mass of the skeletons they secrete, of the calcium carbonate they extract from the sea to convert into aragonite. Perhaps even the beauty of living coral colonies distracts from consideration of the animal itself. In the hope of in some measure correcting the balance, this lecture is concerned solely with the animal, in particular with the functional aspects of structure together with development and ecology, all viewed from a broadly evolutionary standpoint.

Factors Affecting Coral Recruitment and Calcium Carbonate Accretion Rates on a Central Pacific Coral Reef

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Franziska Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Benthic Community ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Benthic Organisms ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Accretion Rates

<p>Coral recruitment and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) accretion are fundamental processes that help maintain coral reefs. Many reefs worldwide have experienced degradation, including a decrease in coral cover and biodiversity. Successful coral recruitment helps degraded reefs to recover, while CaCO₃ accretion by early successional benthic organisms maintains the topographic complexity of a coral reef system. It is therefore important to understand the processes that affect coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion rates in order to understand how coral reefs recover from disturbances.  The aim of this thesis was to determine how biophysical forcing factors affect coral recruitment, calcification and bioerosion on a pristine coral reef. I used artificial settlement tiles to measure coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion at ten sites (four on the fore reef, four on the Western Reef Terrace and two at the Entrance Channel) at Palmyra Atoll. Fungia skeletons and pieces of dead coral rock were used to measure bioerosion rates, which were combined with the CaCO₃ accretion rates to obtain a net CaCO₃ budget of the reef substratum. Interactions between coral recruits and other benthic organisms on the settlement tiles were recorded to determine the settlement preferences and competitive strength of coral recruits. The settlement preference of Pocillopora damicornis for divots shaped like steephead and bumphead parrotfish bites marks was determined by adding P. damicornis larvae to a container with a settlement tile with the aforementioned divots.  I found that coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion are influenced by biophysical forcing factors. Most pocilloporids likely recruit close to their parents while the origin of poritid larvae is much more distant. Pocilloporid recruitment rates were also significantly correlated with the successional stage of the benthic community on the settlement tiles, especially the cover of biofilm and bryozoa. Biofilm and crustose coralline algae (CCA) were preferred as settlement substrata by coral larvae, however both pocilloporids and poritids settled on a large number of different benthic substrata. P. damicornis larvae showed a significant settlement preference for divots shaped like parrotfish bite marks over a flat settlement surface. Coral recruits were good competitors against encrusting algae but were often outcompeted by filamentous and upright algae. Settlement tiles were almost entirely colonised by benthic organisms within three to twelve months of deployment. The mass of CaCO₃ deposited onto the settlement tiles negatively correlated with herbivore grazing pressure on the benthic community. Bioerosion rates within pieces of coral (internal bioerosion) increased over time but overall bioerosion rates (internal and external) rarely exceeded CaCO₃ deposition by CCA.  My results show how variability in biophysical forcing factors leads to natural variation in coral recruitment and CaCO₃ accretion. This thesis highlights the importance of measuring herbivore grazing, CCA and turf algae cover to gain a better understanding of reef resilience. I conclude that models constructed for Caribbean reefs may not be suited to predict resilience in Pacific reefs and that within the Pacific, two different kinds of resilience models need to be constructed, one for human-inhabited coral reefs and one for uninhabited coral reefs.</p>

Preparation and properties of a long time durable superhydrophilic titanium dioxide film obtained by a sol-gel process

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85
Author(s):  
Jianjun Zhang ◽  
Hao Zeng ◽  
Chun Liu ◽  
Chao Li ◽  
Sude Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Titanium Dioxide Film ◽  
Sol Gel Process ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Dioxide Film

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 Turbid Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future—A Review

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Adi Zweifler (Zvifler) ◽  
Michael O’Leary ◽  
Kyle Morgan ◽  
Nicola K. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Reef Complex ◽  
Sediment Input

Increasing evidence suggests that coral reefs exposed to elevated turbidity may be more resilient to climate change impacts and serve as an important conservation hotspot. However, logistical difficulties in studying turbid environments have led to poor representation of these reef types within the scientific literature, with studies using different methods and definitions to characterize turbid reefs. Here we review the geological origins and growth histories of turbid reefs from the Holocene (past), their current ecological and environmental states (present), and their potential responses and resilience to increasing local and global pressures (future). We classify turbid reefs using new descriptors based on their turbidity regime (persistent, fluctuating, transitional) and sources of sediment input (natural versus anthropogenic). Further, by comparing the composition, function and resilience of two of the most studied turbid reefs, Paluma Shoals Reef Complex, Australia (natural turbidity) and Singapore reefs (anthropogenic turbidity), we found them to be two distinct types of turbid reefs with different conservation status. As the geographic range of turbid reefs is expected to increase due to local and global stressors, improving our understanding of their responses to environmental change will be central to global coral reef conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Stokes drift through corals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Webber ◽  
Herbert E. Huppert
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Porous Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fluid Layer ◽  
Ocean Waves ◽  
Stokes Drift ◽  
Inviscid Fluid ◽  
Porous Bed ◽  
Vertical Drift

AbstractMotivated by shallow ocean waves propagating over coral reefs, we investigate the drift velocities due to surface wave motion in an effectively inviscid fluid that overlies a saturated porous bed of finite depth. Previous work in this area either neglects the large-scale flow between layers (Phillips in Flow and reactions in permeable rocks, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1991) or only considers the drift above the porous layer (Monismith in Ann Rev Fluid Mech 39:37–55, 2007). Overcoming these limitations, we propose a model where flow is described by a velocity potential above the porous layer and by Darcy’s law in the porous bed, with derived matching conditions at the interface between the two layers. Both a horizontal and a novel vertical drift effect arise from the damping of the porous bed, which requires the use of a complex wavenumber k. This is in contrast to the purely horizontal second-order drift first derived by Stokes (Trans Camb Philos Soc 8:441–455, 1847) when working with solely a pure fluid layer. Our work provides a physical model for coral reefs in shallow seas, where fluid drift both above and within the reef is vitally important for maintaining a healthy reef ecosystem (Koehl et al. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, vol 2, pp 1087–1092, 1997; Monismith in Ann Rev Fluid Mech 39:37–55, 2007). We compare our model with field measurements by Koehl and Hadfield (J Mar Syst 49:75–88, 2004) and also explain the vertical drift effects as documented by Koehl et al. (Mar Ecol Prog Ser 335:1–18, 2007), who measured the exchange between a coral reef layer and the (relatively shallow) sea above.

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