Active restoration efforts in the Central Mexican Pacific as a strategy for coral reef recovery

Introduction: The 1997-98 El Niño event caused massive coral bleaching and mortality in the Central Mexican Pacific (CMP). Punta de Mita alone used to harbor more than 30 % of the coral coverage in this region, with a mono-specific Pocillopora coverage. The 1997-1998 ENSO event caused massive coral mortality reducing live coral coverage to < 5 %. Despite being considered a coral region unlikely to recover, recent restoration efforts have been implemented to rehabilitate the coral community. Objective: To assess coral recovery by analyzing the coral growth and survival rates of branching Pocillopora species at Punta de Mita. Methods: Healthy coral fragments of opportunity were re-attached to the natural substrata using zip ties and measured considering their growth in terms of maximum length and width (cm) to determine their annual extension rates. Results: After 50 weeks, corals duplicated their size, with a mean growth of ~ 4 cm year-1. After 100 weeks (2 years), corals triplicated their size, increasing on average 8-9 cm in each diameter. Conclusions: Successful coral reef restoration activities in the Central Mexican Pacific are the result of Pocillopora's physiological processes, such as fast growth rates, and recent life-history traits, like the ability to cope with thermal anomalies, which enable them to thrive in a dynamic region severely affected by natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Indeed, a region considered unlikely to recover has regained its live coral cover from < 5 % in 1998 up to 15 % in 20 years. This demonstrates the importance of assisting natural coral recovery with restoration efforts, especially in coral locations that, despite environmental perturbations, have proven to be resilient and may become coral refugia areas under the current climate change scenario.

Introducción: El evento El Niño de 1997-98 causó un blanqueamiento y mortalidad masiva de corales en el Pacífico Central Mexicano (CMP). Solo Punta de Mita albergaba más del 30 % de la cobertura coralina de esta región, con una cobertura monoespecífica de Pocillopora. El evento ENSO de 1997-1998 causó una mortalidad masiva de corales que redujo la cobertura de corales vivos a < 5 %. A pesar de ser considerada una región de coral con pocas probabilidades de recuperarse, se han implementado esfuerzos de restauración recientes para rehabilitar la comunidad coralina. Objetivo: Evaluar la recuperación de coral analizando el crecimiento coralino y las tasas de supervivencia de especies ramificadas de Pocillopora en Punta de Mita. Métodos: Fragmentos de oportunidad de coral sanos se volvieron a unir a los sustratos naturales usando bridas y se midieron considerando su crecimiento en términos de longitud y ancho máximos (cm) para determinar sus tasas de extensión anual. Resultados : Después de 50 semanas, los corales duplicaron su tamaño, con un crecimiento promedio de ~ 4 cm año-1. Después de 100 semanas (2 años), los corales triplicaron su tamaño, aumentando en promedio 8-9 cm en cada diámetro. Conclusiones: Las actividades exitosas de restauración de arrecifes de coral en el Pacífico Central Mexicano son el resultado de los procesos fisiológicos de Pocillopora, tales como tasas de crecimiento rápido, y rasgos de historia de vida reciente, como la capacidad de hacer frente a anomalías térmicas, que les permiten prosperar en una región dinámica severamente afectada por perturbaciones naturales y antropogénicas. De hecho, esta región que se consideraba poco probable que se recuperara, ha recuperado su cobertura de coral vivo de < 5 % en 1998 hasta 15 % en 20 años. Esto demuestra la importancia de ayudar a la recuperación natural de los corales con los esfuerzos de restauración, especialmente en las ubicaciones de corales que, a pesar de las perturbaciones ambientales, han demostrado ser resistentes y pueden convertirse en áreas de refugio de corales ante el escenario actual de cambio climático.

Composition and biological activities of the aqueous extracts of three scleractinian corals from the Mexican Caribbean: Pseudodiploria strigosa, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea siderea

Background: Scleractinian corals (stony corals) are the most abundant reef-forming cnidarians found in coral reefs throughout the world. Despite their abundance and ecological importance, information about the diversity of their toxins and their biological activities is very scarce. In this study, the chemical composition and the biological activities of the aqueous extracts of Pseudodiploria strigosa, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea siderea, three scleractinian corals from the Mexican Caribbean, have been assessed for the first time. Methods: Toxicity of the extracts was assessed in crickets; the presence of cytolysins was detected by the hemolysis assay; the vasoconstrictor activity was determined by the isolated rat aortic ring assay; the nociceptive activity was evaluated by the formalin test. The presence of phospholipases A2 (PLA2), serine proteases, and hyaluronidases was determined by enzymatic methods. Low-molecular-weight fractions were obtained by gel filtration chromatography and ultrafiltration. Results: Extracts from the three species were toxic to crickets, induced hemolysis in human and rat erythrocytes, produced vasoconstriction on isolated rat aortic rings, and presented phospholipase A2 and serine-protease activity. Despite the fact that these corals are not considered to be harmless to humans, the extracts generated significant nociceptive responses. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis of the low-molecular-weight fractions revealed the presence of peptides within a mass range of 3000 to 6000 Da. These fractions were toxic to crickets and two of them induced a transitory vasoconstrictor effect on isolated rat aortic rings. Conclusion: This study suggests that scleractinian corals produce low-molecular-weight peptides that are lethal to crickets and induce vasoconstriction.(AU)

