Download or read book Assessing the Health of Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Florida Keys at Community Individual and Cellular Scales written by Elizabeth M. Fisher and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are threatened in Florida and worldwide. Successful resource management requires rapid identification of anthropogenic sources of stress before they affect the reef community. I tested a multi-scale approach for assessing reef condition at seven reefs within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Biscayne National Park between 2001 and 2003. I examined multiple environmental parameters to identify potential sources of stress. I utilized the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment Biotic Reef Index to assess benthic community structure and an indicator species of Foraminifera (Amphistegina gibbosa) to determine if environmental conditions were suitable for calcareous organisms that host algal endosymbionts. Small tissue samples were extracted from colonies of Montastraea annularis species complex to assay a suite of cellular biomarkers to elucidate possible mechanisms of the coral stress response. I monitored regeneration rates of the resultant lesions to determine if the coral colonies were capable of recovering from damage. Multivariate data analyses indicated that corals at all study sites were experiencing stress with different degrees of response and decline. On reefs with coarse grain sediments that are adjacent to an intact mangrove shoreline, the Cellular Diagnostic System indicated that corals were responding to a xenobiotic stress but appeared to be compensating as evidenced by consistently high lesion regeneration rates, a high percentage of healed lesions, low coral mortality and high abundances of A. gibbosa. On reefs with silt-sized sediments adjacent to developed coastlines, corals also were responding to xenobiotic stresses, but were negatively affected as evidenced by low regeneration rates, a low percentage of healed lesions, high coral mortality, and low abundances of A. gibbosa. Corals at an 18 m offshore site exhibited abnormally low biomarker levels and some died during the study, indicating that sampled colonies were incapable of upregulating necessary protective proteins. Further research will be required to determine stressor sources. This study demonstrates that a multiple-indicator approach, spanning scales from cellular to community, can provide marine resource managers with data linking decline of coral populations to specific environmental conditions and events, thereby providing potential for early detection of stressors allowing for preventive management.

Download or read book Micropaleontology and Its Applications written by P.K. Kathal and published by Scientific Publishers. This book was released on 2017-07-01 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book is designed to cover the recent researches carried-out by the scholars from across the world. It covers aspects related to Foraminifera, in biostratigraphy and paleoecology, isotopic studies, applicability as bio-indicators in pollution studies, taxonomy of Indo-Pacific assemblages, studies of history of ocean bottom oxygenation and experimental studies; Radiolaria from Antarctic Ocean; Microbalites including Diatoms in studying threats and conservation issues in salt lakes of Western Australia; Ostracoda from freshwater, marginal marine ecosystems from Andaman and Nicobar islands; Coralline-algae from late Eocene rocks of Meghalaya; Zygnematalean algae from across the Permian-Triassic boundary; and Microstructures of egg-shells of vertebrates showing paleobiologic links across the continents. It will serve the postgraduate students choosing Geology as well as researchers in the field of Micropaleontology.

Download or read book Spatial Dynamics of Coral Populations in the Florida Keys written by Dione W Swanson and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reef degradation has been observed worldwide over the past few decades resulting in significant decreases in coral cover and abundance. However, there has not been a clear framework established to address the crucial need for more sophisticated understanding of the fundamental ecology of corals and their response to environmental stressors. Development of a quantitative approach to coral population ecology that utilizes formal, well established principles of fishery systems science offers a new framework to address these issues. The goal of this dissertation is to establish a quantitative foundation for assessment of coral reefs by developing some essential ecological and population-dynamic components of a size-structured demographic model for coral populations of the Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem. The objective provides the potential to build a quantitative systems science framework for coral populations. A two-stage stratified random sampling design was implemented during two separate survey periods to assess coral populations. Results include precise estimates of adult (> 4 cm) population abundance for several coral species by spatially partitioning abundance and variance into species-relevant reef habitat types. Adult size structure and juvenile abundance were used to evaluate individual coral populations and infer spatial variation in recruitment, growth and survival across habitat types. Partial mortality was characterized in terms of surface area, prevalence, and size-relationships. The development of some ecological and population-dynamic components of a size-structured demographic model for coral populations demonstrates the statistical framework and metrics required for monitoring and assessment of coral reef ecosystems to meet the pressing needs of conservation of coral reef ecosystems specifically in Florida, and throughout the Caribbean and Pacific in general.

Download or read book Diseases of Coral written by Cheryl M. Woodley and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-09-22 with total page 613 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral disease is quickly becoming a crisis to the health and management of the world’s coral reefs. There is a great interest from many in preserving coral reefs. Unfortunately, the field of epizootiology is disorganized and lacks a standard vocabulary, methods, and diagnostic techniques, and tropical marine scientists are poorly trained in wildlife pathology, veterinary medicine, and epidemiology. Diseases of Coral will help to rectify this situation.

