Identifying mangrove-coral habitats in the Florida Keys

AbstractCoral reefs are degrading due to many synergistic stressors. Recently there have been a number of global reports of corals occupying mangrove habitats that provide a supportive environment or refugium for corals, sheltering them by reducing stressors such as oxidative light stress and low pH. This study used satellite imagery and manual ground-truthing surveys to search for mangrove-coral habitats in the Florida Keys and then collected basic environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pHNBS, turbidity) at identified sites using a multi-parameter water quality sonde. Two kinds of mangrove-coral habitats were found in both the Upper and Lower Florida Keys: (1) prop-root corals, where coral colonies were growing directly on (and around) mangrove prop roots, and (2) channel corals, where coral colonies were growing in mangrove channels under the shade of the mangrove canopy, at deeper depths and not in as close proximity to the mangroves. Coral species found growing on and directly adjacent to prop roots included Porites porites (multiple morphs), Siderastrea radians and Favia fragum. Channel coral habitats predominantly hosted S. radians and a few S. siderea, although single colonies of Solenastrea bournoni and Stephanocoenia intersepta were observed. Circumstantial evidence suggests additional coral communities existed on mangrove shorelines of oceanside and backcountry islands until destroyed, likely by Hurricane Irma. These mangrove-coral habitats may be climate refugia for corals and could be included in ecosystem management plans and considered for their applications in coral restoration, for example, as a source of adapted genetic resources, places to support growth and acclimation of coral outplants, or natural laboratories to test survival of different genotypes.

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Analysis of wastewater management in the Florida Keys

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2010.138 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 506-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katherine Sleasman

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Florida Keys ◽

The State ◽

Wastewater Management ◽

Monroe County ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Comprehensive Plan ◽

Effluent Standards ◽

Management Plans

Maintaining water quality in the Florida Keys is vital to the area’s economy. However, the lack of sewage infrastructure has degraded nearshore water quality. The Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan outlines strategies to improve sewage infrastructure to meet the State of Florida’s 2010 effluent standards. This paper assesses the progress of the Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan in the context of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) by means of surveys, semi-structured interviews, and secondary data. Monroe County’s plan included aspects of ICM and emphasized a community-based approach for incorporated and unincorporated areas to meet effluent standards. However, areas throughout the Florida Keys faced financial constraints and lack of resources in executing public work initiatives. Variability in management plans developed by municipalities demonstrated the need for a top down approach. The State of Florida and Monroe County could have provided more guidance and resources, and facilitated communication between the various entities to help complete objectives by the 2010 deadline.

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Persistence of Corals in Marginal Habitats: the Role of the Environment, and Symbiont Diversity and Ecophysiology

10.26686/wgtn.16968646.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Laura Caroline Wicks

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Local Scale ◽

Physiological Tolerance ◽

Marginal Environments ◽

Coral Communities ◽

High Diversity ◽

Marginal Habitats

Many corals live in marginal habitats, close to their survival thresholds of water temperature, light penetration and aragonite saturation. Living under these highly variable and extreme conditions is likely facilitated by specific physiological adaptations and/or the presence of unique species of coral and their symbionts but data on these factors are limited. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) examine the diversity and distribution patterns of corals in marginal environments, (2) investigate the diversity, distribution patterns and host specificity of symbionts in corals in marginal environments, (3) assess the influence of environmental variables on host and symbiont distribution in marginal environments, in comparison to 'optimal' environments, and (4) examine the physiological responses to changing environmental conditions and stress of corals and their symbionts in marginal environments. Surveys of coral community patterns were conducted at the Kermadec Islands (KI), New Zealand, and Palmyra Atoll, USA, with local scale environmental parameters (i.e. wave exposure and sedimentation) found to control the diversity and distribution of the coral communities. Symbiodinium types were identified to subcladal level in a range of coral species at each of the survey sites, using ITS2-DGGE. A high diversity of C type symbionts (19 types in 13 host genera), and reduced host specificity was observed at the high latitude site of Lord Howe Island (LHI), Australia, with similarly high diversity at the KI (10 types in 9 genera). Thirteen novel clade C types were identified in corals at LHI, with two of these types also present in hosts at the KI. The reduced host specificity of symbionts at LHI, compared to tropical sites, implies that the evolution of novel holobionts may be an important mechanism whereby corals can cope with variable and stressful conditions. Further, physiological assessment of the novel LHI symbionts led to the suggestion that Symbiodinium at LHI may be specialised for cooler and more variable temperatures, so contributing to the success of corals at this marginal location. In contrast, a low diversity of generalist symbionts (C and D types) were uncovered at the equatorial site of Palmyra Atoll (10 types in 13 genera), attributed to the stressful environmental regime resulting in a reduced population of stresstolerant symbionts. The variation in environmental parameters, particularly sedimentation, around Palmyra Atoll has led to diversification of coral communities, however this environmental variation has not affected the symbiont communities. While it has been suggested that marginal coral communities might be better adapted for survival in an environment modified by global climate change, the local scale environmental factors are also important drivers of both coral and symbiont distributions, and should be considered when making predictions for the future. Further, assessment of the physiological tolerance ranges of both the multiple, novel symbionts at high latitudes, and the few, potentially stress-tolerant symbionts at Palmyra should be conducted, to help determine whether they have the ability to adjust to new environmental conditions.

