The Effects of Anthropogenic Stressors on Reproduction and Recruitment of Corals and Reef Organisms

Abstract

The persistence of populations of marine organisms depends on the success of the dual processes of reproduction and recruitment. The production of offspring alone is inconsequential unless larvae and propagules can recruit, which often entails a period of development and distribution in the water column and subsequent selection of appropriate habitats. For fish, this may mean drifting in currents before responding to particular habitat cues. For corals and other benthic invertebrates, larvae must undergo site selection, settlement and metamorphosis into the juvenile form, and survivorship is directly linked to site choice and environmental conditions. Both biotic and abiotic factors affect population replenishment success, and hence, anthropogenic influences such as pollution, sedimentation and climate change can negatively affect critical processes such as reproductive synchronization in spawning species, successful embryological development, appropriate site selection, settlement, metamorphosis and in the case of reef building corals, acquisition of the required zooxanthellae partner. Effective management practices are essential for ensuring the persistence of populations of coral reef organisms of economic, cultural and ecological value.

Impact of El Niño 2015-2016 on the coral reefs of the Pacific of Costa Rica: the potential role of marine protection

“…Marino Ballena and Golfo Dulce). The inadequate protection of these locations makes them more vulnerable to marine warming events since their resilience is lowered by these other stress factors (Hughes et al, 2010;Mumby & Steneck, 2011;Richmond et al, 2018). Anthropogenic pressures such as overfishing, pollution, and coastal erosion add to the natural disturbances that impact coral reefs, and this greatly reduces their capacity for recovery.…”

“…In the last 40 years, marine conservation strategies in Costa Rica have focused on the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that can safeguard vulnerable ecosystems (Alvarado, Cortés, Esquivel, & Salas, 2012). Most of these MPAs include coral reefs as conservation elements (Alvarado, Herrera, Corrales, Asch, & Paaby, 2011;Alvarado et al, 2017), and the reduction of certain anthropogenic pressures (fishing, tourism, sewage) in these MPAs is thought to result in greater resilience and reproductive success for reefs (Hughes, Graham, Jackson, Mumby, & Steneck, 2010;Mumby & Steneck, 2011;Richmond, Tisthammer, & Spies, 2018). Therefore, this research seeks first to determine the impact of the most recent El Niño event (2015-2016) on the coral reefs of the Pacific coast of southern Costa Rica and Isla del Coco, as well as to quantify if the established conservation actions (MPAs) have been key in the resilience of these ecosystems.…”

Editorial: The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons From Natural Extreme Environments

“…Fecundity, larvae settlement, and post-settlement processes are clearly important contributors to the ecological success of any coral species, particularly under environmental stress and climate change (Richmond et al, 2018). The ability of corals to recover from stress events will depend, in part, on their reproductive capacity and the availability of suitable substrate to colonize.…”

Adaptable mesocosm facility to study oil spill impacts on corals

“…Despite their ecological and economical importance, coral reefs are experiencing serious declines and impacts caused by different factors, including anthropogenic stressors, such climate change, sedimentation, and pollution (Hughes et al, ; Leite et al, ; Liu, Meng, Liu, Wang, & Leu, ; Nepote, Bianchi, Chiantore, Morri, & Montefalcone, ; Nyström, Folke, & Moberg, ; Reichelt‐Brushett & Harrison, ). These disturbances can, independently or synergistically, induce coral mortality, contribute to disease outbreaks, and affect coral reproduction and recruitment (Muthukrishnan & Fong, ; Richmond, ; Richmond, Tisthammer, & Spies, ).…”

“…dependently or synergistically, induce coral mortality, contribute to disease outbreaks, and affect coral reproduction and recruitment (Muthukrishnan & Fong, 2014;Richmond, 1993;Richmond, Tisthammer, & Spies, 2018).…”