Calcification of the main reef-building coral species on the Pacific coast of southern Mexico

Medellín‐Maldonado, Francisco; Cabral-Tena, Rafael A.; López-Pérez, Andrés; Calderón-Aguilera, Luis E.; Norzagaray-López, Carlos Orión; Chapa-Balcorta, Cecilia; Zepeta-Vilchis, R.C.

doi:10.7773/cm.v42i3.2650

Cited by 26 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(131 reference statements)

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“…are similar to other documented outcomes in the ETP region [14,56,87,[93][94][95]. The same applies to Pavona, one of the fastest growing massive coral species in the ETP region [49,87,88,[94][95][96][97]. The consistency in the comparisons is further applied to coral density for branching (1.90-2.65 g cm −3 ) and massive (0.97-1.95 g cm −3 ) species [14,49,88,96].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…The same applies to Pavona, one of the fastest growing massive coral species in the ETP region [49,87,88,[94][95][96][97]. The consistency in the comparisons is further applied to coral density for branching (1.90-2.65 g cm −3 ) and massive (0.97-1.95 g cm −3 ) species [14,49,88,96]. Our results thus reveal the possible equal calcification patterns for both extension rates and skeletal density in coral nubbins, a different calcification landscape when compared to adult colonies, where calcification priorities are diverted between extension rates vs. skeletal densities [14,72,98].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Micro-Fragmentation as an Effective and Applied Tool to Restore Remote Reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Tortolero-Langarica

Rodríguez-Troncoso

Cupul-Magaña

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Coral reef ecosystems are continuously degraded by anthropogenic and climate change drivers, causing a widespread decline in reef biodiversity and associated goods and services. In response, active restoration methodologies and practices have been developed globally to compensate for losses due to reef degradation. Yet, most activities employ the gardening concept that uses coral nurseries, and are centered in easily-accessible reefs, with existing infrastructure, and impractical for coral reefs in remote locations. Here we evaluate the effectiveness of direct outplanting of coral micro-fragments (Pavona clavus and Pocillopora spp.) as a novel approach to restore remote reefs in the Islas Marías archipelago in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Coral growth (height-width-tissue cover), survival percentage, extension rates (cm year−1), skeletal density (g cm−3) and calcification rates (g cm−2 year−1) were assessed over 13 months of restoration. In spite of detrimental effects of Hurricane Willa, transplants showed a greater-than-twofold increase in all growth metrics, with ~58–61% survival rate and fast self-attachment (within ~3.9 months) for studied species, with Pocilloporids exhibiting higher extension, skeletal density, and calcification rates than Pavona. While comprehensive long-term studies are required, direct transplantation methodologies of coral micro-fragments are emerging as time-effective and affordable restoration tools to mitigate anthropogenic and climate change impacts in remote and marginal reefs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-Fragmentation as an Effective and Applied Tool to Restore Remote Reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Tortolero-Langarica

Rodríguez-Troncoso

Cupul-Magaña

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Disparities in species responses can arise from different experimental approaches, and a response measured in the lab does not always translate to the field. However, the present study and others demonstrate that P. meandrina corals are able to maintain growth and calcification rates at ~29 °C (Medellin-Maldonado et al, 2016; Muehllehner & Edmunds, 2008). Moreover, Lenihan & Edmunds (2010) observed that injured P. verrucosa corals under seawater warming (~29 °C) outgrew intact conspecifics but had reduced tissue regeneration.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 44%

Different nitrogen sources speed recovery from corallivory and uniquely alter the microbiome of a reef-building coral

