The war of corals: patterns, drivers, and implications of changing coral competitive performances across reef environments

Amidst global environmental changes, predicting species responses to future environments is a critical challenge for preserving biodiversity and associated human benefits. We explored the original idea that coral competitive performances, the ability of corals to preempt ecological space on the reef through territorial warfare, serve as indicators of species’ ecological niches and environmental windows, and therefore, responses to future environments. Our surveys indicated that coral performances varied with taxonomic-identity, size, and position along environmental gradients, highlighting complex interplays between life-history, warfare-strategy, and niche segregation. Our results forewarn that growing alterations of coastal environments may trigger shifts in coral dominance, with decline of major reef-building taxa like acroporids, and underscore the importance of restraining human impacts for coastal resilience. Our empirical approach untangles the complexity of species’ battle-like interactions and can help identify winners and losers in various communities caught in the interplay between ecological niches, environmental windows, and global changes.

Global change differentially modulates coral physiology and suggests future shifts in Caribbean reef assemblages

Global change driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions is altering ecosystems at unprecedented rates, especially coral reefs, whose symbiosis with algal endosymbionts ise particularly vulnerable to increasing ocean temperatures and altered carbonate chemistry. Here, we assess the physiological responses of the coral holobiont (animal host + algal symbiont) of three Caribbean coral species from two reef environments after exposure to simulated ocean warming (28, 31 °C), acidification (300 - 3290 μatm), and the combination of stressors for 93 days. We used multidimensional analyses to assess how multiple coral holobiont physiological parameters respond to ocean acidification and warming. Our results demonstrate significantly diminishing holobiont physiology in S. siderea and P. astreoides in response to projected ocean acidification, while future warming elicited severe declines in P. strigosa. Offshore S. siderea fragments exhibited higher physiological plasticity than inshore counterparts, suggesting that this offshore population has the capacity to modulate their physiology in response to changing conditions, but at a cost to the holobiont. Plasticity of P. strigosa and P. astreoides was not clearly different between natal reef environments, however, temperature evoked a greater plastic response in both species. Interestingly, while these species exhibit unique physiological responses to ocean acidification and warming, when data from all three species are modeled together, convergent stress responses to these conditions are observed, highlighting the overall sensitivities of tropical corals to these stressors. Our results demonstrate that while ocean warming is a severe acute stressor that will have dire consequences for coral reefs globally, chronic exposure to acidification may also impact coral physiology to a greater extent than previously assumed. The variety of responses to global change we observe across species will likely manifest in altered Caribbean reef assemblages in the future.

Sleuthing cryptic Chromodorids (Mollusca, Nudibranchia): adding to Philippine marine biodiversity

The Verde Island Passage of the Philippines is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and heterobranch mollusks are demonstrable models of that species richness of the region. Chromodorid nudibranchs represent a particularly rich taxon, with species of Chromodoris being one of the most iconic and abundant taxa in shallow water coral reef environments. Despite being one of the best-documented clades of nudibranch mollusks, recent work has shown that numerous cryptic and pseudocryptic species are abundant in the waters of the Coral Triangle region. This paper reviews the species richness and distribution of Chromodoris species in the Philippines and provides a description of a new species of Chromodoris from the region. Chromodoris alcalai Gosliner, n. sp. is named to honor Dr. Angel Alcala’s 90th birthday and his pioneering contributions to preserving the marine biodiversity of the Philippines. This species is most similar externally to C. dianae Gosliner and Behrens, 1998, with which it was erroneous lumped. Distinctness of molecular data, external morphology and coloration, and internal anatomical features clearly distinguish these two species. KEYWORDS: systematics, Nudibranchia, coral reefs, Indo-Pacific, Coral Triangle

