[Coral-List] Fwd: exotic or invasive? introduction of Caribbean acroporiids to the pacific

[Damien Beri]

Ester,

You raise a valid point which, Coral Aquariums in the Caribbean, or even
lower regions of The US, and Mexico. Also, I have certainly read you papers
on disease.

Coral Aquariums in the Caribbean.

 With the onset and rise of coral Aquariums as a hobby many organisms are
transported to Caribbean islands from the indo-pacific. What does someone
do when they conduct a water change? Dump the water down the drain. They
could even use their buckets for water changes and grab water from the
ocean, further causing contamination. Regardless, without a doubt
indo-pacific contaminants have made their way into the Caribbean.

This has clearly lead to introduction of exotic organisms. It has not been
proven that any of these micro organisms causing disease definitely exist
and arose from the pacific, or that they play a role in disease. It is all
speculation. Even disease in the Caribbean has historically been argued
over. I prefer to stay out of these arguments.

 What’s fact is corals are dying, and I’m of the generation to grow up
seeing nothing but death. At this point I’m willing to do something rather
than debate possible scenarios. I only ask a question, but seek ideas and
concerns to address.

Furthermore, opening of panama should result in equal destruction disease
wide to the pacific corals. As it did Caribbean.

If it hasn’t, and disease is our main concern then I HYPOTHETICALLY guess
that harm would only come to Caribbean corals if introduced to the Pacific.

Again, this is entirely hypothetical, I’m not going to go all mad
scientist..... yet




On Thu, Dec 20, 2018 at 10:15 AM Esther Peters via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

> Hi Damien and All,
>
> At this time, I would say PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!
>
> I have found all Caribbean elkhorn and staghorn corals and their hybrids
> that I have examined histologically (from throughout the Caribbean,
> 1970s to present) to be chronically infected with a primitive bacterium
> (Rickettsiales?). This bacterium infects and kills their mucocytes and
> may be contributing to the appearance of the tissue-loss disease
> outbreaks when the corals are further stressed by seawater temperature
> changes, nutrient loading, or reductions in zooplankton and other
> non-/Symbiodinium/ food resources. We have many questions.
>
> Similar-appearing suspect bacteria have also been observed in
> Indo-Pacific corals. Did they arrive in the Caribbean after the Panama
> canal opened or were they introduced by discharging of wastewaters from
> aquaria that kept Indo-Pacific corals? Are they related, and if so, how
> closely? Do they also contribute to diseases in the Indo-Pacific corals?
>
> One of the biggest problems we have with globalization and species
> transfers is the transfer of microscopic biotic parasites and pathogens
> to new hosts who are highly susceptible to developing disease as a
> result. As Vassil notes, serious scientific preparation and professional
> responsibility are required with any introduction or transfer, but the
> lack of such has no doubt contributed to species' extinctions. There is
> so much we need to understand from a transdisciplinary perspective.
> Invoking the precautionary principle, we cannot go there now, these
> species are no longer what they used to be!
>
> Esther Peters, Ph.D.
>
> Department of Environmental Science & Policy
>
> George Mason University
>
> On 12/18/2018 9:57 AM, Vassil Zlatarski via Coral-List wrote:
> > Indeed, very interesting.  Nevertheless, any action requires very serious
> > scientific preparation and professional responsibility.
> >
> > A joyful Holiday Season!
> >
> > Vassil
> >
> > Vassil Zlatarski
> > D.Sc (Biology), Ph.D. (Geology)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> > From: Bill Raymond via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> > Date: Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 7:35 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Coral-List] exotic or invasive? introduction of Caribbean
> > acroporiids to the pacific
> > To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>, Damien Beri <beridl at g.cofc.edu>
> >
> >
> >   Very interesting! I hope you get some answers, and I hope you get the
> > chance to find out for yourself. Bravo.
> >      On Monday, December 17, 2018, 4:17:10 PM EST, Damien Beri via
> > Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
> >
> >   Hello coral listers,
> >
> > I have a question on what might happen if one was to introduce Caribbean
> > Elkhorn and Staghorn coral back into the Pacific?
> >
> > It is my understanding an ancestor of the two produced pelagic larvae,
> > containing zooxanthellae and stored nutrients to make a rare oceanic
> > crossing. A majority of Caribbean corals reproduce this way I believe.
> >
> >
> > I ask this hypothetical question on the basis of curiosity, and
> extinction
> > prevention. Re-introduction of species will probably be a more suitable
> > topic 50 years down the road.
> >
> > Warm regards,
> > Damien Beri
> >
> > -Masters In Marine Conservation and Policy
> > Stony Brook University
> >
> > -Regulatory Compliance Intern
> > Billion Oyster Project
> >
> > -Founder
> > Reefined Arts Coral Restoration
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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