Download or read book Population Demographics and Sexual Reproduction Potential of the Pillar Coral Dendrogyra Cylindrus on the Florida Reef Tract written by Lystina Kabay and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus, has been commonly described as widely distributed, but rare throughout its geographical range in the Caribbean. Having recently been listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, an understanding of population status is needed to promote species conservation and population recovery. Previous to this study the status of the pillar coral population in the state waters of Florida, U.S.A, was relatively unknown primarily due to few colonies being recorded and no comprehensive summary of population abundance, distribution or health being completed. Along with various environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting the pillar coral population on the Florida Reef Tract (FRT), it appears that reproductive limitations may also be contributing to species decline and limiting population recovery as evidenced by the lack of reported juvenile D. cylindrus colonies reported on the Florida Reef Tract (FRT) in the past 17 years. The factors contributing to this phenomenon are currently unknown, however are suspected to be derived from the pillar corals reproductive biology. Being described as a gonochoric, broadcast spawner, sexual reproduction relies on the synchronous release of gametes from colonies of separate sexes, and with low adult colony densities reported for the pillar coral on the FRT, gamete concentrations from both sexes may be too low for fertilization to occur. In 2014 submissions of pillar coral locations from the scientific and lay community were compiled and 610 D. cylindrus colonies along Florida Reef Tract were identified (Lunz et al. 2016). In my study, I describe the population structure of D. cylindrus for the southeast Florida region of the FRT which includes 65 of the total 610 colonies. For each of the 65 colonies, colony depth, demographic, and condition data were recorded including size (length, width, and height), percent of recent mortality, and presence and severity of disease and bleaching. Out of all locations identified in this region, about 50% contained only a single colony of D. cylindrus and the maximum number of colonies per site was 14. Throughout the duration of the study, devastating losses of live tissue were observed following the bleaching and disease events impacting the Florida Reef Tract in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and the status of the southeast Florida population of pillar coral is at serious risk of local extinction. To investigate the ability of colonies of D. cylindrus to sexually reproduce (referred to as sexual reproduction potential) tissue samples were collected from 95 colonies within 15 sites along the FRT and were prepared for histological analysis. The sex of each colony, sizes of gametes in mature developmental stages, the abundance of gametes per cm2 of tissue, and sex ratios for locations on the FRT were reported. All tissue samples from male and female colonies contained gametes that were 90% mature; however sex ratios were found to be skewed in all locations, deviating significantly from the 1:1 ratio expected for typical resource allocation in random mating. Hermaphroditic colonies of D. cylindrus are described for the first time throughout its geographical range in this study and comparisons to gonochoristic colonies confirmed that these hermaphrodites are sexually reproductive individuals. Results from this effort provide a more thorough understanding of the reproductive biology of D. cylindrus and essential data for the support of future conservation management and restoration strategies for this FRT population and comparative data for other Caribbean populations.
Download or read book Demographic Baseline Report of U S Territories and Counties Adjacent to Coral Reef Habitats written by Kristen M. Crossett and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is a compilation and synthesis of information from existing sources, focusing on recent demographic, economic, and population projection variables of resident populations in U.S. jurisdictions adjacent to coral reef habitats. Variables reported on include: population and density, population and adjacent coral reef habitat, gender, age, place of birth, race/ethnicity, language, education, income, employment, housing, development and tourism.
Download or read book A Species Action Plan for the Pillar Coral Dendrogyra Cylindrus written by Florida. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Rare Parthenogenic Reproduction in a Common Reef Coral Porites Astreoides written by Alicia A. Vollmer and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Multiple stressors have caused a decline in coral populations. Broadcast spawning corals once dominated the Florida Reef Tract (FRT), but since their decline, smaller brooding corals, soft corals, and macroalgae are replacing them. Brooding corals are more resilient to current threats in part because they are reproductive throughout much of the year and their larvae are competent to settle after release. Despite the ubiquity of brooders on Florida reefs, much of their reproductive strategy remains unknown. This study aimed to examine paternity as a function of colony size and density in Porites astreoides, a common brooding coral in the FRT. Porites astreoides colonies were configured in arrays at three densities that were replicated three times. A focal colony was surrounded by six other colonies, separated from the focal colony at different distances (1m, 7m, and 15m) representing high, moderate, and low population densities, respectively. All arrays were placed in the field but were separated from the reef and naturally occurring P. astreoides colonies by at least 50 m. Four days before the new moon, colonies were transported to the laboratory for larval collection. Over a four day period, a total of 3,184 larvae were collected from 24 colonies, 13 of which released larvae over consecutive days. The resulting larvae were genotyped using seven microsatellite markers. All larvae had the exact genotypes of the colony from which the larvae were collected, i.e. maternal- egg donor. This suggested the larvae were parthenogenically produced and no sperm was used to fertilize the eggs. This is the first study to suggest that parthenogenesis is occurring in P. astreoides. In today's oceans that have been depleted of corals, parthenogenesis may be an advantageous reproductive strategy used to boost populations. However, parthenogenesis reduces the genetic diversity which could hinder successful sexual reproduction in the future causing fragmented populations.
