Four-Year Field Survey of Black Band Disease and Skeletal Growth Anomalies in Encrusting Montipora spp. Corals around Sesoko Island, Okinawa

The Indo-Pacific zooxanthellate scleractinian coral genus Montipora is the host of many coral diseases. Among these are cyanobacterial Black Band Disease (BBD) and Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs), but in general data on both diseases are lacking from many regions of the Indo-Pacific, including from Okinawa, southern Japan. In this study, we collected annual prevalence data of Black Band Disease (BBD) and Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs) affecting the encrusting form of genus Montipora within the shallow reefs of the subtropical Sesoko Island (off the central west coast of Okinawajima Island) from summer to autumn for four years (2017 to 2020). In 2020 Montipora percent coverage and colony count were also assessed. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were used to understand the spatial and temporal variation of both BBD and GAs in the nearshore (NE) and reef edge (RE) sites, which revealed higher probability of BBD occurrence in RE sites. BBD prevalence was significantly higher in 2017 in some sites than all other years with site S12 having significant higher probability during all four surveyed years. In terms of GAs, certain sites in 2020 had higher probability of occurrence than during the other years. While the general trend of GAs increased from 2017 to 2020, it was observed to be non-fatal to colonies. In both diseases, the interaction between sites and years was significant. We also observed certain BBD-infected colonies escaping complete mortality. BBD progression rates were monitored in 2020 at site S4, and progression was related to seawater temperatures and was suppressed during periods of heavy rain and large strong typhoons. Our results suggest that higher BBD progression rates are linked with high sea water temperatures (SST > bleaching threshold SST) and higher light levels (> 1400 µmol m−2 s−1), indicating the need for further controlled laboratory experiments. The current research will help form the basis for continued future research into these diseases and their causes in Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Recruitment of hard coral after coral bleaching in Krueng Raya Water, Aceh Besar

Krueng Raya waters is an area that has a distribution of coral reef ecosystems. This study aims to determine the recruitment of hard corals after coral bleaching Krueng Raya waters, Aceh Besar District. This research was conducted in April 2017 in Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar. Data were collected at three observation stations using a systematic sampling method using a 1x1 m quadratic transect. Based on the study results, coral recruitment was obtained from eight families and 13 genera (Acropora, Cetenactis, Diploastrea, Favia, Favites, Galaxea, Goniastrea, Helliopora, Leptastrea, Montastrea, Pavona, Pocillopora, and Porites). Where the most abundant coral genus found was from the genus Pocilopora and Porites (16 coloni/10m2). while the station with the highest colony abundance was at station 3 with 28 colonies/10m2.

The change of coral cover in Ujong Pancu waters, Peukan Bada Sub-District, Aceh Besar

Coral reef ecosystems are one of the most productive ecosystems on the earth, with large ecological functions. The disruption of coral reef ecosystems has a significant impact on the surrounding biota. This study aims to determine the condition of coral reefs for the last three years in Ujong Pancu waters, Peukan Bada sub-district, Aceh Besar district. This study uses data in 2017, 2018, and 2019 with three observation locations: Lhok Keeutapang, Lhok Mata Ie, and Tuan Island. The method used is Point Intercept Transect (PIT) with a transect length of 20 m with four repetitions. The results showed that the percentage of hard coral cover in the Ujong Pancu waters decreased from the good category (50.31%) in 2017 to moderate (47.81%) in 2019. The percentage with the highest coral cover was at the Lhok Keutapang location at 72, 81% in 2018, while the lowest coral cover at the Tuan Island location was 15.94% in 2017. The composition of the coral genus found also decreased from 12 coral genera (2017) to 9 coral genera (2019).

A new species of the sun coral genus Tubastraea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) from Hong Kong

Tubastraea, commonly known as sun coral, is a genus of brightly coloured azooxanthellate corals in the family Dendrophylliidae. The diversity of this genus is low, with only seven recognized species. Herein, we describe Tubastraea megacorallita sp. nov. from Hong Kong based on morphological and molecular analyses. This new species exhibits several characteristics of the genus including being colonial, having a rough texture of corallum and no epitheca. It can be distinguished from its congenerics by bigger corallites, and the Pourtalès plan arrangement of its septa. The rDNA gene sequences (consisting of ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, 18S and 28S) showed 2.45–5.18% divergence from those of its closest relatives, T. coccinea and T. micranthus.

