The importance of expert knowledge in conservation planning – Comment to an article by C.J. Klein et al.

This paper comments and discusses the article ‘Evaluating the influence of candidate terrestrial protected areas on coral reef condition in Fiji׳ by Klein et al. in Marine Policy 44 2014. Klein et al. integrate land-sea planning by optimising the design of Fiji׳s expanded protected area network to benefit coral reefs, while maintaining a terrestrial network that is representative of Fiji׳s various terrestrial ecosystems. They discuss the benefits of various spatial conservation models compared to a candidate protected area network proposed by Fiji׳s Protected Area Committee (FPAC), which is based on expert knowledge and a scoring system. This paper argues that their analyses are best interpreted as the FPAC network outperforming the models proposed by Klein et al. in protecting terrestrial biodiversity. The FPAC network performs better because it includes data that was not available for spatial modelling, especially the percentage of endemic species per ecosystem and the practicalities of protecting an area earmarked for conservation. This suggests that expert knowledge can be an important resource for conservation planning, especially in developing countries, and that spatial conservation planning should harness this knowledge.     

Evaluating the influence of candidate terrestrial protected areas on coral reef condition in Fiji

In any given region, there are multiple options for terrestrial protected area networks that achieve goals for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem values. When deciding on the location of terrestrial protected areas, planners typically focus only on terrestrial conservation goals, ignoring potential linked benefits to marine ecosystems. These benefits include maintenance of downstream water quality, as forest protection can prevent changes in amount and composition of river runoff that negatively impacts coral reefs. This study aims to determine the benefit of different terrestrial reserve networks to the condition of coral reefs adjacent to the main islands of Fiji to support the work of Fiji's Protected Area Committee in expanding the national protected area estate through integrated land–sea planning. Options for terrestrial protected area networks were designed using six approaches, where the primary objective of each approach was to either achieve terrestrial conservation goals (e.g., represent 40% of each vegetation type) or maximize benefits to coral reefs by minimizing potential for land-based runoff. When achieving terrestrial conservation goals was the primary objective, the potential benefits to coral reef condition were 7.7–10.4% greater than benefits from the existing network of protected areas. When benefiting reefs was the primary objective, benefits to coral reefs were 1.1–2.8 times greater per unit area than networks designed to only achieve terrestrial conservation goals, but 31–44% of the terrestrial conservation goals were not achieved. These results are already being used by Fiji's Protected Area Committee to modify the boundaries of existing priority places to deliver outcomes that better meet terrestrial conservation goals while offering greater benefits to coral reef condition through prevention of run-off.     

Ontogenetic habitat use by mangrove/seagrass-associated coral reef fishes shows flexibility in time and space

Tropical shallow-water habitats such as mangroves and seagrass beds are widely acknowledged as important juvenile habitats for various coral reef fish species, most of which are commercially important to fisheries. Spatio-temporal variability in ontogenetic habitat use by fish among these tropical coastal ecosystems has rarely been investigated, yet there are sufficient reasons to believe that this plays an important role. In the present study, we test the spatio-temporal variability in patterns of ontogenetic habitat use by some mangrove/seagrass-associated coral reef fishes (Lethrinus harak, Lethrinus lentjan, Lutjanus fulviflamma and Siganus sutor). Abundances of these four species were investigated during two years in Tanzanian coastal waters, using underwater visual census in mangrove, seagrass, shallow and deep mudflat, and shallow and deep coral reef habitats. The study covered four distinct seasons of the year and was done at two spatially separated (>40 km) locations. Averaged across locations, seasons and years, juveniles (≤10 cm length) of the four study species had significantly higher relative densities in shallow-water (mangroves and seagrass beds) than in deep-water habitats (deep mudflats or coral reefs), whereas the opposite pattern was found for the adults (>15 cm). These findings suggest a strong and general pattern of ontogenetic habitat shifts from shallow- to deep-water habitats. However, specific habitat-use patterns of juveniles as well as adults differed significantly in time and space. Various species showed subtle to considerable flexibility in juvenile as well as adult habitat use across seasons, years, or at different locations. Furthermore, for some species the data suggest presence of ontogenetic habitat shifts at one location but lack thereof at the other location. In summary, ontogenetic habitat use needs to be considered at various spatial and temporal scales for the interpretation of habitat utilization by fish during different life stages. This is important for conservation and management of these habitats, as essential habitats or seasons may be ignored or over-emphasized with respect to their importance for fish during different parts of their life cycle.     

