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Figure 4 in A new species of Metatanais Shiino, 1952 (Crustacea, Tanaidacea, Paratanaoidea) from Australian coral reefs, with a redefinition of the genus

Figure 4. Metatanais bipunctatus sp. n. paratype, female. A antennule B antenna C labrum D left mandible E right mandible F maxilliped G maxillule G' maxillule palp H maxilla I epignath I' detail of epignath. Scale bars equals 0.01mm.

Figure 2 in Leipanthura casuarina, new genus and species of anthurid isopod from Australian coral reefs without a "five-petalled" tail (Isopoda, Cymothoida, Anthuroidea)

Figure 2. Leipanthura casuarina sp. n., paratype juvenile. p1-p6, pereopods 1–6 (drawn in situ to same scale). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figure 3 in Leipanthura casuarina, new genus and species of anthurid isopod from Australian coral reefs without a "five-petalled" tail (Isopoda, Cymothoida, Anthuroidea)

Figure 3. Leipanthura casuarina sp. n., paratype juvenile. pl1-pl5, pleopods 1–5 (drawn to same scale). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figure 4 in Leipanthura casuarina, new genus and species of anthurid isopod from Australian coral reefs without a "five-petalled" tail (Isopoda, Cymothoida, Anthuroidea)

Figure 4. Leipanthura casuarina sp. n., alcohol-preserved non-type specimen, WAM C40642. Photograph and image preparation by Ken Walker, Museum Victoria, 18 June 2009. Scale bar = 0.25 mm.

opencc-by-3.0May 2017View details →

Fig. 3 in A new species of Novastoa Finlay, 1926 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vermetidae) from coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean

Fig. 3. Anatomy of Novastoa rapaitiensis sp. nov. A–B. Male specimen (holotype, MNHN IM-2000- 27249, Rapa Iti Island, French Polynesia). A. Right view. B. Dorsal view of anterior body. – C. Female specimen, right view (UF 436684, Moorea Island, French Polynesia). – D–E. Female specimen (AM C.464342, Yonge Reef, Australia). D. Dorsal view of anterior body. E. Mantle cavity. – F. Leaflet from mid-section of gill (UF 436684, Moorea Island, French Polynesia).

opencc-zeroSep 2020View details →

Data and code for: Dietzel et al. Long-term shifts in the colony size structure of coral populations along the Great Barrier Reef

The age or size structure of a population has a marked influence on its demography and reproductive capacity. While declines in coral cover are well documented, concomitant shifts in the size frequency distribution of coral colonies are rarely measured at large spatial scales. Here we document major shifts in the colony size structure of coral populations along the 2,300km length of the Great Barrier Reef over the past two decades. Coral colony abundances on reef crests and slopes have declined sharply across all colony size classes and in all coral taxa compared to historical baselines. Declines were particularly pronounced in the Northern and Central regions of the Great Barrier Reef, following mass coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017. The relative abundances of large colonies remained relatively stable, but this apparent stability masks steep declines in absolute abundance. The potential for recovery of older fecund corals is uncertain given the increasing frequency and intensity of disturbance events. The systematic decline in smaller colonies across regions, habitats and taxa, suggests that a decline in recruitment has further eroded the recovery potential and resilience of coral populations.

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2020View details →

Data from: Coral cover surveys corroborate predictions on reef adaptive potential to thermal stress

As anomalous heat waves are causing the widespread decline of coral reefs worldwide, there is an urgent need to identify coral populations tolerant to thermal stress. Heat stress adaptive potential is the degree of tolerance expected from evolutionary processes and, for a given reef, depends on the arrival of propagules from reefs exposed to recurrent thermal stress. For this reason, assessing spatial patterns of thermal adaptation and reef connectivity is of paramount importance to inform conservation strategies. In this work, we applied a seascape genomics framework to characterize the spatial patterns of thermal adaptation and connectivity for coral reefs of New Caledonia (Southern Pacific). In this approach, remote sensing of seascape conditions was combined with genomic data from three coral species. For every reef of the region, we computed a probability of heat stress adaptation, and two indices forecasting inbound and outbound connectivity. We then compared our indicators to field survey data, and observed that decrease of coral cover after heat stress was lower at reefs predicted with high probability of adaptation and inbound connectivity. Last, we discussed how these indicators can be used to inform local conservation strategies and preserve the adaptive potential of New Caledonian reefs.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2020View details →

Air–water exchange and gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coral reef areas of the South China Sea

Supporting information

opencc-zeroDec 2020View details →

Multiple cleaner species provide simultaneous services to coral reef fish clients

