11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

14.457
Undirect Evidences On The Connectivity Of Coral Reefs Of The Gulf Of Mexico
Alejandra CHÁVEZ-HIDALGO* 1 , Gustavo DE LA CRUZ-AGÜERO 1 , Ernesto A.
CHÁVEZ 1
1 Pesquerías, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR-IPN), La Paz Baja
California Sur, Mexico
Details of connectivity among coral reefs of the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent Mexican
Caribbean coast are mostly unknown, despite the need of having evidence to support
decision making, addressed to preserve priority sources of larval stages of reef species.
Indirect evidence to support management decisions is provided on the basis of analyzing
patterns of similarity of 56 species of stony corals and 383 fish species from 22 reef
locations. Data on species richness suggest that the highest biodiversity of stony corals is
located around the Sian Kaan reefs on the Caribbean, with 42 species, whilst at the
Triángulos reef on the Campeche Bank, only ten species have been recorded. The highest
fish species richness was found at Alacran reef, Campeche Bank, with 287 species, and
the lowest one with 24 species corresponds to Punta Allen on the Caribbean coast. With
this initial exploration of data, the communities were analyzed in reference to species
dominance and ecological diversity. Similarity between locations was undertaken with
reference to fish and coral records and results were compared against the geographic
distances amongst locations. Advection patterns are used trying to explain the most likely
patterns of larval dispersion and to identify sources of recruitment and dispersion
pathways of coral and fish larval stages with reference to reef locations.
14.458
The Molecular Population Structure of the Crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster
planci, across the Hawaiian Archipelago and the two Closest Island Neighbors,
Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef
Molly TIMMERS* 1,2 , Robert TOONEN 3 , Misaki TAKABAYASHI 4 , Marta
DEMAINTENON 4
1 Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, Honolulu,
HI, 2 University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, 3 Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University
of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 4 University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI
Acanthaster planci infestations can decimate the ecology and economic value of coral
reef ecosystems. Therefore, understanding A. planci dispersal and recruitment
mechanisms is imperative not only for mitigation purposes but for monitoring outbreak
impacts on reef structure. The Hawaiian Islands are the most biogeographically isolated
island group on earth. The two closest neighbors to the archipelago are Johnston Atoll
and Kingman Reef. Recorded A. planci populations in the Hawaiian Islands and
subsequent coral predation have been very low compared to other locations in the Indo-
Pacific, presumably because of the islands’ extreme insularity. However, populations
around the main Hawaiian Islands appear to have increased in recent years. Furthermore,
A. planci densities have been at outbreak levels in localized areas around Kingman Reef
since 2001, and densities at Johnston Atoll have also increased within the past three
years. Using a mitochondrial DNA marker (660 bp of the control region), patterns of
gene flow and connectivity of A. planci were assessed along the Hawaiian Archipelago
and compared to populations at Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef to determine whether
Kingman Reef and/or Johnston Atoll might serve as a larval transport vector to the
Hawaiian Islands. Understanding the population connectivity of this fecund corallivore
may provide a basis for predicting potential aggregation patterns in the Hawaiian Islands.
The knowledge gained from this research likely has direct implications to Hawaiian coral
reef management.
Poster Mini-Symposium 14: Reef Connectivity
14.459
Seagrass-Coral Reef Connectivity: A Case Study On Reef Fishes Migration in North
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Augy SYAHAILATUA* 1 , Jemmy SOUHOKA 2
1 Research Centre for Oceanography LIPI, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2 Research Centre for
Oceanography LIPI, Bitung, Indonesia
Seagrass beds and coral reefs are important coastal ecosystems for fish fauna in the tropic.
They can be functioned as a nursery and feeding ground, permanent habitat and shelters for fish
species. The species diversity and abundance of fish are usually greater in seagrass beds than
those in unvegetated habitats. However, many studies revealed that only few fish species
inhabit in seagrass beds, while most of them are resident only during juvenile stage or migration
from surrounding ecosystems (mangrove, coral reefs, estuarine or pelagic system) for feeding
and /or shelter. So far, only few studies in the tropic explain clearly the role of seagrasses in
fish productivity of their neighbourhood ecosystems. This research aims to understand the
relationship of fish assemblages between seagrass beds and coral reefs in term of their
ecological functions. Several techniques were applied to provide a good information on fish
migration between seagrass and coral reef including beachseine, gillnet, and visual sensus. The
results show that 3 reef species, such as Cheilinus trilobatus, Scarus niger and Sargocentrum
cornutum usually migrate between 03:00 – 18:00 hours for feeding. The results could be
relevant for management of coral reef and its associated ecosystems, especially seagrass beds.
14.460
Phylogeography Of The Endemic Scleractinian cladocora Caespitosa (L., 1767) in The
Northern Mediterranean Sea
Fabrizio STEFANI* 1 , Francesca BENZONI 1 , Paolo GALLI 1
1 Dept. of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Cladocora caespitosa (L.,1767) is the principal endemic bioconstructor coral of the
Mediterranean Sea. Despite recent episodes of mortality have been documented all over the
Mediterranean and a significant knowledge about the ecology, paleoecology and conservation
status of this species exists, no description of its phylogeny and phylogeography is available.
In order to supply this information, essential for any conservation plan, the genetic variability of
some populations of C. caespitosa, collected in the northern Mediterranean Sea, has been
evaluated. A 790 bp fragment of the ribosomal DNA has been amplified and cloned prior to
sequencing. The genetic variability has been estimated at intraindividual, intraspecific and
interspecific levels.
An elevated degree of intraindividual polymorphism has been detected, but the presence of a
clear phylogenetic divergence with the congener species excludes the retention of ancient
phylogenetic lines, predating the origin of the species. At the intraspecific level more clades are
described, yet the presence of a significant spatial genetic structure is excluded. The data also
suggest a recent demographic expansion.
Patterns of isolation due to biogeographic barriers within the Mediterranean Sea do not
currently appear consistent for C. caespitosa, although the presence of past vicariance events is
likely. This can be justified hypothesizing wide phenomena of secondary gene flow, following
past divergences in few refugia areas.
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