Search Results - (Author, Cooperation:J. M. Pandolfi)

2011-07-23

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

0036-8075

1095-9203

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Computer Science

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Forecasting ; *Global Warming ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Symbiosis

2011-11-05

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

0036-8075

1095-9203

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Computer Science

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Biodiversity ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Oceans and Seas ; Seasons

2015-05-02

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

0036-8075

1095-9203

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Computer Science

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Animals ; *Aquatic Organisms ; *Biodiversity ; *Climate Change ; *Extinction, Biological ; Fossils ; *Human Activities ; Humans ; *Oceans and Seas ; Paleontology ; Risk

2014-04-20

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

0036-8075

1095-9203

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Computer Science

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Animals ; *Biodiversity ; *Birds ; *Ecosystem ; *Fishes ; *Invertebrates ; *Mammals ; *Plants

2014-02-11

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

0028-0836

1476-4687

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

*Animal Migration ; Animals ; Australia ; Biodiversity ; *Climate ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; *Geographic Mapping ; *Geography ; Models, Theoretical ; Population Dynamics ; Seawater ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Uncertainty

2015-02-06

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

0028-0836

1476-4687

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/*physiology ; *Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem

2018-01-05

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

0036-8075

1095-9203

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Geosciences

Computer Science

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Ecology, Geochemistry, Geophysics

1432-0975

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Geosciences

Abstract.  A field experiment was conducted to determine whether in situ mass mortality of Acanthaster planci sub-sequent to a simulated outbreak would leave a recognizable signature in surficial reef sediments. Constituentparticle analyses comparing sediments that received starfish carcasses to those that did not revealed that, after a four year interval, the mass mortality was reflected by elevated abundances of starfish ossicles in 1 – 2 mm and 2 – 4 mm size classes, but not in 〉 4 mm and 0.5 – 1 mmsize classes. Additional field study of starfish taphonomy revealed that the abundance of starfish ossicles in surficial sediments decreases through two orders of magnitude between two weeks and four years post-mortem, while tumbling experiments suggest that the size distribution of starfish ossicles is modified by physical processes: the 〈0.5 mm size classes increases at the expense of the 〉 4 mm class. Taphonomic biasing increased the abund-ance of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) skeletal elements in the 0.5-1 mm size fraction, while the 1 – 2 mm size and 2 – 4 mm fractions produced the most reliable signature of starfish mass mortality based on element abundance. Our results demonstrate the importance of taphonomic processes in altering the original size frequency distribution of the COTS skeleton and their potential for biasing predictions of past population levels derived from constituent particle analyses of surficial reef sediments.

Electronic Resource

1432-0975

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Geosciences

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to determine whether in situ mass mortality of Acanthaster planci subsequent to a simulated outbreak would leave a recognizable signature in surficial reef sediments. Constituent particle analyses comparing sediments that received starfish carcasses to those that did not revealed that, after a four year interval, the mass mortality was reflected by elevated abundances of starfish ossicles in 1–2 mm and 2–4 mm size classes, but not in 〉4 mm and 0.5–1 mm size classes. Additional field study of starfish taphonomy revealed that the abundance of starfish ossicles in surficial sediments decreases through two orders of magnitude between two weeks and four years post-mortem, while tumbling experiments suggest that the size distribution of starfish ossicles is modified by physical processes: the 〈0.5 mm size classes increases at the expense of the 〉4 mm class. Taphonomic biasing increased the abundance of crown-of-thorms starfish (COTS) skeletal elements in the 0.5–1 mm size fraction, while the 1–2 mm size and 2–4 mm fractions produced the most reliable signature of starfish mass mortality based on element abundance. Our results demonstrate the importance of taphonomic processes in altering the original size frequency distribution of the COTS skeleton and their potential for biasing predictions of past population levels derived from constituent particle analyses of surficial reef sediments.

Electronic Resource

1432-0975

Key words Acropora cervicornis ; Shifting baseline syndrome ; Pleistocene fossil coral reef assemblages

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Geosciences

Abstract  In recent years, marine scientists have become increasingly alarmed over the decline of live coral cover throughout the Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic region. The Holocene and Pleistocene fossil record of coral reefs from this region potentially provides a wealth of long-term ecologic information with which to assess the historical record of changes in shallow water coral reef communities. Before fossil data can be applied to the modern reef system, critical problems involving fossil preservation must be addressed. Moreover, it must be demonstrated that the classic reef coral zonation patterns described in the early days of coral reef ecology, and upon which “healthy” versus “unhealthy” reefs are determined, are themselves representative of reefs that existed prior to any human influence. To address these issues, we have conducted systematic censuses of life and death assemblages on modern “healthy” patch reefs in the Florida reef tract that conform to the classic Caribbean model of reef coral zonation, and a patch reef in the Bahamas that is currently undergoing a transition in coral dominance that is part of a greater Caribbean-wide phenomenon. Results were compared to censuses of ancient reef assemblages preserved in Pleistocene limestones in close proximity to each modern reef. We have determined that the Pleistocene fossil record of coral reefs may be used to calibrate an ecological baseline with which to compare modern reef assemblages, and suggest that the current and rapid decline of Acropora cervicornis observed on a Bahamian patch reef may be a unique event that contrasts with the long-term persistence of this taxon during Pleistocene and Holocene time.

Electronic Resource

1432-0975

Key words Reef corals ; Coral reefs ; Constituent grain analysis ; Paleoecology ; Quaternary ; Community ecology

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Geosciences

Abstract  We investigated the degree to which component grains vary with depositional environment in sediments from three reef habitats from the Pleistocene (125 ka) Hato Unit of the Lower Terrace, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles: windward reef crest, windward back reef, and leeward reef crest. The windward reef crest sediment is the most distinctive, dominated by fragments of encrusting and branching coralline red algae, coral fragments and the encrusting foraminiferan Carpenteria sp. Windward back reef and leeward reef crest sediments are more similar compositionally, only showing significant differences in relative abundance of coral fragments and Homotrema rubrum. Although lacking high taxonomic resolution and subject to modification by transport, relative abundance of constituent grain types offers a way of assessing ancient skeletal reef community composition, and one which is not limited to a single taxonomic group. The strong correlation between grain type and environment we found in the Pleistocene of Curaçao suggests that constituent grain analysis may be an effective tool in delineating Pleistocene Caribbean reef environments. However, it will not be a sufficient indicator where communities vary significantly within reef environments or where evolutionary and/or biogeographical processes lead to different relationships between community composition and reef environment. Detailed interpretation of geological, biological, and physical characteristics of the Pleistocene reefs of Curaçao reveals that the abundance of the single coral species, Acropora palmata, is not a good predictor of the ecological structure of the ancient reef coral communities. This coral was the predominant species in two of the three reef habitats (windward and leeward reef crest), but the taxonomic composition (based on species relative abundance data) of the reef coral communities was substantially different in these two environments. We conclude that qualitative estimates of coral distribution patterns (presence of a key coral species or the use of a distinctive coral skeletal architecture), when used as a component in a multi-component analysis of ancient reef environments, probably introduces minimal circular reasoning into quantitative paleoecological studies of reef coral community structure.

Electronic Resource