[Coral-List] Fwd: exotic or invasive? introduction of Caribbean acroporiids to the pacific
Esther Peters
estherpeters at verizon.net
Fri Dec 21 01:37:16 UTC 2018
Damien,
Thank you for considering the issues. Yes, water exchanges, which might
include small amounts from aquaria as well as large amounts from ballast
water, have introduced Indo-Pacific contaminants into the Caribbean. And
vice versa.
Note that black-band disease affects corals globally. Which came first,
Atlantic or Indo-Pacific origin, is uncertain, but Arnfried Antonius
reported it from the Philippines and Red Sea in the mid-1980s and in the
Caribbean in 1973. This is true also for tissue-loss diseases, commonly
referred to as white plague or variations thereof. Another interesting
case was that of Caribbean yellow-band disease that affected mostly
/Orbicella/ (formerly /Montastraea/) /faveolata/ and a few other
species, with fungiid coral species at some Indo-Pacific reefs
developing similar yellowish-lightened tissue lesions and loss of their
symbiotic dinoflagellates. Mark and Diane Littler sent me several photos
taken in 2006-2007 of Caribbean (Bonaire) coralline algae with lesions
they first identified in the Indo-Pacific--coralline lethal orange
disease, white band, and target phenomenon--but they also wondered which
came first where. As you note, it will take a lot of research to figure
this out.
But I do think we know enough to say that diseases are increasingly
affecting numerous reef species around the world. The Indo-Pacific is
much larger and has more diverse species, and so they may have some
greater resistance to mortality, perhaps in some locales, but in others
we have seen suspected diseases causing coral (and other organisms)
death. Examine the literature on disease ecology, please, and realize
that species' transfers are occurring in both directions, pathogenic
microorganisms are encountering new hosts, and what we think are
"healthy" organisms, may only be "apparently healthy." So they should
not be transferred, as Doug Fenner noted.
Esther
On 12/20/2018 10:34 AM, Damien Beri wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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
> <mailto: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
> <mailto:coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>>, Damien Beri
> <beridl at g.cofc.edu <mailto: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
> <mailto: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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