11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

Poster Mini-Symposium 25: Predicting Reef Futures in the Context of Climate Change
25.1129
High symbiodinium Diversity At High-Latitude Reef Sites – A Means Of Survival
in The Face Of Climate Change?
Laura WICKS 1 , Eugenia SAMPAYO 2 , Jonathan GARDNER 1 , Ove HOEGH-
GULDBERG 3 , Simon DAVY* 1
1 School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New
Zealand, 2 Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia,
3 Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, New Zealand
Little is known about Symbiodinium diversity of high latitude corals systems. These
systems seasonally undergo significant variations in temperature and light, and gaining
insights into symbiont diversity may help us understand how coral-algal associations can
persist in marginal environments. To investigate this, the most common coral species
were sampled from 5-15 m at two high-latitude sites in the South Pacific. In total 5 and
12 host species were examined from the Kermadec Islands (29°S) and Lord Howe Island
(31°S) respectively. Symbiont diversity was characterized using PCR and Denaturing
Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) of the ITS2 region. Most corals associated with
clade-C Symbiodinium and symbiont diversity within specific hosts largely overlapped
with that of tropical regions. However, previously unreported sub-cladal symbiont types
were also identified, some of which were highly divergent from those occurring on
nearby tropical locations. Multiple sub-cladal symbiont types were found between
colonies of the same coral species (i.e. Acropora cuneata and Pocillopora damicornis)
and varied both in relation to depth or location, suggesting the presence of
environmentally-specialised symbionts. In conclusion, the common occurrence of
multiple symbiont types within a single host species may represent an adaptive strategy
to survive under the variable environmental conditions occurring at high latitude sites.
Furthermore, the overlap between symbionts in this marginal environment and those
previously studied in tropical reefs may provide an avenue for corals to extend their range
margins, and limit the impacts of climate change.
25.1130
Gis Modeling And Mitigation Of Coral Reef Damage
Richard SNOW* 1 , Mary SNOW 1
1 Applied Aviation Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
In addition to supplying food and shelter for marine flora and fauna, coral reefs provide
natural barriers as well as tourism and fishing income for coastal communities. However,
a global inventory of Earth’s coral reefs estimates that nearly 60% are at risk, and 90% of
all living reefs have been damaged by coral bleaching. Regionally, the occurrence of
coral bleaching will be the highest in the Caribbean and could take place on an annual
basis over the course of the next 30-50 years. The objective of this study is to
demonstrate that an efficient instrument for conducting surveys and inventories of coral
reefs to assess those ecosystems at higher risk and develop mitigation strategies is
through the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS). Efficient monitoring requires
the assessment of various coastal data baselines and the evaluation of subsequent
alterations in spatial patterns. While monitoring involves real-time components, among
the most powerful tools of a GIS are its modeling capabilities, which allow simulation of
various climate change scenarios. Relevant aspects include changes in coastal land use,
wetlands, and shoreline configuration. Using Caribbean coral reef examples, the results
of this research reveal that GIS techniques and applications play an integral role in
defending coral reefs from climate change and other threats. Planners and politicians
require the ability to analyze risks, assess impacts, and consider alternatives based on
input from researchers across diverse disciplines. GIS provides the collective tool that
integrates multifaceted data and transforms it into a meaningful medium for informed
decision-making.
25.1131
Climate Change Leads: Linking Environmental Analysis To Decision Support
Alessandra SCORE 1 , Eric MIELBRECHT* 2 , Dan WAGNER 3
1 South Florida Program, World Wildlife Fund, Key Largo, FL, 2 Emerald Coast Environmental
Consulting, Washington, DC, 3 Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL
Climate Change LEADS: Linking Environmental Analysis to Decision Support is an
interdisciplinary initiative that is bringing together scientists, natural resource managers and
decision-makers at the local, state and federal levels, with a full range of stakeholders to analyze
coral resilience to climate change and transform these findings into effective management
strategies. Florida’s stakeholders and decision-makers urgently need targeted research, clear
communications, and powerful tools to better understand the likely impacts of climate change
and coral bleaching so they may develop and implement successful management and mitigation
initiatives. This project is synthesizing existing and emerging scientific data to identify resilient
populations of coral and uncover the key environmental factors that confer this resilience. All
relevant coral bleaching and water quality data for the Florida Keys is being obtained and
transferred into a GIS framework to identify patterns in bleaching occurrence and recovery with
respect to environmental variables such as water quality. These results are being used to create a
tool that will help guide management decisions to better sustain the resilience of this ecosystem
as climate change stresses increase. By involving the community and user groups directly in the
design and implementation of the project and working closely with local partners such as the
Florida Reef Resilience Program (FRRP), the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Nature Conservancy, and a various
Universities , WWF has established a critically-important process for information to flow
between scientists, stakeholders and managers in the region.
25.1132
The Heterogeneity Of Temperature Change And Coral Bleaching During Temperature
Abnormally Warm In Summer 2007
Tung-Yung FAN* 1 , Bing-Je WU 2 , Lee-Shing FANG 3
1 Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung,
Taiwan, 2 National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan, 3 Cheng Shiu
University, Pingtung, Taiwan
The sea surface temperature in the tropical West-Pacific surrounding Taiwan was abnormally
warm in summer 2007 and caused mass coral bleaching. To test the hypothesis that temperature
and coral bleaching might be different at various sites, the seawater temperature change and
coral bleaching were examined in shallow water (< 10m) of coral reefs at 9 sites around
southern Taiwan and Dongsha island in South China Sea. Censuses completed over 4 months
time frame identified three broad patterns of variation in seawater temperature and coral
bleaching (defined as Type I - III). Type I bleaching occurring at 6 sites where the seawater
temperature exceeded 30 o C and the percentage of coral bleached ranged from 29-60%. Type II
bleaching occurred at 2 sites with the temperature higher than 30 o C, but the percentage of coral
bleached was lower than 5%. Type III bleaching occurred at 1 site with the temperature lower
than 30 o C and corals did not bleach. The three patterns of variation in seawater and coral
bleaching was caused by different effects of geography, as well as upwelling- and typhooninduced
temperature decreasing. The striking spatial variation in seawater temperature and the
extent of mass coral bleaching acted together to create large patches of reef affected by
bleaching that were interspersed with areas that appear relatively unaffected by bleaching. This
pattern may have ecological importance as it suggests that the healthy patches might be capable
of functioning as refugia for coral reefs affected by global warming.
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