Several fireworms Hermodice carunculata (Pallas, 1766) were observed feeding on coral colonies or transplanted fragments of the threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816), in outplanting sites at Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. The fireworm H. carunculata has a highly negative impact on A. cervicornis populations, causing several lesions on the living tissue of branches and partial or complete mortality at the outplanting sites. This is the first report of predation on transplanted colonies in a coral restoration program in the Dominican Republic.
Distribution and abundance of the lionfish Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) and associated native species in Parque Marino Cayos de San Felipe, Cuba. The first lionfish sighting at the National Park "Cayos de San Felipe" was in 2009 and could be a threat to its marine ecosystem diversity and their capacity to generate services. To analyze the incidence of the lionfish invasion in the area, an annual sampling was conducted between 2013 and 2015. Lionfish abundance and size was investigated on mangroves through visual census on ten transects of 30x2 m/station, and on coral reefs (15 and 25 m deep) with stereo video on six transects of 50x2 m/station. Additionally, incidence of potential native competitors and predators on coral reefs were also estimated. Over the three years, the average density of lionfish varied between 0.0-1.3 indiv./100 m 2 per sample stations and it was not significantly different among habitats (mangroves with 0.6 indiv./100 m 2 , reefs at 15 m -0.4 indiv./100 m 2 and reef at 25 m with 0.3 indiv./100 m 2 ). Lionfish's density was equal to or lower than competitors' density, and was equal to or higher than predator's density in both depths. While lionfish density on mangroves and on reefs at 25 m remained temporally stable, it decreased on reefs at 15 m. Temporary increase in the competitor's density was observed and the predator´s density did not change during the monitored time. Lionfish size varied between 5 and 39 cm; the average fish size from mangroves (12.6 cm) was consistently lower than from reefs (25.2 cm) and showed no variations among years. Lionfish size in reefs was higher than competitor's size and lower than that of predator. Results showed that in the park: 1) mangroves represent lionfish nursery areas; 2) incidence of reef lionfish was not as high as in other areas of Cuba and the Caribbean; and 3) lionfish abundance in reefs tended to decrease over the years, without the intervention of extractive activities or high abundance of large size native groupers. In this sense, recommendations are made to continue monitoring and to investigate lionfish effects and factors that are regulating its incidence in the park. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (1): 117-125. Epub 2017 March 01.
Losing coral diversity is one of the most important consequences of coral reefs' ongoing degradation. Alternate: As the planet enters its sixth global extinction event, the loss of biodiversity due to coral reef degradation becomes of paramount importance. However, the loss of coral species diversity and its relationship to multiple global and local stressors remains largely untested on different temporal or spatial scales. This study evaluates the change in coral species diversity and its relationship to different stressors and habitat characteristics, using ecological data from 73 sites in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) and a variety of potential explanatory variables derived from remote sensing. We found a loss of coral diversity in the period analyzed, from 2010 to 2018. In addition to a decrease in diversity, there was also a considerable change in coral assemblages. The coral reefs that presented a greater loss of species were those with higher initial diversity and those with a higher number of annual bleaching risk events. Surprisingly, coral reefs exposed to hurricanes and turbidity with intermediate magnitude did not experience the same loss in diversity; some reefs even experience an increased diversity in this timeframe. The rate of increase in macroalgal cover was related to the decrease in coral diversity. Our results highlight the need to protect reefs with high diversity and constantly exposed to high heat stress events. These reefs should be considered sites of relevance in future conservation plans in the current context of global environmental change.
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