Oxygenated Cembrene Diterpenes from Sarcophyton convolutum: Cytotoxic Sarcoconvolutum A-E

The soft coral genus Sarcophyton contains the enzymatic machinery to synthesize a multitude of cembrene-type diterpenes. Herein, highly oxygenated cembrenoids, sarcoconvolutum A-E (1–5) were purified and characterized from an ethyl acetate extract of the red sea soft coral, Sarcophyton convolutum. Compounds were assemblies according to spectroscopic methods including FTIR, 1D- and 2D-NMR as well as HRMS. Metabolite cytotoxicity was tested against lung adenocarcinoma, cervical cancer, and oral-cavity carcinoma (A549, HeLa and HSC-2, respectively). The most cytotoxic compound, (4) was observed to be active against cell lines A549 and HSC-2 with IC50 values of 49.70 and 53.17 μM, respectively.

Should Hybrids Be Used in Coral Nurseries? A Case Study Comparing Caribbean Acropora spp. and Their Hybrid in the Bahamas

For decades, coral reef ecosystems have been in decline due to environmental stressors such as rising sea temperatures, increased disease prevalence, and other local anthropogenic sources. Considering this decline, coral restoration efforts in the Caribbean have been implemented to promote reef recovery with a focus on the coral genus Acropora. Current methods target the threatened species Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata, but little is known about the restoration potential of their hybrid taxon, A. prolifera. Using interspecific hybrids with higher fitness than one or both parental species has gained traction as a novel restoration technique. For this study, three in situ coral tree nurseries were established around Great Stirrup Cay, The Bahamas, to compare the growth and survival among acroporid taxa. Three 150 mm fragments from six putative genotypes of each acroporid taxa were collected from reefs around New Providence, The Bahamas, and transported to Great Stirrup Cay in June 2018. One fragment from each genotype was transported to each nursery site, cut into three sections (apical, middle, and basal), and suspended from PVC coral trees. Fragment survival was collected monthly for 13 months, and Total Linear Extension (TLE) values were calculated for each fragment monthly for 12 months. Nursery site significantly affected fragment survival, while taxon and fragment section did not. Total fragment mortality was 29.3% in the first month but ranged from 0 to 5% for the rest of the study period until July 2019 (32.7% of remaining fragments died primarily at N1). Overall, A. prolifera growth was significantly greater than the parental species. Taxon, nursery site, and fragment section were identified as important factors affecting TLE. Apical A. prolifera fragment sections at site N3 had the greatest average linear growth at 12 months and had the greatest average growth rate per month. This study highlights the rapid growth rate of hybrid corals and suggests that fragment sections have equivalent survival and growth. Consequently, these results suggest that restoration managers may capitalize on fast growing hybrids for outplanting to degraded reefs and to increase the scale of nursery projects.

Diversity of Coral Genus Scleractinia in Tidung Island Waters, Seribu Islands, DKI Jakarta Province

