Andrew Carroll - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Andrew Carroll
Coral Reefs, 2011
Extensive coral bleaching on the world's southernmost coral reef at Lord Howe Island, Australia T... more Extensive coral bleaching on the world's southernmost coral reef at Lord Howe Island, Australia The world's southernmost fringing coral reef and extensive high-latitude coral and reef assemblages occur at Lord Howe Island (LHI) (31°33¢S, 159°05¢E) (Harriott et al. 1995). More than 80 scleractinian species have been recorded from LHI reefs, and these corals dominate much of the reef benthos (Harriott et al. 1995; Harrison 2008). The first widespread coral bleaching event recorded at LHI occurred during the 1998 austral summer season when sea temperatures increased above 27°C (P. Harrison pers. obs.), but the bleaching had limited detectable impact on coral cover. During the 2010 summer season, sea temperatures around LHI were abnormally high and exceeded 28°C (~2-3°C above normal summer maximum), with an accumulated thermal stress of more than 19 degree heating weeks (http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov). This thermal stress coincided with calm seas and high light penetration, resulting in the most extensive and severe coral bleaching event recorded at LHI to date (Fig. 1). Bleached and partially bleached coral cover exceeded 90% at Sylph's Hole and Comet's Hole in the lagoon during March 2010, with less extensive and patchy bleaching at other reef sites around LHI. Pocilloporid corals (Stylophora, Pocillopora and Seriatopora) and Montipora spp. bleached more extensively than other corals, with some Porites, Isopora and other acroporid and faviid colonies, and host sea anemones, observed with substantial or partial pigmentation loss at some sites. Some bleaching-related coral mortality was evident during March 2010, with up to 25% of corals at Comet's Hole having partial or complete bleaching-induced mortality. Rising sea temperatures are predicted to induce more frequent coral bleaching events in future, leading to range shifts in reef corals to higher-latitude regions (Greenstein and Pandolfi 2008). However, this severe coral bleaching event at LHI demonstrates that even the highest latitude coral reef assemblages are also susceptible to bleaching stressors, which could limit future reef development and predicted range shifts to higher latitudes. Isolated reefs such as those at LHI, which lie more than 1,000 km south of the Great Barrier Reef, are likely to be slower to recover from severe disturbances due to their geographic and genetic isolation from other reefs that could potentially supply allochthonous coral larvae for recruitment (Harrison 2008).
Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate h... more Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate high latitude reefs along the eastern seaboard of Australia. The main aims of this study were to: (i) monitor coral health and spatial patterns of coral bleaching response at the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) and Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP), to determine variability of bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa; (ii) predict coral bleaching thresholds at 30 °S and 31.5 °S, extrapolated from published bleaching threshold data; and (iii) propose a subtropical northern New South Wales coral bleaching model from biological and physical data. Between 2005 and 2007 minor bleaching was observed in dominant coral families including Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Dendrophylliidae in the SIMP and Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Acroporidae (Isopora and Montipora spp.) in the LHIMP, with a clear difference in bleaching susceptibility found between sites, both within and between locations. Bleaching susceptibility was highest in Porites spp. at the most offshore island site within the SIMP during summer 2005. Patterns of subtropical family bleaching susceptibility within the SIMP and LHIMP differed to those previously reported for the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These differences may be due to a number of factors, including temperature history and/or the coral hosts association with different zooxanthellae clades, which may have lower thermal tolerances. An analysis of published estimates of coral bleaching thresholds from the Caribbean, South Africa, GBR and central and northern Pacific regions suggests that the bleaching threshold at 30-31.5 °S ranges between 26.5-26.8 °C. This predicted threshold was confirmed by an extensive coral
Mortality of newly settled individuals is a key factor in shaping adult population size and distr... more Mortality of newly settled individuals is a key factor in shaping adult population size and distribution of many marine invertebrates. Despite this recognized importance, few studies have addressed early post-settlement mortality rates and causes in reef-building corals. To investigate the effects of exclusion of macro-predators and grazers on mortality of Acropora striata (Verrill) recruits, a caging experiment was completed at Moorea, French Polynesia. More than half of the recruits died within 7 days in the field, and although the exclusion of macro-predators and grazers did not significantly reduce nor enhance mortality, it certainly altered their cause. In the presence of macro-predators and grazers, coral recruits faced significant predation-induced mortality (50.0% of dead recruits presented a heavily damaged or missing skeleton). Conversely, in the absence of macro-predators and grazers, dead recruits were mainly intact (91.7%), and most likely suffered from competition with turf algae and associated sediment trapping. These results underline complex interacting effects of predation, competition with turf algae, and sedimentation on coral early postsettlement mortality. Keywords Post-settlement Á Acropora striata Á Recruits Á Predation Á Moorea, French Polynesia For many benthic organisms, the first days or weeks following settlement are characterized by very high rates of mortality (Gosselin & Qian, 1997). This drastic bottleneck has profound implications on population structure, dynamics, and capacity for recovery after disturbance (Gosselin & Qian, 1997; Hunt & Scheibling, 1997; Arthur et al., 2006). Scleractinian corals are the dominant reef-building organisms in coral reefs. They are responsible for Handling editor: I.A. Nagelkerken
