Long-term impacts of coral bleaching events on the world’s warmest reefs

Burt, John A.; Al-Harthi, Suaad; Al-Cibahy, Ashraf S.

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.08.005

Cited by 98 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…These findings suggest that adaptation to different thermal environments has a long-term influence on the potential of the P. lobata to respond to episodes of high temperature and that the samples from Abu Dhabi are more tolerant of the high temperatures in experimental treatments. Since Gulf corals are increasingly endangered in their native habitat (Burt et al 2008(Burt et al , 2011, it was suggested that these uniquely thermally adapted genotypes should be conserved, or perhaps even transplanted, for the benefit of other reefs that are expected to experience similar temperature extremes by 2099 as those currently experienced by the Gulf (Riegl et al, 2011). Such a strategy would only make sense if the thermal tolerance of Gulf corals was indeed retained ex situ.…”

Section: Temperature Challenge Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the animal host might survive and recover, mass mortality is frequently observed among bleached corals Glynn, 1996;Wilkinson, 1998). Over the past decades, mass bleaching events associated with elevated seawater temperatures have become more frequent and have contributed to the rapid degradation of coral reefs Burt et al, 2011;Hughes et al, 2003). Currently, an estimated 30% of reefs are severely damaged and >50% may be lost within the next two decades according to climate predictions (Hughes et al, 2003;Sheppard, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: Prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance

Hume

D’Angelo

Burt

et al. 2013

Marine Pollution Bulletin

162

148

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a b s t r a c tCorals in the Arabian/Persian Gulf endure summer temperatures of up to 36°C, making them ideal subjects to study the mechanisms underlying thermal tolerance. Unexpectedly, we found the ''generalist'' Symbiodinium clade C3 to be the prevalent symbiont among seven coral species from Abu Dhabi (UAE) waters. Moreover, C3 represented the only dominant symbiont type in Porites spp. from this region. The ''thermotolerant'' symbionts D1a and C15 were not encountered, indicating that the association with these symbionts cannot be the sole reason for the heat tolerance of Gulf corals. The association of Porites lobata with specific symbiont types (C3 vs. C15) in samples from habitats with very different temperature regimes (Abu Dhabi vs. Fiji) remained unaffected by laboratory culture. During temperature stress experiments specimens from both locations strongly downregulated green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments. However, the Abu Dhabi samples were less prone to bleaching and showed lower mortality.Crown

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Section: Temperature Challenge Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: Prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance

Hume

D’Angelo

Burt

et al. 2013

Marine Pollution Bulletin

162

148

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Reefs at the origin are shallow (\5 m depth) and low relief and are better described as coral carpets forming a veneer over a capstone substrate. Sea surface temperatures in this area typically range from 18°C in the winter through 36°C in the summer, and these reefs have been exposed to recurrent mass bleaching events in the past decade (1996,1998,2002,2010) from which coral communities are continuing to recover (Burt et al 2008(Burt et al , 2011.…”

Section: Coral Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Locally accelerated growth is part of the innate immune response and repair mechanisms in reef-building corals as detected by green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments

et al. 2012

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Homologs of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) are a prevalent group of host pigments responsible for the green, red and purple-blue colours of many reefbuilding corals. They have been suggested to contribute to the striking coloration changes of different corals species in response to wounding and infestation with epibionts/parasites. In order to elucidate the physiological processes underlying the potentially disease-related colour changes, we have analysed spatial and temporal expression patterns of GFP-like proteins and other biomarkers in corals from the Red Sea, the Arabian/Persian Gulf and Fiji both in their natural habitat and under specific laboratory conditions. The expression of distinct GFP-like proteins and the growth marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen was upregulated in growing branch tips and margins of healthy coral colonies as well as in disturbed colony parts. Furthermore, phenoloxidase activity increased in these proliferating tissues. It is thus demonstrated that locally accelerated growth is part of the innate immune response and repair mechanisms in reef-building corals and, moreover, these processes can be detected utilizing the excellent biomarker properties of GFP-like proteins. Finally, the results of this work suggest an additional vulnerability of corals in predicted future scenarios of increased ocean acidification, warming and eutrophication that are anticipated to reduce coral growth capacity.

