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Modeling abundance, growth, and health of the solitary coral Scolymia wellsi (Mussidae) in turbid SW Atlantic coral reefs

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Abstract

Corals from the genus Scolymia have high-sediment-shifting capabilities and are generally associated with habitats with low light levels (shallow shaded/high-turbidity reefs and mesophotic reefs >30 m depth). Here, the spatio-temporal dynamics in abundance, growth, and health (i.e., proportion of bleached/dead tissue) of the solitary coral Scolymia wellsi was modeled in the Abrolhos Bank, eastern Brazil, using boosted regression trees. Models were built using a yearly time series (2006–2008) of digital images of fixed benthic areas (photo-quadrats) and fixed S. wellsi individuals (n = 65). Samples were obtained in sites separated by up to 130 km and subjected to a wide range of biotic/abiotic conditions (as measured in situ and by remote sensing). Scolymia wellsi abundance was highest on inshore turbid reefs, although high nutrient availability (as inferred by the concentration of particulate organic carbon) and temperature were more important than turbidity (Kd490) itself for explaining this latter pattern. Bleaching affected mainly larger (older) individuals inhabiting inshore reefs, where S. wellsi abundance was highest, possibly reflecting natural coral senescence and/or negative density-dependent effects. Coral growth declined with size and with increased contact with turf algae/cyanobacterial mats, these latter organisms well recognized as major competitors for benthic space and coral disease facilitators. Species-specific coral population studies exploring different spatial scales (reef scale and coral scale) and a wide range of biotic/abiotic conditions may provide important insights on the ecological processes operating at the reef community and ecosystem levels.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Fiuza-Lima, C.L.B. Francini, D. Araújo, C. Marques, E. Marocci, R.M. Reis, and I. Cruz for logistical and field assistance. Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos and Reserva Extrativista Marinha de Corumbau/ICMBio (through J.R.S. Neto, R. Jerolisky and R. Oliveira) for logistical support and research permits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Bananeiras 351, Campina Grande, PB, 58109-753, Brazil

    Ericka O. C. Coni & Camilo M. Ferreira

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21944-970, Brazil

    Pedro M. Meirelles & Ana Paula B. Moreira

  3. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa, PB, 58059-900, Brazil

    Rafael Menezes & Erika F. C. Santana

  4. Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão 915, 22460-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Gilberto M. Amado-Filho

  5. Departamento de Oceanografia, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil

    Beatrice P. Ferreira

  6. Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Baixada Santista, Santos, SP, 11030-400, Brazil

    Guilherme H. Pereira-Filho

  7. Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21944-970, Brazil

    Fabiano L. Thompson & Rodrigo L. Moura

  8. Departamento de Engenharia e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Rua da Mangueira, s/n, Centro, Rio Tinto, PB, 58297-000, Brazil

    Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho

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  1. Ericka O. C. Coni
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  2. Camilo M. Ferreira
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  9. Guilherme H. Pereira-Filho
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  12. Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho.

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Funding

Financial support was provided by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and Conservation International (CI). This is a contribution of the CI’s Marine Management Areas Science Program, Brazil Node, and Rede Abrolhos/SISBIOTA (MCT/CNPq/CAPES/FAPES). BPF, FLT, GHPF, RBFF and RLM, acknowledge individual Grants from CNPq and FAPERJ.

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All authors declare no conflict of interests.

Ethical approval

No animals were collected/manipulated in this study. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the research, care and use of animals were followed.

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Responsible Editor: P. Kraufvelin.

Reviewed by B. A. P. Da Gama and undisclosed experts.

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Coni, E.O.C., Ferreira, C.M., Meirelles, P.M. et al. Modeling abundance, growth, and health of the solitary coral Scolymia wellsi (Mussidae) in turbid SW Atlantic coral reefs. Mar Biol 164, 66 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3090-4

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