Effects of depth and ultraviolet radiation on coral reef turf algae

Fricke, Anna; Teichberg, Mirta; Nugues, Maggy M.; Beilfuss, Svenja; Bischof, Kai

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2014.07.017

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 84 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The change in the light conditions could have reduced the turf algae, uncovering the CCA beneath it. However, little is known about the response of turf algal communities to changes in abiotic factors and further experiments would be needed to test this ( Fricke et al, 2014 ). On the other side, CCA tolerate lower light availability ( Van den Hoek et al, 1978 ; Vásquez-Elizondo & Enríquez, 2017 ) and have been reported to be nutrient-limited ( Smith, Smith & Hunter, 2001 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid relative increase of crustose coralline algae following herbivore exclusion in a reef of El Salvador

Ilosvay

Segovia

Ferse

et al. 2021

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is one of the most isolated and least studied regions in the world. This particularly applies to the coast of El Salvador, where the only reef between Guatemala and Nicaragua, called Los Cóbanos reef, is located. There is very little published information about the reef’s biodiversity, and to our knowledge, no research on its ecology and responses to anthropogenic impacts, such as overfishing, has been conducted. The present study, therefore, described the benthic community of Los Cóbanos reef, El Salvador, using the Line-Point-Intercept-Transect method and investigated changes in the benthic community following the exclusion of piscine macroherbivores over a period of seven weeks. Results showed high benthic algae cover (up to 98%), dominated by turf and green algae, and low coral cover (0–4%). Porites lobata was the only hermatypic coral species found during the surveys. Surprisingly, crustose coralline algae (CCA) showed a remarkable total cover increase by 58%, while turf algae cover decreased by 82%, in experimental plots after seven weeks of piscine macroherbivore exclusion. These findings apparently contradict the results of most previous similar studies. While it was not possible to ascertain the exact mechanisms leading to these drastic community changes, the most likely explanation is grazing on turf by small grazing macroherbivores that had access to the cages during the experiment and clearing of CCA initially covered by epiphytes and sediments. A higher CCA cover would promote the succesful settlement by corals and prevent further erosion of the reef framework. Therefore it is crucial to better understand algal dynamics, herbivory, and implications of overfishing at Los Cóbanos to avoid further reef deterioration. This could be achieved through video surveys of the fish community, night-time observations of the macroinvertebrate community, exclusion experiments that also keep out herbivorous macroinvertebrates, and/or experimental assessments of turf algae/CCA interactions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid relative increase of crustose coralline algae following herbivore exclusion in a reef of El Salvador

Ilosvay

Segovia

Ferse

et al. 2021

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Material collected during a field study in a eutrophic tidal channel in Northern Patagonia (S40° 43′ W64° 56′; Fricke et al 2014), served as a base for the study. At the experimental site, settlement substrates (pieces of PET, 1.5 × 2 cm) were exposed horizontally to the water surface on old car tires, fixed ~ 30 cm below low tide water level and 20 cm above sediment, and were sampled after a period of 40 days (November 2012).…”

Section: Exposure and Sampling Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…fishes, invertebrates, microalgae, fungi, bacteria) (Wiencke 2011). Providing the base of the benthic food web, algal communities can rapidly respond to alterations in environmental factors (Campana et al 2009, Fricke et al 2014) and are commonly used as indicators for water quality (Ballesteros et al 2007, Neto et al 2010. Driven by human activities, benthic algal communities worldwide have shown strong alterations (Campana et al 2009), reaching dramatic proportions in the formation of intense blooms (Valiela et al 1997, Teichberg et al 2010 and expansion of different algal species (Fricke et al 2013, Croce andParodi 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Size and composition of benthic algal communities can be strongly affected by environmental conditions, such as light and nutrient availability, flow rates, sedimentation or grazing pressure (Campana et al 2009, Fricke et al 2014. Despite mesoalgal communities providing a common growth form in shallow coastal ecosystems, the lack of a uniform definition makes it difficult to approach this specific group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Studying mesoalgal structures: a non-destructive approach based on confocal laser scanning microscopy

