Algal turf negatively affects recruitment of a Caribbean octocoral
Algal turf negatively affects recruitment of a Caribbean octocoral
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藻类草皮对加勒比八珊瑚的招募产生负面影响
DOI：
10.1007/s00338-021-02103-z
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发表时间：
2021
期刊：
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Lasker, Howard R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Wells, Christopher D.;Martínez-Quintana, Ángela;Tonra, Kaitlyn J.;Lasker, Howard R.
在过去40年里，加勒比珊瑚礁的藻类覆盖面积增加，而石珊瑚覆盖面积稳步下降，而在对丰度进行监测的地点，珊瑚丰度增加。藻类覆盖对招聘的影响可能是这些模式的一个关键组成部分，因为直立的珊瑚新兵可能会通过生长在无处不在的藻类草皮上来逃避与藻类的竞争。我们使用实验室和现场招聘实验，以研究招聘的共同，直立，和zooxanthellate加勒比海珊瑚Plexaura homomalla藻草皮的影响。实验室招聘率显着较高，在较低的草坪覆盖治疗。新兵在野外的生存率显著降低，增加草皮覆盖率;草皮覆盖率每增加1%，息肉的死亡速度就快1.3%。在一个由观察到的野外生存率参数化的模型中，暴露于100%草皮覆盖的息肉在51天内的存活率为2%，而暴露于没有草皮覆盖的息肉在同一时间内的存活率为32%。我们发现，高密度的草坪藻类可以显着抑制招聘的珊瑚。实验获得的珊瑚存活率高于加勒比珊瑚公布的存活率。影响招聘的因素是至关重要的，在了解加勒比海珊瑚礁的珊瑚礁的动态持续下降的石珊瑚覆盖可能会导致更多的珊瑚礁为主的社区。
Algal cover has increased and scleractinian coral cover has steadily declined over the past 40 years on Caribbean coral reefs, while octocoral abundance has increased at sites where abundances have been monitored. The effects of algal cover on recruitment may be a key component in these patterns, as upright octocoral recruits may escape competition with algae by growing above the ubiquitous algal turfs. We used laboratory and field recruitment experiments to examine impacts of algal turf on recruitment of the common, upright, and zooxanthellate Caribbean octocoralPlexaura homomalla. Laboratory recruitment rate was significantly higher in lower turf cover treatments. The survival of recruits in the field was significantly reduced by increased turf cover; for every 1% increase in turf cover, polyps died 1.3% faster. In a model parameterized by the observed field survival, polyps exposed to 100% turf cover had a 2% survival rate over 51 days, while polyps exposed to no turf cover had a 32% survival rate over the same time. We found that high densities of turf algae can significantly inhibit recruitment of octocorals. Experimentally obtained octocoral survival rates were higher than those published for Caribbean octocorals. The factors that influence recruitment are critical in understanding the dynamics of octocorals on Caribbean reefs as continuing declines in scleractinian cover may lead to more octocoral-dominated communities.