Download or read book Variation in Coral Recruitment and Juvenile Distribution Along the Southeast Florida Reef Tract written by Leah M. Harper and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral recruitment in Southeast Florida is being outpaced by mortality, resulting in population declines in many species. Identifying the coral species most likely to recruit and survive on Southeast Florida reefs and evaluating spatial variation in recruitment and survivorship is crucial for managing decreasing coral populations. This study focuses on 12 sites in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that have served as long-term stations for monitoring adult coral cover and demographics. At each site, thirty-two 225cm2 grooved terracotta settlement tiles were attached to the substrate in winter of 2015 and retrieved in winter of 2016 to evaluate scleractinian and octocoral recruitment rates. Thirty-two corresponding 0.25 m2 quadrats were surveyed in situ for coralsconditions, such as Poritidae, Siderastreidae, and Octocorallia, exhibit signs of recruitment success and/or juvenile survivorship. Scleractinian recruitment was not variable spatially, but juvenile densities varied on site-level spatial scales, suggesting that differential survivorship structures adult scleractinian communities. This study will inform reef management and restoration efforts within Southeast Florida by identifying sites and species with potential to recover from disturbance through natural recruitment processes.
Download or read book Horizontal Vs Vertical Connectivity in Caribbean Reef Corals written by Xaymara M Serrano and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The extent to which reefs are effectively connected to one another, and their potential to serve as sources of larval replenishment following disturbance, are topics of considerable interest in contemporary reef science. To date, most assessments of reef connectivity have emphasized long-distance horizontal dispersal of propagules from one shallow reef to another. The extent of short-distance vertical connectivity, however, has been largely unquantified. To fill this gap in knowledge, I developed DNA microsatellite loci for two Caribbean depth-generalist coral species with different life-history reproductive strategies (Montastraea cavernosa and Porites astreoides), and assessed connectivity in >1,200 coral samples collected from 3 depth zones (=10 m, 15-20 m and =25 m) at sites in Florida (within the Upper Keys, Lower Keys and Dry Tortugas), Bermuda and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). I also tested whether depth zonation in algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.) could limit effective vertical connectivity (Chapters 2 and 3). Finally, in Chapter 4, I led a collaborative seascape genetics effort to examine coral connectivity between the Flower Garden Banks (FGB) and the Florida Reef Tract at different depth intervals. This is a timely and important investigation because the FGB are located close to many oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), including the Deepwater Horizon oil rig which exploded in 2010. Overall, Chapters 2 and 3 revealed significant genetic differentiation by depth in Florida (but not in Bermuda or the USVI) for both species, despite high levels of horizontal connectivity between all three geographic locations (M. cavernosa), or between Florida and the USVI (P. astreoides) at shallow depths. However, at all sites, and regardless of the extent of vertical connectivity, migration always occurred asymmetrically, with greater downward migration from shallow to deep habitats. Finally, whether or not M. cavernosa or P. astreoides exhibited depth zonation in algal symbionts did not appear to limit effective connectivity. Together, these findings suggest that: (1) depth is an important population structuring factor for corals, (2) the extent of vertical connectivity varies among and within geographic locations, likely as a consequence of local hydrology, (3) reproductive mode does not necessarily correlate with realized dispersal ability, and (4) shallow reefs are more likely to rely on distant (unimpacted) shallow reefs, rather than nearby deep reefs, to provide a viable source of new recruits following disturbance. Finally, Chapter 4 revealed high levels of gene flow between the FGB and the shallow Florida population of M. cavernosa, but not P. astreoides, suggesting limited gene flow among these regions. Results from biophysical modeling were in general agreement, suggesting that differences in reproductive mode and season might be important drivers of reef coral connectivity within the GOM region. Together, these findings suggest that FGB, despite its deep depth, might be an important larval source for shallow coral populations of broadcast spawning taxa in Florida. Furthermore, findings suggest that an oil spill originating in the GOM: (1) has the potential to impact coral communities in Florida by reducing recruitment from the FGB, (2) is more likely to affect broadcast spawning taxa like M. cavernosa, due to high levels of gene flow between FGB and Florida, and (3) regardless of coral reproductive mode, these impacts are more likely to affect shallow habitats, likely sinks for coral larvae produced at FGB. While deep coral populations in Florida may constitute refugia due to their partial isolation from the shallow population (see Chapters 2 and 3), they too might eventually be impacted if shallow populations were slow, or unable to recover.
