Acute turbidity exposures with Port of Miami sediments impact Orbicella faveolata tissue regeneration

May, Lisa; Miller, Carl V.; Moffitt, Zachary J.; Balthis, Len; Karazsia, Jocelyn; Wilber, Pace; Woodley, Cheryl M.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115217

“…The latter study, [43], hypothesized that coral larvae might protect themselves by secreting mucus to help with sediment clearing. A recent study, [47], observed O. faveolata adult fragments constantly producing mucus to help with sediment clearing after different exposure periods to loads between 50-150 mg/L. However, in our study, we did not see any signs of mucus production by O. faveolata larvae during or after the exposure period.…”

Section: Effects On Larval Survivalcontrasting

confidence: 98%

“…The most recent large-scale deepening project at Port of Miami (which occurred from 2013-2015) resulted in severe sedimentation impacts to local coral reef habitats [1,3,15,45], although the severity of those impacts has been disputed [46]. In addition, recent work exposed adult O. faveolata corals to Port of Miami sediments during a 96-hr period and showed adverse effects on tissue regeneration capacity compared to no sediment controls at concentrations as low as 50 mg/L (~4 NTU, [47]). In this study, we exposed O. faveolata larvae to suspended sediments collected near the Port of Miami channel and compared their performance with larvae exposed to reef sediments collected from the natal reef of the parent colonies in the Florida Keys.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment source and dose influence the larval performance of the threatened coral Orbicella faveolata

Serrano,

Rosales,

Miller

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The effects of turbidity and sedimentation stress on early life stages of corals are poorly understood, particularly in Atlantic species. Dredging operations, beach nourishment, and other coastal construction activities can increase sedimentation and turbidity in nearby coral reef habitats and have the potential to negatively affect coral larval development and metamorphosis, reducing sexual reproduction success. In this study, we investigated the performance of larvae of the threatened Caribbean coral species Orbicella faveolata exposed to suspended sediments collected from a reef site in southeast Florida recently impacted by dredging (Port of Miami), and compared it to the performance of larvae exposed to sediments collected from the offshore, natal reef of the parent colonies. In a laboratory experiment, we tested whether low and high doses of each of these sediment types affected the survival, settlement, and respiration of coral larvae compared to a no-sediment control treatment. In addition, we analyzed the sediments used in the experiments with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess differences in the microbial communities present in the Port versus Reef sediments, and their potential impact on coral performance. Overall, only O. faveolata larvae exposed to the high-dose Port sediment treatment had significantly lower survival rates compared to the control treatment, suggesting an initial tolerance to elevated suspended sediments. However, significantly lower settlement rates were observed in both Port treatments (low- and high-dose) compared to the control treatment one week after exposure, suggesting strong latent effects. Sediments collected near the Port also contained different microbial communities than Reef sediments, and higher relative abundances of the bacteria Desulfobacterales, which has been associated with coral disease. We hypothesize that differences in microbial communities between the two sediments may be a contributing factor in explaining the observed differences in larval performance. Together, these results suggest that the settlement success and survival of O. faveolata larvae are more readily compromised by encountering port inlet sediments compared to reef sediments, with potentially important consequences for the recruitment success of this species in affected areas.

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“…The latter study, [43], hypothesized that coral larvae might protect themselves by secreting mucus to help with sediment clearing. A recent study, [47], observed O. faveolata adult fragments constantly producing mucus to help with sediment clearing after different exposure periods to loads between 50-150 mg/L. However, in our study, we did not see any signs of mucus production by O. faveolata larvae during or after the exposure period.…”

Section: Effects On Larval Survivalcontrasting

confidence: 98%

“…The most recent large-scale deepening project at Port of Miami (which occurred from 2013-2015) resulted in severe sedimentation impacts to local coral reef habitats [1,3,15,45], although the severity of those impacts has been disputed [46]. In addition, recent work exposed adult O. faveolata corals to Port of Miami sediments during a 96-hr period and showed adverse effects on tissue regeneration capacity compared to no sediment controls at concentrations as low as 50 mg/L (~4 NTU, [47]). In this study, we exposed O. faveolata larvae to suspended sediments collected near the Port of Miami channel and compared their performance with larvae exposed to reef sediments collected from the natal reef of the parent colonies in the Florida Keys.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“…The most recent large-scale deepening project at Port Miami (which occurred from 2013-2015) resulted in severe sedimentation impacts to local coral reef habitats [1, 3, 15, 45], although the severity of those impacts has been disputed [46]. In addition, recent work exposed adult O. faveolata corals to Port Miami sediments during a 96-hr period and showed adverse effects on tissue regeneration capacity compared to no sediment controls [47]. In this study, we exposed O. faveolata larvae to sediments collected near the Port Miami channel and compared their performance with larvae exposed to reef sediments collected from the natal reef of the parent colonies in the Florida Keys.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment source and dose influence the larval performance of the threatened coralOrbicella faveolata

Serrano,

Rosales,

Miller

et al. 2023

Preprint

0

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The effects of turbidity and sedimentation stress on early life stages of corals are poorly understood, particularly in Atlantic species. Dredging operations, beach nourishment, and other coastal construction activities can increase sedimentation and turbidity in nearby coral reef habitats and have the potential to negatively affect coral larval development and metamorphosis, reducing sexual reproduction success. In this study, we investigated the performance of larvae of the threatened Caribbean coral speciesOrbicella faveolataexposed to sediments collected from a reef site in southeast Florida recently impacted by dredging (Port Miami), and compared it to the performance of larvae exposed to sediments collected from the offshore, natal reef of the parent colonies. In a laboratory experiment, we tested whether low and high doses of each of these sediment types affected the survival, settlement, and respiration of coral larvae compared to a no-sediment control treatment. In addition, we analyzed the sediments used in the experiments with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess differences in the microbial communities present in the Port versus Reef sediments, and their potential impact on coral performance. Overall,O. faveolatalarvae exposed to high doses of either sediment type (Port or Reef) exhibited reduced survival and settlement rates, but only the Port sediments resulted in adverse effects in the low-dose treatment. Sediments collected near the Port also contained different microbiomes than Reef sediments, and higher relative abundances of the bacteria Desulfobacterales, which has been associated with coral disease. We hypothesize that differences in microbiomes between the two sediments may be a contributing factor in explaining the observed differences in larval performance. Together, these results suggest that the settlement success and survival ofO. faveolatalarvae are more readily compromised by encountering port inlet sediments compared to reef sediments, with potentially important consequences for the recruitment success of this species in affected areas.

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Acute turbidity exposures with Port of Miami sediments impact Orbicella faveolata tissue regeneration

Cited by 3 publications

References 47 publications

Sediment source and dose influence the larval performance of the threatened coral Orbicella faveolata

Sediment source and dose influence the larval performance of the threatened coral Orbicella faveolata

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Sediment source and dose influence the larval performance of the threatened coralOrbicella faveolata

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