Structural deformation of branching corals associated with the vermetid gastropod Dendropoma maxima

Zvuloni, Assaf; Armoza-Zvuloni, Rachel; Loya, Yossi

doi:10.3354/meps07473

Cited by 34 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Experimental results were concordant with field surveys, in which vermetid densities were positively correlated with dead coral for P. lobata, P. rus and Pocillopora, but not Montipora. Two other studies (one experiment in Guam: Colgan 1985; and one observational study in the Red Sea: Zvuloni et al 2008) suggest the negative effects of vermetids on corals, which we observed in Moorea may also occur in other locations. Our research strengthens and extends the inferences drawn from these previous two studies (one based upon correlative evidence, the other published in symposium proceedings; both focused on a single coral species).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Smalley 1984;Kappner et al 2000;Ribak et al 2005;Gagern et al 2008). In the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), the presence of D. maximum was correlated with morphological anomalies and reduced size in a branching coral (Zvuloni et al 2008). Here, we explore vermetidcoral interactions in more detail using a series of field observations combined with experiments designed to quantify the degree to which vermetids cause reductions in growth and survival of four coral species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The vermetid gastropodDendropoma maximumreduces coral growth and survival

2010

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These authors contributed equally to this work.Coral reefs are one of the most diverse systems on the planet; yet, only a small fraction of coral reef species have attracted scientific study. Here, we document strong deleterious effects of an often overlooked species-the vermetid gastropod, Dendropoma maximum-on growth and survival of reef-building corals. Our surveys of vermetids on Moorea (French Polynesia) revealed a negative correlation between the density of vermetids and the per cent cover of live coral. Furthermore, the incidence of flattened coral growth forms was associated with the presence of vermetids. We transplanted and followed the fates of focal colonies of four species of corals on natural reefs where we also manipulated presence/absence of vermetids. Vermetids reduced skeletal growth of focal corals by up to 81 per cent and survival by up to 52 per cent. Susceptibility to vermetids varied among coral species, suggesting that vermetids could shift coral community composition. Our work highlights the potential importance of a poorly studied gastropod to coral dynamics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The vermetid gastropodDendropoma maximumreduces coral growth and survival

2010

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“…Scien tists from the adjacent Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences continuously use this reef for, among other things, study of various aspects of coral and reef ecology (e.g. Loya & Slobodkin 1971, Loya 1972, Riegl & Piller 1999, Glassom et al 2004, Abelson et al 2005, Zvuloni et al 2008a,b,c, 2009 The zooxanthellate hydrocoral Millepora dicho toma is an important framework contributor to shallow reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba, forming a distinct 'Millepora zone' at a depth of 0.2 to 3 m (Loya & Slobodkin 1971). In this study, we report an unusual bleaching pattern, consisting of numerous scattered bleached spots (see Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifocal bleaching of Millepora dichotoma in the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat), Red Sea

