scholarly journals Assessing population changes of historically overexploited black corals (Order: Antipatharia) in Cozumel, Mexico

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Gress ◽  
Dominic A Andradi-Brown
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Population Changes ◽  
Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems ◽  
Juvenile Mortality ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
Cozumel Island ◽  
The Government

Black corals (Antipatharians) play a crucial structural and ecological role on many mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; reefs 30-150 m depth). In Mexico, black corals are harvested for the jewellery industry, which has historically led to populations depletion. Harvesting began in the early 1960s, and was concentrated around Cozumel Island until 1995. Here we compare populations between 1998 and 2016 for the two black coral species targeted by the jewellery industry. We found that densities of Plumapathes pennacea in 2016 are substantially lower than in 1998. However, the 2016 P. pennacea population has shifted to be dominated by larger colonies, suggesting disproportionate juvenile mortality or recruitment failure. No change in population density or colony size of Antipathes caribbeana was detected between 1998 and 2016. We advocate for the adequate protection of black corals in Mexico, and for the government to ensure sustainability of the harvesting before issuing future permits.

scholarly journals Assessing population changes of historically overexploited black corals (Order: Antipatharia) in Cozumel, Mexico

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Gress ◽  
Dominic A Andradi-Brown
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Population Changes ◽  
Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems ◽  
Juvenile Mortality ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
Cozumel Island ◽  
The Government

Black corals (Antipatharians) play a crucial structural and ecological role on many mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; reefs 30-150 m depth). In Mexico, black corals are harvested for the jewellery industry, which has historically led to populations depletion. Harvesting began in the early 1960s, and was concentrated around Cozumel Island until 1995. Here we compare populations between 1998 and 2016 for the two black coral species targeted by the jewellery industry. We found that densities of Plumapathes pennacea in 2016 are substantially lower than in 1998. However, the 2016 P. pennacea population has shifted to be dominated by larger colonies, suggesting disproportionate juvenile mortality or recruitment failure. No change in population density or colony size of Antipathes caribbeana was detected between 1998 and 2016. We advocate for the adequate protection of black corals in Mexico, and for the government to ensure sustainability of the harvesting before issuing future permits.

scholarly journals Assessing population changes of historically overexploited black corals (Order: Antipatharia) in Cozumel, Mexico

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Gress ◽  
Dominic A. Andradi-Brown
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Population Changes ◽  
Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems ◽  
Juvenile Mortality ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
Cozumel Island ◽  
Mexican Caribbean

Black corals (Antipatharians) are crucial structural and ecological components of many mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; reefs 30–150 m depth). In Mexico, black corals are harvested for the jewellery industry, which has historically led to population depletion. Harvesting began in the early 1960s and was concentrated around Cozumel Island until 1995. Since then, harvesting permits have been granted only for the mainland coast. Here we compare Cozumel populations between 1998 and 2016 for the two black coral species targeted by the jewellery industry. We found that densities of Plumapathes pennacea in 2016 were substantially lower than in 1998. However, the 2016 P. pennacea population has shifted to be dominated by larger colonies, suggesting disproportionate juvenile mortality or recruitment failure. Low numbers of Antipathes caribbeana were recorded, and no change in population density or colony size was detected between 1998 and 2016. Despite harvesting occurring for almost 70 years in the Mexican Caribbean, no information on reproduction, recruitment and other dynamics of the targeted species is available. We advocate for harvesting permits to be based on scientific evidence, and for implementation of future restrictions to prevent total depletion of black corals in the area.

scholarly journals The spatial distribution of shallow-water (<150 m) black corals (Cnidaria: Antipatharia) in the Hawaiian Archipelago

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Hawaiian Archipelago ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
Single Category ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Hard Substrates