Rice

Maher

Thurber

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Corals are in decline worldwide due to local anthropogenic stressors, such as nutrient loading, and global stressors, such as ocean warming. Anthropogenic nutrient loading, which is often rich in nitrate, inhibits coral growth and worsens corals’ response to warming while natural sources of nitrogen, such as ammonium from fish excretion, promotes coral growth. Although the effects of nutrient loading and ocean warming have been well-studied, it remains unclear how these factors may interact with biotic processes, such as corallivory, to alter coral health and the coral microbiome. This study examined how nitrate vs. ammonium enrichment altered the effects of increased seawater temperature and simulated parrotfish corallivory on the health of Pocillopora meandrina and its microbial community. We tested the effects of nitrogen source on the response to corallivory under contrasting temperatures (control: 26 °C, warming: 29 °C) in a factorial mesocosm experiment in Moorea, French Polynesia. Corals were able to maintain growth rates despite simultaneous stressors. Seawater warming suppressed wound healing rates by nearly 66%. However, both ammonium and nitrate enrichment counteracted the effect of higher temperatures on would healing rates. Elevated seawater temperature and ammonium enrichment independently increased Symbiodiniaceae densities relative to controls, yet there was no effect of nitrate enrichment on algal symbiont densities. Microbiome variability increased with the addition of nitrate or ammonium. Moreover, microbial indicator analysis showed that Desulfovibrionaceae Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are indicators of exclusively temperature stress while Rhodobacteraceae and Saprospiraceae OTUs were indicators of high temperature, wounding, and nitrogen enrichment. Overall, our results suggest that nitrogen source may not alter the response of the coral host to simultaneous stressors, but that the associated microbial community may be distinct depending on the source of enrichment.

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“…5 ), they are four times faster in calcification rates compared with other predominant genera of Pavona and Porites ( Guzmán & Cortés, 1989 ; Cabral-Tena et al, 2013 ; Medellín-Maldonado et al, 2016 ). This large difference corroborates the importance of the Pocillopora genera in the region, being as the major producer of calcium carbonate and one of the most dominant reef building species of the ETP region ( Glynn & Wellington, 1983 ; Guzmán & Cortés, 1989 ; Carriquiry et al, 2001 ; Norzagaray-López et al, 2014 ; Medellín-Maldonado et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Calcification and growth rate recovery of the reef-buildingPocilloporaspecies in the northeast tropical Pacific following an ENSO disturbance

Tortolero-Langarica

Rodríguez-Troncoso

Cupul-Magaña

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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Pocilloporids are one of the major reef-building corals in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and also the most affected by thermal stress events, mainly those associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periods. To date, coral growth parameters have been poorly reported in Pocillopora species in the northeastern region of the tropical Pacific. Monthly and annual growth rates of the three most abundant morphospecies (P. cf. verrucosa, P. cf. capitata, and P. cf. damicornis) were evaluated during two annual periods at a site on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The first annual period, 2010–2011 was considered a strong ENSO/La Niña period with cool sea surface temperatures, then followed by a non-ENSO period in 2012–2013. The linear extension rate, skeletal density, and calcification rate averaged (±SD) were 2.31 ± 0.11 cm yr−1, 1.65 ± 0.18 g cm−3, 5.03 ± 0.84 g cm−2 yr-1 respectively, during the strong ENSO event. In contrast, the respective non-ENSO values were 3.50 ± 0.64 cm yr−1, 1.70 ± 0.18 g cm−3, and 6.02 ± 1.36 g cm−2 yr−1. This corresponds to 52% and 20% faster linear extension and calcification rates, respectively, during non-ENSO period. The evidence suggests that Pocillopora branching species responded positively with faster growth rates following thermal anomalies, which allow them to maintain coral communities in the region.

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Calcification of the main reef-building coral species on the Pacific coast of southern Mexico

Cited by 26 publications

References 42 publications

Micro-Fragmentation as an Effective and Applied Tool to Restore Remote Reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Micro-Fragmentation as an Effective and Applied Tool to Restore Remote Reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Different nitrogen sources speed recovery from corallivory and uniquely alter the microbiome of a reef-building coral

Calcification and growth rate recovery of the reef-buildingPocilloporaspecies in the northeast tropical Pacific following an ENSO disturbance

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