Review—coral Reefs: Algal Structured and Mediated Ecosystems in Shallow, Turbulent, Alkaline Waters

Adey, Walter H.

doi:10.1046/j.1529-8817.1998.340393.x

Cited by 216 publications

(184 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…This is one of the most commonly found calcified algae found in coral reefs of the Brazilian northeastern coast (Leão 1982, Carvalho 1983, Martins et al 1991, Coutinho et al 1993, Villaça & Pitombo 1997, Costa Jr. et al 2002, besides being one of the most common taxa found in coral reefs (Lirman 2001) and one of the most important sources of carbonates to the reef systems (Adey 1998, Villaça 2002.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subtidal benthic marine algae of the Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia State, Brazil

et al. 2008

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The Todos os Santos bay is a Brazilian coastal marine area that was appointed as top priority for biological conservation. However, there are still too few studies about the local composition of marine communities. The aim of the present investigation was to survey the diversity of marine algae in the sub-tidal zone around the reefs of the Todos os Santos bay. Samples from seven different sites in the bay were obtained by scuba diving through qualitative and quantitative methods, being the collections repeated in rainy and dry seasons. One-hundred and forty-two taxa were found: 31 Chorophyta, 27 Ochrophyta, 83 Rhodophyta, and one Macrophyte. Higher diversity and evenness indices were found during the dry season. Sargassum spp., Dictyopteris delicatula, and Halimeda opuntia were the most abundant macroalgae in the bay. Greatest number of species and most abundant samples were obtained in the oceanic region of the bay, while fewer species and less abundant samples were obtained in areas that are more exposed to the effects of human disturbance. The composition of the flora and abundance of macroalgae in each area of Todos os Santos bay seem to be determined by the quality of local seawater (i.e. degree of eutrophication). Keywords: Macroalgae, tropical bay, reef formation, eutrophication. RESUMO ALGAS MARINHAS BENTÔNICAS DO INFRALITORAL DA BAÍA DE TODOS OS SANTOS (BAHIA, BRASIL). Apesar da Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS) ser considerada uma área de extrema importânciabiológica para a conservação da zona costeira brasileira, poucos estudos sobre as comunidades marinhas de seus ecossistemas foram realizados até o momento. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho é o de caracterizar a diversidade de algas marinhas do sub-litoral das formações recifais da BTS. Dois tipos de amostragem foram realizados: uma qualitativa e outra quali-quantitativa em sete locais de coleta. Foram identificados 142 táxons, sendo 31 Chlorophyta, 27 Ochrophyta e 83 Rhodophyta, e uma fanerógama marinha. Foi observada uma tendência a maiores valores de diversidade e equitabilidade na época seca. Sargassum spp., Dictyopteris delicatula e Halimeda opuntia foram os táxons que mais contribuíram para a abundância de macroalgas na BTS. O maior número de táxons e os maiores valores de biomassa foram encontrados em local voltado para o mar aberto, enquanto que, os menores valores foram encontrados em locais com algum tipo de distúrbio antrópico. A distribuição da flora e da abundância de macroalgas da BTS é determinada pela condição de eutrofização de cada um dos locais estudados. Palavras-chave: Macroalga, baía tropical, formação recifal, eutroficação. 5.indd 2293/11/2008 15:36:18

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subtidal benthic marine algae of the Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia State, Brazil

et al. 2008

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“…In certain ecosystems, corallines are the main contributors to carbon budgets (Chisholm, 2003;Martin et al, 2006;Bensoussan and Gattuso, 2007). On coral reefs, corallines are fundamental for cementing the primary reef framework and maintain habitat diversity (Littler, 1972;Littler and Doty, 1975;Adey, 1998;Perry and Hepburn, 2008;. Carbonate skeletons are considered responsible for the distribution and abundance of many species (Steneck, 1986;Vadas and Steneck, 1988;Steneck et al, 1991;Steneck and Dethier, 1994;Steller and Foster, 1995;Foster, 2001), and ultimately for the ecological success of coralline algae in marine habitats, as they play fundamental roles providing protection against herbivores and resistance to water motion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light Absorption in Coralline Algae (Rhodophyta): A Morphological and Functional Approach to Understanding Species Distribution in a Coral Reef Lagoon