Gradients in coral reef communities exposed to muddy river discharge in Pohnpei,Micronesia

This study analyzed how coral communities change along a gradient of increasing exposure to a mud-discharging river in the Enipein Catchment, Pohnpei, Micronesia. Using video transects, we quantified benthic communities at five sites along a gradient moving away from the river mouth towards the barrier reef. The most river-impacted site was characterized by a high accumulation of mud, low coral cover and low coral diversity. Although coral cover leveled off at ∼400 m from the river mouth to values found at the outer-most sites, coral diversity continued to increase with increasing distance, suggesting that the most distant site was still impacted by the river discharges. Fungiidae, Pavona, Acropora, Pachyseris and Porites rus all significantly increased in cover with distance from the river, while Turbinaria decreased. The combined presence and abundance of these six species groups, together with coral species richness, may help to indicate the effects of terrestrial runoff in similar runoff-exposed settings around Micronesia, whereas coral cover is not a sensitive indicator for river impact. Coral reefs are important resources for the people of Pohnpei. To prevent further degradation of this important resource, an integrated watershed approach is needed to control terrestrial activities.     

沉积物对珊瑚礁及礁区生物的影响

海水中日益增多的悬浮物和泥沙沉降是导致珊瑚礁严重衰退的原因之一。沉积物覆盖在珊瑚礁生物表面,影响其呼吸作用,而海水浊度的增加会减少光合作用的可利用光。过多的沉积物改变了礁区的物理以及生物过程,从而对珊瑚礁生态系的结构和功能产生不利影响。为了有效评估珊瑚礁的变化趋势,如优势种丰度以及空间分布的变化等,应用标准的监测方法进行长期监测对于掌握这一复杂生态系统的变化是非常关键的。综述了沉积物对珊瑚生长率、生长形态、代谢和繁殖与补充以及礁区生物的影响,并指出未来的研究方向,以期为珊瑚礁的保护提供参考。     

Evidence for the bioerosion of deep-water corals by echinoids in the Northeast Atlantic

In situ video observations of echinoids interacting with deep-sea coral are common in the deep-sea, but paradoxically the deep-sea literature is devoid of reports of bioerosion by extant echinoids. Here we present evidence of contemporary bioerosion of cold-water coral by four species of deep-sea echinoids, Gracilechinus elegans, Gracilechinus alexandri, Cidaris cidaris, and Araeosoma fenestratum, showing that they actively predate on the living framework of reef building corals, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, in the NE Atlantic. Echinoid specimens were collected in six canyons located in the Bay of Biscay, France and two canyons on the north side of the Porcupine Bank and Goban Spur, Ireland. A total of 44 live specimens from the four taxa (9 of G. elegans, 4 of G. alexandri, 21 of C. cidaris and 10 of A. fenestratum) showed recent ingestion of the coral infrastructure. Upon dissection, live coral skeleton was observed encased in a thick mucus layer within the gastrointestinal tract of G. elegans and G. alexandri while both live and dead coral fragments were found in C. cidaris and A. fenestratum. Echinoid bioerosion limits the growth of shallow-water reefs. Our observations suggest that echinoids may also play an important role in the ecology of deep-water coral reefs.     

Distribution of deep-water corals along the North American continental margins: Relationships with environmental factors

