Presence of coral-killing sponges in Okinawan mesophotic coral ecosystems

Author:

Albelda Ritzelle L1,Sinniger Frederic2,Ise Yuji2,Harii Saki2

Affiliation:

1. Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Japan

2. Sesoko Marine Research Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Japan

Abstract

Shallow reefs worldwide are degrading due to multiple threats. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30– 150 m depth) have been investigated for their diversity and potential to serve as a coral refuge and re-seed shallow reefs. However, recent studies showed that MCEs are also disturbed by various factors, including diseases, pollution, storms, and thermal-induced bleaching. Among the disturbances, coral-killing sponges are also known to decimate many Indo-Pacific shallow reefs but are rarely reported at mesophotic depths. Here, we report the first comprehensive assessment of the coral-killing sponges Chalinula nematifera (de Laubenfels, 1954) and Terpios hoshinota Rützler and Muzik, 1993 in MCEs. Specifically, we investigated (1) their prevalence, (2) sponge-affected corals, and (3) coral-sponge interaction types at 40 m depth in Okinawa, southern Japan. We found that C. nematifera and T. hoshinota were present but at low prevalences, with the highest mean cover of 3.8% and 1.8%, respectively. Although both species appeared to be substrate- generalists, they mainly affected the dominant coral taxa, such as branching corals Acropora tenella and Seriatopora sp. Both sponges mainly interacted with corals by overgrowth, followed by tissue and peripheral contact. Due to lack of prior knowledge, it is unclear whether the current observation of the coral-killing sponges captured their expansion, decline, or steady state in Okinawan MCEs. Thus, this study provides unprecedented insights about coral-killing sponges at mesophotic depths which highlights the need to monitor more MCEs globally, prioritizing regions with shallow reefs that are already threatened by these sponges.

Publisher

Bulletin of Marine Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3