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Persistence of Corals in Marginal Habitats: the Role of the Environment, and Symbiont Diversity and Ecophysiology

10.26686/wgtn.16968646 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Laura Caroline Wicks

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Local Scale ◽

Physiological Tolerance ◽

Marginal Environments ◽

Coral Communities ◽

High Diversity ◽

Marginal Habitats

Many corals live in marginal habitats, close to their survival thresholds of water temperature, light penetration and aragonite saturation. Living under these highly variable and extreme conditions is likely facilitated by specific physiological adaptations and/or the presence of unique species of coral and their symbionts but data on these factors are limited. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) examine the diversity and distribution patterns of corals in marginal environments, (2) investigate the diversity, distribution patterns and host specificity of symbionts in corals in marginal environments, (3) assess the influence of environmental variables on host and symbiont distribution in marginal environments, in comparison to 'optimal' environments, and (4) examine the physiological responses to changing environmental conditions and stress of corals and their symbionts in marginal environments. Surveys of coral community patterns were conducted at the Kermadec Islands (KI), New Zealand, and Palmyra Atoll, USA, with local scale environmental parameters (i.e. wave exposure and sedimentation) found to control the diversity and distribution of the coral communities. Symbiodinium types were identified to subcladal level in a range of coral species at each of the survey sites, using ITS2-DGGE. A high diversity of C type symbionts (19 types in 13 host genera), and reduced host specificity was observed at the high latitude site of Lord Howe Island (LHI), Australia, with similarly high diversity at the KI (10 types in 9 genera). Thirteen novel clade C types were identified in corals at LHI, with two of these types also present in hosts at the KI. The reduced host specificity of symbionts at LHI, compared to tropical sites, implies that the evolution of novel holobionts may be an important mechanism whereby corals can cope with variable and stressful conditions. Further, physiological assessment of the novel LHI symbionts led to the suggestion that Symbiodinium at LHI may be specialised for cooler and more variable temperatures, so contributing to the success of corals at this marginal location. In contrast, a low diversity of generalist symbionts (C and D types) were uncovered at the equatorial site of Palmyra Atoll (10 types in 13 genera), attributed to the stressful environmental regime resulting in a reduced population of stresstolerant symbionts. The variation in environmental parameters, particularly sedimentation, around Palmyra Atoll has led to diversification of coral communities, however this environmental variation has not affected the symbiont communities. While it has been suggested that marginal coral communities might be better adapted for survival in an environment modified by global climate change, the local scale environmental factors are also important drivers of both coral and symbiont distributions, and should be considered when making predictions for the future. Further, assessment of the physiological tolerance ranges of both the multiple, novel symbionts at high latitudes, and the few, potentially stress-tolerant symbionts at Palmyra should be conducted, to help determine whether they have the ability to adjust to new environmental conditions.

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Composición florística y diversidad de la vegetación de humedales en los lagos interdunarios de Veracruz

Botanical Sciences ◽

10.17129/botsci.2307 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 ◽

pp. 89

Author(s):

Luis Alberto Peralta Peláez ◽

Patricia Moreno Casasola

Keyword(s):

Cynodon Dactylon ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Grass Species ◽

Ceratophyllum Demersum ◽

Sagittaria Lancifolia ◽

Composition And Structure ◽

Dune Lakes ◽

Management Plans ◽

Surrounding Areas ◽

Grazing Lands

Dune lakes of the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, are shallow freshwater lakes with suitable conditions for the establishment of herbaceous and arboreal wetlands. Most of the vegetation of the surrounding dunes has been transformed into pastures for grazing lands and sugar cane plantations. The objective of this paper is to describe and compare structure, composition and diversity of the wetland vegetation of 15 dune lakes in the rural area. Environmental parameters (pH, salinity, size, depth and number of dry months) were taken into account. Plant diversity of these lakes comprise 46 families (27 strictly aquatic) and 82 species, among them Sagittaria lancifolia, Pontederia sagittata, Ceratophyllum demersum. Species richness fl uctuated between 5 and 33 species. The classifi cation resulted in nine fl oristic wetland groups, three of them with grass species from the surrounding areas (Cynodon dactylon, Echinochloa pyramidalis). Ordination separated lakes based on pH and number of dry months. Management plans should be developed together with the owners to maintain both the use of these lakes and the composition and structure of their wetlands.

