[Coral-List] Fwd: exotic or invasive? introduction of Caribbean acroporiids to the pacific
Dennis Hubbard
dennis.hubbard at oberlin.edu
Fri Dec 21 20:20:45 UTC 2018
Ester's post reminds me about how historically important diseases have been
in the recent decline of reefs...... and the fundamental lack of clarity
when it comes to a) *really* knowing what is going on and b) how the myriad
proposed factors (and possible "fixes") fit into crafting effective
solutions.
None of what I am thinking about suggests that our understanding of root
causes is totally lacking or that we cannot consider general solutions
until we can identify them. Nevertheless, other than *Aspergiillosis*, we
are largely left with the reality reflected by Wikipedia - "that that the
coral is sick and the tissue is necrotic is apparent, but whether the fungi
or bacteria present caused the disease or merely fed on the already dying
tissue is not clear." Since Bill Gladfelter described what I believe was
the first recognized coral disease (in a classic paper that was largely
ignored for years until diseases "got really serious"), we now have *White
Band Disease*, *Black Band Disease*, *White Plague* ("sometimes caused
by…"), *Yellow-Band Disease* ("possibly cause by….?"), *Coralline Lethal
Orange Disease*, *White Band, Rapid Wasting*, *Black Necrosing Syndrom*e
("probably fungal?"), and *Target Phenomenon*, to name a few.... do a
color, a spatial pattern and a final scary descriptor reflect the depth of
our understanding?
Reflecting back of the diversity of opinions expressed in this venue
regarding "what is wrong with reefs", "how serious it is", "what we should
do about it", and "who is to blame", we are left with the simple and most
important reality that the rate of decline is growing faster than our
fundamental understanding of the processes involved. In the "good old
days", the focus was on the processes involved at various levels of the
reef system and how they interacted. Understanding the photosynthetic
pathways related to calcification were critical to deciding, for example,
whether management strategies should be more attuned to photosymbionts or
the corals that host them. Quantitatively understanding the relationships
between coral growth and reef building should be the underpinning of our
responses to accelerating sea-level rise. Better understand how spatial
heterogeneity can both facilitate and be facilitated by organisms living in
and on the reef suggest that neither (or both) is the driver of the other.
As we first recognized the "decline" of reefs, our focus shifted
increasingly to "counting things" as a proxy for how serious the problem
way. We argued over protocols, confidence limits and other factors that
made one particular monitoring system "superior" to others. I'm pretty
sure that we still have not come to complete agreement on this issue as we
argue over the relative value of historical descriptions vs mapping and the
differences in our understanding of "what is left" based on plan-view
transects vs chain transects vs complex 3-D representations generated by
computer manipulation of multiple images or videos.
So we are now left with the reality that over the past 3-4 decades we have
significantly increased our ability to measure what us on and in the reef.
We also have a growing sophistication of the genetic-level proxies that can
inform both the natural evolution and sensitivity of reef species to
stress. Unfortunately, as the list grows by the day, so does the severity
of the decline.
Reading over the above, I realize that I have not really added anything
other than a reminder that the larger historical and ecological realities
can get lost in our scientifically focused (limited?) perspective and a
zeal to "do something". But, after all, I'm just a scientist and we've
gotten really good at this. I suppose that my point is most simply to a)
emphasize Ester's reminder that applying disease ecology (and other
elements of ref science) to the growing issue of reef decline is very
complex and b) remind us that we really need to do a better job of
understanding fundamental ecological realities on a variety of spatial and
temporal scales before we suggest clever fixes (e.g., creating super-corals
more tolerant to the "stress du jour", focusing on fast-growing but fragile
corals in transplanting programs to facilitate "reef growth", moving corals
(and other organisms) into alternative habitats as a realistic offset to
significant disruption in coastal projects)..... the list goes on
Best wishes for the holidays and the future of the system we all cherish,
Dennis
On Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 9:18 AM Esther Peters via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
> 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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--
Dennis Hubbard
Chair, Dept of Geology-Oberlin College Oberlin OH 44074
(440) 775-8346
* "When you get on the wrong train.... every stop is the wrong stop"*
Benjamin Stein: "*Ludes, A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream*"
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