Vásquez-Elizondo

Enríquez

2017

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Red coralline algae are a cosmopolitan group with the ability to precipitate CaCO 3 within the walls of their vegetative cells. The resultant carbonate structure is key for explaining their ecological success, as it provides protection against herbivores and resistance to water motion. However, its potential contribution to enhance thallus light absorption efficiency through multiple light scattering on algal skeleton, similar to the effect documented for scleractinian corals, has not been yet investigated. Here, we initiate this analysis, characterizing thallus optical properties of three coralline species, which differed in pigment content and thallus mass area (TMA, gDW m −2 ). The three species, the rhodolith Neogoniolithon sp., the crustose coralline alga (CCA), Lithothamnion sp., and the articulated alga Amphiroa tribulus, represent the more distinctive coralline growth-forms and are able to colonize contrasting light environments in Caribbean coral reefs. The thicker thalli of the rhodoliths were the most efficient light collectors, as evidenced by their higher pigment absorption efficiency (a * Chla ; m 2 mgChla −1 ) and photosynthetic rates per unit area. This could explain rhodolith success in oligotrophic, highly illuminated reef environments. In contrast, the thinner thalli of the CCA, a low-light specialist, showed the highest metabolic rates normalized to mass and the highest light absorption efficiencies per unit mass (a * M ; m 2 gdw −1 ). Therefore, the ecological success of the CCA in cryptic habitats within the reef cannot be explained only by its low-light physiology, but also by its capacity to reduce the structural costs of their thalli, and thus of its new growth. Lastly, the ecological success of Amphiroa tribulus, which displayed intermediate values for the efficiency of light absorption, metabolic rates and TMA, was explained by its ability to construct the largest light collectors (algal canopies) thanks to the presence of flexible, non-calcified segments (genicula). This ability enables enhanced photosynthetic and carbonate production at the organism/canopy level. The resulting fragile canopy survives best within the protection provided by colonies of the lettuce coral Agaricia agaricites. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the utility of optical traits as powerful tools to investigate differences in the competitive abilities, abundances and niche distribution among algal species and/or growth-forms.

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“…Porolithon pachydermum and Lithophyllum congestum dominate the higher levels of Caribbean algal ridges, with a smaller standing crop of fleshy algae (Adey and Vassar 1975;Adey 1998). The only study of succession among CCA demonstrated their adaptation to lower-light levels (Adey and Vassar 1975).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succession of crustose coralline red algae (Rhodophyta) on coralgal reefs exposed to physical disturbance in the southwest Atlantic

2013

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Biological and physical disturbances create the conditions for species succession in any biological ecosystem. In particular, coral reefs are susceptible to this process because of the complexity of their ecological relationships. In the southwest Atlantic, nearshore reefs are mostly coated by a thin layer of coralline crusts rather than stony corals. However, little is known about the succession of crustose coralline algae. We studied this process by means of a series of experimental and control discs exposed to physical disturbance. Our results showed that the dominant species in natural conditions, Pneophyllum conicum, had early recruits and later became dominant on the discs, replicating the community structure of the actual reef. This species had mature reproductive structures and available spores from the beginning of the colonization experiments. Thicker crusts of Porolithon pachydermum and Peyssonnelia sp. were found on the discs after 112 days, and significantly increased their cover over the succeeding months; and after 1 year, P. conicum was less abundant. Physical disturbance increased crust recruitment and the low-light environment created by sediments. The data demonstrated coexistence among crustose coralline species and a tolerance to physical disturbance, which seemed to favor the thinner crusts of P. conicum over thick-crust species during succession. The succession pattern observed in this subtropical Brazilian coral reef differs from that described for shallow tropical reef communities.

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Review—coral Reefs: Algal Structured and Mediated Ecosystems in Shallow, Turbulent, Alkaline Waters

Cited by 216 publications

References 57 publications

Subtidal benthic marine algae of the Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia State, Brazil

Subtidal benthic marine algae of the Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia State, Brazil

Light Absorption in Coralline Algae (Rhodophyta): A Morphological and Functional Approach to Understanding Species Distribution in a Coral Reef Lagoon

Succession of crustose coralline red algae (Rhodophyta) on coralgal reefs exposed to physical disturbance in the southwest Atlantic

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