Despite the increasing attention to assemblages of deep-water corals in the past decade, much of this research has been focused on documenting and enumerating associated fauna. However, an understanding of the distribution of most species of coral and the ecological processes associated with these assemblages is still lacking. In this study, we qualitatively and quantitatively described the habitats of two families of deep-water corals in relation to six oceanographic factors (depth, slope, temperature, current, chlorophyll a concentration and substrate) on the Pacific and Atlantic Continental Margins of North America (PCM and ACM study areas, respectively). This study focused primarily on the distributions of Primnoidae and Paragorgiidae because of the large number of documented occurrences. For each environmental factor, deep-water coral locations were compared to the surrounding environment using χ² tests. On both continental margins, coral locations were found to be not randomly distributed within the study areas, but were within specific ranges for most environmental factors. In the PCM study area, Paragorgiidae and Primnoidae locations were found in areas with slopes ranging from 0° to 10.0°, temperature from −2.0 to 11.0 °C and currents from 0 to 143 cm s⁻¹. In the ACM study area, Paragorgiidae and Primnoidae locations were found in areas with slopes ranging from 0° to 1.4°, temperature ranging from 0 to 11.0 °C and currents ranging from 0 to 207 cm s⁻¹. Although the patterns in habitat characteristics were similar, differences existed between families with respect to particular environmental factors. In both study areas, most environmental parameters in locations where corals occurred were significantly different from the average values of these parameters as determined with χ² tests ($p<0.05$) except for substrate in Paragorgiidae locations and depth in Primnoidae locations on the PCM. This is the first study to show coral distributional patterns at the continental shelf/slope scale.     

Observer presence may alter the behaviour of reef fishes associated with coral colonies

Although underwater visual census (UVC) is the most frequently used technique for quantifying reef fish assemblages, remote video analysis has been gaining attention as a potential alternative. In the South Atlantic Ocean, Millepora spp. (class Hydrozoa) are the only branching coral species; however, little is known about the ecological role that they play for reef fish communities. We compared these two observation methods (remote video and UVC) to estimate reef fish abundance and species richness associated with colonies of the fire‐coral Millepora alcicornis at Tamandaré Reefs, Northeast Brazil. Additionally, the two different techniques were used to compare species behaviour in association with fire‐corals in order to examine the biases associated with each technique and provide useful information for behavioural ecologists studying fish–coral associations. There were no differences in reef fish abundance or species richness sampled by remote video or UVC. However, a significant difference in the behaviour of associated fish was recorded between the two methods. In the presence of a diver carrying out a UVC, fish were observed spending more time sheltered amongst the coral branches compared with passively swimming on coral colonies with the remote video technique. Specifically, on the remote video recordings agonistic interactions between fish and passive swimming accounted for 33.3% and 22.2% of the census time, respectively. By comparison, when observed by a diver fish spent 34.8% of their time sheltering amongst the coral branches. We demonstrate that both techniques are similarly effective for recording fish abundance and species richness associated with fire‐corals. However, differences were observed in the ability of each method to detect the behaviour of coral‐associated fishes. Our findings show that behavioural ecologists studying complex fish–coral associations need to ensure that their aims are clearly defined and that they choose the most appropriate technique for their study in order to minimize methodological biases.     

在三亚湾环境下四种方法在五种造礁石珊瑚上移植效果的比较

珊瑚移植一直被认为是增加退化珊瑚礁上珊瑚数量的重要手段之一。为了调查多种珊瑚移植方法和不同珊瑚种类的移植效果,我们选择了已严重退化并仍面临着人类和自然环境胁迫的三亚鹿回头珊瑚礁作为移植地,对5种珊瑚共902个断枝利用4种方法进行了移植。在移植后的10个月,移植珊瑚的存活率为45.5%。移植方法对于不同珊瑚种类具有不同效果,但没有一种方法能够对所有珊瑚的移植效果产生促进作用。虽然对于叶状蔷薇珊瑚（Montipora foliosa）和风信子鹿角珊瑚（Acropora hyacinthus）来说,适合的移植方法能够减缓其死亡速率,但并不能改变其死亡趋势。叶状蔷薇珊瑚和风信子鹿角珊瑚的移植个体呈现出高死亡率和明显的存活组织面积下降,而扁枝滨珊瑚（Porites andrewsi）和丛生盔形珊瑚（Galaxea fascicularis）死亡率和组织部分死亡率则优于前两者。扁枝滨珊瑚和丛生盔形珊瑚仅在一种移植方法中出现了存活组织面积明显增长。鹿角杯形珊瑚（Pocillopora damicornis）是移植珊瑚中唯一一种在所有移植方法上都呈现珊瑚平均存活面积增长的种类。实验结果说明在受到高度胁迫的海域进行珊瑚移植很难取得满意效果,珊瑚种类的选择对胁迫环境下的珊瑚移植效果具有决定性影响,而移植方法只能在部分程度上改善移植效果,但无法弥补鹿回头环境压力对敏感种类胁迫造成的影响。在鹿回头珊瑚礁需首先治理对珊瑚造成胁迫的因子,再进行珊瑚移植,并应优先考虑移植环境耐受性高的珊瑚种类。     