Composition and biological activities of the aqueous extracts of three scleractinian corals from the Mexican Caribbean: Pseudodiploria strigosa, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea siderea

Scleractinian corals (stony corals) are the most abundant reef-forming cnidarians found in coral reefs throughout the world. Despite their abundance and ecological importance, information about the diversity of their toxins and their biological activities is very scarce. In this study, the chemical composition and the biological activities of the aqueous extracts of Pseudodiploria strigosa, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea siderea, three scleractinian corals from the Mexican Caribbean, have been assessed for the first time. Methods: Toxicity of the extracts was assessed in crickets; the presence of cytolysins was detected by the hemolysis assay; the vasoconstrictor activity was determined by the isolated rat aortic ring assay; the nociceptive activity was evaluated by the formalin test. The presence of phospholipases A2 (PLA2), serine proteases, and hyaluronidases was determined by enzymatic methods. Low-molecular-weight fractions were obtained by gel filtration chromatography and ultrafiltration. Results: Extracts from the three species were toxic to crickets, induced hemolysis in human and rat erythrocytes, produced vasoconstriction on isolated rat aortic rings, and presented phospholipase A2 and serine-protease activity. Despite the fact that these corals are not considered to be harmless to humans, the extracts generated significant nociceptive responses. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis of the low-molecular-weight fractions revealed the presence of peptides within a mass range of 3000 to 6000 Da. These fractions were toxic to crickets and two of them induced a transitory vasoconstrictor effect on isolated rat aortic rings. Conclusion: This study suggests that scleractinian corals produce low-molecular-weight peptides that are lethal to crickets and induce vasoconstriction.

Review on hard coral recruitment (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in Colombia / Revisión sobre el reclutamiento de corales duros (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) en Colombia / Revisão sobre o recrutamento de corais pétreos (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) na Colômbia

Revisión sobre el reclutamiento de corales duros (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) en Colombia. El reclutamiento, definido y medido como la incorporación de nuevos individuos (ej. juveniles de coral) a la población, es considerado en arrecifes coralinos como un proceso fundamental por parte de ecólogos, evolucionistas y conservacionistas debido a que determina de forma directa la estructura y función de las poblaciones. Además, debido a que la mayor parte de las poblaciones coralinas se auto-abastecen (self-seeding), fallas en el reclutamiento conducirían a extinción local. Indirectamente, el reclutamiento afecta la renovación y el mantenimiento de las comunidades coralinas presentes y futuras, la biodiversidad (efecto bottom-up) y por lo tanto, la capacidad de resiliencia del ecosistema arrecifal. Este proceso ha sido empleado como una medida del éxito reproductivo de individuos (fitness) y representa la etapa final del proceso de dispersión que conlleva a la conectividad poblacional. Es por lo anterior, que esta variable ha sido propuesta como un indicador del estado de salud de los arrecifes en áreas marinas protegidas y es un elemento fundamental para la toma de decisiones de manejo y conservación. Generar planes de manejo que propendan a minimizar impactos, rehabilitar y conservar los arrecifes del país es una necesidad que requiere en primera instancia de una revisión e integración de la literatura existente sobre reclutamiento de corales escleractínios en Colombia, al igual que estudios de campo a mayor escala. Lo anterior nos motivó a analizar y sintetizar la literatura existente con el ánimo de determinar el estado del conocimiento, extraer patrones, identificar vacíos y sugerir líneas de investigación...

Recruitment, defined and measured as the incorporation of new individuals (i.e. coral juveniles) into a population, is a fundamental process for ecologists, evolutionists and conservationists due to its direct effect on population structure and function. Because most coral populations are self-feeding, a breakdown in recruitment would lead to local extinction. Recruitment indirectly affects both renewal and maintenance of existing and future coral communities, coral reef biodiversity (bottom-up effect) and therefore coral reef resilience. This process has been used as an indirect measure of individual reproductive success (fitness) and is the final stage of larval dispersal leading to population connectivity. As a result, recruitment has been proposed as an indicator of coral-reef health in marine protected areas, as well as a central aspect of the decision-making process concerning management and conservation. The creation of management plans to promote impact mitigation, rehabilitation and conservation of the Colombian coral reefs is a necessity that requires firstly, a review and integration of existing literature on scleractinian coral recruitment in Colombia and secondly, larger scale field studies. This motivated us to summarize and analyze all existing information on coral recruitment to determine the state of knowledge, isolate patterns, identify gaps, and suggest future lines of research...

