Corals

Tubastrea coccinea is an invasive coral species found on the reefs of Bonaire. These corals are typically seen at various densities (up to 80% m-2) on hard, vertical substrata suggesting that biotic resistance could be one possible biological factor preventing settlement of T. coccinea elsewhere (e.g.,,, horizontal substrata). The impact potential competitors have on the successful invasion, recruitment and growth of T. coccinea was experimentally assessed by establishing replicated 15 x 15 cm plots of substrata already inhabited by single species or combinations of native species (0-3 and 3 seeded with adult T. coccinea) at the Harbor Village jetty, Kralendijk, Bonaire, which had the necessary vertical substrata. Monitoring occurred over a period of three weeks to assess percent cover change of the studied organisms. Additionally 15 vertical, 5 m transects were run to evaluate mean percent cover of all sessile species that inhabited the surveyed locations for a general representation of species diversity at the jetty. T. coccinea was not observed to settle in any of the experimental plots nor did the seeded adult conspecifics show any evidence of growth or recruitment. Observational data indicated that an algal turf had the highest mean percent cover, but in areas around T. coccinea, algal turf percent cover decreased by almost 20%, suggesting competition between the two organisms. No firm conclusions could be drawn about T. coccinea recruitment or growth, but results suggested that the presence of an invasive species may negatively affect the growth of native species when they are found in close proximity to it.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science IV (Fall 2008)19: 2-6 from CIEE Bonaire.

The orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea has expanded its range from the Indo-Pacific into the western Atlantic region. It grows on a wide variety of natural and man-made substrates, including rock ledges, docks, and shipwrecks. Its early reproductive age, fast growth rate, and ability to thrive where other species cannot could potentially make T. coccinea a valid threat to native species. The goal of this study is to provide baseline data on the size, depth, and range of T. coccinea on the island of Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean. Substrate and light intensity preferences were also investigated by estimating percent cover on a variety of substrates and light conditions. A clear preference was observed for concrete substrates and low light conditions. Interactions between T. coccinea and a variety of other coral and sponge species were also investigated for potential harmful effects, but despite documentation of harmful coral-coral interactions in Brazil, no evidence of T. coccinea exhibiting harmful effects on native coral species was found in the study area of Bonaire. While T. coccinea does not currently appear to exhibit negative effects on native species in Bonaire, it may simply be in the early stages of expansion and this expansion needs to be monitored for future development of harmful effects on native species.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science IX (Spring 2011)19: 70-78 from CIEE Bonaire.

This study investigates the relationship between yellow band disease (YBD) infected Montastrea annularis coral colonies and its potential to spread by contact with transect tapes, as commonly used in research. M. annularis plays an important role in maintaining reef complexity and diversity in Bonaire as it is a structural reef-building coral, yet the recent spread of YBD has created an degrading the reefs (Bruckner 2006). The study has two primary goals, to investigate whether the use of transect lines had the potential to transfer YBD from one coral to another, and whether a simple cleaning protocol can reduce this transfer. Transects placed on the YBD infected colonies of M. annularis had the most percent bacterial growth, though not statistically significant. It also showed that even though specific species of bacteria were unable to be identified, the transect lines are indeed capable of carrying bacteria. Although the difference was not significant in this study, cleansing treatments may have an effect on lessening the growth of bacteria.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science X (Fall 2011)19: 11-15 from CIEE Bonaire.