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 Population Structure and Gene Expression of the Coral Montastraea cavernosa in the Northern Florida Reef Tract written by Danielle Dodge and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Ecology of the South Florida Coral Reefs written by Walter C. Jaap and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Optimizing Restoration Site Selection Along the Florida Reef Tract for the Coral Species Acropora Cervicornis and Acropora Palmata written by Samantha King and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The decline of Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmata populations and consequent listing as endangered species has prompted the need for restoration. Since financial resources are limited, optimal sites for restoration should not only be environmentally suitable for outplant survival, but also have a greater capacity to replenish surrounding reefs with larvae. However, in Florida coral larval dispersal patterns and reef connectivity remain poorly studied. Here, we measured long term larval survival and competency of A. cervicornis to calibrate a high resolution (100m) biophysical larval dispersal model of Acropora in the Florida Reef Tract (FRT). This model revealed that there is potential connectivity between reefs along the FRT, with most source reefs being located in the southern portion of the reef track, and most sinks in the northern part. The connectivity matrix was used then to develop a metapopulation model accounting for larval dispersal patterns, current and historic habitat for the species, growth, fecundity, and density-dependent post-settlement mortality for A. cervicornis and A. palmata, which allows comparing the capacity of suitable restoration sites to recolonize other reefs through sexual recruitment. Furthermore, it can determine optimal mesoscale spatial scaling and temporal planning of restoration project. We found that there was regional variation in the optimal spatial scaling, due to differences in intra-reginal connectivity and exiting coral cover. We also found that temporally staggering outplanting effort is important in poor environmental conditions. Considering ecological processes in restoration will enhance genetic diversity, hasten coral recovery, and boost resilience across the entire reef system.
Download or read book Population Dynamics of the Reef Crisis written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-11-27 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Population Dynamics of the Reef Crisis, Volume 87 in the Advances in Marine Biology series, updates on many topics that will appeal to postgraduates and researchers in marine biology, fisheries science, ecology, zoology and biological oceanography. Chapters in this new release cover SCTL disease and coral population dynamics in S-Florida, Spatial dynamics of juvenile corals in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Surprising stability in sea urchin populations following shifts to algal dominance on heavily bleached reefs, Biophysical model of population connectivity in the Persian Gulf, Population dynamics of 20-year decline in clownfish anemones on coral reefs at Eilat, northern Red Sea, and much more. Reviews articles on the latest advances in marine biology Authored by leading figures in their respective fields of study Presents materials that are widely used by managers, students and academic professionals in the marine sciences
Download or read book A Characterization of a Southeast Florida Stony Coral Assemblage After a Disease Event written by Nicole K. Hayes and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs have declined globally due to anthropogenic stressors increasing the frequency and severity of bleaching and disease events. In 2014, a stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) outbreak occurred off the coast of southeast Florida and subsequently spread throughout the region. Data collected by the Southeast Florida Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (SECREMP) were used to examine the regional impacts of the disease event on the Southeast Florida stony coral assemblage. A long-term annual monitoring project, SECREMP samples permanent sites along the Southeast Florida Reef Tract (SEFRT) from Miami-Dade County north to Martin County. Analysis of stony coral demographic data from 21 sites revealed regional SCTLD prevalence increased significantly, and significant region-wide declines in stony coral diversity and density were observed. From 2014 to 2018, species-specific susceptibility to the disease were evident, with Meandrina meandritesand Dichocoenia stokesiboth losing > 90% of all live tissue by 2016. The reef building, complexity-contributing species Montastraea cavernosaand Orbicellaspp. lost significant tissue (55% and 70% respectively) as a result of this disease event. Overall, up to 64% of all live tissue was lost and at least 11 of 28 total species were impacted by SCTLD. Of the colonies that suffered complete mortality, many were among the largest individuals in the dataset. Loss of large, sexually mature colonies lowers reproductive capabilities and thus severely inhibits the potential for recovery. Juvenile surveys showed many of the large, structurally complex species had little to no juveniles within the sample sites, while eurytopic generalist species made up more than 76% of all juveniles. This disease event resulted in acute mortality and altered ecosystem function to the point where recovery is uncertain. To facilitate recovery, local resource managers need to understand the severity of the disease outbreak on the coral assemblage and mitigate local anthropogenic stressors.
