[Coral-List] Bleaching

Fri Apr 22 11:40:03 UTC 2022

Thanks Denny,

I am with you!   I go from depression to determination to depression- and
what keeps me going is that we have something that no one else has- a deep
grounding in reality.  Working in Kiribati has been like taking a time
machine 30+ years into the future, and the fact is that there is still some
hope. But that left on their own, coral reefs will die out, just like the
models predict.  Like on Kiribati, we will lose most coral species on most
reefs if we don't act, but I feel certain now that we can retain all of
them in the ocean, if we act now and focus on local translocation from
hot pocket reefs out to cooler outer reef areas.   That should serve as the
core global strategy right now!   If I had begun in 2012 or 2013, I feel
certain that we would still have all species in reproductive condition
stil, in Kiribati, but now most are gone or represented by a few widely
separated genotypes.  In order for a unified and active coral focused
strategy we need to change the old '"restoration" paradigm.  I need to
publish these findings and strategies ASAP, but I am forced to spend much
of my time begging for funds and managing all aspects of the NGO admin
work, plus much of the field work.

My experience is that many of those who are active and working to turn
things around are non-scientists or new scientists, naive and therefore
highly positive, and while not very effective, I have found that many are
receptive to learning.  We need to give them strategies that have a
better hope for working.  These people and small NGOs can carry forward any
strategy given to them with great enthusiasm.  They already have weapons
and ammunition (methods that work to grow corals effectively), but they are
misusing them, and so what they really need are for the generals to arise -
those who can agree on comprehensive and workable battle plans and war
strategies. And we need to get young scientists - sergeants in the field,
training, supervising, and monitoring,a dn giving feedback to guide the
troops in the field.   Where are the generals and agreed to battle plans
with which to win this war on the coming coral species extinctions?

I am holding back spilling all the five strategies we are using, and only
publically writing about translocation openly- because that is one that is
so easily grasped.  It should be easy to understand that those corals
surviving at 34-37C each summer will not survive the coming heat waves
if left where they are, because the nearshore locations will get to 38-40C,
so the most heat adapted corals that still exist are in just as much
jeopardy as the less heat tolerant on cooler reefs.  The big question is if
the ocean facing edges of coral reefs are predicted to reach >34-37?   (Man
we could use a sudden 1 meter sea level rise to cool off the nearshore
waters!)

Can local translocation work to preserve enough local genetic diversity in
enough places to reboot coral recovery once humanity gets its act together?
And can this be looked at seriously by those most qualified in the
scientific community, and if determined our best option, (even if
uncertain), can it then become the rallying point for coral focused
adaptation work, using the most cyclone resistant methods already developed
by the restoration community?  Can existing circulation and climate models
be used to predict the coolest reef areas locally at 3.2C warming in 2100?
Can we create diverse gene bank nurseries in those locations,  using the
most bleaching resistant and disease resistant corals?  Can we do N-S and
S-N translocations as well, of the less heat adapted corals, or at least
capture those into a coral biobank on land, to maintain low thermal
tolerance as well, as ice ages may eventually come again?  Can each
genotype in the gene banks be tested for bleaching and disease resistance,
so that we better understand its physiological tolerance and capacity?  Can
the other sorts of breeding and symbiont shuffling and probiotic treatments
etc -that show some promise, as well as the Coral Biobank and 50 Reefs
Initiative be linked as part of this translocation strategy, with the goal
of retaining maximum genetic diversity and adaptability of each coral
species over time, and creating patches of pre-adapted corals in those
locations best predicted to remain more benign in each local system?

Could our coral reef community get behind any of this?   What are your
thoughts?

Regards,

Austin

Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
Corals for Conservation
P.O. Box 4649 Samabula, Fiji Islands

https://www.corals4conservation.org
https://www.facebook.com/C4Conservation
TEDx talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PRLJ8zDm0U
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-massive-coral-bleaching/
<https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-massive-coral-bleaching/>

Teitei Livelihoods Centre
Km 20 Sigatoka Valley Road, Fiji Islands
(679) 938-6437
http:/www.
<http://permacultureglobal.com/projects/1759-sustainable-environmental-livelihoods-farm-Fiji>
teiteifiji.org
http://permacultureglobal.com/projects/1759-sustainable-environmental-livelihoods-farm-Fiji
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/happy-chickens-for-food-security-and-environment-1/

On Thu, Apr 21, 2022 at 1:45 AM Dennis Hubbard <dennis.hubbard at oberlin.edu>
wrote:

