Mutualistic symbiosis with ophiuroids limited the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea octocorals

Girard, Fanny; Fu, Bihong; Fisher, Charles R.

doi:10.3354/meps11697

Cited by 32 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, branch loss was still abnormally high seven years after the oil spill, indicating an ongoing effect of the spill on corals . Recovery was influenced by the presence of the ophiuroid associate Asteroschema clavigerum, which facilitated the recovery of impacted corals, likely by removing particles deposited on branches and preventing the settlement of hydroids (Girard et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ growth of deep-sea octocorals after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Girard

Cruz

Glickman

et al. 2019

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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Although the role of deep-sea corals in supporting biodiversity is well accepted, their ability to recover from anthropogenic impacts is still poorly understood. An important component of recovery is the capacity of corals to grow back after damage. Here we used data collected as part of an image-based long-term monitoring program that started in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to develop a non-destructive method to measure in situ growth rates of Paramuricea spp. corals and characterize the impact of the spill on growth. About 200 individual coral colonies were imaged every year between 2011 and 2017 at five sites (three that were impacted by the spill and two that were not). Images were then used to test different methods for measuring growth. The most effective method was employed to estimate baseline growth rates, characterize growth patterns, estimate the age of every colony, and determine the effects of impact and coral size on growth. Overall growth rates were variable but low, with average annual growth rates per site ranging from 0.14 to 2.5 cm/year/colony. Based on coral size and growth rates, some colonies are estimated to be over two thousand years old. While coral size did not have an influence on growth, the initial level of total impact in 2011 had a significant positive effect on the proportion of new growth after 2014. However, growth was not sufficient to compensate for branch loss at one of the impacted sites where corals are expected to take an average of 50 years to grow back to their original size. The non-destructive method we developed could be used to estimate the in situ growth rates on any planar octocoral, and would be particularly useful to follow the recovery of corals after impact or assess the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ growth of deep-sea octocorals after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Girard

Cruz

Glickman

et al. 2019

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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“…A recent study, however, has suggested that there may be tangible host benefits. Girard et al (2016) studied the relationship between the ophiuroid symbiont Asteroschema clavigerum on the plexaurid octocoral Paramuricea biscaya. They monitored damage and recovery of Paramuricea following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.…”

Section: Symbioses Facilitation and Parasitismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions in the Deep Sea

Allcock

Johnson²

2019

Interactions in the Marine Benthos

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“…Model code and all data used in this study available from the Dryad Digital Repository https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2d0g778 (Girard, Shea, & Fisher, ).…”

Section: Data Accessibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recovery patterns of impacted coral colonies also varied with the presence or absence of the brittle star (ophiuroid) Asteroschema clavigerum (Verrill, 1894) on the corals. A. clavigerum ophiuroids both provided protection from impact and facilitated recovery of damaged coral branches (Girard, Fu, & Fisher, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Projecting the recovery of a long‐lived deep‐sea coral species after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using state‐structured models

Girard

Shea

Fisher

2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Deepwater coral communities are hotspots of diversity and biomass. Most deep‐sea coral species are long‐lived and slow‐growing and are, thus, expected to recover slowly after disturbance. A better understanding of the recovery potential of these organisms is necessary to make appropriate management decisions. We used data from high‐resolution monitoring of individual coral colonies that were impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (April 2010) to parameterize and validate an annual, impact‐dependent, state‐structured matrix model to estimate the time to recovery for each coral colony. We projected the dynamics of three branch states: visibly healthy, unhealthy and hydroid‐colonized. Although we implicitly included branch loss in the model, we focused on the short‐term return of extant, damaged branches to a visibly healthy state and did not consider the far longer term regrowth of lost branches. Our model estimates that, depending on the initial level of impact, corals impacted by the spill will take up to three decades to recover to a state where all remaining branches appear healthy, though the majority of corals are projected to reach that state within a decade. By that time, some of these colonies will have lost a significant number of branches, leading to approximately 10% reduction in total biomass at all impacted sites. Overall, our model overestimates recovery, but branch loss estimates were reliable. Thus, the available growth rate data suggest that hundreds of years may be necessary for impacted communities to grow back to their initial biomass. Policy implications. Our study quantifies the very slow recovery rate of deep‐sea corals impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and demonstrates the imperative of prioritizing a precautionary approach for deep‐sea ecosystems over restoration after the fact. As anthropogenic pressure on the deep sea is likely to increase, we suggest the establishment of coral monitoring sites implemented as part of Marine Protected Areas to limit and detect impact to deep‐sea corals. Furthermore, our model may be used to plan shorter‐ and longer‐term monitoring programmes after impact and to provide a timeline for policy.

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Mutualistic symbiosis with ophiuroids limited the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea octocorals

Cited by 32 publications

References 36 publications

In situ growth of deep-sea octocorals after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

In situ growth of deep-sea octocorals after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Interactions in the Deep Sea

Projecting the recovery of a long‐lived deep‐sea coral species after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using state‐structured models

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