Revisão sobre o recrutamento de corais pétreos (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) na Colômbia. O recrutamento, definido e medido como a entrada de novos indivíduos para a população (exemplo juvenis do coral), tem sido considerado como um processo fundamental pelos ecólogos, os evolucionistas e conservacionistas que trabalham em recifes de coral, ja que determina diretamente a estrutura e a função das populações. Além disso, dado que a maioria das populações de coral produz seus próprios juvenis (self-seeding), falhas no recrutamento levam à extinção local. Indiretamente, o recrutamento afeta a renovação-manutenção das comunidades de corais presentes e futuras, a biodiversidade (efeito bottom-up) e, portanto, da resiliência do ecossistema recifal. Este processo tem sido utilizado como uma medida de sucesso reprodutivo dos indivíduos (fitness) e representa o estágio final do processo de dispersão que leva a conectividade populacional. Pelo exposto, esta variável tem sido proposta como um indicador da saúde dos recifes nas áreas marinhas protegidas e é um elemento chave na tomada de decisões de gestão e conservação. Gerar planos de ação que tendem a minimizar impactos, recuperar e preservar os recifes do país é uma necessidade que requer, em primeira instância, uma revisão e integração da literatura existente sobre o recrutamento dos corais escleractíneos na Colômbia; assim mesmo, estudos de campo a escala maior. Isso levou a analisar e sintetizar a literatura existente com o objetivo de determinar o estado do conhecimento, abstrair padrões, identificar vazios e sugerir linhas de pesquisa...

A pesca demersal de profundidade e os bancos de corais azooxantelados do sul do Brasil / The deep-sea demersal fisheries and the azooxanthellate corals from southern Brazil

A pesca demersal voltada as espécies de peixes (i.e. Lophius gastrophisus, Urophisys brasiliensis, Genipterus brasiliensis) e crustáceos (Chaceon ramosae e Chaceon sp.), com grande valor comercial no talude continental superior do sul do Brasil aumentou significativamente nas últimas décadas. A compilação de todos os dados até então publicados acerca dos pontos de ocorrência dos corais escleractíneos azooxantelados em águas sul-brasileiras entre 24º e 35º S, sobrepostos com as principais áreas de atuação das quatro modalidades de pesca demersais (arrasto de profundidade, emalhe e espinhel de fundo e covos), demonstrou que as frotas em questão vêm utilizando as áreas com ocorrência de corais, como principais áreas de esforço, indicando que os recifes de profundidade possuem elevada importância ecológica perante os ecossistemas da plataforma e talude continental, sendo importantes reservatórios da biodiversidade marinha profunda. Entretanto, desde as fases iniciais desta exploração evidenciou-se através de relatos de observadores de bordo, a captura, como "bycatch", de grandes quantidades de corais de profundidade. Desta maneira, visando não só apenas a proteção dos ecossistemas coralíneos de profundidade, mas também a sustentabilidade econômica da pesca, é recomendada a criação de áreas de exclusão da pesca demersal em locais com ocorrência de Scleractinia azooxantelados.

Demersal fishing of important commercial fishes (Lophius gastrophisus, Urophisys brasiliensis and Genipterus brasiliensis) and crustaceans (Chaceon ramosae and Chaceon sp.) along the upper slope off southern Brazil has increased dramatically in the last decade. Compilation of available data on the distribution of azooxanthellate corals between 24º and 35º S, compared with the distribution of bottom-longline, bottom-gillnets, trawl and trap fisheries shows that commercial fishing takes place over coral areas, providing evidence deep-sea reefs are important reservoirs of deep marine biodiversity. Since the initial phase of exploitation by demersal fisheries, onboard observers are describing large captures of corals as "bycatch" suggesting deep-sea communities are being destroyed even before being studied. In order to ensure protection of deep-sea coral ecosystems and economic sustainability of demersal fisheries in southern Brazilian waters, adoption of excluded fishing areas in those locations where azooxanthellate Scleractinia occur is strongly recommended.

Una especie nueva de Euphyllia (Scleractinia: Caryophylliidae) en las calizas de Barra Honda (Paleógeno), Costa Rica / A new species of Euphyllia (Scleractinia: Caryophylliidae) in the limestones of Barra Honda, Costa Rica

A new species of scleractinian coral is described: Euphyllia donatoi. This is the first report of this genus from Central America. The outcrop is located on the north-west of Costa Rica. It consists of large colonies (1.2 m high by 0.5 m in diameter), from a patch reef which had a dendroid habit. They are part of a very distintive facies in a micritic limestones of the Barra Honda Formation (Paleogene). The finding is important because these are the only macrofossils found in Barra Honda Formation. The growth took place under unstable ecological conditions resulting in a low diversity autocthonous community. It probably developed in very shallow water with a high sedimentation rate.