The effects of SCUBA diving on the endemic Mediterranean coral Astroides calycularis

Terrón-Sigler, Alejandro; León-Muez, David; Peñalver-Duque, Patricio; Torre, Free Espinosa

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.01.002

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Dive duration in our study for recreational divers (47.3 ± 36.8 min) is slightly lower than reported for Philippines (56 ± 6.4 min; Vianna et al, 2014), Florida (54.2 min; Camp and Fraser, 2012), or in the Red Sea at Sharm el Sheik (48.6 min; Branchini et al, 2015), and more similar to that found in the Mediterranean Sea (44-48 min;Terrón-Sigler et al, 2016). The shorter dive time in our study might be explained by the comparatively low water temperature in the Humboldt Current System (Thiel et al, 2007), which naturally reduces the amount of time divers are able to spend in the water (Stang and Wiener, 1970).…”

Section: Characterization Of Diverscontrasting

confidence: 54%

How Does the Diversity of Divers Affect the Design of Citizen Science Projects?

et al. 2019

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Divers have widely participated in citizen science (CS) projects and are one of the main groups of marine citizen scientists. However, there is little knowledge about profiles of, and incentives for potential divers to join CS projects. To date, most studies have focused on the SCUBA diving industry; nevertheless, there is a diversity of divers, not all using SCUBA, who engage in different activities during their dives. Differences in diver profiles could affect their willingness and ability to contribute to CS. In this study, we compare the diving profile, interests, preferences and motivations to participate in CS of five diver types (artisanal fishermen, recreational divers, instructors, scientific divers, and others). All divers have strong interests in participating in CS projects, with no major differences among diver types. In general, they are interested in a wide variety of themes related to CS but they prefer simple sampling protocols. Divers are motivated to participate in CS to learn about the sea and contribute to science. Some important differences among diver types were found, with artisanal fishermen having significantly more dive experience than other diver types, but less free time during their dives and limited access to some communication channels and technologies. These characteristics make them ideal partners to contribute their local ecological knowledge (LEK) to local CS projects. In contrast, recreational divers have the least experience but most free time during their dives and good access to cameras and communications channels, making them suitable partners for large-scale CS projects that do not require a high level of species knowledge. Instructors and scientific divers are well-placed to coordinate and supervise CS activities. The results confirm that divers are not all alike and specific considerations have to be taken into account to improve the contribution of each diver type to CS. The findings provide essential information for the design of different types of CS projects. By considering the relevant incentives and opportunities for diverse diver groups, marine CS projects will make efficient gains in volunteer recruitment, retention, and collaborative generation of knowledge about the marine environment.

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Section: Characterization Of Diverscontrasting

confidence: 54%

How Does the Diversity of Divers Affect the Design of Citizen Science Projects?

et al. 2019

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“…Although the results of the present study showed that polyp bail-out occur in stressed A. calycularis colonies under extreme aquarium conditions, further investigations are required to confirm whether polyp bail-out also occurs in natural conditions, and whether released polyps could re-attach to the substrate, form a skeleton and generate new reproductive colonies (i.e., to confirm polyp bail-out as a viable form of asexual reproduction). Despite the present experimental setting being far from natural conditions, it seems plausible that human and environmental stressors found in natural con ditions may induce polyp bailout in A. calycularis, for example, in damaged coral colonies commonly found at the base of rocky walls, after detachment from the substrate due to natural causes (e.g., wave action during severe storms) and/or anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., diving activities or fishing gear; Di Franco et al 2009;Terrón-Sigler et al 2016b;Musco et al 2017). Our observations add to the growing records of polyp bail-out within Scleractinia, suggesting that this asexual dispersal mechanism may be more prevalent than previously thought.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Polyp bail-out by the coral Astroides calycularis (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae)

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Coma

Inostroza³

et al. 2017

Mar Biodiv

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Knowledge of reproductive biology is essential for ecological studies on coral population dynamics. The azooxanthellate colonial coral Astroides calycularis is endemic to the western Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic coasts. Specimens of this species in artificial conditions, an aquarium with enclosed seawater and low food availability, appeared to show an asexual dispersal mechanism. This mechanism consisted of the detachment and release of single, skeletonless polyps from the underlying colony skeleton (i.e., polyp bail-out). While the released free-living polyps regularly showed extended tentacles and most of them survived, they did not show re-attachment to the substrate or any skeleton formation until the end of the experiment, ∼2–3 months after bail-out. Formation of new reproductive colonies, thereby the eventual completion of asexual reproduction through polyp bail-out in A. calycularis, still needs to be confirmed. In addition to sexual reproduction, polyp bail-out may constitute an alternative propagation mechanism during periods of environmental stress, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of the parental genotype and the dispersal by drifting soft polyps. © 2017 Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelber

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“…8). More recent works include research articles by Hammerton and Bucher (2015), Roche et al (2016), andTerrón-Sigler et al (2016) among others. In contrast with this growing body of literature, the resource-intensive nature of the scuba diving tourism sector remains somewhat neglected, with research examining the use of resources and its associated impacts being scarce (Lindgren et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%