Enhancement of coral recruitment by in situ mass culture of coral larvae

Heyward, Andrew; Smith, Luke; Rees, Max; Field, Stuart N.

doi:10.3354/meps230113

Cited by 101 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The results presented here demonstrate that complex microbial biofilms more than 2 weeks old are able to induce metamorphosis both in the presence and absence of CCA and highlight the potential for biofilms to influence coral recruitment patterns following mass spawning events. These findings may be applied to enhance the artificial rehabilitation of reefs degraded by natural climatic phenomena, crown-of-thorns starfish, or coral bleaching (14). Timely mechanical preparation of the seabed and subsequent development of appropriate microbial biofilms, prior to predictable mass spawning events, may enhance coral recruitment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metamorphosis of a Scleractinian Coral in Response to Microbial Biofilms

Webster

Smith

Heyward

et al. 2004

Appl Environ Microbiol

310

260

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Microorganisms have been reported to induce settlement and metamorphosis in a wide range of marine invertebrate species. However, the primary cue reported for metamorphosis of coral larvae is calcareous coralline algae (CCA). Herein we report the community structure of developing coral reef biofilms and the potential role they play in triggering the metamorphosis of a scleractinian coral. Two-week-old biofilms induced metamorphosis in less than 10% of larvae, whereas metamorphosis increased significantly on older biofilms, with a maximum of 41% occurring on 8-week-old microbial films. There was a significant influence of depth in 4-and 8-week biofilms, with greater levels of metamorphosis occurring in response to shallow-water communities. Importantly, larvae were found to settle and metamorphose in response to microbial biofilms lacking CCA from both shallow and deep treatments, indicating that microorganisms not associated with CCA may play a significant role in coral metamorphosis. A polyphasic approach consisting of scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed that coral reef biofilms were comprised of complex bacterial and microalgal communities which were distinct at each depth and time. Principal-component analysis of FISH data showed that the Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium of Bacteroidetes had the largest influence on overall community composition. A low abundance of Archaea was detected in almost all biofilms, providing the first report of Archaea associated with coral reef biofilms. No differences in the relative densities of each subdivision of Proteobacteria were observed between slides that induced larval metamorphosis and those that did not. Comparative cluster analysis of bacterial DGGE patterns also revealed that there were clear age and depth distinctions in biofilm community structure; however, no difference was detected in banding profiles between biofilms which induced larval metamorphosis and those where no metamorphosis occurred. This investigation demonstrates that complex microbial communities can induce coral metamorphosis in the absence of CCA.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metamorphosis of a Scleractinian Coral in Response to Microbial Biofilms

Webster

Smith

Heyward

et al. 2004

Appl Environ Microbiol

310

260

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“…Mesh enclosures may be used for seeding in the sea. A technique that combined floating larval rearing ponds with direct seeding has been tried in Western Australia and Okinawa (Heyward et al 2002;. The results have shown that early recruitment can be significantly enhanced; however, the majority of these settled corals died due to natural processes.…”

Section: Technique Of Rearing and Transplantation Using Asexual Propamentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation and restoration of coral reefs: Experience in Okinawa, Japan

Ōmori

2010

Marine Biology Research

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Coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan, have declined due mostly to human pressures. There are still possiblities to restore coral reefs locally by amelioration or removal of the local chronic stressors. Political support, scientific information, and the will of local stakeholders are crucial for successful amelioration. Development of techniques for restoration by artificial efforts such as underwater silviculture and transplantation are definitely required. Coral propagules for transplantation may be cultured by either of two approaches: asexual or sexual propagation. The rehabilitation of coral reefs by means of asexual propagation is simple and less labour-intensive compared to sexual techniques. However, most of the transplanted pieces share the donors' limited DNA, giving the reef a smaller gene pool. On the other hand, sexual propagation may result in genetically more diverse corals, but is labour-intensive and more expensive. Both techniques require devices for rearing after transplantation. This will become one of the key areas of research in the near future. Some 4-year-old colonies of Acropora tenuis, cultured from eggs and transplanted to the seabed at Akajima, Okinawa, had grown to 20Á25 cm in diameter and initially spawned in June 2009. This indicated the possibility of using this technique to assist local coral reef restoration. Although the small scale of success so far may not be significant, given the wide range of degradation of coral reefs, certain methods of rehabilitation have proved promising enough to continue our endeavour.

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“…Mass spawnings frequently produce slicks on the sea surface that contain billions of embryos. Millions of embryos from slicks have been confined and successfully maintained in floating ponds until competent to settle (Heyward et al 2002). Another source, perhaps more suitable for small areas, is coral farms that now produce a large variety of species that are intended for transplantation (Borneman and Lowrie 2001).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atlantic coral reefs: the transplantation alternative

Briggs

2008

Biol Invasions

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Although all of the world's coral reef regions have suffered degradation due to direct and indirect human influences, only the Western Atlantic reefs have declined to the extent that their continued existence appears to be in jeopardy. Of a once flourishing reef system, only about 10% is still alive and it is depauperate in terms of the food web diversity necessary to maintain a stable and productive ecosystem. The large carnivores and herbivores have become so scarce that they have failed to control the populations of smaller animals and plants, so that almost all the trophic levels have been disrupted. At the same time, the impacts of many other factors have contributed to the process of degradation resulting in a true crisis. The extent of damage, and the general impairment of regeneration, is such that a hope for natural recovery appears to be unrealistic. It is suggested that a recovery could be achieved through transplantation of corals and other reef species from areas where more diverse, relatively stable ecosystems still exist. Available data on the introduction of exotic species into marine ecosystems indicate that such species are generally accommodated and do not cause extinctions among the native species. Although some introduced species are considered to be pests, others have proved to be beneficial, and all have apparently increased the biodiversity of the invaded areas.

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Enhancement of coral recruitment by in situ mass culture of coral larvae

Cited by 101 publications

References 23 publications

Metamorphosis of a Scleractinian Coral in Response to Microbial Biofilms

Metamorphosis of a Scleractinian Coral in Response to Microbial Biofilms

Degradation and restoration of coral reefs: Experience in Okinawa, Japan

Atlantic coral reefs: the transplantation alternative

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