Recurrent disturbances and the degradation of hard coral communities in Taiwan

Recurrent disturbances can have a critical effect on the structure and function of coral reef communities. In this study, long-term changes were examined in the hard coral community at Wanlitung, in southern Taiwan, between 1985 and 2010. In this 26 year interval, the reef has experienced repeated disturbances that include six typhoons and two coral-bleaching events. The frequency of disturbance has meant that species susceptible to disturbance, such as those in the genus Acropora and Montipora have almost disappeared from the reef. Indeed, almost all hard coral species have declined in abundance, with the result that total hard coral cover in 2010 (17.7%) was less than half what it was in 1985 (47.5%). In addition, macro-algal cover has increased from 11.3% in 2003 to 28.5% in 2010. The frequency of disturbance combined with possible chronic influence of a growing human population mean that a diverse reef assemblage is unlikely to persist on this reef into the future

Crustose Coralline Algae as Bio-remediator for Coral Reef Ecosystem

国際共同シンポジウム: International Joint Symposium: Tropical Island Ecosystems and Sustainable Development (Moorea, French Polynesia), DATE:December 2-7, 2006, PLACE: Moorea, French Polynesia, CO-SPONSORS: Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE) / Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station (University of California Berkeley) / 21st COE Program of University of the Ryukyu

Sulfate-reducing bacteria in the skeleton of the massive coral Goniastrea aspera from the Great Barrier Reef

Coral skeletons harbor diverse assemblages of endolithic microorganisms that often have a profound influence on the ecology and physiology of the coral host. While the cyanobacterial and eukaryotic microalgal components of these endolithic assemblages are well characterized, information on the other components remains scarce. Here, we characterize the endolithic microbial assemblages in the skeleton of the massive coral Goniastrea aspera in both oligotrohic and eutrophic environments. In addition to the green bands typically found in massive coral skeletons, multiple black bands were observed in skeletons from oligotrophic waters. Sequence analysis of the dsrB (dissimilatroy sulfite reductase beta-subunit) gene revealed that colonies with black bands harbor a diverse assemblage of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In contrast, SRB were not detected in skeletons from eutrophic waters. We conclude that increases in nutrients may have an important effect on the microbial assemblages residing within coral skeletons

Recurrent Disturbances and the Degradation of Hard Coral Communities in Taiwan

Recurrent disturbances can have a critical effect on the structure and function of coral reef communities. In this study, longterm changes were examined in the hard coral community at Wanlitung, in southern Taiwan, between 1985 and 2010. In this 26 year interval, the reef has experienced repeated disturbances that include six typhoons and two coral-bleaching events. The frequency of disturbance has meant that species susceptible to disturbance, such as those in the genus Acropora and Montipora have almost disappeared from the reef. Indeed, almost all hard coral species have declined in abundance, with the result that total hard coral cover in 2010 (17.7%) was less than half what it was in 1985 (47.5%). In addition, macro-algal cover has increased from 11.3% in 2003 to 28.5% in 2010. The frequency of disturbance combined with possible chronic influence of a growing human population mean that a diverse reef assemblage is unlikely to persist on this reef into the future

The comparison of sampling methods, area, replicate, depth, identification level, and the data used for PCA analysis of each historical data set.

<p>The comparison of sampling methods, area, replicate, depth, identification level, and the data used for PCA analysis of each historical data set.</p