Yellow band disease (YBD) is a bacterial infection affecting corals of the Montastrea annularis species complex. Recent mortality rates of M. annularis spp. on Bonaire have risen due to YBD and other biotic and abiotic factors. The loss of staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, the preferred habitat of the threespot damselfish, Stegastes planifrons, has caused the damselfish to inhabit M. annularis spp. Unfortunately, M. annularis spp. are slower growing corals that take longer to reach reproductive maturity and are thus less able to withstand S. planifrons biting their tissues and creating algal gardens on exposed skeleton. This weakens the coral and makes it more susceptible to diseases like YBD. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between S. planifrons gardening and YBD. Sample sites of healthy and diseased colonies of M. annularis spp. were established across depths at Yellow Sub dive site in Kralendijk, Bonaire. Sites were monitored for damselfish inhabitants and signs of coral biting. Pictures were taken of each site to chart the progress of the disease over the course of the study, and ImageJ was used to determine percent cover of healthy versus unhealthy coral. No significant relationship was found between S. planifrons activity and YBD, although S. planifrons seemed to select healthy colonies. The increase of damselfish populations and their detrimental effects on Bonaire’s reef calls attention to the need for fishing regulations of predatory species and a heavier focus on the conservation of A. cervicornis thickets.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XI (Fall 2012)19: 83-87 from CIEE Bonaire.

A coral is made up of key associations between endosymbiotic zooxanthellae, protists, bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. These microbe-coral interactions can be very beneficial, some associations providing key functions in reproduction, nutrition, and antimicrobial protection. However, as a coral becomes thermally stressed, the ability to regulate microbe growth in its surface mucus layer becomes diminished and opportunistic pathogens are able to colonize. Corals may be able to adapt for the changing reef ecosystem by selecting for more beneficial associations: one of the facets of the coral probiotic hypothesis. The invasive azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea coccinea is able to colonize very shallow, hot and turbid areas that are not favorable for settlement by other species. However, not much is known about T. coccinea other than its invasive nature in the Caribbean. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the surface microbial communities of T. coccinea are one of the factors aiding its survival. Culturing on Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salt plates was used to visualize and compare the overall culturable Vibrio spp. communities present in T. coccinea and other widespread shallow corals. At each site, the numbers of Vibrio spp. were not significantly different between the three species, but numbers of a gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus spp., were found to be significantly higher in T. coccinea.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XII (Fall 2012)19: 73-79 from CIEE Bonaire.

The study of introduced species has gained popularity in recent years. A species introduced to a new area can have negative effects on the native ecosystems, as well as positive interactions with local fauna. The success of an exotic species depends on many factors. Those that are most successful at expanding possess mechanisms of reproduction, settlement, and distribution that aid in competing for space and resources. Tubastraea coccinea, also known as orange cup coral, is native to the Indo-Pacific and was introduced in Bonaire in the 1940s. Little is known about the effects T. coccinea has on the local marine community. It has a very opportunistic nature and has become a dominant scleractinian coral in the subtidal zones occupying shallow, heavy surged waters. T. coccinea is an azooxanthellate coral, which explains its ability to occupy habitats not desirable by other corals requiring sufficient nutrients and sunlight for photosynthesis. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the distribution and abundance of T. coccinea along various sites in Bonaire and observe its habitat preferences. Six sites in Kralendijk, Bonaire were surveyed by snorkelers, who counted various sized colonies and substratum occupancy. T. coccinea was found at all six surveyed sites, being most abundant at sites with very shallow shores and heavy surge. It preferred man-made pilings underneath docks as its habitat. This confirms that T. coccinea is established in Bonaire. By observing the distribution and preferences, the successful nature of T. coccinea throughout the Caribbean can be better understood.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XIII (Spring 2013)19: 10-16 from CIEE Bonaire.

Corals are the building blocks of coral reefs as they provide countless marine organisms with protection and habitat. However, coral diseases are currently threatening coastal environments by causing tissue loss and, in some cases, death of corals. This destroys the habitats utilized by marine organisms and the biodiversity of given areas. Many factors contribute to the prevalence of coral diseases, but very little is known about the overall impact of anthropogenic stressors on diseases. Dark spots disease (DSD) is a common coral disease found in the Caribbean and was the subject of this study. Dark spots disease prevalence and severity was quantified utilizing video transects and a severity index approximately one kilometer north of downtown Kralendijk on the west coast of Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean. This data was then analyzed for any trends with regards to spatial location and depth. It was observed that DSD is typically more common and severe at deeper depths of 15 m than at shallower depths of 8 m, although no trends were observed in regards to spatial location and DSD distribution. Gaining a better understanding of DSD distribution paves the way for future studies to potentially understand causative agents of DSD; therefore, allowing for more preventative measures and mitigation processes to conserve the health of coral reefs.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XV (Spring 2014)19: 79-85 from CIEE Bonaire.

