Life on the edge: Hawaiian model for coral evolution

Bhattacharya, Debashish; Stephens, Timothy G.; Tinoco, Amanda I.; Richmond, Robert H.; Cleves, Phillip A.

doi:10.1002/lno.12181

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…The results suggest that the approach and actions proposed here may accelerate the ecological succession processes needed to scale up restoration [27,45,46,47,48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Rebuilding Coral Reefs: How tourism can be a driver behind solutions in a changing ocean

Calle Triviño,

Rojas-Cano,

Niño-Torres

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Coral reefs are threatened by multiple stressors that have driven a decline in the cover of reef-building coral species, resulting in a loss of reef structure and function. Restoration reef science provides useful conservation tools to preserve and restore the key species and ecological functions of these ecosystems. However, gaps remain in restoring ecosystem functions at large scales. This study provides a guide of how to invest and apply innovative solutions and immediate action strategies from the tourism-hotel sector in alliance with academia and key stakeholders, Throught development and implementation of a multi-species restoration program at two sites in the Mexican Caribbean: Manchoncitos Reef, Riviera Maya and La Francesita Reef, Cozumel. Where we have identified effective propagation and outplanting techniques for key critically endangered species, as well as genotypes resistant to temperature stress and Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). We include a comparative analysis over time (2020-2022) showing positive ecological processes and recovery of ecological functions reflected in increased coral cover, structural complexity and fish biomass. We have genetic stock available in two nurseries to develop education, research, technological innovation, recreation and tourism activities. Baseline assessment of the study areas will make it possible to adapt repopulation techniques not only for hard corals, but also to advance in the comprehensive restoration of the ecosystem to incorporate new elements to the reef, such as fish, crab or sea urchin postlarvae that accelerate herbivory functions and in turn improve the natural processes of the coral reefs, allowing for a return to equilibrium. The project will improve the understanding of the use of restoration as a tool for climate change adaptation especially in collaboration with the private sector.

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“…The results suggest that the approach and actions proposed here may accelerate the ecological succession processes needed to scale up restoration [27,45,46,47,48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Rebuilding Coral Reefs: How tourism can be a driver behind solutions in a changing ocean

Calle Triviño,

Rojas-Cano,

Niño-Torres

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Impacts of climatic factors and coral reef loss on marine biodiversity were explored as well. A research article providing a model for coral evolution in Hawaii and the Pacific Bhattacharya et al (2022) deduced that coral reefs are analogous to tropical rainforests in the sense that they house enormous biodiversity and biotic interactions. 80 species of scleractinian (reef building family) corals are native to the 3 dominant genera, Porites, Montipora, and Pocillopora (Bhattacharya et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A research article providing a model for coral evolution in Hawaii and the Pacific Bhattacharya et al (2022) deduced that coral reefs are analogous to tropical rainforests in the sense that they house enormous biodiversity and biotic interactions. 80 species of scleractinian (reef building family) corals are native to the 3 dominant genera, Porites, Montipora, and Pocillopora (Bhattacharya et al, 2022). However, despite being essential reef-building corals, a decline in some species has happened (IUCN Red List, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Climate Change on Hawaii’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Over the Past 20 Years

Joshi,

Ribeiro Tosato,

Koch

2023

J Stud Res

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The Hawaiian islands are known for their rich marine biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems. However, in the last 20 years, changes in sea surface temperatures, sea levels, carbon dioxide levels, and ocean pH have severely impacted these reef ecosystems. Hawaiian corals can experience heat stress with temperatures as little as 1-2 °C above the average and thermal stress events were prevalent from 2014-2017, causing bleaching and increasing mortality. The increase in sea level in Hawaiian marine ecosystems has caused reefs to “drown” from the lack of sufficient sunlight and thus suffer from bleaching. Coral disease is linked with high temperatures, seen through the common reef-building coral disease white syndrome. Invasive species outbreaks, with Acanthaster planci as an example, are also correlated with changes in the climate and reef communities. With the loss of coral, there have been consequences on marine biodiversity in Hawaiian reef ecosystems. Specifically, the three most native coral genera, porites, montipora, and pocillopora, which are the most important species to the reefs, have been declining in population. As a result, higher threat statuses have been observed among turtles, reef fish, and marine mammals that are reliant on their coral reef ecosystems for protection and food sources.

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“…This reef system thus provides an ideal platform for advancing coral biology and conservation using multi-omics and genetic tools. (Bhattacharya et al, 2022). To study the stress response of the stony coral Pocillopora acuta (also known as the cauliflower coral), 30 samples of the species were collected in 2018 from Kāneʻohe Bay in Hawai'i and exposed to ambient temperature and ambient CO2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Gene Expression Analysis and Gene Ontology in Triploid and Diploid Pocillopora Acuta

Misri¹,

Chille²,

Stephens³

et al. 2022

ArestyRURJ

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Corals are marine invertebrates that are facing life-threatening environmental stressors due to climate change. Polyploidy can, in such cases, be an important source of variation and adaptation in corals and other species. Polyploidy is the genomic condition wherein the cells of a normally diploid organism have more than one pair of chromosomes. Pocillopora acuta, also known as the cauliflower coral, is a brooding coral that can also reproduce asexually. It is a stress-sensitive coral, which means it shows clear physiological changes in response to environmental stressors like temperature, salinity, and pH. In this study, about 60% of the stony coral Pocillopora acuta samples collected from Kāneʻohe Bay, Oahu, HI, were triploid. The aim of this study was to identify the differences in gene expression patterns between triploid cluster 1 (T1), triploid cluster 2 (T2), and diploid samples (D) of P. acuta. Pairwise comparisons were carried out between all categories: T1 vs. D, T2 vs. D, and T1 vs. T2. While there were a large number of genes exhibiting similar expression patterns in both triploid clusters, many genes were differentially regulated in T1 when compared to T2. This result provides evidence suggesting that the two triploid lineages originated from separate triploidization events in Kāneʻohe Bay. The differentially expressed genes shared between these two triploid lineages, when compared to the diploid coral lineage, suggests changes in cellular physiology as a result of polyploidization. Functional analysis of the P. acuta genes can provide deeper insight into the specific, differentially regulated molecular functions and biological processes in triploids when compared to diploid P. acuta. Future studies involving comparative functional enrichment analysis with more triploid and diploid samples of P. acuta will provide more insight into events that caused triploidization and the coral’s response to environmental stressors.

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Life on the edge: Hawaiian model for coral evolution

Cited by 5 publications

References 83 publications

Rebuilding Coral Reefs: How tourism can be a driver behind solutions in a changing ocean

Rebuilding Coral Reefs: How tourism can be a driver behind solutions in a changing ocean

The Effects of Climate Change on Hawaii’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Over the Past 20 Years

Differential Gene Expression Analysis and Gene Ontology in Triploid and Diploid Pocillopora Acuta

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