Coral reefs are one of the most productive and diverse ecosystems on earth and provide ecosystem services. One of the islands of the Seribu Islands that has a coral reef ecosystem is Tidung Island. It is strategic and developing location makes this island used as a residential area, conservation area, and tourist destination. But the utilization has an impact on the damage of coral reefs through environmental and anthropogenic pressures. This study aims to determine coral diversity by identifying the coral genus Scleractinia and the factors that affect coral diversity. Observations were done on three different stations include 2 snorkeling areas and 1 natural area. The method used is LIT (Line Intercept Transect) and coral genus identification with Coral Finder Toolkit Indo Pacific 3.0. The results of identification obtained 16 coral genera namely genus Acropora, Montipora, Isopora, Favites, Leptastrea, Favia, Goniastrea, Montastrea, Platygyra, Echinopora, Porites, Pocillopora, Stylophora, Ctenactis, Pavona, dan Symphyllia, with the value of Diversity Index (H') in the waters of Tidung Island ranges from 0.94 – 2.34 in the category of low to moderate diversity. The parameters of water quality in Tidung Island, temperature, salinity, and acidity (pH) are relatively good for coral growth, but brightness is still relatively poor for coral growth. The impact of human activities such as snorkeling, ship anchors, fishing with destroyers, oil and waste pollution, and rock mining are factors that affect coral growth and diversity.Keywords: Coral Scleractinia; Limiting Factors; Coral Finder; Tidung IslandAbstrakTerumbu karang adalah salah satu ekosistem yang paling produktif dan beragam di bumi serta menyediakan jasa ekosistem. Salah satu pulau dari gugusan Kepulauan Seribu yang memiliki ekosistem terumbu karang yaitu Pulau Tidung. Letaknya yang strategis dan berkembang menjadikan pulau ini dimanfaatkan sebagai kawasan permukiman, daerah konservasi, dan kawasan tujuan wisata. Namun dari pemanfaatan tersebut memberikan dampak terhadap kerusakan pada terumbu karang melalui tekanan-tekanan lingkungan maupun antropogenik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman karang dengan mengidentifikasi genus karang Scleractinia dan faktor yang mempengaruhi keanekaragaman karang. Pengamatan di tiga stasiun berbeda yaitu di antaranya 2 kawasan wisata snorkeling, dan 1 kawasan yang masih alami. Metode yang digunakan yaitu LIT (Line Intercept Transect) dan identifikasi genus karang dengan Coral Finder Toolkit Indo Pasific 3.0. Hasil identifikasi didapatkan 16 genus karang yaitu genus Acropora, Montipora, Isopora, Favites, Leptastrea, Favia, Goniastrea, Montastrea, Platygyra, Echinopora, Porites, Pocillopora, Stylophora, Ctenactis, Pavona, dan Symphyllia, dengan nilai Indeks Keanekaragaman (H’) di perairan Pulau Tidung berkisar 0,94 – 2,34 berada pada kategori keanekaragaman rendah hingga sedang. Parameter kualitas perairan di Pulau Tidung, suhu, salinitas, dan derajat keasaman (pH) tergolong baik bagi pertumbuhan karang, namun kecerahan masih tergolong kurang baik bagi pertumbuhan karang. Dampak aktivitas manusia seperti snorkeling, jangkar kapal, penangkapan ikan dengan alat perusak, pencemaran minyak dan sampah, serta penambangan batu karang menjadi faktor yang mempengaruhi pertumbuhan dan keanekaragaman karang.

Chemical Diversity and Biological Activity of Secondary Metabolites from Soft Coral Genus Sinularia since 2013

Sinularia is one of the conspicuous soft coral species widely distributed in the world’s oceans at a depth of about 12 m. Secondary metabolites from the genus Sinularia show great chemical diversity. More than 700 secondary metabolites have been reported to date, including terpenoids, norterpenoids, steroids/steroidal glycosides, and other types. They showed a broad range of potent biological activities. There were detailed reviews on the terpenoids from Sinularia in 2013, and now, it still plays a vital role in the innovation of lead compounds for drug development. The structures, names, and pharmacological activities of compounds isolated from the genus Sinularia from 2013 to March 2021 are summarized in this review.

Revisiting the type of Cespitularia stolonifera Gohar, 1938 leads to the description of a new genus and a species of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)

Because of the problematical identity and status of the type of the xeniid soft coral genus Cespitularia Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1850, the species C. stolonifera Gohar, 1938 is revised. Examination of the type colonies has led to the establishment of the new genus Unomia gen. n. which is described and depicted. This genus features a stalk, commonly divided into branches featuring a diffuse polypiferous part consisting of distal clustered polyps and proximal individual ones on the stalk or the basal membranous part of the colonies. The sclerites are ellipsoid platelets composed of dendritic calcite rods whose tips are distinct on the surface of the platelets. Freshly collected material from Venezuelan reefs where the species is invasive was subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis, the results of which substantiate the taxonomic assignment of the new genus under U. stolonifera comb. n. A new species, U. complanatis, from Japan and Green Island (Taiwan) is described and further illustrates the extent of the interspecific morphological variation within the genus. The results reveal that the biogeographic distribution of Unomia gen. n. includes Pacific Ocean reefs in addition to the previously reported invaded Caribbean reefs.