[Coral-List] Coralimorph problem in Palmyra

[Bill Allison]

Acanthaster and Culcita eat them in Maldives.

On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 9:15 AM, Albert Norstrom <albert at ecology.su.se>wrote:

> Hi Forest and all others,
>
> We're currently undergoing experiments on Zanzibar to discern the
> potential drivers (N,P,Fe exposure or loss of top-down control) of
> corallimorph expansions. One interesting, and unexpected, observation by
> my master student (who's on site) is that corallimorphs in experimental
> plots on the reef were predated by a species of seastar. Communication
> with her is sporadic and so I haven't received photos or any detailed
> identification of the critters responsible, but I could do so as soon as
> I receive more info.
>
> Corallimorpharian dominated reefs were one of the persistent alternative
> states we identified in a MEPS review from last year
> (http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps_oa/m376p295.pdf).
>
> Best regards,
> Albert
>
> Forest Rohwer wrote:
> > The reef around a wreck of the longliner on Palmyra is doing really
> poorly.
> > A coralimorph (Rhodactis) has completely taken over the area.  The
> colonies
> > cover over 80% of the benthos, independently of what was underneath.  The
> > concerning part is that it is spreading rapidly across the shallow
> western
> > terrace of the island.  The spread is really quick and it is starting to
> > invade some of the most beautiful and intact reefs left on the island.
> >
> > Jim Maragos has an article on this:
> >
> http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002989
> >
> > Ideas about how to kill the coralimorph would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Forest Rohwer
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Albert Norström, PhD
> Stockholm Resilience Centre & Albaeco
> Stockholm University
>
> Kräftriket 2A
> 104 05 Stockholm
> Sweden
>
> Tel: +46 (0)79 54 63 74
> Email: albert at ecology.su.se
> Sustainable development update blog: www.sdupdate.org
>
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-- 
Reality, as usual, beats fiction out of sight.
Conrad, 1915