#reef science

[benthos-game]

Ever wonder what role corals play in tropical reef ecology? Find out by taking up the mantle of Team Coral! Cover the reef with colonies clad in sturdy calcium carbonate and fend off dastardly, quick-growing algae!

[hellsitegenetics]

pls do the lyrics of DNA. by Kendrick Lamar

It would be so funny

Bc you do DNA so y'know

String identified: gtgtgtgtatgtatAatcgtaaacAgtaaAgtttgatAatctacatccttattaaatctattatTaTtattttTtatgtgtgtgtatcatAgtgtcAgtagttattAgtgttatAtagatagaatatagattatgaaCtttttataaaatcAatatctAatctagAactttagaggttttattttgTaatccttgaaatcaatataagaaaaAaAtattcctcgaacttattaAttcattatAgtatcattActattaAatattcaAttcAaatgaatcaTaatattttttagtatgtatAtatataaagtgAcaAcagtatgtatAattacTaacctagtatgtatAaTtagatttatccaaagTtggaatccatttattatttAttatAaaatTttatgtaatAtacttagtgaaaaGaaatatcatactttatgatgagagaaaatgtcaaatatagtcaaagaaattctaaatcatacatatcattcttattataTattttatctagtatgttaatttatatttatctatatcgttatcgttttaatTtctgaatGaatgaatactttttatA

Closest match: Myripristis murdjan genome assembly, chromosome: 24 Common name: Pinecone Soldierfish

(image source)

[reasonsforhope]

"The coral reefs of south Sulawesi are some of the most diverse, colorful and vibrant in the world. At least, they used to be, until they were decimated by dynamite fishing in the 1990s.

As part of a team of coral reef ecologists based in Indonesia and the UK, we study the reefs around Pulau Bontosua, a small Indonesian island in south Sulawesi...

In many places around the world, damage like this might be described as irreparable. But at Pulau Bontosua, the story is different. Here, efforts by the Mars coral restoration program have brought back the coral and important ecosystem functions, as outlined by our new study, published in Current Biology. We found that within just four years, restored reefs grow at the same rate as nearby healthy reefs.

Speedy recovery

The transplanted corals grow remarkably quickly. Within a year, fragments have developed into proper colonies. After two years, they interlock branches with their neighbors. After just four years, they completely overgrow the reef star structures and restoration sites are barely distinguishable from nearby healthy reefs.

The combined growth of many corals generates a complex limestone (calcium carbonate) framework. This provides a habitat for marine life and protects nearby shorelines from storm damage by absorbing up to 97% of coastal wave energy.

We measured the overall growth of the reef framework by calculating its carbonate budget. That's the balance between limestone production (by calcifying corals and coralline algae) and erosion (by grazing sea urchins and fishes, for example). A healthy reef produces up to 20kg of reef structure per square meter per year, while a degraded reef is shrinking rather than growing as erosion exceeds limestone production. Therefore, overall reef growth gives an indication of reef health.

At Pulau Bontosua, our survey data shows that in the years following restoration, coral cover, coral colony sizes, and carbonate production rates tripled. Within four years, restored reefs were growing at the same speed as healthy reefs, and thereby provided the same important ecosystem functions...

Outcomes of any reef restoration project will depend on environmental conditions, natural coral larvae supply, restoration techniques and the effort invested in maintaining the project. This Indonesian project shows that when conditions are right and efforts are well placed, success is possible. Hopefully, this inspires further global efforts to restore functioning coral reefs and to recreate a climate in which they can thrive."

-via Phys.org, March 11, 2024

[protectoursharks]

cutest shark facts?

Nurse sharks and white tip reef sharks form a pile and cuddle!

It's believed to be a form of social bonding and has helped challenge the "lone shark" assumption, allowing us to learn more about shark ecology and interaction!

[jellyfishmakeoutparty]

the fact that I will never truly know what it’s like to be a shark in a shark cuddle pile is cruel and unusual punishment.

absolutely devastating.

[wachinyeya]

[amnhnyc]

Soar through the weekend with the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi)! This “winged” sea critter is typically dark on top and white or cream on its underside to help it camouflage from both directions. Something else you may not know about mantas: They have a high brain-to-body-mass ratio and the largest brain of any fish in the sea! They’re playful and curious, and research suggests some ray species show indications of self-awareness.