> Austin:
>
> Thanks for the update. While I applaud these efforts to do "anything", I
> am still disheartened by 6-year survivorship being portrayed as a "success"
> when I think of the prior life-expectancy of natural colonies when I lived
> on St. Croix. When I resided in the USVI, I saw *A. palmata* decline due
> to both local (tourism, clearing of steep upland areas) and global sources
> (climate change). Unfortunately, each time I return, I see more and more
> dead colonies, dominated in significant part by clearly out-planted
> colonies (I see an increasing density of the hardware associated with the
> now-dead outplants. In these cases, nearly all efforts are deployed from
> shore owing to the narrow shelf. So, while I recognize the importance of
> these attempts, I do have to be concerned that too many folks will take the
> positive slant of the reports (and, in some cases, characterizing these as
> (artificial *"reefs*") to suggest that things are either "under control"
> or "measurably improved".
>
> Best,
>
> Dennis
>
> On Mon, Apr 18, 2022 at 7:46 AM Austin Bowden-Kerby via Coral-List <
> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>
>> Dear Bill and Steve,
>>
>> Please name the restoration efforts being promoted as quick fix solutions-
>> if you know of any please point them out!  Here and now- please!  Don't be
>> shy, or polite- if any org or institution is misleading people by saying
>> that they have a quick fix solution to coral reef decline that makes
>> climate action less urgent, single them out, but please don't cast doubt
>> on
>> the entire coral restoration field.  Even if not intentioned and with your
>> disclaimers, we have been burned so many times in the past that any heat
>> at
>> all is excruciating!
>>
>> I have on this list recently called out at least three publications for
>> reporting on the decimated reefs of Kiribati with a positive twist!  They
>> all celebrated a so-called recovery and/or evidence of adaptation in the
>> titles, while glossing over the horrific reality of the local extinction
>> of
>> >200 coral species, and a total community shift on the one 'recovering'
>> atoll- from Acopora dominated before the 30 months of bleaching over 5
>> years, to a coral community dominated by *Porites rus*.  Total species
>> shift, low biodiversity, and mass extinction of species, and they glossed
>> it all over!  This amounts to misleading the world that coral reefs will
>> be
>> able to cope with climate change just fine!  And so now the government of
>> Kiribati believes that everything is going to be just fine, and
>> these officials must think I am an alarmist kook!   The scientific
>> community has failed Kiribati, in spite of it being the leading edge of
>> the
>> collapse of coral reefs from mass bleaching, with only 5 atolls out of 33
>> even visited and sampled since their collapse in 2015-16.
>>
>> I am calling some of you on this list out for perpetuating a continuing
>> and
>> oppressive negative generalization about restoration, as it negatively
>> impacts some very good work that is vital for the future survival of coral
>> species and coral reefs.  Please either be specific about a particular
>> article you read or a specific project, or stop it!   This general
>> negativism about restoration continues to impact many good efforts that
>> you
>> may not be aware of.  One example of coral restoration that has been
>> highly
>> effective is in the Caribbean, where the small efforts in multiple
>> countries have turned around the near extinction and the multiple local
>> extinctions of Acropora corals in the wider Caribbean region.  This work
>> is
>> responsible for a large portion of coral biomass and restored Acropora
>> breeding populations in the region, and has been highly successful. It has
>> not been a quick-fix, and because the decline was mostly due to disease
>> and
>> hurricanes, it does not solve the impacts of climate change, and no one is
>> saying that it does!
>>
>> Perhaps this sort of negativity is cultural and simply reflects the
>> pervasive negativity which has become the dominant culture of academia in
>> the USA? Or perhaps you are referring to what is happening in Florida and
>> GBR, and the various flashy high tech solutions being proposed and funded
>> by millions of dollars there?  Please realize that none of our work in the
>> developing world is along those lines. We have not seen any big funds
>> either, perhaps because our potential donors are impacted by your
>> negativity?
>>
>> From my experience doing this for longer than anyone in both the Caribbean
>> and South Pacific, most restoration in the developing world nations is
>> very
>> poorly funded, and it is being carried out by small-scale NGOs working
>> with
>> communities, and on a shoestring as a service to the world, as acts of
>> love
>> and points of light in a gloomy and depressing time. The goal of most of
>> these efforts now is to keep declining coral species alive where they are
>> dying out, and to maintain these species in a healthy and reproductive
>> condition, knowing that the struggle has just begun, foreseeing a future
>> of
>> increasing heat waves, and hopefully working on strategies to get the more
>> heat adapted corals out of the hottest reef areas and into cooler reefs,
>> as
>> insurance for their future survival.
>>
>> In the less developed world, there has been essentially no coral focused
>> action by governments, neither by the scientific community, nor by the big
>> NGOs, with very few exceptions, to secure coral species from decline.
>> Local
>> people have grown tired of seeing their reefs decline, and they want to do
>> something about it and to get involved.  Fragments of Hope in Belize:
>> https://fragmentsofhope.org/  Corals for Conservation in Fiji:
>> www.corals4conservation.org and the Coral Gardeners in Moorea:
>> www.coralgardeners.org and many other coral focused organizations have
>> formed in this vacuum of inaction, and there has been much success in
>> spite
>> of opposition from "well meaning but misguided" scientists.
>>
>> If you think that coral species and coral reef restoration efforts need
