Competition among small colonies of Agaricia: the importance of size asymmetry in determining competitive outcome

Zilberberg, Carla; Edmunds, Peter J.

doi:10.3354/meps221125

Cited by 32 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Small colonies are particularly vulnerable to physical breakage and tend to fare worse in spatial competition with neighbours (Zilberberg & Edmunds 2001). The recorded mean linear growth for juvenile Agaricia spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Small corals have a smaller reservoir of energy to invest in competitive interactions and are more vulnerable to whole colony mortality than larger individuals (Zilberberg & Edmunds 2001, Raymundo & Maypa 2003. Thus juvenile corals that have survived initial post settlement mortality and undergone early growth and division to form small colonies may be particularly susceptible to macroalgal competition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of macroalgal competition on growth and survival of juvenile Caribbean corals

Box

Mumby²

2007

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

291

207

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Lobophora variegata and Dictyota pulchella are dominant algal components on coral reefs across the Caribbean, but the mechanisms and outcomes of spatial competition between these algae and scleractinian corals are poorly understood. In this study the effects on growth and mortality of juvenile corals by 2 forms of algal competition, shading and abrasion, were investigated. The growth of small Agaricia spp. (< 20 mm diameter) was monitored over a 14 mo period on shallow forereefs in Roatán, Honduras. Experimental manipulations of algal shading and algal contact with the periphery of colonies were conducted in isolation from the effects of grazing through the use of exclusion cages. Shading by L. variegata caused an overall loss of coral tissue and significantly increased colony mortality rates from 0 to 50% in 6 mo. The presence of L. variegata around the periphery of a coral colony significantly reduced the overall growth of juvenile corals, decreasing the growth rate to 60% of that of control corals, but had no detectable effect on mortality. Shading by D. pulchella resulted in 99% growth inhibition (i.e. to just 1% of the growth rate of control corals). Peripheral contact with D. pulchella (without shading) also retarded coral growth rates but to a lesser extent: to 31% of that of controls. A synthetic alga made to mimic the action of D. pulchella abrasion caused a similar reduction in growth rate to actual D. pulchella, suggesting that the reduction in coral growth occurred because of physical mechanisms rather than allelochemical inhibition. The severe inhibition of colony growth caused by the proximity of D. pulchella or L. variegata may extend a coral's period of vulnerability to whole colony mortality. Based on the monthly mortality rate observed in uncaged control corals of 0.035 ± 0.135 (SE), peripheral contact with D. pulchella could decrease the survivorship of corals reaching a 3 cm diameter from 29 to < 2%. Peripheral contact with L. variegata could likewise decrease cohort survival to 11%. The ability of these common macroalgae to reduce the survivorship of juvenile corals through interference competition could contribute to the perpetuating dominance of macroalgae on many Caribbean reefs.KEY WORDS: Macroalgae · Coral · Competition · Growth · Phase shifts · Survival probability Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of macroalgal competition on growth and survival of juvenile Caribbean corals

Box

Mumby²

2007

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

291

207

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The competitively superior octocoral Clavularia inflata was unable to overgrow the competitively inferior scleractinian Acropora longicyathus: regeneration in C. inflata following high predation damage by reef fish on mid-shelf reefs seemed to impair its ability to compete (ALINO et al, 1992). Damaged corals may experience longterm overgrowth and competitive exclusion by sponges (AERTS, 2000) or by larger, more energy-rich conspecific colonies (ZILBERBERG and EDMUNDS, 2001). Patterns of resource allocation could be measured in regenerating colonies under competition as they have been for bleached Oculina patagonica corals, which exhibited significantly reduced competitive ability (FINE and LOYA, 2003).…”

Section: Competitive Abilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regeneration from Injury and Resource Allocation in Sponges and Corals - a Review

Henry¹,

Hart

2005

Internat. Rev. Hydrobiol.