Zvuloni¹,

Armoza-Zvuloni²,

Shaked³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The zooxanthellate hydrocoral Millepora dichotoma is an important framework builder of shallow reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). In this study, we document and characterize the emergence of multifocal bleaching (MFB), a new syndrome in M. dichotoma. MFB is characterized by bleached spots scattered over the colony. The establishment of MFB in M. dichotoma at the study site was surprisingly rapid. We first noticed this phenomenon and assessed its prevalence in February 2010, and re-assessed it 1 yr later, in February 2011. The prevalence of MFB along the reef crest at a depth of 0.5 m is extremely high (63 and 67% in 2010 and 2011, respectively), significantly higher than along the fore-reef at a depth of 2.5 m (16 and 31% in 2010 and 2011, respectively). Spatial analyses were used to characterize the distribution of MFB across 2 spatial scales on the reef: among-transects scale (< 800 m) and within-transect scale (< 60 m). The results clearly show that the affected hydrocorals are aggregated over these 2 scales. While several factors may contribute to the observed pattern, the aggregated spatial distribution of the affected hydrocorals suggests that local and inter-colonial transmission play a significant role in the spread of MFB.KEY WORDS: Multifocal bleaching · Millepora · Hydrocoral · Gulf of Aqaba · Eilat · Spatial pattern Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 441: [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] 2011 The zooxanthellate hydrocoral Millepora dicho toma is an important framework contributor to shallow reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba, forming a distinct 'Millepora zone' at a depth of 0.2 to 3 m (Loya & Slobodkin 1971). In this study, we report an unusual bleaching pattern, consisting of numerous scattered bleached spots (see Fig. 1). This phenomenon was observed for the first time in February 2010 on M. dichotoma populations along the Gulf. We found affected hydrocorals at reefs as far apart as the Jordanian and Israeli coasts, at the northern tip of the Gulf, and the Straits of Tiran (Egypt) at its southern end, some 170 km away. Following the framework provided by Work & Aeby (2006) to systematically describe and name diseases in corals (see 'Materials and methods') and the 'Underwater cards for assessing coral health on IndoPacific reefs ' (Beeden et al. 2008), we termed this unusual bleaching, in which the bleached tissue and zooids within the spots are often visible (see Fig. 1d), 'multifocal bleaching' (MFB). In other locations around the world, similar focal bleaching has been reported, affecting the scleractinian corals Porites, Montipora and Acropora (Beeden et al. 2008). Work & Abey (2006) reported ca. 1 to 3 mm multifocal tissue-loss in Millepora sp. In this study, we report for the first time on the emergence of MFB in Millepora. We provide (1) a qualitative description of the appearance of MFB on M. dichotoma, (2) a quantitative assessment of the prevalence of MFB in populations along the reefs at the Coral Nature Reserve in ...

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“…Bak et al (1996) reported a 9-fold increase in the density of Trididemnum solidum, a colonial ascidian, along the 84 km of fringing reef in Curacao, over a period of 15 yr. Witman & Smith (2003) reported a 3-fold increase in ascidian biomass over 1 yr in an upwelling site in the Galápagos. Whereas numerous studies have investigated the competitive relation-ship between different coral species (Sheppard 1979, Abelson & Loya 1999, Connell et al 2004, only a few studies have investigated the interactions of corals with other bottom-occupying organisms (Aerts & van Soest 1997, Aerts 1998, López-Victoria et al 2006, Zvuloni et al 2008, none of which have investigated coral-ascidian interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population dynamics of a coral reef ascidian in a deteriorating environment

Shenkar¹,

Bronstein

Loya³

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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In the coral reefs of Eilat, a newly described colonial ascidian, Botryllus eilatensis, has been observed overgrowing dead coral skeletons and rapidly colonizing artificial substrates. To study overgrowth dynamics and the relationship between coral morphology, size, and orientation and ascidian overgrowth we monitored (monthly) the interaction of 50 to 70 tagged coral colonies with B. eilatensis. The rate of B. eilatensis overgrowth on corals was influenced by the coral's morphology and orientation combined with a seasonal appearance of the ascidian. During spring, the average ascidian cover was 27 ± 4.6 % (mean ± SE), decreasing rapidly during the summer months when sexual reproduction took place. This seasonality is linked to the vertical mixing phenomenon that occurs in Eilat every winter. Moreover, fragments of B. eilatensis translocated to a nutrient-rich site increased 3-fold in size and exhibited higher survivorship rates in comparison to the fragments at the original site. Increased anthropogenic activity, particularly the eutrophication occurring along the Israeli coasts, creates favorable conditions for filter-feeding organisms such as ascidians, providing them with an advantage in competition for space over reef-building corals and other organisms.

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Structural deformation of branching corals associated with the vermetid gastropod Dendropoma maxima

Cited by 34 publications

References 11 publications

The vermetid gastropodDendropoma maximumreduces coral growth and survival

The vermetid gastropodDendropoma maximumreduces coral growth and survival

Multifocal bleaching of Millepora dichotoma in the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat), Red Sea

Population dynamics of a coral reef ascidian in a deteriorating environment

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