The Hawaiian Archipelago contains some of the best surveyed black coral populations on the globe; however, most previous surveys have grouped all black coral species into a single category. As a result, the unique ecological features of individual species have not been identified. This study mapped the spatial distribution of eight antipatharian species (Antipathes griggi,Antipathes grandis,Cirrhipathescf.anguina,Stichopathes echinulata,Stichopathes?sp.,Aphanipathes verticillata,Acanthopathes undulataandMyriopathescf.ulex) found in shallow-waters (&lt;150 m) along the Hawaiian Archipelago, and compared data on substrate type, depth and temperature among species. All black coral species were exclusively recorded on hard substrates and were generally widely distributed along the Hawaiian Islands. Additionally, antipatharian species were found at overlapping depths and temperatures, although there were significant differences in the mean depths and temperatures between most species. In cases where species did not have significant differences in mean depths, the overlapping species had different colony and polyp morphologies, which may serve to minimize competition by allowing species to grow most efficiently under particular current regimes. This study represents one of the first to map the spatial distribution of sympatric antipatharian species, and indicates that individual species exploit unique environments in terms of depth and temperature or have unique morphologies to avoid overlap.

scholarly journals Corrections to: Apparent recruitment failure for the vast majority of coral species at Eilat, Red Sea

Coral Reefs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Guerrini ◽  
Maayan Yerushalmy ◽  
Dor Shefy ◽  
Nadav Shashar ◽  
Baruch Rinkevich
Keyword(s):  
Red Sea ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Recruitment Failure

scholarly journals Distribution of deep-water corals of the Flemish Cap, Flemish Pass, and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (Northwest Atlantic Ocean): interaction with fishing activities

2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Murillo ◽  
P. Durán Muñoz ◽  
A. Altuna ◽  
A. Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Continental Slope ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Habitat Mapping ◽  
Bottom Trawl ◽  
Soft Corals ◽  
Northwest Atlantic ◽  
Grand Banks ◽  
Black Corals

Abstract Murillo, F. J., Durán Muñoz, P., Altuna, A., and Serrano, A. 2011. Distribution of deep-water corals of the Flemish Cap, Flemish Pass, and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (Northwest Atlantic Ocean): interaction with fishing activities. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 319–332. The distribution of deep-water corals of the Flemish Cap, Flemish Pass, and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland is described based on bycatch from Spanish/EU bottom trawl groundfish surveys between 40 and 1500 m depth. In all, 37 taxa of deep-water corals were identified in the study area: 21 alcyonaceans (including the gorgonians), 11 pennatulaceans, 2 solitary scleractinians, and 3 antipatharians. The greatest diversity of coral species was on the Flemish Cap. Corals were most abundant along the continental slope, between 600 and 1300 m depth. Soft corals (alcyonaceans), sea fans (gorgonians), and black corals (antipatharians) were most common on bedrock or gravel, whereas sea pens (pennatulaceans) and cup corals (solitary scleractinians) were found primarily on mud. The biomass of deep-water corals in the bycatches was highest in previously lightly trawled or untrawled areas, and generally low in the regularly fished grounds. The information derived from bottom-trawl bycatch records is not sufficient to map vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) accurately, but pending more detailed habitat mapping, it provides a valuable indication of the presence/absence of VMEs that can be used to propose the candidate areas for bottom fishery closures or other conservation measures.

Phylogenetic relationships of Mediterranean black corals (Cnidaria : Anthozoa : Hexacorallia) and implications for classification within the order Antipatharia

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bo ◽  
M. Barucca ◽  
M. A. Biscotti ◽  
M. R. Brugler ◽  
A. Canapa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type Species ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Coral Fauna ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Its1 And Its2 Rdna ◽  
Its1 And Its2

The Mediterranean black coral fauna includes type species of four antipatharian genera belonging to four different families, therefore phylogenetic studies hold great potential for enhancing systematics within the order. The analysis of six Mediterranean antipatharian species by means of nuclear sequence data of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) rDNA confirms the separation into different families, as was previously noted on a morphological basis, with a clear distinction of the family Leiopathidae, whose position is supported by a unique number of mesenteries and lack of spines on thicker ramifications. The position of a newly recorded black coral species for the Mediterranean basin belonging to the genus Phanopathes is discussed. Antipathes dichotoma, the type species of the genus Antipathes, on which the order Antipatharia was based, does not group with other members of the family Antipathidae. Supporting a recent finding based on mitochondrial markers, this suggests a critical need for revision of the families that will be impacted by reassignment of this nomenclaturally important taxon.

