Urban coral reefs: Degradation and resilience of hard coral assemblages in coastal cities of East and Southeast Asia

© 2018 The Author(s) Given predicted increases in urbanization in tropical and subtropical regions, understanding the processes shaping urban coral reefs may be essential for anticipating future conservation challenges. We used a case study approach to identify unifying patterns of urban coral reefs and clarify the effects of urbanization on hard coral assemblages. Data were compiled from 11 cities throughout East and Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Naha (Okinawa). Our review highlights several key characteristics of urban coral reefs, including “reef compression” (a decline in bathymetric range with increasing turbidity and decreasing water clarity over time and relative to shore), dominance by domed coral growth forms and low reef complexity, variable city-specific inshore-offshore gradients, early declines in coral cover with recent fluctuating periods of acute impacts and rapid recovery, and colonization of urban infrastructure by hard corals. We present hypotheses for urban reef community dynamics and discuss potential of ecological engineering for corals in urban areas

Toxicity of mercury and copper to marine phytoplankton, Dunaliella salina, Tetraselmis sp. and Chaetoceros calcitrans

Static 96-hour phytoplankton growth tests were carried out to measure the toxicity of mercury (Hg) and copper (Cu) on growth (cell density) and chlorophyll a content of three marine phytoplankton species: Dunaliella salina, Tetraselmis sp. and Chaetoceros calcitrans. The experiments were carried out at a temperature of 27±1ºC, using natural seawater (salinity 30 psu) filtered with a 0.4 μ polycarbonate membrane, under continuous illumination of 3800±200 lux and they were repeated three times for each metal. Resultsshowed that C. calcitrans was the most sensitive species to Hg and Cu, followed by Tetraselmis sp. and D. salina, respectively. In addition, Hg was found to be more toxic to the three species than Cu. The mean IC50 values of Hg on growth of D. salina, Tetraselmis sp. and C. calcitrans were 0.277, 0.144 and 0.043 mg L-1, respectively, while those of Cu were 1.132, 0.270 and 0.090 mg L-1, respectively