Environmental impact on the mechanical properties of Porites spp. corals

Despite the economic and ecological importance of corals’ skeletal structure, as well as their predicted vulnerability to future climate change, few studies have examined the skeletal mechanical properties at the nanoscale. As climate change is predicted to alter coral growth and physiology, as well as increase mechanical stress events (e.g., bioerosion, storm frequency), it is crucial to understand how skeletal mechanical properties change with environmental conditions. Moreover, while material properties are intimately linked to the chemical composition of the skeleton, no previous study has examined mechanical properties alongside carbonate geochemical composition. UsingPoritescoral cores from a wide range of reef environments (Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan), we correlated coral’s micro-mechanical properties with chemical composition. In contrast to previous mechanical measurements of reef-building corals, we document unprecedented variability in the hardness, stiffness, and micro-cracking stress ofPoritescorals across reef environments, which may significantly decrease the structural integrity of reef substrate. Corals from environments with low salinity and high sedimentation had higher organic content and fractured at lower loads, suggesting that skeletal organic content caused enhanced embrittlement. Within individual coral cores, we observed seasonal variability in skeletal stiffness, and a relationship between high sea surface temperature, increased stiffness, and high-density. Regionally, lower Sr/Ca and higher Mg/Ca coincided with decreased stiffness and hardness, which is likely driven by increased amorphous calcium carbonate and skeletal organic content. If the coral is significantly embrittled, as measured here in samples from Singapore, faster erosion is expected. A decrease in skeletal stiffness will decrease the quality of reef substrate, enhance the rate of bioerosion by predators and borers, and increase colony dislodgement, resulting in widespread loss of structural complexity.

The contribution of acoustic seafloor mapping techniques to outlining coral reef geomorphology: A case study in the Republic of Maldives (Magoodhoo Reef – Maldivian Archipelago)

<p>Optical remote sensing data coupled with a dense network of field surveys have historically played a crucial role in geomorphological mapping of coral reef environments. Recently this field has undergone a major upgrade thanks to the integration of new advanced methods such as LiDAR, AUV-based and close-range digital photogrammetry and acoustic remote sensing techniques, which are able to investigate the deeper components of this complex geomorphic system. The new detailed maps can produce seamless digital elevation model (DEM) of coral reef environments, by integrating the elevation datasets acquired by the combination of the mentioned survey techniques.</p><p>In our work, a harmonised geomorphological map is generated for the Magoodhoo reef, which borders the southwestern discontinuous marginal rim of a subcircular atoll (i.e. Faafu Atoll) of the Maldivian archipelago. In its north-eastern sector the reef consists of a cuspate reef joined to an almost closed ring reef to the south-west, where Magoodhoo Island is located. The map was generated from the analysis of Sentinel data, orthomosaics and 3D optical models generated by the application of SfM techniques to UAV images, as well as bathymetry and backscatter intensity measurements. The latter were collected down to a depth of up to 120 m along the oceanward margin of the atoll's rim, and to a depth of roughly 60 m along the lagoonward margin. Direct observations were also performed using an observational ROV on the forereef and within the lagoon, and video-transects on the reef flat.</p><p>The oceanward margin shows steep terraced slopes that reveal a complex history of late Pleistocene/Holocene sea level oscillations, while the backreef slopes (toward the lagoon) are generally more gentle, although at places can show abrupt escarpments and overhangs. The lagoon submarine landscape is distinctly featured by patch reefs of variable shapes (from circular to sub-elongated) and dimensions (from few meters to 30m high). Their distribution is clearly controlled by the surface circulation pattern, regulated by the pass that borders the reef to the west. Towards the deeper edge of the mapped sector of the lagoon floor, where patch reefs are totally absent, intriguing small-scale depressions have been detected instead. The regular circular and concave shape calls for their interpretation as pockmarks, but their origin is still unknow due to the  lack of core samples and geochemical analysis in the area. New data are actually needed to precisely outline the sedimentary environments that feature Faafu Atoll and its inner lagoon. Nevertheless, the obtained geomorphological map and the mapped landforms shed new light and a more complete understanding on the processes that drive morphological changes of the entire Magoodhoo reef.</p>