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mesoalgae play a key role in shallow coastal ecosystems. Composed of small macroalgae, intermixed with filamentous cyanobacteria and colonial diatoms, these multi-specific, but minute (μm–cm) assemblages form complex three-dimensional structures, providing shelter for different unicellular (e.g. bacteria, diatoms, dinoflagellates) and multicellular (e.g. fishes, invertebrates) organisms. Characterized by a high colonization potential, these primary producers are observed to bloom and overgrow disturbed areas (e.g. damaged coral reefs, urchin barrens), and play a crucial role in terms of invasion and colonizing new habitats. Driven by anthropogenic environmental changes, mesoalgae are receiving considerable attention in current marine research. So far, most studies approach mesoalgae at the functional group level (e.g. turf algae, microphytobenthos), whereas only few studies tackle the importance of species-specific interactions, which play an important role in benthic ecology (e.g. coral-algal competition and disease spreading). To facilitate the study of not only the presence but also the composition and the structure of these habitat formers, we provide a new approach combining inexpensive fixation methodology with modern confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), to study minute macroalgal structures (e.g. germlings, reproductive structures), and investigate their relation to microphytobenthic components (e.g. diatom colonies). Detailed procedures for mounting, staining and imaging phytobenthic communities are provided.

show abstract

“…This follows the statement of O'Brien and Scheibling ( 2018) that the breeding turf algae cover can form a thick and dense matrix and inhibit the formation of coral larvae. Furthermore, Fricke et al (2014) suggested that coral reef degradation was generally associated with a reduction in coral cover and diversity and increased algal communities. The ability of turf algae that grow quickly has a negative impact on corals that are slow growing, then the loss or destruction of a coral colony can increase macroalgae cover by about 20% (Reverter et al 2020;Ditzel et al 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coral resilience inside and outside of Pesisir Timur Pulau Weh conservation zone, Sabang City, Indonesia

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Aldyza N, Barus TA, Mulya MB, Sarong MA. 2022. Coral resilience inside and outside of Pesisir Timur Pulau Weh conservation zone, Sabang City, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 5744-5751. Conservation is one of the efforts to conserve marine life and provide opportunities for an ecosystem to recover. One of the water areas protected by the community is Pulau Weh (Weh Island). In 2010 and 2016, coral reef ecosystems in the waters of Weh Island suffered a lot of damage due to the pressure from nature, i.e., the bleaching phenomenon. As a result, the benthic experienced a vacuum of the substrate. The emptiness of the substrate occurred due to the death of corals and the appearance of a layer of grass algae. Therefore new corals were difficult to recover without a solid and conducive substrate. Hence, this study aims to measure the resilience of corals and benthic conditions inside and outside conservation areas on Weh Island. Benthic data collection used the Point Intercept Transect method while measuring the potential resistance of corals using the resilience index through coral cover, fleshy seaweed, and rubble indicators. Benthic conditions were viewed based on the value of the results of the resilience component with the condition of the coral cover. The result showed that coral reef ecosystems inside and outside the Pesisir Timur Pulau Weh (PTPW; East Coast of Weh Island) conservation area had a high level of resilience (with scores ranging from 3 to 6, out of 6 for benthic condition scores). The benthic inside the conservation area averagely has a good score and it is likely to be in the recovery period from disturbances. While the score for the benthic outside the conservation area is only 3 (out of 6 for benthic condition scores), which indicates that the area is very vulnerable to disturbance even though it has a chance to recover. If there is another bleaching phenomenon in the future, corals that have just tried to recover in this vulnerable area may be damaged again and the coral cover will be decreased.

show abstract

Effects of depth and ultraviolet radiation on coral reef turf algae

Cited by 18 publications

References 84 publications

Rapid relative increase of crustose coralline algae following herbivore exclusion in a reef of El Salvador

Rapid relative increase of crustose coralline algae following herbivore exclusion in a reef of El Salvador

Studying mesoalgal structures: a non-destructive approach based on confocal laser scanning microscopy

Coral resilience inside and outside of Pesisir Timur Pulau Weh conservation zone, Sabang City, Indonesia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About