西沙群岛管枝藻目的分类研究

根据Feldmann(1938)的评述，管枝藻目的系统分类研究工作始于Schmitz(1879)，他首先创建了“group” Siphonocladaceae(发表名为Siphonocladiaceae)。又据Egerod(1952)的研究，Schmitz的“group”事实上只是一个科，Feldmann(1938)，Fritsch(1947)及其他人把管枝藻目的创建者归诸Schmitz是错误的。Schmitz在此科中收容了法囊藻(Valonia)，肋叶藻(Anadyomene)，小网藻(Microdictyon)，刚毛藻(Cladophora)，硬毛藻(Chaetomorpha)，黑孢藻(Pithophora)，气球藻(Botrydium)和暂定的网叶藻(Struvea)以及他的新属管枝藻(Siphonocladus)。De Toni(1889)将Schmitz的管枝藻科的各属分散在Order Confervoideae的刚毛藻科的刚毛藻亚科(Cladophoreae)、绵枝藻亚科(Spongocladieae)、小网藻亚科(Microdictyeae)、肋叶藻亚科(Anadyomene)和法囊藻亚科(Valonieae)中。Blackman and Tansley(1902)简历管藻目时下分管藻亚目(Siphoneae)包括无分隔的种类和管枝藻亚目(Siphonocladeae)包括分隔的种类；后者由孢根藻科(Gomontiaceae)，刚毛藻科(Cladophoraceae)，环藻科(Sphaeropleaceae)和法囊藻科(Valoniaceae)等四个科组成。     

On the possibility of mapping living corals to the species level based on their optical signatures

Several methods (Spectral Angle Mapper, first derivatives, spectral clustering) were used to test the possibility of discriminating live corals at the species level by using reflectance spectra obtained by close range underwater remote sensing. The Spectral Angle Mapper used with an in situ spectral library of 73 coral colonies recognised all corals correctly in an artificial remote sensing image created from the same coral spectra. The results did not change when “grey” noise was added to each pixel in the artificial image or when the artificial image was made from reflectance spectra modelled through a 5-m water column. The results showed that the within-species variability in optical properties of a set of four coral species, for which at least three different specimens were measured, was as high as between-species variability. Thus, it is highly unlikely that hard corals can be discriminated at a species level by means of remote sensing. Cluster analysis showed that it is difficult to recognise corals also at the genus level (Acropora vs. non-Acropora) based on their reflectance spectra. However, visual inspection of the coral spectra and clustering analysis suggest that it is possible to separate three main optical types of corals: green, blue, and brown corals. This may form the basis for an optical classification of corals that is more suited for remote sensing than traditional taxonomy.     

基于WorldView-2和GF-2遥感影像的赵述岛礁坪底质变化研究

以西沙群岛海域赵述岛礁坪为研究区域,应用2010年的WorldView-2和2015年的GF-2两期高分辨率卫星遥感影像数据,结合现场水下珊瑚礁照片和视频资料,建立了赵述岛礁坪底质类型遥感分类体系,分别构建了针对WorldView-2遥感影像和GF-2遥感影像的珊瑚礁底质分类决策树模型,并通过对两期遥感影像的底质类型提取结果的变化分析,完成了赵述岛礁坪退化区域的提取。结果表明:(1)WorldView-2影像的分类决策树具有91%的总体分类精度和0.89的Kappa系数,GF-2影像的分类决策树具有更高的分类精度;(2)6年期间研究区大约1/4的珊瑚礁分布区发生了退化;(3)最突出的自然变化是礁前区大面积的珊瑚丛生区转变成藻脊,结合相关资料认为东北季风、热带气旋和温度上升的综合影响是驱动因素;(4)赵述岛西侧的藻脊、珊瑚沉积区大面积转化为珊瑚砂和深水区域,原因是航道和码头的开发活动。研究分析了6年间赵述岛礁坪底质的退化状况,并分析原因,为珊瑚礁底质分类提供方法,并为西沙群岛的珊瑚礁监测和保护提供了有效资料和手段。     