Download or read book Results of a Workshop on Coral Reef Research and Management in the Florida Keys written by James W. Miller and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Democratic Management of an Ecosystem Under Threat written by Kelly Dunning and published by Anthem Press. This book was released on 2023-07-11 with total page 141 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using case studies from Florida and the Caribbean region, this book summarizes the state of coral reef conservation today. The question this book answers is, what is the best way to protect the vulnerable coral reefs, with an ever-worsening climate crisis? The book’s contribution is looking closely at people’s avenues to participate in coral reef management, and how the public is increasingly making their voices heard in the management process.

Download or read book Coral Health and Disease written by Eugene Rosenberg and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2004-04-27 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book opens with case studies of reefs in the Red Sea, Caribbean, Japan, Indian Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef. A section on microbial ecology and physiology describes the symbiotic relations of corals and microbes, and the microbial role in nutrition or bleaching resistance of corals. Coral diseases are covered in the third part. The volume includes 50 color photos of corals and their environments

Download or read book Coral Reef Habitat Change and Water Clarity Assessment 1984 2002 for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Using Landsat Satellite Data written by David A. Palandro and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The decline of coral reef habitats has been witnessed on a global scale, with some of the most dramatic decline occurring in the Florida Keys. As remote sensing can provide a synoptic view of coral reef ecosystems, 28 Landsat images (1984-2002) were utilized to study water clarity and habitat change. First, the data were used to derive the diffuse attenuation coefficient ( Kd, m-1), a measure of water clarity, for 29 sites throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). Landsat-derived Kd values from bands 1 (blue) and 2 (green) provided useful information for 26 of 29 sites, whereas band 3 (red) provided no consistent data due to the high absorption of red light by water. It was not possible to assess long-term temporal trends as data were acquired, at most, twice a year. Spatial variability was high between sites and between regions (Upper, Middle and Lower Keys) for bands 1 (0.019 m-1 - 0.060 m -1) and 2 (0.036 m-1 - 0.076 m-1). The highest Kd values were found in the Upper Keys, followed by the Middle and Lower Keys, respectively. This trend was corroborated by in situ monitoring of Kd( PAR). Second, the data were used to assess benthic habitat changes in eight coral reef sites located in the FKNMS. A Mahalanobis distance classification was trained for four classes using in situ ground-truth data. Overall coral habitat decline was 61% (3.4%/y), from 19% (1984) to 7.7% (2002). In situ monitoring data acquired by the Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) for the eight reef sites (1996-2002) showed a loss in coral cover of 52%, whereas the Landsat-derived coral-habitat cover declined 37% for the same time period. A trend comparison between the full CREMP percent coral cover data (1996-2004) and the full Landsat-derived coral habitat class (1984-2002) showed no significant difference between the rates of change (ANCOVA F-test, p = 0.303). The derivation of Kd and benthic habitat maps produced from Landsat data could provide coastal marine managers another tool to help in the decision-making process.

Download or read book The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-08-29 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are critical to ocean and human life because they provide food, living area, storm protection, tourism income, and more. However, human-induced stressors, such as overfishing, sediment, pollution, and habitat destruction have threatened ocean ecosystems globally for decades. In the face of climate change, these ecosystems now face an array of unfamiliar challenges due to destructive rises in ocean temperature, acidity and sea level. These factors lead to an increased frequency of bleaching events, hindered growth, and a decreasing rate of calcification. Research on interventions to combat these relatively new stressors and a reevaluation of longstanding interventions is necessary to understand and protect coral reefs in this changing climate. Previous research on these methods prompts further questions regarding the decision making process for site-specific interventions. A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs builds upon a previous report that reviews the state of research on methods that have been used, tested, or proposed to increase the resilience of coral reefs. This new report aims to help coral managers evaluate the specific needs of their site and navigate the 23 different interventions described in the previous report. A case study of the Caribbean, a region with low coral population plagued by disease, serves as an example for coral intervention decision making. This report provides complex coral management decision making tools, identifies gaps in coral biology and conservation research, and provides examples to help individuals and communities tailor a decision strategy to a local area.

Download or read book Large scale Assessment of Marine Debris and Benthic Coral Reef Organisms in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "During 25 days of fieldwork from June 21st through September 21st, 2008, research scientists from the Center for Marine Science at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington surveyed the density and size of benthic coral reef organisms and the density, amount, and biological impacts of marine debris throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary from northern Key Largo to SW of Key West. This effort is part of a larger program dating back to 1999 that documents the status and condition of benthic coral reef resources in the Florida Keys"--Page 4.