Photo: Sylvie Omnè, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

[mindblowingscience]

Coral reefs worldwide are in trouble. These ecosystems support a billion people and more than a quarter of marine species. Still, many have been damaged by unsustainable fishing and tourism, coastal construction, nutrient runoff, and climate change. Now, researchers have shown that broadcasting the sounds of healthy reefs is a way to encourage larval corals to repopulate degraded sites and help revitalize them.

Continue Reading.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia’s coral reefs

“The government of Indonesia announced this week a deal to redirect more than US$ 35 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of coral reefs in the most biodiverse ocean area on Earth.”

2. [FWS] Provides Over $1.3 Billion to Support Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

“Through these combined funds, agencies have supported monitoring and management of over 500 species of wild mammals and birds, annual stocking of over 1 billion fish, operations of fish and wildlife disease laboratories around the country, and provided hunter and aquatic education to millions of students.”

3. Philippine Indigenous communities restore a mountain forest to prevent urban flooding

“Indigenous knowledge systems and practices are considered in the project design, and its leaders and members have been involved throughout the process, from agreeing to participate to identifying suitable land and selecting plant species that naturally grow in the area.”

4. Responsible Offshore Wind Development is a Clear Win for Birds, the U.S. Economy, and our Climate

“[T]he total feasible offshore wind capacity along U.S. coasts is more than three times the total electricity generated nationwide in 2023. […] Proven strategies, such as reducing visible lights on turbines and using perching deterrents on turbines, have been effective in addressing bird impacts.”

5. Illinois awards $100M for electric truck charging corridor, Tesla to get $40M

“The project will facilitate the construction of 345 electric truck charging ports and pull-through truck charging stalls across 14 sites throughout Illinois[…. E]lectrifying [the 30,000 daily long-haul] trucks would make a huge impact in the public health and quality of life along the heavily populated roadways.”

6. Reinventing the South Florida seawall to help marine life, buffer rising seas

“[The new seawall] features raised areas inspired by mangrove roots that are intended to both provide nooks and crannies for fish and crabs and other marine creatures and also better absorb some of the impact from waves and storm surges.”

7. Long Beach Commits to 100% All-Electric Garbage Trucks

“[Diesel garbage trucks] produce around a quarter of all diesel pollution in California and contribute to 1,400 premature deaths every year. Electric options, on the other hand, are quieter than their diesel counterparts and produce zero tailpipe emissions.”

8. ‘This Is a Victory': Biden Affirms ERA Has Been 'Ratified' and Law of the Land

“President Joe Biden on Friday announced his administration's official opinion that the amendment is ratified and its protections against sex-based discrimination are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”

9. A Little-Known Clean Energy Solution Could Soon Reach ‘Liftoff’

“Ground source heat pumps could heat and cool the equivalent of 7 million homes by 2035—up from just over 1 million today[…. G]eothermal energy is generally considered to be more popular among Republicans than other forms of clean energy, such as wind and solar.”

10. Researchers combine citizens' help and cutting-edge tech to track biodiversity

“Researchers in the project, which runs from 2022 to 2026, are experimenting with tools like drones, cameras and sensors to collect detailed data on different species, [… and] Observation.org, a global biodiversity platform where people submit pictures of animals and plants, helping to identify and monitor them.”

January 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[velespaleoart]

The smell of rain fills the air, though not a single drop has fallen. A huge Mosasaurus slowly swims through a warm, shallow sea, unbothered by the noisy pterosaurs.

The world seems half asleep.

Everything is gray.

[marinebioblr]

Sweet dreams!

Sharks often congregate beneath ships, especially at night when the ships are lighting the water. This is because plankton is attracted to the light, which essentially draws the successive links in the food chain! Plankton means fish, fish means sharks. I discovered on this night that I could also catch sight of these guys on the occasion that my porthole dipped below the surface, swimming right next to my head while I sleep 😴

[benthos-game]

Hi, we're making a game about coral reefs - coming 2025! Follow for illustration, card previews, playtest opportunities, and discussion about translating reef science to game mechanics! Link in bio for more info! 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

[esoomris]

fun thing about dredge is like. the familiarity of the unknown. like sure the various Horrors are scary when you first encounter them, but soon enough you learn where they are and how to avoid them and like, sure they’re dangerous and sure you don’t fully comprehend them but like. give them a wide berth you’ll probably be fine. which is exactly the mindset that any person who was hired to go fishing for a living in the eldritch nightmare town would end up in. yeah the anglerfish have come up to the surface and their lures are clearly designed for me but like. i’ve got bills.