Dynamic simulation of tropical coral reef ecosystem being disturbed by multiple situations

In consideration of the rapid degradation of coral reef ecosystems, the establishment of models is helpful to comprehend the degradation mechanism of coral reef ecosystems and predict the development process of coral reef communities. According to the characteristics of complex ecosystem of tropical coral reefs in China, the coral reef functional group is the core level variable; combined with the multiple feedback effects of coral reef functional groups and environmental changes, the study presents a coral reef ecosystem dynamics model with hermatypic corals as the core. Based on the simulation of the assumed initial value and the internal feedback of the system, the results show that in the basic simulation(relative health conditions), the coverage area of live corals and coral reefs generally decreased first and then increased, and increased by 4.67% and 6.38% between2010 and 2050, respectively. Based on the calibration model and the current situation of the studied area, the multi-factor disturbance effects of coral reef communities were simulated and explored by setting up three scenarios involving fishing policy, terrestrial deposition, and inorganic nitrogen emissions. Among them, in the single factor disturbance, the fishing policy exerts the most direct impact on the community decline; and the succession phenomenon is obvious; the terrestrial sedimentation has a faster and more integrated effect on the community decline; the effect of inorganic nitrogen emission on the community decline is relatively slow. In the double/multi-factor disturbance, the superimposed disturbance will aggravate the multi-source feedback effect of the coral reef communities development, accelerate the community decay rate, and make its development trajectory more complicated and diverse. This method provides a scientific and feasible method for simulating the damage of long-term coral reef community and exploring the development law and adaptive management of coral reef ecosystems. In the future, it can be further studied in the ecological restoration process and decisionmaking direction of coral reefs.     

永兴岛及七连屿造礁石珊瑚近10年变化分析

根据2007-2016年珊瑚礁监测数据,永兴岛及七连屿共调查到造礁石珊瑚11科113种,常见种有鹿角杯形珊瑚Pocillopora damicornis、疣状杯形珊瑚Pocillopora Verrucosa、粗野鹿角珊瑚Acropora humilis、澄黄滨珊瑚Porites lutea、丛生盔形珊瑚Galaxea fascicularis、梳状菊花珊瑚Goniastrea pectinata及锯齿刺星珊瑚Cyphastrea serailia等。研究区域内造礁石珊瑚种类近10年（2007-2016年）来下降明显,其中永兴岛从39种下降到18种,下降率为53.85%;北岛从23种下降到17种,下降率为26.09%;赵述岛从46种下降到12种,下降率为73.91%;西沙洲从51种下降到15种,下降率为70.59%。群体形态群落中皮壳状种类数最为稳定,分枝类下降了59.26%;叶片状下降了75.00%;圆盘状下降了87.50%;团块状下降了57.14%。通过对研究区域造礁石珊瑚种类组成及群落形态等方面的变化分析可见,人为活动、长棘海星、珊瑚病害、台风及全球升温等因素逐渐影响到西沙海域的珊瑚礁生态系统。     

珊瑚礁生态系统修复研究进展

健康的珊瑚礁生态系统具有造礁、护礁、固礁、防浪护岸、防止国土流失的功能。同时, 珊瑚礁生态系统生物多样性极高, 被称为海洋中的“热带雨林”。我国南海拥有200多个珊瑚岛、礁与沙洲, 是世界海洋珊瑚礁最丰富的区域之一。近年来, 由于全球气候变化和围填海等人类活动的影响, 珊瑚礁生态系统受到了不同程度的影响或破坏, 危及海洋生态与岛礁安全, 珊瑚礁生态系统的修复至关重要。本文对珊瑚礁生态系统的现状、修复方法及存在的问题进行了总结, 并在此基础上创新性地提出了基于系统的珊瑚礁多维生态系统修复模式并付诸实践, 以期提供更有效的珊瑚礁生态系统修复新方法。     

High-sediment tolerance in the reef coral Turbinaria mesenterina from the inner Great Barrier Reef lagoon (Australia)

