Caribbean corals exhibit species-specific differences in competitive abilities with an aggressive encrusting alga, Ramicrusta textilis

Hollister, Karli J.; Ennis, Rosmin S.; Spalding, Heather L.; Gabrielson, Paul W.; Smith, Tyler B.

doi:10.1007/s00338-021-02172-0

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Ramicrusta species occupy a diverse range of habitats globally. Atlantic and Caribbean specimens have been observed at depths similar to those reported in west Hawai'i: 4.5 -15.5 m (Hollister et al, 2021), < 9 m depth (Edmunds et al, 2019), 5 -30 m (Williams and Garcıá-Sais, 2020). The overall vertical distribution across reef landscapes of the Ramicrusta species in Guam is broad -from intertidal areas to lower mesophotic zones (Mills and Schils, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…The ability of Ramicrusta species to directly overgrow living corals and to rapidly expand into new areas has been documented on reefs in the Caribbean (Eckrich et al, 2011;Ruiz, 2015;Smith et al, 2019;Hollister et al, 2021), Guam (Mills and Schils, 2021), and Donsha Atoll (Nieder et al, 2019). Eckrich and Engel (2013) reported that 45.8% of live coral colonies on reefs in Bonaire showed evidence of overgrowth by Ramicrusta thalli.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These two new algae represent the first of their genus to be described in Hawai'i and have been reported only off Lehua Island, a 115 hectare uninhabited island 1.1 km north of Ni'ihau, due west of Kaua'i (22.02103°N, 160.10246°W). The potential for Hawaiian Ramicrusta species to be similar to their Caribbean or western Pacific relatives makes early geographic identification and regular monitoring of Hawaiian Ramicrusta crucial to understanding their role in the reef communities in the Hawaiian Islands (Eckrich et al, 2011;Eckrich and Engel, 2013;Ruiz, 2015;Smith et al, 2019;Hollister et al, 2021;Mills and Schils, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long-term ecological monitoring of reefs on Hawai’i Island (2003-2020): Characterization of a common cryptic crust, Ramicrusta hawaiiensis (Peyssonneliales, Rhodophyta)

Grady

Kittle²,

Pugh³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The recently described crustose calcifying red algal species Ramicrusta hawaiiensis, known only from mesophotic depths off Lehua Island, west of Kaua’i Island, was found in shallow benthic reef habitats (3-18 m deep) along the western coast of Hawai’i Island. Molecular and microscopy techniques were used for genetic confirmation and for detailed morphological and anatomical examination. Two independent benthic cover survey datasets collected from west Hawai’i Island were used to investigate temporal and geographic distribution of Ramicrusta. In both datasets, we report Ramicrusta at approximately 60% of the sites surveyed. Benthic cover for this alga varies among sites and among years and its presence in west Hawai’i is evident since at least 2003. These findings help to document Hawaiian coral reef ecosystem change and benthic community composition reshuffling. This study also emphasizes the critical importance of taxonomy and proper identification of macroalgal species to understand the potential for phase-shifts of dominant taxa in coral reef ecosystems after environmental disturbances and fluctuations in abiotic factors. In the last decade, members of the red algal order Peyssonneliales have increased in abundance and overgrown other benthic species in reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and tropical Pacific. The novel aspect of finding abundant Ramicrusta in much shallower water than originally described, the decadal presence of Ramicrusta, and its potential for competition with other benthic organisms make this research valuable to coral reef ecology and justify further investigation of Ramicrusta ecology and biology in the Hawaiian Islands and globally.

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