A5068859665- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Marine and fisheries research
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Water Resource Management and Quality
- Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Crustacean biology and ecology
Florida Atlantic University
2020-2024
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
2020-2024
University of the Virgin Islands
2017-2021
United States Virgin Islands Department of Health
2017-2020
University of Mississippi
2020
Nova Southeastern University
2013-2017
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2007-2010
Abstract Sponges (phylum Porifera) are early-diverging metazoa renowned for establishing complex microbial symbioses. Here we present a global Porifera microbiome survey, set out to establish the ecological and evolutionary drivers of these host–microbe interactions. We show that sponges reservoir exceptional diversity major contributors total world’s oceans. Little commonality in species composition or structure is evident across phylum, although symbiont communities characterized by...
Background Demosponges are challenging for phylogenetic systematics because of their plastic and relatively simple morphologies many deep divergences between major clades. To improve understanding the relationships within Demospongiae, we sequenced analyzed seven nuclear housekeeping genes involved in a variety cellular functions from diverse group sponges. Methodology/Principal Findings We generated data each four sponge classes (i.e., Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Homoscleromorpha), but...
Disease outbreaks have caused significant declines of keystone coral species. While forecasting disease based on environmental factors has progressed, we still lack a comparative understanding susceptibility among species that would help predict impacts communities. The present study compared the phenotypic and microbial responses seven Caribbean with diverse life-history strategies after exposure to white plague disease. incidence lesion progression rates were evaluated over seven-day...
Some excavating sponges of the genus Cliona compete with live reef corals, often killing and bioeroding entire colonies. Important aspects affecting distribution these species, such as dispersal capability population structure, remain largely unknown. Thus, aim this study was to determine levels genetic connectivity delitrix across Greater Caribbean (Caribbean Sea, Bahamas Florida), understand current patterns possible future trends in their effects on coral reefs. Using ten species-specific...
Abstract Sponges occur across diverse marine biomes and host internal microbial communities that can provide critical ecological functions. While strong patterns of specificity have been observed consistently in sponge microbiomes, the precise relationships between hosts their symbiotic remain to be fully delineated. In current study, we investigate relative roles population genetics biogeography structuring hosted by excavating Cliona delitrix . A total 53 samples, previously used demarcate...
Abstract Changes in coral–sponge interactions can alter reef accretion/erosion balance and are important to predict trends on current algal‐dominated Caribbean reefs. Although sponge abundance is increasing some coral reefs, we lack information how shifts from corals bioeroding sponges occur, environmental factors such as anomalous seawater temperatures consequent bleaching mortality influence these shifts. A state transition model (Markov chain) was developed evaluate the response of...
The Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix is among the strongest reef space competitors; it able to overpower entire coral heads by undermining polyps. It has become abundant in reefs exposed organic pollution, such as San Andrés Island, Colombia, SW Caribbean. Forty-four sponge-colonized colonies were followed-up for 13 months establish circumstances and speed at which this advances laterally into live tissue retreats. presence abundance was recorded seven stations interpret current species...
As coral cover has declined on Caribbean reefs, space become occupied by other benthic taxa, including sponges, which may affect the recruitment of new corals, thereby affecting ability reefs to recover coral-dominated states. Sponges inhibit pre-empting potential space, overgrowing recruits, or through allelopathy. This study examined across six reef sites surrounding St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and impact one species sponge community as a whole recruitment. To test effect single...
Cliona delitrix is one of the most abundant and destructive coral-excavating sponges on Caribbean reefs. However, basic aspects its reproductive biology, which largely determine species propagation potential, remain unknown. A 2-year study (October 2009 to September 2011) was conducted cycle gametogenesis a C. population located in shallow reef Florida, USA. Mesohyl tissue collected from randomly chosen tagged sponge individuals sampled several times month, analysed by light transmission...
Abstract Siderastrea siderea is one of the most abundant corals at high latitude shallow sites along Florida Reef Tract (25°–27°N). This species able to tolerate wide seawater temperature fluctuations and sedimentation stress, but its reproductive status latitudes under marginal environmental conditions poorly understood. The objectives this study were evaluate potential S. a latitudinal gradient (25°–27°N) determine if sexual maturity occurs in small (<12.0 cm) colonies. Samples coral...
Outbreaks of coral white plague (WP) disease have caused significant regional declines reef‐building Caribbean corals. Due to a greater availability epidemiological data, studies primarily focused on shallow reefs (< 30 m). In the U.S. Virgin Islands, however, WP prevalence appears be higher upper mesophotic (30–40 m) when compared with and may inhibiting recovery after environmental disturbances. The aim this study was investigate relationship drivers spatio‐temporal patterns across in...
Competition for limited space is an important driver of benthic community structure on coral reefs. Studies coral-algae and coral-sponge interactions often show competitive dominance algae sponges over corals, but little known about the outcomes when these groups compete in a multispecies context. Multispecies competition increasingly common Caribbean reefs as environmental degradation drives loss reef-building corals proliferation alternative organisms such sponges. New methods are needed...
Some excavating sponges are strong competitors for space on coral reefs, able to kill live tissue and overgrow entire colonies. Stony corals with can die or become dislodged. To date no restoration efforts eliminate from have been considered. In this study we examined the effect remedial potential of removal sponge, Cliona delitrix , by monitoring loss stony Montastrea cavernosa . Thirty-three colonized sponge were used: 11 as controls, 22 treatments in which removed using hammer chisel....
At high latitudes (>25°), sexual reproduction and the maintenance of coral populations can be impaired by marginal environmental conditions. However, little is known about many species at latitude on northern-most extension Florida Reef Tract. This study aimed to histologically characterize reproductive ecology Siderastrea siderea, near Fort Lauderdale, (26°N). Tissue samples S. siderea were collected semi-monthly multi-weekly from August November in 2007 2008. Spawning was inferred...
Abstract Upright branching sponges, such as Aplysina cauliformis , provide critical three‐dimensional habitat for other organisms and assist in stabilizing coral reef substrata, but are highly susceptible to breakage during storms. Breakage can increase sponge fragmentation, contributing population clonality inbreeding. Conversely, storms could opportunities new genotypes enter populations via larval recruitment, resulting greater genetic diversity locations with frequent The unprecedented...