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“…Coral reefs are among the Earth's ecosystems most severely threatened by rising sea temperatures. Nearly all of the reefs have been heated above their maximum temperature threshold; many have already lost a significant portion of their corals, and approximately 30% to 40% of the world's coral reefs are already severely degraded (GLYNN, 1993;BROWN, 1997;WILKINSON, 2000WILKINSON, , 2002WILKINSON, , 2004WILKINSON, , 2008HUGHES et al, 2003;DONNER et al, 2005;PANDOLFI et al, 2005;HOEGH-GULDBERG, 1999;HOEGH-GULDBERG et al, 2007;SOUTER, 2008;EAKIN et al, 2010;OXENFORD et al, 2010;BURT et al, 2011;DE'ATH et al, 2012;GUEST et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brazilian coral reefs in a period of global change: A synthesis

et al. 2016

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Brazilian coral reefs form structures significantly different from the well-known reef models, as follows: (i) they have a growth form of mushroomshaped coral pinnacles called "chapeirões", (ii) they are built by a low diversity coral fauna rich in endemic species, most of them relic forms dating back to the Tertiary, and (iii) the nearshore bank reefs are surrounded by siliciclastic sediments. The reefs are distributed in the following four major sectors along the Brazilian coast: the northern, the northeastern and the eastern regions, and the oceanic islands, but certain isolated coral species can be found in warmer waters in embayments of the southern region. There are different types of bank reefs, fringing reefs, isolated "chapeirões" and an atoll present along the Brazilian coast. Corals, milleporids and coralline algae build the rigid frame of the reefs. The areas in which the major coral reefs occur correspond to regions in which nearby urban centers are experiencing accelerated growth, and tourism development is rapidly increasing. The major human effects on the reef ecosystem are mostly associated with the increased sedimentation due to the removal of the Atlantic rainforest and the discharge of industrial and urban effluents. The effects of the warming of oceanic waters that had previously affected several reef areas with high intensity coral bleaching had not shown, by the time of the 2010 event, any episodes of mass coral mortality on Brazilian reefs. AbstrActDescriptors: Coral reefs, Global changes, Coral bleaching, Endemic fauna.Os recifes de coral do Brasil formam estruturas significativamente diferentes dos modelos conhecidos: (i) possuem uma forma de crescimento de pináculos coralíneos em forma de cogumelo, chamados "chapeirões", (ii) são construídos por uma fauna coralínea com baixa diversidade e rica em espécies endêmicas, sendo grande parte destas formas relíquias do período Terciário e (iii) os recifes costeiros estão num ambiente dominado por sedimentos siliciclásticos. Os recifes estão distribuídos em quatro áreas ao longo da costa brasileira: regiões norte, nordeste, leste, e nas ilhas oceânicas, mas espécies isoladas de coral podem ser encontradas em águas mais quentes nas enseadas da região sul. Diferentes tipos de banco recifais, recifes em franja, "chapeirões" isolados e um atol estão presentes ao longo da costa brasileira. Corais, milleporídeos e algas coralinas incrustantes constroem a estrutura rígida dos recifes. As áreas em que ocorrem os maiores recifes de coral correspondem às regiões nas proximidades de centros urbanos que estão experimentando crescimento acelerado e rápido desenvolvimento do turismo. Os principais efeitos antropogênicos sobre o ecossistema recifal estão associados, essencialmente ao aumento da sedimentação devido à remoção da mata atlântica e as descargas de efluentes industriais e urbanos. Os efeitos do aquecimento das águas oceânicas que vem afetando várias áreas de recifes, com alta intensidade de branqueamento de coral, não causaram mortalidade em massa ...

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Long-term impacts of coral bleaching events on the world’s warmest reefs

Cited by 98 publications

References 25 publications

Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: Prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance

Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: Prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance

Locally accelerated growth is part of the innate immune response and repair mechanisms in reef-building corals as detected by green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments

Brazilian coral reefs in a period of global change: A synthesis

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