A long-term survey on anthropogenic impacts to the water quality of coral reefs, southern Taiwan

Meng, Pei Jie; Lee, Hung-Jen; Wang, Jih Terng; Chen, Chung-Chi; Lin, Hsing‐Juh; Tew, Kwee Siong; Hsieh, Wei Jiun

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.12.039

Cited by 67 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…During this period, the coral might be able to acquire some nitrogen from these potential nitrogen fixers. However, in the summer (June, July and August), the nitrogen-limited condition was released by abundant rainfall flushing a large amount of nutrients, including nitrogen sources, into coastal waters from river outflow as previously observed (Meng et al, 2008), and the potential bacterial nitrogen fixer population proportion also decreased.…”

Section: Potential Nitrogen Fixer Groupssupporting

confidence: 52%

“…These potential nitrogen fixer groups in I. palifera greatly were enriched in February and April ( Figure 5). Although better evidence is still lacking, we speculate that this phenomenon might be caused by a relative nitrogen limitation from February to April (Meng et al, 2008). During this period, the coral might be able to acquire some nitrogen from these potential nitrogen fixers.…”

Section: Potential Nitrogen Fixer Groupsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…This bacterial group comprised 1% of the total bacterial community in the coral, and many Bacili are soil-borne bacteria. We speculate that these bacteria might come from terrestrial soil because in the summer months (from June to August), abundant rainfall (B500 mm per month; Supplementary Figure S9) flushed out a great amount of soil from the land to the coastal waters around Ken-Ting (Meng et al, 2008). Soil-borne bacteria, such as Bacilli, were likely disseminated to the reef where they took up brief residence in coral.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The dynamics of microbial partnerships in the coral Isopora palifera

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Both bacteria and algal symbionts (genus Symbiodinium), the two major microbial partners in the coral holobiont, respond to fluctuations in the environment, according to current reports; however, little evidence yet indicates that both populations have any direct interaction with each other in seasonal fluctuation. In this study, we present field observations of a compositional change in bacteria and Symbiodinium in the coral Isopora palifera in three separate coral colonies following monthly sampling from February to November in 2008. Using massively parallel pyrosequencing, over 200 000 bacterial V6 sequences were classified to build the bacterial community profile; in addition, the relative composition and quantity of Symbiodinium clades C and D were determined by real-time PCR. The results showed that coral-associated bacterial and Symbiodinium communities were highly dynamic and dissimilar among the tagged coral colonies, suggesting that the effect of host specificity was insignificant. The coral-associated bacterial community was more diverse (Shannon index up to 6.71) than previous estimates in other corals and showed rapid seasonal changes. The population ratios between clade C and D groups of Symbiodinium varied in the tagged coral colonies through the different seasons; clade D dominated in most of the samples. Although significant association between bacteria and symbiont was not detected, this study presents a more detailed picture of changes in these two major microbial associates of the coral at the same time, using the latest molecular approaches.

show abstract

Section: Potential Nitrogen Fixer Groupssupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Potential Nitrogen Fixer Groupsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The dynamics of microbial partnerships in the coral Isopora palifera

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, some colonies of M. aequituberculata, M. efflorescence, and M. stellata in our study harbored Symbiodinium ITS-2 type D1a. Both these ITS-2 types (C15 and D1a) are tolerant to high temperatures (LaJeunesse et al 2003, Fabricius et al 2004, Fisher 2006, which is consistent with the fact that our corals were collected near the effluent from a power plant (1.5 to 2°C higher than the ambient water in Kenting reefs; Meng et al 2008). This diversity of Symbiodinium in Montipora spp.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Multiple colonies of 15 species of scleractinian corals (see Table 1) were collected from the shallow water (< 5 m) reefs located at the outlet of a nuclear power plant in the Kenting National Park, Taiwan (21°55' 54'' N, 120°44' 45'' E) between October 2008 and June 2009. The seawater temperature at the sampling site rises to over 30°C during mid-summer, which is 1.5 to 2.0°C higher than the ambient water in Kenting reefs (Meng et al 2008). Coral colonies were transferred to the laboratory within 3 h in an aerated plastic box, and maintained in an aquarium tank (60 × 45 × 45 cm) equipped with illumination (12 h light:12 h dark regime and ca.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photosystem II breakdown induced by reactive oxygen species in freshly-isolated Symbiodinium from Montipora (Scleractinia; Acroporidae)

Wang¹,

Meng²,

Sampayo³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Freshly-isolated Symbiodinium (FIS) have been used to study cnidarian-alga symbiosis based on the assumption that their physiological performance is comparable to that of the algae in hospite. This assumption was tested with 15 species of scleractinian corals, using pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) chlorophyll a (chl a) fluorescence to compare maximum quantum yields (F v /F m ) of photosystem II (PSII) in Symbiodinium in hospite and after isolation in seawater. FIS from Montipora spp. exhibited rapid and dramatic decreases (by up to > 95%) in PSII activity within 30 min of isolation. In contrast, PSII activities of FIS from 8 other coral species decreased by only 5 to 21% after > 4 h in seawater. To investigate possible reasons for this variation, the variation in Symbiodinium genetic type (ITS-2 types), transmission modes and several physiological indices were considered. The rapid loss of PSII activity in FIS from Montipora spp. was not correlated with Symbiodinium ITS-2 type, the mode of symbiont transmission, or ionic regulation capability, nor could consistent chemical effects in host extracts be demonstrated. PSII inactivation was correlated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), degradation of pigments in peridinin-chl a protein, and chloroplast disruption, indicating that the FIS was under physiological collapse. The specific mechanism(s) causing Montipora-associated Symbiodinium to fail during the isolation methods used here remain unknown. However, these data indicate that care should be taken when using FIS to represent Symbiodinium in hospite, especially when comparing different species of corals.

show abstract

Acknowledging differences: number, characteristics, and distribution of marine benthic communities along Taiwan coast

Lin

Denis

2019

Ecosphere

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Our knowledge of the ability of coral reefs to face contemporary challenges disregards the wide variety of benthic communities (BCs) that could be associated with contrasted dynamics when facing stressors. Accordingly, this study investigates the number, characteristics, and distribution of BCs responsible for the development of coastal three‐dimensional structures in Taiwan. A total of 89 transects among three regions (north, east, and south) and two depths (−10 and −40 m) were characterized using a morpho‐functional categorization of benthic organisms. Using an unsupervised learning algorithm, k‐means cluster, an optimal number of k groups were identified among transects in order to minimize total intra‐group variance and represent a first level of organization, mirroring the number of BCs. Each BC was then described into prevailing categories and typified by an association with significant indicator groups. Their distributions were further examined and tested among regions and depths. Seven BCs were identified as having different composition and indicator categories. Their distributions suggest that, while sea surface temperature and light regime may be associated with a panel of available BCs, local conditions may have the final say on whether a BC eventually thrives at a given location. Overall, this study proposes an innovative and simple analytical framework for acknowledging differences among BCs. Our results encourage greater consideration of these shades in coral reef ecology studies, as they could conceal a variety of roles and dynamics important for the conservation of these endangered ecosystems.

show abstract

A long-term survey on anthropogenic impacts to the water quality of coral reefs, southern Taiwan

Cited by 67 publications

References 34 publications

The dynamics of microbial partnerships in the coral Isopora palifera

The dynamics of microbial partnerships in the coral Isopora palifera

Photosystem II breakdown induced by reactive oxygen species in freshly-isolated Symbiodinium from Montipora (Scleractinia; Acroporidae)

Acknowledging differences: number, characteristics, and distribution of marine benthic communities along Taiwan coast

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About