>> more science, we agree-, so please come help!  Stop criticizing and start
>> acting!  All those with a "humble attitude of learning" are welcome- the
>> culture of academic arrogance that sometimes prevails is not part of our
>> operational culture in the islands. We can offer housing and boat support
>> in our Fiji sites for seasoned researchers and grad students who are
>> serious about focusing on the outcomes of facilitated natural recovery and
>> coral based restoration work.  We have sites in seven Pacific Island
>> countries so far, but due to a lack of human resources and funds, minimal
>> science is being conducted alongside the work. We see some amazing results
>> and natural synergies, but often with only a few photos to back
>> observations up.
>>
>> It is strikingly clear now that science will not save the planet- people
>> will save the planet, and only some of those people will be scientists.
>> All of the amazing work that coral reef scientists have done and are doing
>> on coral reefs, all the incredible diverse species and amazing
>> relationships, now stand gravely threatened, and so all of this collection
>> of information, should corals and coral reefs become extinct, will become
>> rather useless paleontology.  We will only know what was lost.  We are on
>> the leading edge of the planetary collapse and 6th extinction- why do we
>> pretend that everything is normal?
>>
>> In our coral reef adaptation/ restoration sites, we are operating with
>> mostly unpublished yet so far highly effective strategies and methods.
>> Now
>> in partnership with the Coral Gardeners and others for a regional youth
>> focused strategy, we are refocusing to empower island kids to save coral
>> species from dying out in their reefs over the next 30-50 years, providing
>> the strategies, tools, training and hopefully materials and funds that
>> they
>> need for effectiveness. Translocation of corals from hot to cooler reefs
>> is
>> just one of five adaptation strategies, which are frankly more adaptation
>> focused than restoration focused at this critical time in history:
>> *https://reefresilience.org/case-studies/south-pacific-restoration/
>> <https://reefresilience.org/case-studies/south-pacific-restoration/>*
>>
>> Thanks for listening,
>>
>> Austin
>>
>> Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
>> Corals for Conservation
>> P.O. Box 4649 Samabula, Fiji Islands
>> https://www.corals4conservation.org
>> https://www.facebook.com/C4Conservation
>> TEDx talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PRLJ8zDm0U
>>
>> https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-massive-coral-bleaching/
>> <
>> https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-massive-coral-bleaching/
>> >
>>
>>
>> Teitei Livelihoods Centre
>> Km 20 Sigatoka Valley Road, Fiji Islands
>> (679) 938-6437
>> http:/www.
>> <
>> http://permacultureglobal.com/projects/1759-sustainable-environmental-livelihoods-farm-Fiji
>> >
>> teiteifiji.org
>>
>> http://permacultureglobal.com/projects/1759-sustainable-environmental-livelihoods-farm-Fiji
>>
>> https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/happy-chickens-for-food-security-and-environment-1/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 12:30 AM Steve Mussman via Coral-List <
>> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Bill, you have clearly pointed out an inconvenient aspect of all this
>> that
>> > many here would prefer to avoid.
>> >
>> > Although there are a number of restoration efforts worthy of praise that
>> > nobly fulfill John’s expectations, some of the most prominent and
>> > well-funded projects have chosen instead to strategically avoid placing
>> due
>> > emphasis on the imperative need to address climate change and other
>> major
>> > stressors. Until this changes, I’m afraid we will continue to miss out
>> on
>> > what could be a “potent political opportunity” to utilize perhaps the
>> most
>> > visible aspect of the coral sciences to bring about much needed change.
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> >
>> > Steve
>> >
>> > On 4/12/22, 7:51 AM, Bill Allison via Coral-List <
>> > coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>> >
>> > "... reef restoration programs acting in concert provide a potent
>> >
>> > political opportunity to influence their national governments to support
>> >
>> > the UN-based global efforts to control greenhouse gases and other
>> factors
>> >
>> > inimical to the survival of coral reefs."
>> >
>> > OR
>> >
>> > "reef restoration programs" masquerading as a solution provide a
>> rationale
>> >
>> > for kicking the addressing-causes-can down the road.
>> >
>> > "cheers"
>> >
>> > Bill
>> >
>> > On Tue, Apr 12, 2022 at 6:59 AM John Ogden via Coral-List <
>> >
>> > coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Dear Friends on Coral-List,
>> >
>> > >
>> >
>> > > The good news that Austin Bowden-Kirby highlights in his recent post
>> >
>> > > concerns the global growth surge in reef restoration schemes and
>> programs
>> >
>> > > and shows clearly that people care about coral reefs and are
>> unwilling to
>> >
>> > > wait for government to act and watch them die without trying to do
>> >
>> > > something to help. This kind of hands-on volunteerism is too rare and
>> >
>> > > important not to take full advantage of on the political stage. In my
>> >
>> > > opinion Coral Gardeners and other reef restoration programs acting in
>> >
>> > > concert provide a potent political opportunity to influence their
>> > national
>> >
>> > > governments to support the UN-based global efforts to control
>> greenhouse
>> >
>> > > gases and other factors inimical to the survival of coral reefs.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Coral-List mailing list
>> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> > https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
> Dennis Hubbard - Emeritus Professor: Dept of Geology-Oberlin College
> Oberlin OH 44074
> (440) 935-4014
>
> * "When you get on the wrong train.... every stop is the wrong stop"*
>  Benjamin Stein: "*Ludes, A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream*"
>