Severe 2010 Cold-Water Event Caused Unprecedented Mortality to Corals of the Florida Reef Tract and Reversed Previous Survivorship Patterns

Background Coral reefs are facing increasing pressure from natural and anthropogenic stressors that have already caused significant worldwide declines. In January 2010, coral reefs of Florida, United States, were impacted by an extreme cold-water anomaly that exposed corals to temperatures well below their reported thresholds (16°C), causing rapid coral mortality unprecedented in spatial extent and severity. Methodology/Principal Findings Reef surveys were conducted from Martin County to the Lower Florida Keys within weeks of the anomaly. The impacts recorded were catastrophic and exceeded those of any previous disturbances in the region. Coral mortality patterns were directly correlated to in-situ and satellite-derived cold-temperature metrics. These impacts rival, in spatial extent and intensity, the impacts of the well-publicized warm-water bleaching events around the globe. The mean percent coral mortality recorded for all species and subregions was 11.5% in the 2010 winter, compared to 0.5% recorded in the previous five summers, including years like 2005 where warm-water bleaching was prevalent. Highest mean mortality (15%–39%) was documented for inshore habitats where temperatures were \u3c11°C for prolonged periods. Increases in mortality from previous years were significant for 21 of 25 coral species, and were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher for most species. Conclusions/Significance The cold-water anomaly of January 2010 caused the worst coral mortality on record for the Florida Reef Tract, highlighting the potential catastrophic impacts that unusual but extreme climatic events can have on the persistence of coral reefs. Moreover, habitats and species most severely affected were those found in high-coral cover, inshore, shallow reef habitats previously considered the “oases” of the region, having escaped declining patterns observed for more offshore habitats. Thus, the 2010 cold-water anomaly not only caused widespread coral mortality but also reversed prior resistance and resilience patterns that will take decades to recover

Comparison of the Benthic Assemblages on Three Types of Artificial Reef Modules Deployed in August of 1991

In 1988, offshore dredging for a beach renourishment project in Miami-Dade County, Florida caused extensive damage to the second reef tract off of Sunny Isles Beach. In an effort to restore and mitigate for the damage to the reef, the Sunny Isles Reef Restoration Project (SIRR) began in August of 1991. Three different types of artificial reef modules—Dome modules (D), CSA2 Module Designs (M), and Reef Replacement modules (R)—were placed on the edge of second reef where the damaged occurred. The colonization development of the benthic assemblages on the modules was monitored for the initial four years following deployment by G.M. Selby and Associates. This study sought to examine the same modules previously studied in order to determine the changes in species diversity and density as well as the level of similarity among the different module types and between the modules and the surrounding natural reef. Over time the diversity and density of benthic organisms has increased on the modules. The similarity among the modules has increased as well since the original monitoring. All three modules types share some similarities with the surrounding reef with the D and R modules being the most similar. Determining whether the similarity between the benthos on the modules and natural reef has leveled off or if an increased level of similarity is still attainable requires future research and monitoring efforts

Accuracy in Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Without Biopsies in Clinical Practice

The guidelines of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition allow for diagnosis of celiac disease without biopsies in children with symptoms and levels of immunoglobulin A against tissue-transglutaminase (TGA-IgA) 10-fold or more the upper limit of normal (ULN), confirmed by detection of endomysium antibodies (EMA) and positivity for HLA-DQ2/DQ8. We performed a large, international prospective study to validate this approach