Anomalous temperatures and extreme tides: Guam staghorn Acropora succumb to a double threat

Raymundo, Laurie J.; Burdick, David R.; Lapacek, V. A.; Miller, Reinhard; Brown, Valerie A.

doi:10.3354/meps12005

Cited by 29 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Marine heatwaves hotspots are often the result of combined regional heating and local weather patterns, which interact to promote the rapid accumulation of heat (Skirving et al, 2006;MacKellar and McGowan, 2010;Wernberg et al, 2012;Bainbridge, 2017;DeCarlo et al, 2017). Abiotic factors that influence these events include tidal cycles, calm winds, clear skies and low water flow, which act to amplify regional thermal stress on the scale of individual reefs (Figure 1; Skirving et al, 2006;MacKellar and McGowan, 2010;Baird et al, 2017;Raymundo et al, 2017;Burt et al, 2019). Potentially the most commonly cited driver of thermal extremes in coral reef environments is a drop in wind speed (Baird et al, 2009;Bainbridge, 2017;Burt et al, 2019).…”

Section: The Evolution Of Mhw Hotspotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tidal flushing can, in some cases, offset heat accumulation considerably (MacKellar and McGowan, 2010;Lowe and Falter, 2014) while neap tides and weak intertidal currents have been identified as causal factors for intense heating (DeCarlo et al, 2017). Conversely, mass mortality has also been associated with large spring tides during regional low-stand periods that drove increased subaerial exposure (Raymundo et al, 2017). Therefore, the effect of tidal cycles on coral bleaching and mortality is likely to be highly dependent upon a reef 's bathymetry and tidal range.…”

Section: The Evolution Of Mhw Hotspotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marine Heatwave Hotspots in Coral Reef Environments: Physical Drivers, Ecophysiological Outcomes, and Impact Upon Structural Complexity

et al. 2019

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A changing climate is driving increasingly common and prolonged marine heatwaves (MHWs) and these extreme events have now been widely documented to severely impact marine ecosystems globally. However, MHWs have rarely been considered when examining temperature-induced degradation of coral reef ecosystems. Here we consider extreme, localized thermal anomalies, nested within broader increases in sea surface temperature, which fulfill the definitive criteria for MHWs. These acute and intense events, referred to here as MHW hotspots, are not always well represented in the current framework used to describe coral bleaching, but do have distinct ecological outcomes, including widespread bleaching, and rapid mass mortality of putatively thermally tolerant coral species. The physical drivers of these localized hotspots are discussed here, and in doing so we present a comprehensive theoretical framework that links the biological responses of the coral photo-endosymbiotic organism to extreme thermal stress and ecological changes on reefs as a consequence of MHW hotspots. We describe how the rapid onset of high temperatures drives immediate heat-stress induced cellular damage, overwhelming mechanisms that would otherwise mitigate the impact of gradually accumulated thermal stress. The warm environment, and increased light penetration of the coral skeleton due to the loss of coral tissues, coupled with coral tissue decay support rapid microbial growth in the skeletal microenvironment, resulting in the widely unrecognized consequence of rapid decay, and degeneration of the coral skeletons. This accelerated degeneration of coral skeletons on a reef scale hinder the recovery of coral populations and increase the likelihood of phase shifts toward algal dominance. We suggest that MHW hotspots, through driving rapid heatinduced mortality, compromise reefs' structural frameworks to the detriment of long term recovery. We propose that MHW hotspots be considered as a distinct class of thermal stress events in coral reefs, and that the current framework used to describe coral bleaching and mass mortality be expanded to include these. We urge further research into how coral mortality affects bioerosion by coral endoliths.

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Section: The Evolution Of Mhw Hotspotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Evolution Of Mhw Hotspotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Heatwave Hotspots in Coral Reef Environments: Physical Drivers, Ecophysiological Outcomes, and Impact Upon Structural Complexity

et al. 2019

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“…These corals, some of which ( A . aspera ) were considered for listing under the US Endangered Species Act [ 36 ], have recently experienced catastrophic losses throughout the region due to warming ocean temperatures [ 37 , 38 ]. The ecological importance of staghorn Acropora and its decline has made zoning in the lagoon, particularly for the use of jet skis, an important local issue for managers in the CNMI [ 39 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managers, modelers, and measuring the impact of species distribution model uncertainty on marine zoning decisions

2018

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Marine managers routinely use spatial data to make decisions about their marine environment. Uncertainty associated with this spatial data can have profound impacts on these management decisions and their projected outcomes. Recent advances in modeling techniques, including species distribution models (SDMs), make it easier to generate continuous maps showing the uncertainty associated with spatial predictions and maps. However, SDM predictions and maps can be complex and nuanced. This complexity makes their use challenging for non-technical managers, preventing them from having the best available information to make decisions. To help bridge these communication and information gaps, we developed maps to illustrate how SDMs and associated uncertainty can be translated into readily usable products for managers. We also explicitly described the potential impacts of uncertainty on marine zoning decisions. This approach was applied to a case study in Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Managers in Saipan are interested in minimizing the potential impacts of personal watercraft (e.g., jet skis) on staghorn Acropora (i.e., Acropora aspera, A. formosa, and A. pulchra), which is an important coral assemblage in the lagoon. We used a recently completed SDM for staghorn Acropora to develop maps showing the sensitivity of zoning options to three different prediction and three different uncertainty thresholds (nine combinations total). Our analysis showed that the amount of area and geographic location of predicted staghorn Acropora presence changed based on these nine combinations. These dramatically different spatial patterns would have significant zoning implications when considering where to exclude and/or allow jet skis operations inside the lagoon. They also show that different uncertainty thresholds may lead managers to markedly different conclusions and courses of action. Defining acceptable levels of uncertainty upfront is critical for ensuring that managers can make more informed decisions, meet their marine resource goals and generate favorable outcomes for their stakeholders.

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“…Because Guam is a US territory, NOAA also has a role in managing marine and coastal resources. These agencies participate in the Guam Coral Reef Initiative (CRI), established in 1997, to address threats to coastal habitats, including land‐based sources of pollution, unsustainable fishing practices and repeated coral bleaching (Burdick et al, ; Raymundo, Burdick, Lapacek, Miller, & Brown, ). Sedimentation linked to land use practices is a major cause for the degradation of Guam's southern reefs (Burdick et al, ).…”

Section: Applying Intergrated Monitoring In Manell‐geusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving social and ecological goals of coastal management through integrated monitoring

Wongbusarakum

Brown

Loerzel

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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High school students work alongside foresters in the Manell‐Geus Habitat Focus Area to plant trees in watersheds adjacent to sensitive coral reef habitat. Integrated monitoring indicated a disconnect between measured resource status and community perception of these resources. To address this, the project was adaptively managed to add a social strategy to engage the community in activities, such as tree plantings, to foster support for management and increase the knowledge of community members.

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Anomalous temperatures and extreme tides: Guam staghorn Acropora succumb to a double threat

Cited by 29 publications

References 36 publications

Marine Heatwave Hotspots in Coral Reef Environments: Physical Drivers, Ecophysiological Outcomes, and Impact Upon Structural Complexity

Marine Heatwave Hotspots in Coral Reef Environments: Physical Drivers, Ecophysiological Outcomes, and Impact Upon Structural Complexity

Managers, modelers, and measuring the impact of species distribution model uncertainty on marine zoning decisions

Achieving social and ecological goals of coastal management through integrated monitoring

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