Download or read book Environmental Variability in the Florida Keys written by Inia M. Soto and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Variability of suspended sediments and water clarity were estimated using satellite-derived, normalized water-leaving radiance products. Ocean color data were obtained from the Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of View Sensor (Sea WiFS) from 1998 to 2005. Normalized water-leaving radiance at 443 (Lwn443) was used as a proxy to examine variability in water clarity, and normalized water-leaving radiance at 670 (Lwn670) was used as a proxy to study variability in suspended sediments. A weak relationship was identified between variability of Lwn443 and Lwn670 and coral cover as estimated by CREMP assessments in 2005 (r=0.43, p = 0.01, N=35 and r = 0.47, p = 0.005, N=35, respectively). There was a weak relationship between coral cover change and Lwn670 from 1988 to 2005 (r = 0.46, p = 0.05, N=35), but there no relationship was observed between variability of Lwn443 and change in coral cover (r =0.27, p =0.11, N=35). Further research is required to understand the origin, concentration and composition of dissolved or suspended materials that change the turbidity of waters around reefs of the FKNMS, and whether these changes can be adequately interpreted by examining concurrent satellite imagery. Ultimately, such remote sensing and field research is required to understand how water quality affects the health of coral reefs, and how coral ecosystems adapt to environmental variability.

Download or read book Reefs Corals and Carbonate Sands written by Barbara H. Lidz and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 10 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Impacts of a Natural Disturbance on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys and Subsequent Recovery Potential of the Sea Urchin Diadema Antillarum written by Julia Nicole Kobelt and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecosystem resilience is a measure of an ecosystem’s capacity to resist abrupt change and recover following a disturbance. While stochastic disturbances can contribute to normal ecosystem functioning, mounting natural and anthropogenic stressors are simultaneously intensifying the severity of disturbances and reducing the capacity for ecosystem recovery. Here, I examine the impacts of hurricane disturbance on a coral reef ecosystem and the potential for post-storm population recovery of a keystone herbivore, the sea urchin Diadema antillarum. Grazing pressure exerted by dense populations of D. antillarum is critical to coral reef ecosystem health by preventing (or reversing) an ecological regime shift from coral- to macroalgal-dominated reefs following disturbance. Hurricane Irma, a Category 4 Hurricane, made landfall in the Florida Keys in September 2017. The effects of the storm on D. antillarum and the surrounding coral reef community were evaluated at 10 sites in the middle and upper Florida Keys. Following Hurricane Irma, D. antillarum densities declined by 80% and the coral reef community was significantly altered. To assess the potential for local D. antillarum recovery, larval influx and subsequent increases in adults were measured using artificial settlement plates and transect surveys, respectively. Larval influx did not yield a measurable increase in adults over the period of the study, indicating limits to post-storm population recovery. The reestablishment of D. antillarum populations seems unlikely without extensive management efforts. Enhancing herbivory on coral reefs will be essential to building ecosystem resilience in the face of an increasingly severe disturbance regime.

Download or read book The National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs written by United States Coral Reef Task Force and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Coral Reef Ecosystems Research and Protection written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subcommittee on Environment and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Characterizing the Ecology of Coral Reef Microorganisms Across Different Scales Within the Caribbean written by Laura G. Weber and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microorganisms sustain the high productivity of coral reefs and support one of the most diverse, valuable, and threatened ecosystems on Earth. Despite the importance of reef microorganisms, there is a lack of understanding about their ecology, especially on Caribbean reefs. Furthermore, the hastening degradation of reefs due to anthropogenic stressors has made it difficult to understand natural patterns in microbial communities in the context of larger-scale ecosystem changes. Using genomics and metabolomics approaches paired with biogeochemical and physicochemical measurements as well as quantification of cell abundances, this dissertation provides optimized methods for studying the coral microbiome, investigates potential interactions between corals and seawater microorganisms, measures changes in the composition and diversity of reef seawater microorganisms over different spatial and temporal scales, and provides baseline information about microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and metabolite compositions of a protected and relatively-healthy Cuban coral reef-system to fill these critical knowledge gaps. I found that coral species and reef location influenced the composition of bacteria and archaea within the seawater surrounding coral colonies and this seawater was enriched with microbial colonization and interaction genes, providing evidence of a distinct microbial environment surrounding corals named the coral ecosphere. In a separate study, diel and daily variation superseded spatial variation in terms of influencing shifts in the microbial community. At a larger scale, seawater microbial communities collected from the protected reef-system of Jardines de la Reina, Cuba had higher alpha diversity and community similarity, lower nutrient concentrations, and higher abundances of picocyanobacteria compared to less protected reef-systems within Los Canarreos, Cuba and the Florida Keys, U.S.A and seawater microbial communities collected from each reef-system were influenced by hydrogeography and environmental gradients. Lastly, the extracellular metabolite composition of reef seawater collected across Jardines de la Reina was highly similar, suggesting homogenous environmental and hydrogeographic conditions across these forereefs. Overall, this dissertation characterizes reef seawater microbial communities across different scales and provides novel, baseline information about a protected and understudied Cuban reef-system, offering critical information about the ecology of reef microorganisms within the Caribbean.