Download or read book Reef Coral Identification written by Paul Humann and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An accurate and practical source of information about corals. Maps, many color plates, basic information and appendix.
Download or read book A Research Review of 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 2019-04-05 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reef declines have been recorded for all major tropical ocean basins since the 1980s, averaging approximately 30-50% reductions in reef cover globally. These losses are a result of numerous problems, including habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing, disease, and climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions and the associated increases in ocean temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have been implicated in increased reports of coral bleaching, disease outbreaks, and ocean acidification (OA). For the hundreds of millions of people who depend on reefs for food or livelihoods, the thousands of communities that depend on reefs for wave protection, the people whose cultural practices are tied to reef resources, and the many economies that depend on reefs for fisheries or tourism, the health and maintenance of this major global ecosystem is crucial. A growing body of research on coral physiology, ecology, molecular biology, and responses to stress has revealed potential tools to increase coral resilience. Some of this knowledge is poised to provide practical interventions in the short-term, whereas other discoveries are poised to facilitate research that may later open the doors to additional interventions. A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs reviews the state of science on genetic, ecological, and environmental interventions meant to enhance the persistence and resilience of coral reefs. The complex nature of corals and their associated microbiome lends itself to a wide range of possible approaches. This first report provides a summary of currently available information on the range of interventions present in the scientific literature and provides a basis for the forthcoming final report.
Download or read book Oil Spills in Coral Reefs written by Rebecca Z. Hoff and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Corals in a Changing World written by Carmenza Duque and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2018-03-28 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Corals comprise a wide variety of colonial marine invertebrates belonging to the Phylum Cnidaria. Their polyps form the most colorful, complete, and diverse communities on the Earth resembling underwater cities, commonly called coral reefs, which host a wide variety of invertebrates and fish species. They are highly productive ecosystems, contribute to the health of the biosphere, and offer a good number of economic and ecological services to coastal populations and to many people around the world. However, due to a diverse number of natural and anthropogenic stressors, corals have shown a severe decline over the past few decades. Being aware of the importance and relevance of the facts described, the book "Corals in a Changing World" offers new scientific information regarding the actual status and, in some cases, the resilience state of coral reef systems. Timely information is critical for managers and decision makers to implement sustainable management measures according to the ecological condition of coral reefs. In addition, the book also discusses the use of well-maintained coral microcosms to provide a good basis for performing experiments with natural fluctuations and to present studies dedicated to the coral diversity characterization and to their importance as a source of important biological compounds, which could be converted into industrial products.
Download or read book Global Re introduction Perspectives written by Pritpal S. Soorae and published by IUCN. This book was released on 2010 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This is the second issue in the Global Re-introduction Perspectives series and has been produced in the same standardized format as the previous one. The case-studies are arranged in the following order: Introduction, Goals, Success Indicators, Project Summary, Major Difficulties Faced, Major Lessons Learned, Success of Project with reasons for success or failure. For this second issue we received a total of 72 case-studies compared to 62 in the last issue. These case studies cover the following taxa as follows: invertebrates (9), fish (6), amphibians (5), reptiles (7), birds (13), mammals (20) and plants (12) ... We hope the information presented in this book will provide a broad global perspective on challenges facing re-introduction projects trying to restore biodiversity."--Pritpal S. Soorae.
