When environmental factors become stressors: interactive effects of vermetid gastropods and sedimentation on corals

Zill, Julie; Gil, Michael A.; Osenberg, Craig W.

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2016.0957

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“… Pacific/GBR Field 200 Short – AM, B DS31 Stafford-Smith and Ormond 1992 [ 129 ] 42 spp. Pacific/GBR Field 0—50 Long – M, MO DS32 Stewart et al 2006 [ 71 ] AHYA, PVER Pacific/French Polynesia Field/Lab 62.5—125 Long SR AM, B DS33 Vargas-Angel et al 2006 [ 72 ] MCAV Atlantic/Florida Lab 200—225 Long – AM, B, M, MO, TM DS34 Weber et al 2006 [ 90 ] MPEL Pacific/GBR Field/ Lab 33—160 Short MQY M, MO DS36 Zill et al 2017 [ 130 ] PORI Pacific/French Polynesia Field 54.2 Long G, SR AM *Keys to species codes and coral responses in Additional file 4 . Species codes are listed when 5 species (spp.)…”

Section: Review Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sediment exposure on corals: a systematic review of experimental studies

Tuttle

Donahue

2022

Environ Evid

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Background Management actions that address local-scale stressors on coral reefs can rapidly improve water quality and reef ecosystem condition. In response to reef managers who need actionable thresholds for coastal runoff and dredging, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies that explore the effects of sediment on corals. We identified exposure levels that ‘adversely’ affect corals while accounting for sediment bearing (deposited vs. suspended), coral life-history stage, and species, thus providing empirically based estimates of stressor thresholds on vulnerable coral reefs. Methods We searched online databases and grey literature to obtain a list of potential studies, assess their eligibility, and critically appraise them for validity and risk of bias. Data were extracted from eligible studies and grouped by sediment bearing and coral response to identify thresholds in terms of the lowest exposure levels that induced an adverse physiological and/or lethal effect. Meta-regression estimated the dose–response relationship between exposure level and the magnitude of a coral’s response, with random-effects structures to estimate the proportion of variance explained by factors such as study and coral species. Review findings After critical appraisal of over 15,000 records, our systematic review of corals’ responses to sediment identified 86 studies to be included in meta-analyses (45 studies for deposited sediment and 42 studies for suspended sediment). The lowest sediment exposure levels that caused adverse effects in corals were well below the levels previously described as ‘normal’ on reefs: for deposited sediment, adverse effects occurred as low as 1 mg/cm2/day for larvae (limited settlement rates) and 4.9 mg/cm2/day for adults (tissue mortality); for suspended sediment, adverse effects occurred as low as 10 mg/L for juveniles (reduced growth rates) and 3.2 mg/L for adults (bleaching and tissue mortality). Corals take at least 10 times longer to experience tissue mortality from exposure to suspended sediment than to comparable concentrations of deposited sediment, though physiological changes manifest 10 times faster in response to suspended sediment than to deposited sediment. Threshold estimates derived from continuous response variables (magnitude of adverse effect) largely matched the lowest-observed adverse-effect levels from a summary of studies, or otherwise helped us to identify research gaps that should be addressed to better quantify the dose–response relationship between sediment exposure and coral health. Conclusions We compiled a global dataset that spans three oceans, over 140 coral species, decades of research, and a range of field- and lab-based approaches. Our review and meta-analysis inform the no-observed and lowest-observed adverse-effect levels (NOAEL, LOAEL) that are used in management consultations by U.S. federal agencies. In the absence of more location- or species-specific data to inform decisions, our results provide the best available information to protect vulnerable reef-building corals from sediment stress. Based on gaps and limitations identified by our review, we make recommendations to improve future studies and recommend future synthesis to disentangle the potentially synergistic effects of multiple coral-reef stressors.