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Review of the Kumbakonam school fire in India: Lessons learned

Journal of Emergency Management ◽

10.5055/jem.2007.0046 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 58 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ajinder Walia, PhD ◽

Sujata Satapathy, PhD

Keyword(s):

Disaster Management ◽

School Management ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Psychosocial Counseling ◽

Psychiatric Referral ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Management Plans ◽

Strong Winds ◽

The Government ◽

Poor Lighting

A school fire at a government-aided school in Kumbakonam, India, killed 93 children and injured 21 on July 16, 2004. The school was tailor-made for a disaster, with its narrow stairway, poor lighting, thatched roof, kitchen in close proximity of the school building, past incidences of minor fire breakouts, and only one collapsible exit in the classroom. Strong winds and an absence of teachers on the day of the tragedy added to the vulnerability of the school, leading to the disaster. The government responded to the situation ef - fectively by providing adequate physical relief and rehabilitation to the parents of the deceased children and to injured students. The government was supported by various nongovernmental organizations and the corporate sector, which rose to the occasion. Psychosocial counseling was also carried out for the affected parents. Various recommendations resulting from analysis of the event in - clude developing comprehensive district and school disaster management plans using a multihazard approach, ensuring the safety of the school, instituting a proper psychiatric referral system for the affected, counseling the injured and rescued students to facilitate their relocation in different schools, training teachers and all others involved in school management in disaster management, and educating students about fire safety in school.

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CORAL TOXICITY RESEARCH FOR DETERMINING THRESHOLDS FOR DISPERSANTUSE-NEBA CALCULATIONS

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2017.1.1267 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 (1) ◽

pp. 1267-1286

Author(s):

D. Abigail Renegar ◽

Paul Schuler ◽

Nicholas Turner

Keyword(s):

Toxicity Testing ◽

Environmental Benefit ◽

Individual Organism ◽

Dispersed Oil ◽

Information Gap ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Nova Southeastern University ◽

Coral Communities ◽

The Individual ◽

Dissolved Components

ABSTRACT (#2017-136) The use of dispersants in close proximity to coral communities is generally not recommended, although Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) of various response methods and priorities may override this principle. The NEBA calculation for use of dispersants near corals is a function of the relative effects of dissolved components of crude oil (alone) and components of chemically enhanced (dispersed) oil in the water column on corals. This is best determined by examining the toxicity (concentration and duration of exposure) of oil and dispersed oil to corals at the individual/organism and cellular levels. Unfortunately, this is a little studied area and very little coral toxicity information exists. This paper describes ongoing multi-year research being conducted at Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center to fill the coral toxicity information gap and determine toxicity thresholds for individual corals. The research program was designed with inputs from an oversight committee and a broad group of collaborators from the response industry and toxicology communities. The output of the of the study is intended to be compatible with current and emerging predictive models such as NOAA’s Chemical Aquatic Fate and Effects (CAFÉ) database, which is used to estimate the fate and effects of thousands of chemicals, oils, and dispersants. An overview of previous and current research on hydrocarbon toxicity to corals will be presented, along with proposed guidelines for effective toxicity testing which conforms to standardized protocols and aids in comparison of results between studies and extrapolation to actual spills.

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Radiosonde observations of environments supporting deep moist convection initiation during RELAMPAGO-CACTI

Monthly Weather Review ◽

10.1175/mwr-d-20-0148.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

T. Connor Nelson ◽

James Marquis ◽

Adam Varble ◽

Katja Friedrich

Keyword(s):

Complex Terrain ◽

Deep Convection ◽

Convective Available Potential Energy ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Convective Precipitation ◽

Moist Convection ◽

Spatiotemporal Resolution ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Deep Moist Convection ◽

Convection Initiation

AbstractThe Remote Sensing of Electrification, Lightning, and Mesoscale/Microscale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations (RELAMPAGO) and Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) projects deployed a high-spatiotemporal-resolution radiosonde network to examine environments supporting deep convection in the complex terrain of central Argentina. This study aims to characterize atmospheric profiles most representative of the near-cloud environment (in time and space) to identify the mesoscale ingredients affecting storm initiation and growth. Spatiotemporal autocorrelation analysis of the soundings reveals that there is considerable environmental heterogeneity, with boundary layer thermodynamic and kinematic fields becoming statistically uncorrelated on scales of 1–2 hr and 30 km. Using this as guidance, we examine a variety of environmental parameters derived from soundings collected within close proximity (30 km and 30 min in space and time) of 44 events over 9 days where the atmosphere either: 1) supported the initiation of sustained precipitating convection, 2) yielded weak and short-lived precipitating convection, or 3) produced no precipitating convection in disagreement with numerical forecasts from convection-allowing models (i.e., Null events). There are large statistical differences between the Null event environments and those supporting any convective precipitation. Null event profiles contained larger convective available potential energy, but had low free tropospheric relative humidity, higher freezing levels, and evidence of limited horizontal convergence near the terrain at low levels that likely suppressed deep convective growth. We also present evidence from the radiosonde and satellite measurements that flow-terrain interactions may yield gravity wave activity that affects CI outcome.

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