Abstract. Fossil fuel use, cement manufacture and land-use changes are the primary sources of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) to atmosphere, with ocean absorbing approximately 30% (Sabine et al., 2004). Ocean uptake chemical equilibration CO2 seawater results in a gradual reduction pH saturation states (Ω) for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals process termed acidification. Assessing present future impact acidification on marine ecosystems requires detection multi-decadal rate change...

Since 2014, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has led to mass mortality of the majority hard coral species on Florida Reef Tract. Following successful treatment SCTLD lesions laboratory corals using water dosed with antibiotics, two topical pastes were developed as vehicles directly apply antibiotic treatments wild corals. These tested placebos and additions amoxicillin active multiple species. The effectiveness without antibiotics (placebo treatments) was 4% 9%, no different from...

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has spread throughout the entirety of Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) and across Caribbean, impacting at least 30 species. The threatened hermatypic coral, Orbicella faveolata , demonstrates intraspecific variation in SCTLD affectedness with some colonies experiencing chronic lesions, while other nearby O. appear unaffected no signs over long monitoring periods. This study evaluated potential genotypic underpinnings variable responses to by sampling 90 from...

Coral reefs worldwide are in a state of decline, but the population status and impacts stressors for rare species generally not well documented using broad-scale monitoring protocols. We fate-tracked all known colonies pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus , on Florida Reef Tract (FRT) from 2013 to 2020 assess condition trend, document relative chronic acute stressors. Large average colony size, an absence juveniles, large geographic distances between genotypes suggest that D. has been...

Since 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has led to large-scale mortality of over 20 species throughout the Florida Reef Tract. In 2019, in-water intervention strategies were implemented treat affected corals. Two treatment employed: (1) topical application an amoxicillin paste directly margins, and (2) a chlorinated epoxy margins as well adjacent “disease break” trench. Effectiveness treatments on 2,379 lesions from 725 corals representing five was evaluated using mixed effects...

The unprecedented mortality of stony corals on Florida’s Coral Reef from coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was mitigated some priority sites and through the use a topical amoxicillin paste to halt lesion progression. One management concern about antibiotics these impact it may have gametogenesis. We used histology assess gametogenesis within Orbicella faveolata Montastraea cavernosa samples six across three treatment groups. covered geographic regions Florida Keys, including both inshore...

Most scleractinian corals form obligate symbioses with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae), which provide differential tolerances to their host. Previously, research has focused on the influence of symbiont composition and dynamic processes repopulation during single episodes hyperthermal events, followed by years less-stressful conditions. In contrast, this study characterized for first time, role Symbiodiniaceae species changes in response annually recurring a scenario...

With ongoing changes in climate, rare and ecologically specialized species are at increased risk of extinction. In sessile foundation fauna that reproduce asexually via fragmentation existing colonies, the number colonies does not reflect genets thus can obscure genotypic diversity. Colonies product visually distinguishable from stem sexual recruits. For this reason, molecular markers necessary to assess variation population structure clonal organisms such as reef-building corals their...

The summer 2023 marine heatwave was the most severe on record for Florida’s Coral Reef, with unprecedented water temperatures and cumulative heat stress leading to 100% coral bleaching. An existing fate-tracking program of over 4200 brain boulder colonies across five offshore four inshore reefs allowed analyses bleaching-related mortality diseases through event. Across vast majority assessed corals, there no partial or full as a result bleaching At seven nine sites, only 0 – 2% fate-tracked...

Abstract. Fossil fuel use, cement manufacture and land-use changes are the primary sources of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) to atmosphere, with ocean absorbing 30 %. Ocean uptake chemical equilibration CO2with seawater results in a gradual reduction pH saturation states (Ω) for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals process termed acidification. Assessing present future impact acidification on marine ecosystems requires detection multi-decadal rate change across basins at time-series sites....

ABSTRACT A devastating novel coral disease outbreak, referred to as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), was first described in 2014. It is thought have originated offshore of Miami-Dade County, FL, but has persisted and spread, affecting new reefs along the Florida Reef Tract at least 8 other Caribbean jurisdictions. We investigated microbial communities clinically normal diseased specimens five species affected corals using targeted 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing (Illumina MiSeq)....

Sponge samples were taken by SCUBA diving from four sites around Stanley and nine at the Jason Islands in Falkland Islands. Twelve new species are described: Iophon pictoni sp. nov., Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx) jasonensis Phorbas ferrugineus shackletoni Myxilla (Styloptilon) acanthotornota Amphilectus fleecei dactylus Mycale (Aegogropila) nodulosa Scopalina erubescens bunkeri Amphimedon calyx nov. Pachychalina erinacea Information is also provided on distribution external appearance of other...

The presence of stressors, particularly disease, on corals necessitates assessments their severity in order to compare threat levels and plan for impacts. Diseases particular are often measured via the rate at which a lesion moves across coral (lesion progression rate) determine impact those lesions also virulence species, regions, disease types. Lesion can even be used as field indicator identification. Many different methodologies have been measure rates. These may field-based or...

Sponge samples were taken by scuba diving from six sites around Sea Lion Island (Sea Lion, Easterly and Brandy Islands), three south-east of East Falkland (Motley Island, Green Triste Island) Beauchêne Island. Nine new species are described: Iophon roseum sp. nov., Clathria ( Microciona ) tenebrosa cheeki Hymedesmia laptikhovskyi croftsae Myxilla Ectyomyxilla beauchênensis Tedania livida Amphilectus fimbriatus nov. Isodictya cutisanserina sp Additional information is provided on several...

Abstract Since 2014, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has led to mass mortality of the majority hard coral species on Florida Reef Tract. Following successful treatment SCTLD lesions corals in closed aquaria using water dosed with antibiotics, two pastes were developed as vehicles for direct antibiotic treatments wild corals. These tested placebos and additions amoxicillin via topical applications over active margins multiple species. The effectiveness without antibiotics (placebo...

Abstract Coral reefs worldwide are in a state of decline, but the status populations and stressors for rare species generally not well documented using broad-scale monitoring protocol. We fate-tracked all known colonies pillar coral Dendrogyra cylindrus on Florida Reef Tract from 2013 – 2020 to assess population document impacts chronic acute stressors. Large average colony size, an absence juveniles, large geographic distances between genotypes suggest that D. has been reproductively...

Contrasts in spawning time between wild and onshore colonies of the pillar coral Dendrogyra cylindrus were conducted by comparing eight years observations with three on ex situ corals held outdoor flow-through tanks. Wild exhibited peak 3 nights after full moon 90-96 minutes sunset. Corals peaked night 4 moon, females continuing to spawn through 8. Spawning occurred ~50 later than colonies, window, particularly for females, was significantly greater. Fragments as few 10 days this shift...

The decline of elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata , has been ongoing for decades, but the causes and resulting population status continue to be topics study. Past efforts categorize stressors have ranged from spatially and/or temporally focused that detect local may miss broader patterns meta-analyses identify large-scale trends not account finer-scale variability. We here conduct an analysis sites surveyed across five years (2010-2015) much Florida Reef Tract in order look at while also...

The presence and abundance of reef-building corals are crucial to the long-term existence Caribbean coral reef ecosystems, providing both direct indirect, local global, ecological, economic, social benefits. In 2014, stony tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first identified in southeast Florida remains endemic region, while continuing spread throughout Caribbean. Effective situ intervention treatments using antibiotic paste can halt lesion progression on Montastraea cavernosa up 90% time. This...