Environmental changes and deterioration have increased coral disease outbreaks, creating a Caribbean hot spot of high disease prevalence and virulence. Dark spots disease (DSD) has an unknown causative agent, although it is suspected to be a result of a biotic pathogen. Variation with anthropogenic stressors and DSD has been limited in research; therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between DSD prevalence and nutrient enrichment, in the form of nitrogen concentration. It was hypothesized that DSD prevalence and nitrogen concentration would be highest at shallower depths and that there would be a positive correlation between DSD prevalence and nitrogen concentration. In Kralendijk, Bonaire, sites were surveyed for DSD to calculate the prevalence and water samples were collected to determine the concentration of nitrogen. The results indicated no significant effect of depth and site on DSD prevalence as well as no significant effect of depth on nitrogen concentration. There was a significant effect of site on nutrient concentration as indicated by the significantly higher nitrogen concentration. The pooled data illustrated a weak positive relationship and correlation between DSD prevalence and nitrogen concentration with insignificant results, but one site illustrated a moderately strong positive relationship and correlation with statistical significance. The significant results at that site suggest some correlation between DSD prevalence and nitrogen concentration which requires further investigation ex situ to establish a stronger correlation or possible causation.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XV (Spring 2014)19: 36-44 from CIEE Bonaire.

Diseases, pathogens, and parasites in marine ecosystems are difficult to research and understand. Tracking the health of ecosystems, such as tropical coral reefs, is important for protecting these sensitive ecological areas. On the coral reefs surrounding Bonaire and other Caribbean islands, a dark spot ailment has been observed on ocean surgeonfish, Acanthurus tractus. This condition has been found to be a parasite, although its exact taxonomic identity is still unknown. The study of this parasite has become the point of interest for many researchers because dark spots have now been observed on other herbivorous fish in this region. The current frequency of the parasite on ocean surgeonfish and other species of surgeonfish is not known. These herbivorous fish are crucial to a healthy and sustainable coral reef ecosystem; a large change to the health of the population of these fishes could potentially affect the entire system. The purpose of this research was to find the prevalence of this parasite in species of surgeonfish through repetitive transects of counting infected individuals on the reefs of Bonaire. Additionally, collection and excision of parasites from their hosts allowed for a hypothesized genus of the infecting organism. The proportion of the density of ocean surgeonfish infected with this black spot causing parasite was 63% and it was found that the proportion of density for the degree of infection for ocean surgeonfish differed significantly among the population. Furthermore, through individual samplings of ocean surgeonfish, the lowest possible taxonomic description of this parasite was found to be the genus Paravortex.

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XVII (Spring 2015)19: 1-9 from CIEE Bonaire.

Coral reef environments exhibit numerous ecological interactions between different organisms. The habitat structure of a healthy coral reef is composed of many different coral species, with various fish species inhabiting the reef. Coral reef studies often focus on a large spatial scale rather than smaller local scale environments within the reef. The objective of this study was to compare fish populations associated with the microhabitat surrounding individual coral heads of two different species. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in fish abundance, fish species richness, and fish diversity between two massive stony corals, Diploria strigosa and Orbicella annularis. These two corals are common on many Caribbean reefs but are morphologically different; therefore, it was hypothesized that they would show differences between their associated fish assemblages. By conducting fish count observations on both D. strigosa and O. annularis, I was able to compare means between the coral associated fish populations using statistical tests. No statistically significant differences were found between these two coral species for mean fish abundance, species richness, or diversity. One possible explanation is that the larger scale reef environment and processes may have a significant effect on local fish populations found on individual coral heads. By studying the microhabitats of coral species and the associated fish assemblages, we can gain a better understanding of fish population dynamics of coral reefs across larger ecological scales—both regionally and globally

This student research was retrieved from Physis: Journal of Marine Science XVIII (Fall 2015)19: 61-69 from CIEE Bonaire.