197

213

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The ability of bottom-dwelling marine epifauna to regenerate injured or lost body parts is critical to the survival of individuals from disturbances that inflict wounds. Numerous studies on marine sponges (Phlyum Porifera) and corals (of the orders Scleractinia and Alcyonacea) suggest that regeneration is limited by many intrinsic (individual-dependent) and extrinsic (environment-dependent) factors, and that other life history processes may compete with regeneration for energetic and cellular resources. We review how intrinsic (size, age, morphology, genotype) and extrinsic (wound characteristics, water temperature, food availability, sedimentation, disturbance history, selection) factors limit regeneration in sponges and corals. We then review the evidence for impaired somatic growth and sexual reproduction, and altered outcomes of interactions (anti-predator defenses, competitive abilities, self-and non-self recognition abilities) with other organisms in regenerating sponges and corals. We demonstrate that smaller, older sponges and corals of decreasing morphological complexities tend to regenerate less well than others, and that regeneration can be modulated by genotype. Large wounds with small perimeters inflicted away from areas where resources are located tend to be regenerated less well than others, as are injuries inflicted when food is limited and when the animal has been previously or recently injured. We also demonstrate that regeneration strongly impairs somatic growth, reduces aspects of sexual reproduction, and decreases the ability for sponges and corals to defend themselves against predators, to compete, and to recognize conspecifics. Effects of limited regeneration and impaired life histories may manifest themselves in higher levels of biological assembly e.g., reduced accretion of epifaunal biomass, reduced recruitment and altered biotic associations, and thus affect marine community and ecosystem recovery from disturbances.

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“…These components are built of dense bundles of fine (<1 mm diameter) aragonite fibers which are also the building blocks of the adult skeleton [e.g., Wells, 1956;Constantz, 1989;Gladfelter, 1983]. The early initiation of calcification and rapid subsequent growth of these skeletal components which support, protect and elevate the tissue from the substrate, are crucial steps in the successful recruitment and survival of coral spat [Babcock and Mundy, 1996;Zilberberg and Edmunds, 2001].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological and compositional changes in the skeletons of new coral recruits reared in acidified seawater: Insights into the biomineralization response to ocean acidification

Cohen

McCorkle

Putron

et al. 2009

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

204

163

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[1] We reared primary polyps (new recruits) of the common Atlantic golf ball coral Favia fragum for 8 days at 25°C in seawater with aragonite saturation states ranging from ambient (W = 3.71) to strongly undersaturated (W = 0.22). Aragonite was accreted by all corals, even those reared in strongly undersaturated seawater. However, significant delays, in both the initiation of calcification and subsequent growth of the primary corallite, occurred in corals reared in treatment tanks relative to those grown at ambient conditions. In addition, we observed progressive changes in the size, shape, orientation, and composition of the aragonite crystals used to build the skeleton. With increasing acidification, densely packed bundles of fine aragonite needles gave way to a disordered aggregate of highly faceted rhombs. The Sr/Ca ratios of the crystals, measured by SIMS ion microprobe, increased by 13%, and Mg/Ca ratios decreased by 45%. By comparing these variations in elemental ratios with results from Rayleigh fractionation calculations, we show that the observed changes in crystal morphology and composition are consistent with a >80% decrease in the amount of aragonite precipitated by the corals from each ''batch'' of calcifying fluid. This suggests that the saturation state of fluid within the isolated calcifying compartment, while maintained by the coral at levels well above that of the external seawater, decreased systematically and significantly as the saturation state of the external seawater decreased. The inability of the corals in acidified treatments to achieve the levels of calcifying fluid supersaturation that drive rapid crystal growth could reflect a limit in the amount of energy available for the proton pumping required for calcification. If so, then the future impact of ocean acidification on tropical coral ecosystems may depend on the ability of individuals or species to overcome this limitation and achieve the levels of calcifying fluid supersaturation required to ensure rapid growth.

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Competition among small colonies of Agaricia: the importance of size asymmetry in determining competitive outcome

Cited by 32 publications

References 54 publications

Effect of macroalgal competition on growth and survival of juvenile Caribbean corals

Effect of macroalgal competition on growth and survival of juvenile Caribbean corals

Regeneration from Injury and Resource Allocation in Sponges and Corals - a Review

Morphological and compositional changes in the skeletons of new coral recruits reared in acidified seawater: Insights into the biomineralization response to ocean acidification

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