Cleaning symbioses on tropical coral reefs are typically documented between two species: a single client fish and one or more conspecific cleaners. However, multiple Caribbean cleaner species often live sympatrically and have been anecdotally reported to simultaneously clean the same client. The patterns and processes driving these interactions are poorly understood and cleaning interactions involving multiple cleaner species may be subject to different driving forces than those involving a single cleaner species. Here we used remote underwater videography on three reefs in Honduras to record simultaneous cleaning interactions involving Pederson's cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) and cleaner gobies (Elacatinus spp.). Our multi-year dataset shows cleaner gobies joined 28% of all interactions initiated at A. pedersoni cleaning stations with cleaner gobies residing nearby, and 9% of all cleaning interactions across our study sites. Client body size significantly predicted simultaneous cleaning interactions, with 45% of interactions simultaneous for clients >20cm total body length compared to only 8% for clients <20cm. We also found that simultaneous cleaning interactions were over twice as long as solitary shrimp-only interactions. Moreover, interactions were always initiated by a shrimp with gobies joining simultaneously and we recorded no observations of aggression between the two cleaners. We suggest the possibilities of cooperative and exploitative relationships between the two cleaners.

opencc-zeroDec 2020View details →

Hurricane impacts on a coral reef soundscape

Soundscape ecology is an emerging field in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and provides a powerful approach for assessing habitat quality and the ecological response of sound-producing species to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Little is known of how underwater soundscapes respond during and after severe episodic disturbances, such as hurricanes. This study addresses the impacts of Hurricane Irma on the coral reef soundscape at two spur-and-groove fore-reef sites within the Florida Keys USA, using passive acoustic data collected before and during the storm at Western Dry Rocks (WDR) and before, during and after the storm at Eastern Sambo (ESB). As the storm passed, the cumulative acoustic exposure near the seabed at these sites was comparable to a small vessel operating continuously overhead for 1-2 weeks. Before the storm, sound pressure levels (SPLs) showed a distinct pattern of low frequency diel variation and increased high frequency sound during crepuscular periods. The low frequency band was partitioned in two groups representative of soniferous reef fish, whereas the high frequency band represented snapping shrimp sound production. Daily daytime patterns in low-frequency sound production largely persisted in the weeks following the hurricane. Crepuscular sound production by snapping shrimp was maintained post-hurricane with only a small shift (~1.5dB) in the level of daytime vs nighttime sound production for this high frequency band. This study suggests that on short time scales, temporal patterns in the coral reef soundscape were relatively resilient to acoustic energy exposure during the storm, as well as changes in the benthic habitat and environmental conditions resulting from hurricane damage.

opencc-zeroDec 2013View details →

Data from: Fluorescent protein-mediated colour polymorphism in reef corals: multi-copy genes extend the adaptation/acclimatization potential to variable light environments

The genomic framework that enables corals to adjust to unfavourable conditions is crucial for coral reef survival in a rapidly changing climate. We have explored the striking intraspecific variability in the expression of coral pigments from the green fluorescent protein (GFP) family to elucidate the genomic basis for the plasticity of stress responses among reef corals. We show that multi-copy genes can greatly increase the dynamic range over which corals can modulate transcript levels in response to the light environment. Using the red fluorescent protein amilFP597 in the coral Acropora millepora as a model, we demonstrate that its expression increases with light intensity, but both the minimal and maximal gene transcript levels vary markedly among colour morphs. The pigment concentration in the tissue of different morphs is strongly correlated with the number of gene copies with a particular promoter type. These findings indicate that colour polymorphism in reef corals can be caused by the environmentally regulated expression of multi-copy genes. High-level expression of amilFP597 is correlated with reduced photodamage of zooxanthellae under acute light stress, supporting a photoprotective function of this pigment. The cluster of light-regulated pigment genes can enable corals to invest either in expensive high-level pigmentation, offering benefits under light stress, or to rely on low tissue pigment concentrations and use the conserved resources for other purposes, which is preferable in less light-exposed environments. The genomic framework described here allows corals to pursue different strategies to succeed in habitats with highly variable light stress levels. In summary, our results suggest that the intraspecific plasticity of reef corals' stress responses is larger than previously thought.

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

Data from: Investigating the causes and consequences of symbiont shuffling in a multi-partner reef coral symbiosis under environmental change

Dynamic symbioses may critically mediate impacts of climate change on diverse organisms, with repercussions for ecosystem persistence in some cases. On coral reefs, increases in heat-tolerant symbionts after thermal bleaching can reduce coral susceptibility to future stress. However, the relevance of this adaptive response is equivocal owing to conflicting reports of symbiont stability and change. We help reconcile this conflict by showing that change in symbiont community composition (symbiont shuffling) in Orbicella faveolata depends on the disturbance severity and recovery environment. The proportion of heat-tolerant symbionts dramatically increased following severe experimental bleaching, especially in a warmer recovery environment, but tended to decrease if bleaching was less severe. These patterns can be explained by variation in symbiont performance in the changing microenvironments created by differentially bleached host tissues. Furthermore, higher proportions of heat-tolerant symbionts linearly increased bleaching resistance but reduced photochemical efficiency, suggesting that any change in community structure oppositely impacts performance and stress tolerance. Therefore, even minor symbiont shuffling can adaptively benefit corals, although fitness effects of resulting trade-offs are difficult to predict. This work helps elucidate causes and consequences of dynamism in symbiosis, which is critical to predicting responses of multi-partner symbioses such as O. faveolata to environmental change.

