Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

0 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Split spawning increases robustness of coral larval supply and inter-reef connectivity.

ABSTRACT: Many habitat-building corals undergo mass synchronous spawning events. Yet, despite the enormous amounts of larvae produced, larval dispersal from a single spawning event and the reliability of larval supply are highly dependent on vagaries of ocean currents. However, colonies from the same population will occasionally spawn over successive months. These split spawning events likely help to realign reproduction events to favourable environmental conditions. Here, we show that split spawning may benefit corals by increasing the reliability of larval supply. By modelling the dispersal of coral larvae across Australia's Great Barrier Reef, we find that split spawning increased the diversity of sources and reliability of larval supply the reefs could receive, especially in regions with low and intrinsically variable connectivity. Such increased larval supply might help counteract the expected declines in reproductive success associated with split spawning events.

SUBMITTER: Hock K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6671964 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Publications

Split spawning increases robustness of coral larval supply and inter-reef connectivity.

Hock Karlo K Doropoulos Christopher C Gorton Rebecca R Condie Scott A SA Mumby Peter J PJ

Nature communications 20190801 1

Many habitat-building corals undergo mass synchronous spawning events. Yet, despite the enormous amounts of larvae produced, larval dispersal from a single spawning event and the reliability of larval supply are highly dependent on vagaries of ocean currents. However, colonies from the same population will occasionally spawn over successive months. These split spawning events likely help to realign reproduction events to favourable environmental conditions. Here, we show that split spawning may ...[more]

PMID: 31371712

Similar Datasets

The El Nino Southern Oscillation drives multidirectional inter-reef larval connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef.

Project description:The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest source of interannual global climate variability, and extreme ENSO events are projected to increase in frequency under climate change. Interannual variability in the Coral Sea circulation has been associated with ENSO, although uncertainty remains regarding ENSO's influence on hydrodynamics and larval dispersal in the adjacent Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We investigated larval connectivity during ENSO events from 2010 to 2017 throughout the GBR, based on biophysical modelling of a widespread predatory reef fish, Lutjanus carponotatus. Our results indicate a well-connected system over the study period with high interannual variability in inter-reef connectivity associated with ENSO. Larval connectivity patterns were highly correlated to variations in the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). During El Niño conditions and periods of weak SOI, larval dispersal patterns were predominantly poleward in the central and southern regions, reversing to a predominant equatorward flow during very strong SOI and extreme La Niña conditions. These ENSO-linked connectivity patterns were associated with positive connectivity anomalies among reefs. Our findings identify ENSO as an important source of variation in larval dispersal and connectivity patterns in the GBR, which can influence the stability of population dynamics and patterns of biodiversity in the region.

| S-EPMC9734173 | biostudies-literature

Split spawning realigns coral reproduction with optimal environmental windows.

Project description:Split spawning in coral populations occurs when gamete maturation and mass spawning are split over two consecutive months. While split spawning has been observed at many reefs, little is known about the frequency and significance of these events. Here we show that split spawning occurred frequently and predictably over a decade at Scott Reef. Split spawning overlays the biannual spawning pattern in the region and occurs when the full moon falls in the first week of the usual spawning month, or the last week of the previous month. Additionally, in split years most species have their main spawning event after a 13-month lunar cycle, in the month following the usual spawning month. Without split spawning, spawn dates would shift by ~10 days each year to occur outside of optimal environmental windows. Our results suggest that split spawning is driven by a disconnect between lunar and seasonal cues, and is analogous with a 'leap year' in coral reproduction, realigning spawning dates with favourable conditions for reproduction.

| S-EPMC5818648 | biostudies-literature

Coral spawning patterns of Acropora across two Maldivian reef ecosystems

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC10621594 | biostudies-literature

Sensing coral reef connectivity pathways from space.

