Adult Data

File contains data for adult body size, flight metabolic output and Troponin t relative abundances (arc sine Transformed

Depth and coral cover drive the distribution of a coral macroborer across two reef systems

<div><p>Bioerosion, the removal of calcium carbonate from coral frameworks by living organisms, influences a variety of reef features, from their topographic complexity to the net balance of carbonate budgets. Little is known, however, about how macroborers, which bore into reef substrates leaving traces greater than 0.1 mm diameter, are distributed across coral reefs, particularly reef systems with high (>50%) stony coral cover or at mesophotic depths (≥30 m). Here, we present an accurate and efficient method for quantifying macroborer densities from stony coral hosts via image analysis, using the bioeroding barnacle, <i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>, and its host coral, <i>Orbicella franksi</i>, as a case study. We found that in 2014, <i>L</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> densities varied consistently with depth and host percent cover in two Atlantic reef systems: the Flower Garden Banks (FGB, northwest Gulf of Mexico) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Although average barnacle density was nearly 4.5 times greater overall in the FGB than in the USVI, barnacle density decreased with depth in both reef regions. Barnacle density also scaled negatively with increasing coral cover in the study areas, suggesting that barnacle populations are not strictly space-limited in their distribution and settlement opportunities. Our findings suggest that depth and host coral cover, and potentially, local factors may strongly influence the abundance of macroborers, and thus the rate of CaCO₃ loss, in a given reef system. Our image analysis method for quantifying macroborers can be standardized across historical and modern reef records to better understand how borers impact host growth and reef health.</p></div

Larval Growth Data

Larval Growth Dat

Summary of the distribution of a barnacle macroborer (<i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>) and its stony coral host (<i>Orbicella franksi</i>, OFR) in the Flower Garden Banks (FGB, northwest Gulf of Mexico) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

<p>Summary of the distribution of a barnacle macroborer (<i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>) and its stony coral host (<i>Orbicella franksi</i>, OFR) in the Flower Garden Banks (FGB, northwest Gulf of Mexico) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).</p

Summary of the bioeroding activity of barnacles.

<p>Summary of the bioeroding activity of barnacles.</p

Summary of images analyzed for barnacle (<i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>) density in the coral, <i>Orbicella franksi</i>, by location and site.

<p>Summary of images analyzed for barnacle (<i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>) density in the coral, <i>Orbicella franksi</i>, by location and site.</p

Results of a negative binomial regression of barnacle density with depth and <i>Orbicella franksi</i> cover across locations with reported incidence rate ratios (IRR).

<p>Results of a negative binomial regression of barnacle density with depth and <i>Orbicella franksi</i> cover across locations with reported incidence rate ratios (IRR).</p

Plot of barnacle density per m² decrease with depth across reef locations.

<p>Lines were added with the glm smoothing method. The black line represents the pattern for both locations combined.</p

Study locations and representative benthic images.

<p>A) Geographic location of East and West Flower Garden Banks (northwest Gulf of Mexico) and general location of sampling areas (black dots); B) Geographic locations of U.S. Virgin Islands sites (BP: Black Point, CR: Coculus Rock, CS: College Shoal, FC: Flat Cay, GR: Grammanik, SE: Seahorse); C) Representative image analyzed for <i>Orbicella franksi</i> cover and barnacle (<i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>) density; D) 200% zoom of black inset box in 1C exemplifies view used to count <i>L</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> apertures (some of which are indicated by arrowheads). These barnacle signs were readily distinguishable from colony skeletal lumps and other features (some of which are indicated by [placed to left of feature); and E) Close-up view of three <i>L</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> apertures in an <i>Orbicella franksi</i> colony from the FGB at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.).</p