Biological Responses of the Coral Montastraea annularis to the Removal of Filamentous Turf Algae

Cetz-Navarro, Neidy P.; Espinoza-Ávalos, Julio; Hernández‐Arana, Héctor A.; Carricart‐Ganivet, Juan P.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054810

Cited by 8 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(122 reference statements)

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“…Two types of settings for algal-coral interactions were observed in Orbicella annularis at the study site: ramets surrounded by FTA and ramets bordered by CCA (see Figs. 1A and 1B in [ 32 ]).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The FTA removal consisted of manually clearing (with the aid of a knife and wire brushes) an algal belt of ~3 cm width around the entire coral tissue periphery (> 40 cm) of the ramets (see Fig. 1C in [ 32 ]). The manual removal of FTA could have detrimental effects (damaging coral tissue).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, the clearance (see Fig. 1C in [ 32 ]), performed by NPCN and JEA, was made with great care, requiring many hours of diving. Additionally, we began by removing FTA from twice the number of ramets needed for sampling (see below).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The assemblages of macroalgae and turf algae also stress corals [ 31 , 32 ] and can affect their reproduction by reducing the diameter of eggs and the number of eggs formed in each mesentery (usually called gonad) [ 33 ], suppressing coral fecundity [ 34 , 35 ], and decreasing the amount of released larvae [ 36 ]. In contrast, the experimental removal of those algae can help eliminate coral stress [ 32 ] promoting higher numbers of eggs, larger eggs, an increased number of mesenteries with formed gametes (gonads) per polyp [ 33 ], and an increase in the number of larvae released [ 36 ]. However, little is known about the effect of algal turfs on the development of gametes of the most structurally important coral species on Caribbean reefs, including Acropora palmata , Montastraea cavernosa , and the Orbicella annularis species complex [ 37 – 39 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mats of FTA surrounding O . annularis included 96 taxa and were ~8 mm in height, with abundant sediment (grain size <0.3 mm) trapped within the mats [ 32 ]. The present study differs from [ 33 ] mainly because we used histological (vs. dissecting) procedures to obtain our data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Filamentous Turf Algal Removal on the Development of Gametes of the Coral Orbicella annularis

et al. 2015

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Macroalgae and filamentous turf algae (FTA) are abundant on degraded coral reefs, and the reproductive responses of corals may indicate sub-lethal stress under these conditions. The percentage of gametogenic stages (PGS) and the maximum diameter of eggs (MDE; or egg size) of Orbicella annularis were used to evaluate the effect of long- (7–10 months) and short-term (2.5 months) FTA removal (treatments T1 and T2, respectively) at both the beginning (May) and the end (August) of gametogenesis. Ramets (individual lobes of a colony) surrounded by FTA (T3) or crustose coralline algae (CCA; T4) were used as controls. The removal of FTA enhanced the development of gametes (i.e., a larger and higher percentage of mature gametes (PMG)) of O. annularis for T1 vs. T3 ramets in May and T1 and T2 vs. T3 ramets in August. Similar values of PGS and MDE between gametes from T3 and T4 in both May and August were unexpected because a previous study had shown that the same ramets of T4 (with higher tissue thickness, chlorophyll a cm-2 and zooxanthellae density and lower mitotic index values) were less stressed than ramets of T3. Evaluating coral stress through reproduction can reveal more sensitive responses than other biological parameters; within reproductive metrics, PGS can be a better stress indicator than egg size. The presence of turf algae strongly impacted the development of gametes and egg size (e.g., PMG in ramets with FTA removal increased almost twofold in comparison with ramets surrounded by FTA in August), most likely exerting negative chronic effects in the long run due to the ubiquity and permanence of turf algae in the Caribbean. These algae can be considered a stressor that affects coral sexual reproduction. Although the effects of turf algae on O. annularis are apparently less severe than those of other stressors, the future of this species is uncertain because of the combined impacts of these effects, the decline of O. annularis populations and the almost complete lack of recruitment.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Filamentous Turf Algal Removal on the Development of Gametes of the Coral Orbicella annularis

et al. 2015

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Endolithic community composition of Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia) underneath the interface between coral tissue and turf algae

et al. 2015

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Community structure and coral status across reef fishing intensity gradients in Palk Bay reef, southeast coast of India

Balakrishnan

Ravindran

Shrinivaasu

et al. 2014

Environ Monit Assess

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Coral reef fishes are exploited without the knowledge of their sustainability and their possible effect in altering the community structure of a coral reef ecosystem. Alteration of the community structure could cause a decline in the health of coral reefs and its services. We documented the coral community structure, status of live corals and reef fish assemblages in Palk Bay at the reef fishing hotspots and its nearby reef area with minimum fishing pressure and compared it with a control reef area where reef fishing was banned for more than two decades. The comparison was based on the percent cover of different forms of live corals, their diversity and the density and diversity of reef fishes. The reef fish stock in the reef fishing hotspots and its neighbouring reef was lower by 61 and 38%, respectively compared to the control reef. The herbivore fish Scarus ghobban and Siganus javus were exploited at a rate of 250 and 105 kg month(-1) fishermen(-1), respectively, relatively high comparing the small reef area. Live and dead corals colonized by turf algae were predominant in both the reef fishing hotspots and its nearby coral ecosystems. The percent cover of healthy live corals and live corals colonized by turf algae was <10 and >80%, respectively, in the intensively fished coral ecosystems. The corals were less diverse and the massive Porites and Favia colonies were abundant in the intensive reef fishing sites. Results of this study suggest that the impact of reef fish exploitation was not solely restricted to the intensively fished reefs, but also to the nearby reefs which play a critical role in the resilience of degraded reef ecosystems.

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Biological Responses of the Coral Montastraea annularis to the Removal of Filamentous Turf Algae

Cited by 8 publications

References 72 publications

The Effect of Filamentous Turf Algal Removal on the Development of Gametes of the Coral Orbicella annularis

The Effect of Filamentous Turf Algal Removal on the Development of Gametes of the Coral Orbicella annularis

Endolithic community composition of Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia) underneath the interface between coral tissue and turf algae

Community structure and coral status across reef fishing intensity gradients in Palk Bay reef, southeast coast of India

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