Project description:Coral reefs rely on inter-habitat connectivity to maintain gene flow, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Coral reef communities of the Red Sea exhibit remarkable genetic homogeneity across most of the Arabian Peninsula coastline, with a genetic break towards the southern part of the basin. While previous studies have attributed these patterns to environmental heterogeneity, we hypothesize that they may also emerge as a result of dynamic circulation flow; yet, such linkages remain undemonstrated. Here, we integrate satellite-derived biophysical observations, particle dispersion model simulations, genetic population data and ship-borne in situ profiles to assess reef connectivity in the Red Sea. We simulated long-term (>20 yrs.) connectivity patterns driven by remotely-sensed sea surface height and evaluated results against estimates of genetic distance among populations of anemonefish, Amphiprion bicinctus, along the eastern Red Sea coastline. Predicted connectivity was remarkably consistent with genetic population data, demonstrating that circulation features (eddies, surface currents) formulate physical pathways for gene flow. The southern basin has lower physical connectivity than elsewhere, agreeing with known genetic structure of coral reef organisms. The central Red Sea provides key source regions, meriting conservation priority. Our analysis demonstrates a cost-effective tool to estimate biophysical connectivity remotely, supporting coastal management in data-limited regions.

| S-EPMC5571014 | biostudies-literature

Loss of reef roughness increases residence time on an idealized coral reef.

Project description:Through idealized, numerical models this paper investigates flows on a reef geometry which has received significant attention in the literature; a shallow, fringing reef with deeper, shore-ward pools or lagoons. Given identical model geometries and varying only reef flat drag coefficients between model runs ([Formula: see text]), two distinct circulation patterns emerge. One is related to low reef water levels and high roughness, and efficiently flushes the entire reef system resulting in low residence times (an 'open reef'). The other is related to high reef water levels and low roughness, and in spite of the development of an offshore undertow, this dynamic is inefficient at flushing the reef-pool system and facilitating exchange flow with offshore waters (a 'closed reef'). This paper shows that even given indistinguishable geometry and offshore conditions, this information is insufficient to predict reef dynamics, and suggests that reef roughness (and thus reef health) plays a comparable role in determining circulation patterns and residence times. Furthermore, a transition from open to closed or vice versa caused by e.g., a loss of reef roughness or increase in mean sea level could have implications for transport and mixing of nutrients and water masses, as well as larval dispersal.

| S-EPMC9653433 | biostudies-literature

Enhanced larval supply and recruitment can replenish reef corals on degraded reefs.

Project description:Reef-building corals have essential roles in reef ecosystems but are highly susceptible to disturbances. Increasing anthropogenic disturbances are eroding coral community resilience, leading to declining reef ecosystem function and status globally. Successful reproduction and recruitment are essential for restoring coral populations but recruitment-limitation can constrain recovery. We supplied ~400,000 Acropora tenuis larvae in fine-mesh enclosures on each of four larval-enhancement plots, comprising natural reef substrata and ten settlement tiles, on degraded reef areas in the northwestern Philippines. Initial mean total settlement on tiles in larval-enhancement plots was high (255.3 ± 68.6), whereas no larvae settled in natural control plots. Recruit survivorship began stabilising after five months, with juveniles becoming visible by eye at nine months. After three years a mean of 2.3 m-2 colonies survived within each larval-enhancement plot. Most colonies grew rapidly (16.1 ± 0.7 cm mean diameter) and spawned successfully at three years, thereby quickly re-establishing a breeding population. In contrast, natural recruitment failed to produce any new visible A. tenuis colonies. These results demonstrate that mass larval settlement can rapidly enhance recruitment and coral recovery on degraded reef areas, and provides an important option for active reef restoration where larval supply and recruitment success are limiting.

| S-EPMC5656657 | biostudies-literature

Interspecific gamete compatibility and hybrid larval fitness in reef-building corals: Implications for coral reef restoration.