[reasonsforhope]

A reef that has been degraded—whether by coral bleaching or disease—can’t support the same diversity of species and has a much quieter, less rich soundscape.

But new research from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution shows that sound could potentially be a vital tool in the effort to restore coral reefs.

A healthy coral reef is noisy, full of the croaks, purrs, and grunts of various fishes and the crackling of snapping shrimp. Scientists believe that coral larvae use this symphony of sounds to help them determine where they should live and grow.

So, replaying healthy reef sounds can encourage new life in damaged or degraded reefs.

In a paper published last week in Royal Society Open Science, the Woods Hole researchers showed that broadcasting the soundscape of a healthy reef caused coral larvae to settle at significantly higher rates—up to seven times more often.

“What we’re showing is that you can actively induce coral settlement by playing sounds,” said Nadège Aoki, a doctoral candidate at WHOI and first author on the paper.

“You can go to a reef that is degraded in some way and add in the sounds of biological activity from a healthy reef, potentially helping this really important step in the coral life cycle.”

Corals are immobile as adults, so the larval stage is their only opportunity to select a good habitat. They swim or drift with the currents, seeking the right conditions to settle out of the water column and affix themselves to the seabed. Previous research has shown that chemical and light cues can influence that decision, but Aoki and her colleagues demonstrate that the soundscape also plays a major role in where corals settle.

The researchers ran the same experiment twice in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2022. They collected larvae from Porites astreoides, a hardy species commonly known as mustard hill coral thanks to its lumpy shape and yellow color and distributed them in cups at three reefs along the southern coast of St. John. One of those reefs, Tektite, is relatively healthy. The other two, Cocoloba and Salt Pond, are more degraded with sparse coral cover and fewer fish.

At Salt Pond, Aoki and her colleagues installed an underwater speaker system and placed cups of larvae at distances of one, five, 10, and 30 meters from the speakers. They broadcast healthy reef sounds – recorded at Tektite in 2013 – for three nights. They set up similar installations at the other two reefs but didn’t play any sounds.

When they collected the cups, the researchers found that significantly more coral larvae had settled in the cups at Salt Pond than the other two reefs. On average, coral larvae settled at rates 1.7 times (and up to 7x) higher with the enriched sound environment.

The highest settlement rates were at five meters from the speakers, but even the cups placed 30 meters away had more larvae settling to the bottom than at Cocoloba and Tektite.

“The fact that settlement is consistently decreasing with distance from the speaker, when all else is kept constant, is particularly important because it shows that these changes are due to the added sound and not other factors,” said Aran Mooney, a marine biologist at WHOI and lead author on the paper.

“This gives us a new tool in the toolbox for potentially rebuilding a reef.”

Adding the audio is a process that would be relatively simple to implement, too.

“Replicating an acoustic environment is actually quite easy compared to replicating the reef chemical and microbial cues which also play a role in where corals choose to settle,” said Amy Apprill, a microbial ecologist at WHOI and a co-author on the paper.

“It appears to be one of the most scalable tools that can be applied to rebuild reefs, so we’re really excited about that potential.”"

-via Good News Network, March 17, 2024

[papillondusublime]

Great news for science! Recently, the world’s largest known coral was discovered in the waters around the Solomon Islands. With an estimated circumference of 183 meters, this massive coral is home to nearly a billion tiny and colorful polyps. “Big Momma”, the previous record holder that’s located in American Samoa, is three times smaller than this one. Fun fact: despite being visible from space, nobody recognized the coral until a few days ago. Local fishermen always thought that it was a giant boulder and even scientists initially mistook it for a shipwreck underwater. The world’s biggest coral so far is believed to be about 300 years old, which could serve as a priceless historical record of ocean conditions from the past few centuries. Unfortunately, due to climate change that causes the rapid heating of oceans, many corals turn white and die. As an artist who’s in love with the beauty of nature, I think that the most vital mission of this century is to protect the environment, because the world is full of surprises and wonderful things to contemplate.

[noaasanctuaries]

UPDATE: NOAA establishes a temporary special use area to protect a relocated Florida Keys coral nursery

In response to extreme ocean temperatures, NOAA has used its emergency authority to create a temporary special use area in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to protect endangered corals that have been relocated to a nursery in federal waters approximately five miles southeast of Tavernier, Florida. The temporary regulation lasts 60 days, with the option for one 60-day extension, and prohibits all entry except for continuous transit without interruption.

🎥: Florida Keys News Bureau