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Section: Review Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sediment exposure on corals: a systematic review of experimental studies

Tuttle

Donahue

2022

Environ Evid

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“…1m) or irregularly flattened coral branches (Zvuloni et al 2008). While vermetid gastropods do not feed on their coral hosts, they elicit a physiological response in the form of these growth anomalies (Shima et al 2010, 2013; Zill et al 2017). Coral biomineralization is an energetically costly biochemical process (Tambutté et al 2011), rendering energy spent in this manner to encapsulate vermetid shells essentially forfeited.…”

Section: Acoelamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ceraesignum maximum is a filter feeder that uses a mucus net to trap food from the water column. In doing so, sediment is retained in the mucus net where it can negatively affect the coral host (Hughes & Lewis 1974; Kappner et al 2000; Zill et al 2017). Brown and Osenberg (2018) also observed mucus net feeding by C. maximum to increase the thickness of the boundary layer around the host, the retention time of water within the mucus net and a reduction of water flow around the host.…”

Section: Acoelamentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites and coral‐associated invertebrates that impact coral health

Barton

Bourne

Humphrey

et al. 2020

Reviews in Aquaculture

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Globally coral reefs are in decline, largely driven by local anthropogenic pressures combined with broader cumulative impacts from climate change. Coral aquaculture will play an important role in active reef restoration and attempts to preserve some semblance of coral reefs in highly impacted areas. Achieving maximum growth and survivorship of cultured corals is necessary to achieve optimal results. This is not possible without the study of coral pests and diseases which can be detrimental to coral health. Here we review the complex relationships between corals and their associated symbiotic organisms, identify invertebrates that may harm the corals and suggest known management techniques in captivity. Groups considered included acoels (Xenacoelomorpha: Acoela), digeneans (Trematoda: Digenea), polyclads (Rhabditophora: Polycladida), gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda), decapods (Malacostraca: Decapoda), copepods (Hexanauplia: Copepoda) and pyrgomatids (Cirripedia: Pyrgomatidae). There are few empirically validated management techniques for coral pests, particularly in terms of large‐scale aquaculture, emphasizing the need for further directed research in this area. Information generated through the ornamental trade and hobbyists is valuable to inform future research direction targeted towards captive coral husbandry, reef ecosystem management and restoration strategies.

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“…This vermetid gastropod is considered a pest in aquariums and maybe an indicator organism for reef degradation in the wild. The vermetids feed with mucus nets which can cover surrounding corals and cause partial mortality (Zill et al, 2017). The creeks at both sites are continuously flowing into the lagoon at low discharge rates.…”

Section: Study Area and Sample Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbonate sediments from Maui bay (coral coast, Fiji) reflect importance of coral reef conservation

Shadrack

Pohler²,

Dutra

et al. 2020

Ocean & Coastal Management

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This study describes the origin and characteristics of unconsolidated coral reef sediments from Maui Bay (Coral Coast, Viti Levu Island, Fiji), a site declared under customary law as Marine Protected Area (MPA) by traditional owners in Tagaqe village since the year 2000. Sediment samples were collected from five transect lines and analysed in the laboratory through drying process and sieving to fractional sizes. The results show that sediments from Maui Bay MPA are composed of very coarse sand (mean sediment size of 1.5 mm) mostly constituted of coral fragments (e.g. Seriatopora spp. and Porites spp.; coral fragments in ≥50% of grains) followed by other smaller particles of calcareous organisms (foraminifera and molluscs, 10-36% of the grains). As expected, siliciclastic sediments are most abundant near the mouth of a creek which brings in sediments from the mountainous hinterland. A comparison of Maui Bay with a non-protected fringing reef with very similar bathymetry at Tabua Sands (qualitative data) along the Coral Coast shows that the non-protected site is rich in brown algae with mostly dead corals. The darkish colour and smell of rotten eggs emanating from sediments collected at Tabua Sands suggests anoxic conditions at shallow sediment depth. This is in contrast to the clean white sediments encountered at Maui Bay indicating healthier coral reefs, which shows the importance and success of protection measures implemented here.

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When environmental factors become stressors: interactive effects of vermetid gastropods and sedimentation on corals

Cited by 7 publications

References 23 publications

Effects of sediment exposure on corals: a systematic review of experimental studies

Effects of sediment exposure on corals: a systematic review of experimental studies

Parasites and coral‐associated invertebrates that impact coral health

Carbonate sediments from Maui bay (coral coast, Fiji) reflect importance of coral reef conservation

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