opencc-zeroDec 2015View details →

Data from: Unexpected high vulnerability of functions in wilderness areas: evidence from coral reef fishes

High species richness is thought to support the delivery of multiple ecosystem functions and services under changing environments. Yet, some species might perform unique functional roles while others are redundant. Thus, the benefits of high species richness in maintaining ecosystem functioning are uncertain if functions have little redundancy, potentially leading to high vulnerability of functions. We studied the natural propensity of assemblages to be functionally buffered against loss prior to fishing activities, using functional trait combinations, in coral reef fish assemblages across unfished wilderness areas of the Indo-Pacific: Chagos Archipelago, New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Fish functional diversity in these wilderness areas is highly vulnerable to fishing, explained by species- and abundance-based redundancy packed into a small combination of traits, leaving most other trait combinations (60%) sensitive to fishing, with no redundancy. Functional vulnerability peaks for mobile and sedentary top predators, and large species in general. Functional vulnerability decreases for certain functional entities in New Caledonia, where overall functional redundancy was higher. Uncovering these baseline patterns of functional vulnerability can offer early warning signals of the damaging effects from fishing, and may serve as baselines to guide precautionary and even proactive conservation actions.

opencc-zeroDec 2016View details →

Data from: Warming has a greater effect than elevated CO2 on predator–prey interactions in coral reef fish

Ocean acidification and warming, driven by anthropogenic CO2 emissions, are considered to be among the greatest threats facing marine organisms. While each stressor in isolation has been studied extensively, there has been less focus on their combined effects, which could impact key ecological processes. We tested the independent and combined effects of short-term exposure to elevated CO2 and temperature on the predator–prey interactions of a common pair of coral reef fishes (Pomacentrus wardi and its predator, Pseudochromis fuscus). We found that predator success increased following independent exposure to high temperature and elevated CO2. Overall, high temperature had an overwhelming effect on the escape behaviour of the prey compared with the combined exposure to elevated CO2 and high temperature or the independent effect of elevated CO2. Exposure to high temperatures led to an increase in attack and predation rates. By contrast, we observed little influence of elevated CO2 on the behaviour of the predator, suggesting that the attack behaviour of P. fuscus was robust to this environmental change. This is the first study to address how the kinematics and swimming performance at the basis of predator–prey interactions may change in response to concurrent exposure to elevated CO2 and high temperatures and represents an important step to forecasting the responses of interacting species to climate change.

opencc-zeroDec 2015View details →

Data from: Coral reef degradation is not correlated with local human population density

The global decline of reef-building corals is understood to be due to a combination of local and global stressors. However, many reef scientists assume that local factors predominate and that isolated reefs, far from human activities, are generally healthier and more resilient. Here we show that coral reef degradation is not correlated with human population density. This suggests that local factors such as fishing and pollution are having minimal effects or that their impacts are masked by global drivers such as ocean warming. Our results also suggest that the effects of local and global stressors are antagonistic, rather than synergistic as widely assumed. These findings indicate that local management alone cannot restore coral populations or increase the resilience of reefs to large-scale impacts. They also highlight the truly global reach of anthropogenic warming and the immediate need for drastic and sustained cuts in carbon emissions.

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

Data from: The future of evolutionary diversity in reef corals

One-third of the world's reef-building corals are facing heightened extinction risk from climate change and other anthropogenic impacts. Previous studies have shown that such threats are not distributed randomly across the coral tree of life, and future extinctions have the potential to disproportionately reduce the phylogenetic diversity of this group on a global scale. However, the impact of such losses on a regional scale remains poorly known. In this study, we use phylogenetic metrics in conjunction with geographical distributions of living reef coral species to model how extinctions are likely to affect evolutionary diversity across different ecoregions. Based on two measures—phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic species variability—we highlight regions with the largest losses of evolutionary diversity and hence of potential conservation interest. Notably, the projected loss of evolutionary diversity is relatively low in the most species-rich areas such as the Coral Triangle, while many regions with fewer species stand to lose much larger shares of their diversity. We also suggest that for complex ecosystems like coral reefs it is important to consider changes in phylogenetic species variability; areas with disproportionate declines in this measure should be of concern even if phylogenetic diversity is not as impacted. These findings underscore the importance of integrating evolutionary history into conservation planning for safeguarding the future diversity of coral reefs.