scholarly journals Distribution and Diversity of Archaeal Ammonia Monooxygenase Genes Associated with Corals

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (17) ◽  
pp. 5642-5647 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.Michael Beman ◽  
Kathryn J. Roberts ◽  
Linda Wegley ◽  
Forest Rohwer ◽  
Christopher A. Francis
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Estuarine Sediments ◽  
Ammonia Monooxygenase ◽  
Oceanic Water ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Bocas Del Toro ◽  
Water Columns

ABSTRACT Corals are known to harbor diverse microbial communities of Bacteria and Archaea, yet the ecological role of these microorganisms remains largely unknown. Here we report putative ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes of archaeal origin associated with corals. Multiple DNA samples drawn from nine coral species and four different reef locations were PCR screened for archaeal and bacterial amoA genes, and archaeal amoA gene sequences were obtained from five different species of coral collected in Bocas del Toro, Panama. The 210 coral-associated archaeal amoA sequences recovered in this study were broadly distributed phylogenetically, with most only distantly related to previously reported sequences from coastal/estuarine sediments and oceanic water columns. In contrast, the bacterial amoA gene could not be amplified from any of these samples. These results offer further evidence for the widespread presence of the archaeal amoA gene in marine ecosystems, including coral reefs.

scholarly journals Morphological and molecular characterization of a new species of black coral from Elvers Bank, north-western Gulf of Mexico (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia: Aphanipathidae: Distichopathes)

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-566
Author(s):  
Dennis M. Opresko ◽  
Samantha L. Goldman ◽  
Raven Johnson ◽  
Katherine Parra ◽  
Marissa Nuttall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Salt Domes ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
The Family ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
A New Species

AbstractThe continental shelf edge of the NW Gulf of Mexico supports dozens of reefs and banks, including the West and East Flower Garden Banks (FGB) and Stetson Bank that comprise the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). Discovered by fishermen in the early 1900s, the FGBs are named after the colourful corals, sponges and algae that dominate the region. The reefs and banks are the surface expression of underlying salt domes and provide important habitat for mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCE) and deep coral communities to 300 m depth. Since 2001, FGBNMS research teams have utilized remotely operated vehicles (e.g. ‘Phantom S2’, ‘Mohawk’, ‘Yogi’) to survey and characterize benthic habitats of this region. In 2016, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement proposed the expansion of the current sanctuary boundaries to incorporate an additional 15 reefs and banks, including Elvers Bank. Antipatharians (black corals) were collected within the proposed expansion sites and analysed using morphological and molecular methods. A new species, Distichopathes hickersonae, collected at 172 m depth on Elvers Bank, is described within the family Aphanipathidae. This brings the total number of black coral species in and around the sanctuary to 14.

scholarly journals The Nile perch invasion in Lake Victoria: cause or consequence of the haplochromine decline?

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A.M. van Zwieten ◽  
Jeppe Kolding ◽  
Michael J. Plank ◽  
Robert E. Hecky ◽  
Thomas B. Bridgeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Nile Perch ◽  
Dynamic Interactions ◽  
Juvenile Mortality ◽  
Interacting Species ◽  
Recruitment Failure ◽  
Predation Mortality ◽  
Alternative Hypotheses

We review alternative hypotheses and associated mechanisms to explain Lake Victoria’s Nile perch (Lates niloticus) takeover and concurrent reduction in haplochromines through a (re)analysis of long-term climate, limnological, and stock observations in comparison with size-spectrum model predictions of co-existence, extinction, and demographic change. The empirical observations are in agreement with the outcomes of the model containing two interacting species with life histories matching Nile perch and a generalized haplochromine. The dynamic interactions may have depended on size-related differences in early juvenile mortality: mouth-brooding haplochromines escape predation mortality in early life stages, unlike Nile perch, which have miniscule planktonic eggs and larvae. In our model, predation on the latter by planktivorous haplochromine fry acts as a stabilizing factor for co-existence, but external mortality on the haplochromines would disrupt this balance in favor of Nile perch. To explain the observed switch, mortality on haplochromines would need to be much higher than the fishing mortality that can be realistically reconstructed from observations. Abrupt concomitant changes in algal and zooplankton composition, decreased water column transparency, and widespread hypoxia from increased eutrophication most likely caused haplochromine biomass decline. We hypothesize that the shift to Nile perch was a consequence of an externally caused, climate-triggered decrease in haplochromine biomass and associated recruitment failure rather than a direct cause of the introduction.

