Crude oil contamination interrupts settlement of coral larvae after direct exposure ends

Hartmann, Aaron C.; Sandin, Stuart A.; Chamberland, Valérie F.; Marhaver, Kristen L.; Goeij, Jasper M. de; Vermeij, Mark J. A.

doi:10.3354/meps11437

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Co-exposure to UVR considerably enhanced the negative impacts of the water-soluble fractions of two petroleum fuels on the settlement success of coral larvae. This phototoxicity was evident under UVR intensities equal to or lower than expected exposures in shallow reef habitats, and the toxic thresholds (EC 10 ) for dissolved aromatics occurred at concentrations below those detected after major accidental spills or releases 7 – 9 . These results indicate that by ignoring phototoxicity, the hazards posed by oil spills to coral larvae may be substantially underestimated in shallow-water tropical reef systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…The environmental effects resulting from oil spills and uncontrolled discharges from extraction vary widely and are dependent on a large number of factors 4 . Hydrocarbon concentrations in marine environments have been measured following large scale spills 5 – 7 , with dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations ranging between 22 and 189 µg l −1 total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) 5 , 8 , 9 and up to 10,600 µg l −1 total recoverable hydrocarbons (TRH) 10 . Hydrocarbons can be retained within an ecosystem during spill events and, despite natural dilution and degradation, can remain detectable long after the spill has ended 1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This issue is further compounded by the failure of many studies to present the chemical composition of treatment solutions, in particular the more soluble and toxic MAHs and PAHs 15 . However, the studies that have been conducted show that hydrocarbons can be toxic to all life history stages of coral and that larval settlement is generally more sensitive than fertilization 33 , larval survival 7 , 33 , 34 or the health and survival of adult corals 35 . The sensitive larval settlement process is recognised as an ecologically relevant endpoint due to its importance in the recruitment process and subsequent maintenance of adult populations 29 , 36 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phototoxic effects of two common marine fuels on the settlement success of the coral Acropora tenuis

Nordborg

Flores

Brinkman

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Coral reefs are at risk of exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons from shipping spills and uncontrolled discharges during extraction. The toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons can substantially increase in the presence of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), therefore spills in shallow coral reef environments may be particularly hazardous to reef species. Here we investigated the sensitivity of coral larvae (Acropora tenuis) to dissolved hydrocarbons from heavy fuel oil (HFO) and diesel in the absence and presence of UVR. Larval settlement success decreased with increasing concentrations of dissolved HFO, and co-exposure to UVR doubled the toxicity: 50% effect concentrations (EC50) decreased from 96 (−UVR) to 51 (+UVR) total petroleum aromatic hydrocarbons (TPAH). Toxic thresholds for HFO were similar to concentrations reported during marine spills: EC10s of 24 (−UVR) and 15 (+UVR) µg l−1. While less toxic, diesel also reduced settlement and exhibited phototoxicity: EC10s of 122 (+UVR) and 302 (−UVR) µg l−1. This study demonstrates that the presence of UVR increases the hazard posed by oil pollution to tropical, shallow-water coral reefs. Further research on the effects of oils in the presence of UVR is needed to improve the environmental relevance of risk assessments and ensure appropriate protection for shallow reef environments against oil pollution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phototoxic effects of two common marine fuels on the settlement success of the coral Acropora tenuis

Nordborg

Flores

Brinkman

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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“…Stressful environmental conditions and benthic biota may harm early life stages of many organisms. The presence of oil, oil dispersants, nutrient enrichment, increase of ocean acidification, ultraviolet rays and temperature, and the presence of allopathic algae compounds, macroalgae and cyanobacteria might reduce settlement and survivorship of coral larvae 19,[22][23][24][25]37,43,44 . Sargassum leachates are a new disturbance that affects the behavior of A. palmata larvae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leachate effects of pelagic Sargassum spp. on larval swimming behavior of the coral Acropora palmata

Antonio-Martínez

Hénaut

Vega‐Zepeda

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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An emerging disturbance for Caribbean reefs is the massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum, which deteriorates water quality due to the production of leachates. The highest arrivals of Sargassum took place when broadcasting corals spawned. We experimentally determined the effect of Sargassum leachates on swimming behavior of Acropora palmata larvae through five treatments (control, stain (simulating 100% leachate color), and 25%, 50% and 100% Sargassum leachate concentrations) during 30 min (10 min of videos and 20 min of post-observations). In the videos, larvae with leachates reduced swimming speed, were positively geotactic, the percentage of individuals that swam in a spiral pattern increased, and most behavioral displacements occurred at lower frequencies than larvae without leachates. Moreover, symptomatic spiral behavior was higher in the presence of leachates, suggesting that this behavior may be an effect of pollution. During post-observations, most larvae with leachates were motionless. This is the first time that Sargassum leachates have been documented modifying larval swimming behavior, which may reduce larval dispersion and genetic diversity. We suggest that a future evaluation of the effects of leachates at lower concentrations and over longer periods of exposure is needed. The resilience of corals may be compromised if Sargassum arrivals become frequent events. Globally, coral reefs are being degraded by several stressors (e.g., climate change, bleaching, overfishing and emergent diseases 1-5), especially those in the Caribbean 6. An emerging stressor for Caribbean reefs is the massive arrival of two pelagic macroalgal species: Sargassum fluitans and S. natans. Pelagic Sargassum drifts on the surface of the sea, providing an important habitat for a great diversity of organisms 7,8. The presence of a high biomass of pelagic Sargassum spp. began in 2011 in the central Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea 9. However, Sargassum influx in the Mexican Caribbean has only occurred since 2014, with the highest peaks reported in September 2015 (~2360 m 3 algae km −1) and May 2018 (8793 m 3 algae km −1) 10. Unfortunately, the massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum is predicted to become a recurring disturbance 9. Decomposition of the accumulated biomass of pelagic Sargassum in the coastline produces leachates that reduce dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH, and increase turbidity and temperature, deteriorating water quality 10,11. These leachates create conditions similar to eutrophication and may contain heavy metals such as mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) 12 , methane 13 , lactic acid 14 , and high concentrations of ammonium and phosphorus 10. In the Mexican Caribbean, many coral species inhabit lagoon reefs (i.e., near to the coastline) where leachates of pelagic Sargassum have been observed and dispersed from the coastline toward the reef crest. In this context, some coral species became stressed and presented partial or total mortality due to the presence and decomposition of Sargassum 11 (Fig. 1). Brooding a...

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“…These chemicals can accumulate in marine animals that inhabit shallow areas with little tidal flushing, such as Saipan Lagoon [ 33 ], and in larger marine organisms higher up the food chain [ 26 ]. They can also reduce the survival of coral larvae, including Acropora species, leading to declines in coral recruitment [ 34 , 35 ].…”

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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Crude oil contamination interrupts settlement of coral larvae after direct exposure ends

Cited by 23 publications

References 37 publications

Phototoxic effects of two common marine fuels on the settlement success of the coral Acropora tenuis

Phototoxic effects of two common marine fuels on the settlement success of the coral Acropora tenuis

Leachate effects of pelagic Sargassum spp. on larval swimming behavior of the coral Acropora palmata

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

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