Non-reef habitats in a tropical seascape: the effects of the surrounding seascape on coral reef fishes

Katie Sievers studied how mangroves, macroalgal beds, and seagrass meadows affect coral reef fishes in the Philippines. Her thesis revealed that many more fish are using non-reef habitats than previously identified. These results are especially important for fisheries management because protection of non-reef habitats is often overlooked

Unravelling seascape patterns of cryptic life stages: non-reef habitat use in juvenile parrotfishes

Juvenile fish often use alternative habitats distinct from their adult phases. Parrotfishes are an integral group of coral reef fish assemblages, are targeted in fisheries, are sensitive to reef disturbances, and have been documented as multiple-habitat users. Considering the abundance of research conducted on parrotfishes, very little is known about their juvenile ecology at the species level due to their cryptic and variable coloration patterns. We collected juvenile parrotfishes in non-reef habitats (macroalgal beds, seagrass beds, and lagoons) in the Philippines and used DNA analysis to determine species composition. The results were then compared with data on adult parrotfish abundance from underwater visual census (UVC) surveys in coral reef and non-reef habitats. Collections identified 15 species of juvenile parrotfishes in non-reef habitats, and of these, 10 were also recorded in UVCs as adults. Informed by adult surveys, 42% of the 19 parrotfish species observed as adults were classified as multi-habitat users based on their presence in coral reef and non-reef habitats. When accounting for the occurrence of species as juveniles in non-reef habitats, 93% of the species collected as juveniles would be considered multi-habitat users. Species identified as juveniles in non-reef habitats comprised 50% of the average adult parrotfish density on coral reefs and 58–94% in non-reef habitats. The species richness of juveniles in non-reef habitats was greater than that of adults occupying the same habitats, and the most common adult species observed in UVCs was not collected as juveniles in non-reef habitats. Finally, UVC suggested that 97% of juvenile parrotfish <10-cm total length was present in non-reef habitats compared to coral reefs. These results provide further evidence for ontogenetic movement across habitat boundaries for parrotfish species in a diverse and highly connected tropical seascape. This is one of the few studies to quantify links between nursery and adult habitat in parrotfishes, highlighting the importance of including non-reef habitats in ecological studies of an iconic group of coral reef fish

A CURE on the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Improves Student Conceptual Understanding

We developed labs on the evolution of antibiotic resistance to assess the costs and benefits of replacing traditional laboratory exercises in an introductory biology course for majors with a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). To assess whether participating in the CURE imposed a cost in terms of exam performance, we implemented a quasi-experiment in which four lab sections in the same term of the same course did the CURE labs, while all other students did traditional labs. To assess whether participating in the CURE impacted other aspects of student learning, we implemented a second quasi-experiment in which all students either did traditional labs over a two-quarter sequence or did CURE labs over a two-quarter sequence. Data from the first experiment showed minimal impact on CURE students' exam scores, while data from the second experiment showed that CURE students demonstrated a better understanding of the culture of scientific research and a more expert-like understanding of evolution by natural selection. We did not find disproportionate costs or benefits for CURE students from groups that are minoritized in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Conservation benefits of no-take marine reserves outweigh modest benefits of partially protected areas for targeted coral reef fishes

Inshore coral reefs support unique ecosystems that are subject to a variety of threats and disturbances. Marine protected areas are powerful conservation tools and often include zones which vary in the level of fishing restriction, including fully protected (no-take) zones, partially protected zones (limited fishing), and less protected “open” fishing zones. Here, we compare outcomes from fully protected, partially protected, and “open” fishing zones on inshore fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef with a history of cyclone-induced habitat disturbance. Biomass of target and non-target fish groups, along with the coral cover and structural complexity of benthic habitats, was compared among zones. There was a strong positive effect of full protection from fishing on targeted fish biomass, and a comparatively modest effect of partial protection, even in areas where spearfishing was prohibited. Fully protected zones supported more than three times the biomass of highly targeted coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) compared to open fishing zones, and more than twice the biomass observed in partially protected zones. Similar outcomes occurred for primary targets collectively; conversely, there were no zoning-related differences for non-target fishes. Structural complexity was a consistent positive diver of fish biomass for all fish groups and among all zones. Notably high fish target fish biomass occurred at NTMR sites with the highest structural complexity, highlighting the importance of both habitat and protection in supporting population hotspots for targeted reef fishes

Relative influence of environmental factors and fishing on coral reef fish assemblages

Understanding whether assemblages of species respond more strongly to bottom-up (availability of trophic resources or habitats) or top-down (predation pressure) processes is important for effective management of resources and ecosystems. We determined the relative influence of environmental factors and predation by humans in shaping the density, biomass, and species richness of 4 medium-bodied (10-40 cm total length [TL]) coral reef fish groups targeted by fishers (mesopredators, planktivores, grazer and detritivores, and scrapers) and the density of 2 groups not targeted by fishers (invertivores, small fish <= 10 cm TL) in the central Philippines. Boosted regression trees were used to model the response of each fish group to 21 predictor variables: 13 habitat variables, 5 island variables, and 3 fishing variables (no-take marine reserve [NTMR] presence or absence, NTMR size, and NTMR age). Targeted and nontargeted fish groups responded most strongly to habitat variables, then island variables. Fishing (NTMR) variables generally had less influence on fish groups. Of the habitat variables, live hard coral cover, structural complexity or habitat complexity index, and depth had the greatest effects on density, biomass, and species richness of targeted fish groups and on the density of nontargeted fishes. Of the island variables, proximity to the nearest river and island elevation had the most influence on fish groups. The NTMRs affected only fishes targeted by fishers; NTMR size positively correlated with density, biomass, and species richness of targeted fishes, particularly mesopredatory, and grazing and detritivorous fishes. Importantly, NTMRs as small as 15 ha positively affected medium-bodied fishes. This finding provides reassurance for regions that have invested in small-scale community-managed NTMRs. However, management strategies that integrate sound coastal land-use practices to conserve adjacent reef fish habitat, strategic NTMR placement, and establishment of larger NTMRs will be crucial for maintaining biodiversity and fisheries

Variants in PRKAR1B cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with autism spectrum disorder, apraxia, and insensitivity to pain

Purpose We characterize the clinical and molecular phenotypes of six unrelated individuals with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder who carry heterozygous missense variants of the PRKAR1B gene, which encodes the R1 beta subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). Methods Variants of PRKAR1B were identified by single- or trio-exome analysis. We contacted the families and physicians of the six individuals to collect phenotypic information, performed in vitro analyses of the identified PRKAR1B-variants, and investigated PRKAR1B expression during embryonic development. Results Recent studies of large patient cohorts with neurodevelopmental disorders found significant enrichment of de novo missense variants in PRKAR1B. In our cohort, de novo origin of the PRKAR1B variants could be confirmed in five of six individuals, and four carried the same heterozygous de novo variant c.1003C>T (p.Arg335Trp; NM_001164760). Global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and apraxia/dyspraxia have been reported in all six, and reduced pain sensitivity was found in three individuals carrying the c.1003C>T variant. PRKAR1B expression in the brain was demonstrated during human embryonal development. Additionally, in vitro analyses revealed altered basal PKA activity in cells transfected with variant-harboring PRKAR1B expression constructs. Conclusion Our study provides strong evidence for a PRKAR1B-related neurodevelopmental disorder