scholarly journals Southwest Pacific Paleoceanography During the Late Holocene: 3000 years of ocean circulation and marine biogeochemistry reconstructed from New Zealand deep-sea black corals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Hitt
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Southwest Pacific ◽  
Black Coral ◽  
Black Corals ◽  
Marine Biogeochemistry ◽  
Gyre Circulation

<p>The global climate results from interactions between the ocean and atmosphere. Ocean gyres are perhaps one of the most significant interactions; they regulate temperature, salinity and nutrient flow across the ocean basins. Gyres transport warm, tropical waters to higher latitudes and cold waters to lower latitudes and act as the dominant heat-transport mechanism in the Earth’s climate system. They also influence spatial patterns in marine primary production by distributing nutrients between the equator and poles. However, gyre circulation in the subtropics has been strengthening, leading to marine heat waves, changing biogeochemistry and reducing primary production since the early 1900s. These changes are often interpreted as a consequence of anthropogenic climate change. However, ocean circulation and primary production can exhibit natural variations on a variety of timescales. Could these recent changes be a part of a long-term natural cycle or a product of anthropogenic change? </p> <b>This research aims to reconstruct South Pacific Gyre (SPG) circulation and biogeochemistry using a suite of New Zealand black corals. The primary research goal is determining if there is a precedent for the ocean changes observed over the instrumental period. Black corals are an ideal paleoceanographic archive for this work; they provide high-resolution, multi-millennial records of biogeochemistry and ocean circulation within their skeletons, derived using radiocarbon (14C) and stable isotopes (d13C and d15N). In this thesis, I show that late Holocene SPG strength has been highly variable and the relationship between circulation and biogeochemistry is timescale dependent. </b><p>The black coral radiocarbon records suggest late Holocene SPG circulation has been controlled by westerly wind strength. Our records show the SPG exhibits natural variability on multi-centennial and millennial timescales that corresponds to the variability within the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The black coral circulation record shows that the modern gyre circulation is not without precedent over the last 3000 years. </p> <p>The black coral d13C and d15N records show significant variability on multi-decadal to multi-centennial timescales. Multi-centennial variability in black coral d13C and d15N appears to be driven by sea surface temperature (SST), nitrogen fixation rates and wind-driven upwelling and is possibly forced by the mean state of the Southern Oscillation Index and ocean circulation strength. A trend in black coral d13C over the last 1500 years also suggests a shift in phytoplankton community structure towards larger and faster growing phytoplankton. These records also reveal a shift in mean coral d13C and d15N between the 0-2000BP and 2000-3000BP period, the latter corresponding to a period of stronger gyre circulation inferred from the radiocarbon records. </p> <p>This work shows that: 1) New Zealand’s black corals are a promising archive for studying paleoceanography; they can extend instrumental ocean records and fill the gap between traditional southwest Pacific paleoceanographic proxy records (tropical corals, sediment cores); 2) SPG circulation has been highly variable over the last 3000 years; circulation is controlled by atmospheric patterns (e.g. SAM) on multi-centennial to millennial timescales; 3) Gyre circulation is only one of many forcing factors on southwest Pacific primary production and marine biogeochemistry; comparisons between the ∆R, d13C and d15N proxies show that variations in SPG biogeochemical patterns and productivity are likely driven by local dynamics such as phytoplankton community structure, SST, upwelling and gyre circulation. Finally, this research demonstrates the key role that a distributed set of deep-sea coral paleoceanographic reconstructions could play in characterizing the dynamical variability in southwest Pacific Ocean circulation, biogeochemistry and primary production. This information is critical for detecting and attributing past and future anthropogenic impacts on the southwest Pacific Ocean. </p>

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