A5031231866- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine animal studies overview
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Island Studies and Pacific Affairs
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- Night-time city culture
- Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
Newcastle University
2014-2024
University of the South Pacific
2012-2015
University of Newcastle Australia
1994-2011
University of Bahrain
2008
Fairleigh Dickinson University
1990
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 296:291-309 (2005) - doi:10.3354/meps296291 Perspectives on mucus secretion in reef corals B. E. Brown*, J. C. Bythell School of Biology, Newcastle University, upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK *Email: profbarbarabrown@aol.com ABSTRACT: The coral surface layer provides a vital interface between epithelium and seawater...
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on our planet. Scleractinian corals function as primary reef ecosystem engineers, constructing framework that serves a habitat for all other coral reef-associated organisms. However, coral’s engineering role is particularly susceptible to global climate change. Ocean warming can cause extensive mass bleaching, which triggers dysfunction of major processes. Sub-lethal bleaching results in reduction both productivity...
Summary The bacterial community associated with black band disease (BBD) of the scleractinian corals Diploria strigosa , Montastrea annularis and Colpophyllia natans was examined using culture‐independent techniques. Two complementary molecular screening techniques 16S rDNA genes [amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) clone libraries denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)] were used to give a comprehensive characterization community. Findings support previous studies...
Summary The bacterial communities associated with the Caribbean coral Montastrea annularis showing tissue lesions indicative of a White Plague (WP)‐like disease were investigated. Two molecular screening techniques using 16S rDNA genes used and demonstrated distinct differences between diseased non‐diseased tissues, also in relation to proximity on corals. Differences corals apparently healthy tissues remote from lesion affected indicates ‘whole coral’ response relatively small area...
Immunity is a key life history trait that may explain hierarchies in the susceptibility of corals to disease and thermal bleaching, two greatest current threats coral health persistence tropical reefs. Despite their ongoing rapid global decline, there have been few investigations into immunity mechanisms reef-building corals. Variables commonly associated with invertebrate immunity, including presence melanin, size melanin-containing granular cells, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, as well...
Summary White Syndrome (WS) and Brown Band Disease (BrB) are important causes of reef coral mortality for which causal agents have not been definitively identified. Here we use culture‐independent molecular techniques (DGGE clone libraries) to characterize ciliate bacterial communities in these diseases. Bacterial (16S rRNA gene) (18S were highly similar between the two Four nine ribotypes observed both diseases, but absent non‐diseased specimens. Only one bacteria, Arcobacter sp. (JF831360)...
Benthic algae are associated with coral death in the form of stress and disease. It's been proposed that they release exudates, which facilitate invasion potentially pathogenic microbes at coral-algal interface, resulting However, original source these pathogens remains unknown. This study examined ability benthic to act as reservoirs by characterizing surface major Caribbean Indo-Pacific algal species/types comparing them potential two dominant diseases: White Syndrome (WS) Yellow Band...
Coral diseases have been increasingly reported over the past few decades and are a major contributor to coral decline worldwide. The Caribbean, in particular, has noted as hotspot for disease, aptly named white syndromes caused of dominant reef building corals throughout their range. White band disease (WBD) implicated dramatic loss Acropora cervicornis palmata since 1970s, resulting both species being listed critically endangered on International Union Conservation Nature Red list. causal...
Coral reefs are facing unprecedented mass bleaching and mortality events due to marine heatwaves climate change. To avoid extirpation, corals must adapt. Individual variation in heat tolerance its heritability underpin the potential for coral adaptation. However, magnitude of variability within populations is largely unresolved. We address this knowledge gap by exposing from a single reef an experimental heatwave. found that double stress dosage was required induce most-tolerant 10%,...
Abstract Recurrent mass bleaching events threaten the future of coral reefs. To persist under climate change, corals will need to endure progressively more intense and frequent marine heatwaves, yet it remains unknown whether their thermal tolerance can keep pace with warming. Here, we reveal an emergent increase in assemblages at a rate 0.1 °C/decade for remote Pacific reef system. This led less severe impacts than would have been predicted otherwise, indicating adaptation, acclimatisation...
Sessile animals, like corals, frequently suffer physical injury from a variety of sources, thus wound-healing mechanisms that restore tissue integrity and prevent infection are vitally important for defence. Despite the ecological importance reef-building little is known about cells processes involved in wound healing this group or phylogenetically basal metazoans general. A histological investigation into scleractinian coral Porites cylindrica at 0 h, 6 24 h 48 after revealed differences...
The increase in reports of novel diseases a wide range ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine, has been linked to many factors including exposure pathogens changes the global climate. Prevalence skin cancer particular found be increasing humans, but not reported wild fish before. Here we report extensive melanosis melanoma (skin cancer) populations an iconic, commercially-important marine fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. syndrome here strong similarities previous studies associated...
Coral cover on tropical reefs has declined during the last three decades due to combined effects of climate change, destructive fishing, pollution, and land use change. Drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with effective coastal management conservation strategies are essential slow this decline. Innovative approaches, such as selective breeding for adaptive traits large-scale sexual propagation, being developed aim pre-adapting increased ocean warming. However, there still major...
Abstract As marine species adapt to climate change, their heat tolerance will likely be under strong selection. Yet trade-offs between and other life history traits could compromise natural adaptation or assisted evolution. This is particularly important for ecosystem engineers, such as reef-building corals, which support biodiversity yet are vulnerable heatwave-induced mass bleaching mortality. Here, we exposed 70 colonies of the coral Acropora digitifera a long-term heatwave emulation...
Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent, widespread and severe, causing mass coral bleaching mortality. Natural adaptation may be insufficient to keep pace with climate warming, leading calls for selective breeding interventions enhance the ability of corals survive such heatwaves, i.e., their heat tolerance. However, heritability this trait-a prerequisite approaches-remains unknown. We show that selecting parent colonies high rather than low tolerance increased adult offspring...