Project description:Climate warming is a major cause of the global decline of coral reefs. Active reef restoration, although still in its infancy, is one of several possible ways to help restore coral cover and reef ecosystem function. The deployment of mature coral larvae onto depauperate reef substratum has been shown to significantly increase larval recruitment, providing a novel option for the delivery of ex situ bred coral stock to the reef for restoration purposes. The success of such reef restoration approaches may be improved by the use of coral larval stock augmented for climate resilience. Here we explore whether coral climate resilience can be enhanced via interspecific hybridization through hybrid vigour. Firstly, we assessed cross-fertility of four pairs of Acropora species from the Great Barrier Reef. Temporal isolation in gamete release between the Acropora species was limited, but gametic incompatibility was present with varying strength between species pairs and depending on the direction of the hybrid crosses. We subsequently examined the fitness of hybrid and purebred larvae under heat stress by comparing their survival and settlement success throughout 10 days of exposure to 28 °C, 29.5 °C and 31 °C. Fitness of the majority of Acropora hybrid larvae was similar to that of the purebred larvae of both parental species, and in some instances it was higher than that of the purebred larvae of one of the parental species. Lower hybrid fertilization success did not affect larval fitness. These findings indicate that high hybrid fitness can be achieved after overcoming partial prezygotic barriers, and that interspecific hybridization may be a tool to enhance coral recruitment and climate resilience.

| S-EPMC6426996 | biostudies-literature

Linking habitat mosaics and connectivity in a coral reef seascape.

Project description:Tropical marine ecosystems are under mounting anthropogenic pressure from overfishing and habitat destruction, leading to declines in their structure and function on a global scale. Although maintaining connectivity among habitats within a seascape is necessary for preserving population resistance and resilience, quantifying movements of individuals within seascapes remains challenging. Traditional methods of identifying and valuing potential coral reef fish nursery habitats are indirect, often relying on visual surveys of abundance and correlations of size and biomass among habitats. We used compound-specific stable isotope analyses to determine movement patterns of commercially important fish populations within a coral reef seascape. This approach allowed us to quantify the relative contributions of individuals from inshore nurseries to reef populations and identify migration corridors among important habitats. Our results provided direct measurements of remarkable migrations by juvenile snapper of over 30 km, between nurseries and reefs. We also found significant plasticity in juvenile nursery residency. Although a majority of individuals on coastal reefs had used seagrass nurseries as juveniles, many adults on oceanic reefs had settled directly into reef habitats. Moreover, seascape configuration played a critical but heretofore unrecognized role in determining connectivity among habitats. Finally, our approach provides key quantitative data necessary to estimate the value of distinctive habitats to ecosystem services provided by seascapes.

| S-EPMC3458395 | biostudies-literature

Nutrient supply from fishes facilitates macroalgae and suppresses corals in a Caribbean coral reef ecosystem.

Project description:On coral reefs, fishes can facilitate coral growth via nutrient excretion; however, as coral abundance declines, these nutrients may help facilitate increases in macroalgae. By combining surveys of reef communities with bioenergetics modeling, we showed that fish excretion supplied 25 times more nitrogen to forereefs in the Florida Keys, USA, than all other biotic and abiotic sources combined. One apparent result was a positive relationship between fish excretion and macroalgal cover on these reefs. Herbivore biomass also showed a negative relationship with macroalgal cover, suggesting strong interactions of top-down and bottom-up forcing. Nutrient supply by fishes also showed a negative correlation with juvenile coral density, likely mediated by competition between macroalgae and corals, suggesting that fish excretion may hinder coral recovery following large-scale coral loss. Thus, the impact of nutrient supply by fishes may be context-dependent and reinforce either coral-dominant or coral-depauperate reef communities depending on initial community states.

| S-EPMC6504825 | biostudies-other

Climate-induced increases in micronutrient availability for coral reef fisheries.

Project description:Climate change is transforming coral reefs, threatening supply of essential dietary micronutrients from small-scale fisheries to tropical coastal communities. Yet the nutritional value of reef fisheries and climate impacts on micronutrient availability remain unclear, hindering efforts to sustain food and nutrition security. Here, we measure nutrient content in coral reef fishes in Seychelles and show that reef fish are important sources of selenium and zinc and contain levels of calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids comparable with other animal-source foods. Using experimental fishing, we demonstrate that iron and zinc are enriched in fishes caught on regime-shifted macroalgal habitats, whereas selenium and omega-3 varied among species. We find substantial increases in nutrients available to fisheries over two decades following coral bleaching, particularly for iron and zinc after macroalgal regime shifts. Our findings indicate that, if managed sustainably, coral reef fisheries could remain important micronutrient sources along tropical coastlines despite escalating climate impacts.

| S-EPMC8791602 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data