Sedimentation is an important stressor on coral reefs subjected to run-off, dredging and resuspension events. Reefs with a history of high-sediment loads tend to be dominated by a few tolerant coral species. A key question is whether such species live close to their tolerance thresholds or near their niche optima. Here, we analyse experimentally the sediment tolerance of a spatially dominant coral, Turbinaria mesenterina (Dendrophylliidae), at nearshore reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Testing was conducted in a 5-week tank experiment under manipulated sediment loading and flow conditions. Physiological stress was assessed based on the behaviour of three key response variables: skeletal growth rate, energy reserves (lipid content) and photosynthetic performance. Because sediment effects are likely to vary between flow regimes, sediment and flow responses were tested using a full factorial design. Sediment loads greater than 110 mg cm⁻² had no effect on any of the physiological variables, regardless of flow (0.7–24 cm s⁻¹). Turbinaria mesenterina is thus tolerant to sediment loads an order of magnitude higher than most severe sediment conditions in situ. Likely mechanisms for such tolerance are that: (1) colonies covered in sediment (60–120 μm) in low-flow were able to clear themselves rapidly (within 4–5 h); and (2) sediment provides a source of food. These results suggest that intensified sediment regimes on coastal reefs may shift coral communities towards dominance by a few well-adapted species.     

Assessment of the effectiveness of natural coral fragmentation as a dispersal mechanism for coral reef‐boring sponges

Eastern Pacific reefs are mostly made up of interlocking coral branches of Pocillopora, which are easily broken by physical forces associated with heavy swells and winds. In this study we investigated the potential of these coral fragments to enable propagation of boring sponges. For this, we quantified the frequency of occurrence and diversity of boring sponges in fragments of corals recently trapped among the branches of live colonies, and later tested the hypothesis that these sponges colonize new branches of corals. Nearly 80% of the coral colonies investigated had coral fragments among their branches, and 69% of these coral fragments contained boring sponges (11 species), some of these sponges in reproduction (23% of them carried oocytes). To test whether sponges inhabiting coral fragments could colonize new branching corals we transplanted them to healthy branches, and to branches whose living tissue was mechanically eliminated to simulate damage produced by grazing and death after bleaching and other causes of coral tissue mortality. All the transplanted coral fragments cemented to each new colony by means of calcification, and of the three sponge species tested (Cliona vermifera, Cliona tropicalis and Thoosa mismalolli) only C. vermifera was able to colonize both new living branches (26.9%) and cleaned branches (65.5%). The apparent capability of C. vermifera to colonize by direct contact may be another key ability of this species to maintain high frequency of occurrence in Pacific coral reefs. However, although C. tropicalis and T. mismalolli were not able to colonize new coral substrata by direct contact, coral fragments have the potential to contribute to local persistence of these sponges and to their dispersal, both by asexual (fragments) and sexual means (transport of sexual products). The present findings may partly explain the current increase of excavating sponges on deteriorating reefs with a large availability of dead branching corals.     

Sponges Inhabiting a Mediterranean Red Coral Population

Abstract. A coastal red coral [Corallium rubrum (L.)] population, whose age structure and demographic parameters have been previously analysed, harbours 10 species of endobiotic sponges. This sponge assemblage differs considerably from that inhabiting other calcareous substrata of the surrounding area, suggesting some selectivity for red coral. The two most common endobiotic species, Spiroxya heteroclita T opsent and Cliona sarai M elone , are described in detail. The percentage of infested coral colonies increases according with colony age, with a sharp increment at four years. An increase in coral colony mortality observed at this age may be related to the increment of endobiotic sponge infestation.     

Distribution of deep-water Scleractinian corals in the Atlantic Ocean

The distribution pattern of deep-water Scleractinian corals was studied in the Atlantic Ocean at a depth more than 2 km on the basis of our own and published data. It was shown that deep-water corals predominate (with respect to species diversity and number) in the eastern part of the ocean. In its western part, some species (Desmophyllum dianthus, Flabellum angulare, etc.) were not revealed. In the tropical zone of the North Atlantic, the distribution pattern of shallow- and deep-water corals differs. At the coast of South America, deepwater corals are absent, which is probably related to the deep part of the global oceanic conveyor belt.