Times of the Islands Fall 2022

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green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources HEIDI HERTLER These images of coral at the Lost Anchor dive site were taken after the ravages of SCTLD, suggesting some resilience or rebound from its effects. characterized by mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata), lobed star coral (Orbicella annularis), boulder star coral (Orbicella franksi) and mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides). Just like not all reef systems are the same, not all coral use the same reproductive strategy — there are broadcasters and brooders. This generally occurs annually during mass spawning events in one or two consecutive months and trigged by water temperature, lunar and tidal cycle, and light. Many corals are typically hermaphroditic, both sexes are represented in each coal polyp. Broadcaster coral release sperm and eggs into the water column. A planula larva is created when egg and sperm connect. In the Caribbean region, large reef-building corals, such as Acropora, Montastraea, Orbicella, and Siderastrea, are generally broadcast spawners. The This graph indicates the percentage of live coral cover from reef surveys in the Admiral Cockburn Land and Sea National Park, South Caicos. SCTLD was first reported in early 2019. Surveys were conducted using underwater photography along permanent transects and analyses using Coral Point Count with Excel extensions. CPCE, NOVA UNIVERSITY 40 www.timespub.tc
green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources pelagic larvae of these genera are more susceptible to mortality and recruitment to reef habitat is dependent on prevailing current patterns of the area. It has been noted that these reef-building corals typically have much lower abundance in recruitment studies than brooding coral genera, Agaricia and Porites, who develop their planula larvae internally or on the surface of the parent colony before releasing. Brooding corals tend to be smaller in size. Once the larvae settle, asexual reproduction begins and the colony starts to grow. The overall average coral recruitment density in 2016 of all sites was 15.9 ± 17.9 recruits/m 2 with the highest number at the Arch (29.6 ± 25.5 recruits/m 2 , 10 meters depth) and the lowest at the Chain (8.3 ± 12.3 recruits/ m 2 , 20 meters depth). This is greater or comparable to other areas in around the Caribbean. The predominant genera in 2016 of the recruit community was Siderastrea, a broadcast spawner. Addtionally, both recruit and mature coral communities were characterized by presence of Agaricia, Diploria, Montastraea, Orbicella, Porites, and Siderastrea. These findings suggest strong connectivity in the area since the CPCE, NOVA UNIVERSITY Not all sites are created equal. The Arch has a greater number and diversity of coral recruits after SCTLD. This is one of the most popular dive sites in the Admiral Cockburn Land and Sea National Park. sites are able to recruit both pelagic broadcast-spawning coral larvae and local brooding coral larvae. From recruit density and diversity it was evident that recruitment in this area was able to successfully maintain coral community structure. Prior to 2019 onset of SCTLD, the reefs of South Caicos remained relatively stable. Stony coral cover (3.0%) and richness (9.9 taxa) did not fluctuate significantly (2012–2018). Disease monitoring efforts show that the regional outbreak of SCTLD poses a serious threat to important framework-building corals throughout the Caribbean. In TCI, SCTLD significantly impacted coral cover (1.5%) and richness (6.3 taxa) (Figure 1). South Here is another example of a coral impacted by SCTLD at The Warhead dive site near South Caicos. Again, you can see the evidence of some resilience. Caicos reefs are now dominated by massive starlet coral (Siderastrea siderea), lettuce coral (Agaricia agaricites), and mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides). Reef core evidence and modern surveys show that weedy or stress-tolerant taxa such as Siderastrea spp. and Porites spp., which used to be rare in reef assemblages, are now prevalent in the Caribbean. The overall average coral recruitment density in 2022 for all sites was 9.34 ± 8.99 recruits/m 2 , not significantly different from 2016; however, the most abundant species in terms of count of recruits by coral surveyors are now Siderastrea sidereal and Porites porites (Figure 1). Rare and susceptible taxa corals including elliptical star coral (Dichocoenia stokesii), smooth flower coral (Eusmilia fastigiate), grooved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis) HEIDI HERTLER Times of the Islands Fall 2022 41
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