Marine and Freshwater Research
Subtropical reefs are predicted to be dynamic areas of change under increased warming of global s... more Subtropical reefs are predicted to be dynamic areas of change under increased warming of global sea-surface temperature. A critical knowledge gap exists for deeper, mesophotic corals in these higher-latitude settings, where little is known about their spatial and depth distributions. At the latitudinal limits of coral-reef growth in the Pacific Ocean, abundant mesophotic corals were revealed on the shelf surrounding the subtropical, mid-ocean island of Balls Pyramid, which is a World Heritage-listed and marine park-protected area. Our study extended these findings to the nearby Lord Howe Island shelf to assess mesophotic coral cover and explore spatial patterns in mesophotic benthic communities. Underwater towed-video data collected around Lord Howe Island (24 sites) were combined with existing benthic data from the Balls Pyramid shelf. Results showed that similar habitats occur across both shelves, with communities varying among inner-, mid- and outer-shelf zones. Corals were most ...
Diversity, 2011
Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate h... more Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate high latitude reefs along the eastern seaboard of Australia. The main aims of this study were to: (i) monitor coral health and spatial patterns of coral bleaching response at the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) and Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP), to determine variability of bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa; (ii) predict coral bleaching thresholds at 30 °S and 31.5 °S, extrapolated from published bleaching threshold data; and (iii) propose a subtropical northern New South Wales coral bleaching model from biological and physical data. Between 2005 and 2007 minor bleaching was observed in dominant coral families including Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Dendrophylliidae in the SIMP and Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Acroporidae (Isopora and Montipora spp.) in the LHIMP, with a clear difference in bleaching susceptibility found between sites, both within and between locations. Bleaching susceptibility was highest in Porites spp. at the most offshore island site within the SIMP during summer 2005. Patterns of subtropical family bleaching susceptibility within the SIMP and LHIMP differed to those previously reported for the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These differences may be due to a number of factors, including temperature history and/or the coral hosts association with different zooxanthellae clades, which may have lower thermal tolerances. An analysis of published estimates of coral bleaching thresholds from the Caribbean, South Africa, GBR and central and northern Pacific regions suggests that the bleaching threshold at 30-31.5 °S ranges between 26.5-26.8 °C. This predicted threshold was confirmed by an extensive coral
Science of The Total Environment
Ocean & Coastal Management
Marine pollution bulletin, Jan 30, 2017
Marine seismic surveys are an important tool to map geology beneath the seafloor and manage petro... more Marine seismic surveys are an important tool to map geology beneath the seafloor and manage petroleum resources, but they are also a source of underwater noise pollution. A mass mortality of scallops in the Bass Strait, Australia occurred a few months after a marine seismic survey in 2010, and fishing groups were concerned about the potential relationship between the two events. The current study used three field-based methods to investigate the potential impact of marine seismic surveys on scallops in the region: 1) dredging and 2) deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) were undertaken to examine the potential response of two species of scallops (Pecten fumatus, Mimachlamys asperrima) before, two months after, and ten months after a 2015 marine seismic survey; and 3) MODIS satellite data revealed patterns of sea surface temperatures from 2006-2016. Results from the dredging and AUV components show no evidence of scallop mortality attributable to the seismic survey, alt...
Continental Shelf Research, 2016
Balls Pyramid is a volcanic monolith rising 552 m from the Tasman Sea, 24 km southeast of the Pac... more Balls Pyramid is a volcanic monolith rising 552 m from the Tasman Sea, 24 km southeast of the Pacific Ocean's southernmost modern coral reef at Lord Howe Island. High resolution seabed mapping of the shelf surrounding Balls Pyramid has revealed an extensive submerged reef structure in 30-50 m water depth, covering an area of 87 km 2 . Benthic community composition analysis of high-resolution still images revealed abundant scleractinian corals on the submerged reef, extending to a maximum depth of 94 m. Scleractinian coral occurred predominantly in 30-40 m depth where it comprised 13.3% of benthic cover within this depth range. Average scleractinian coral cover for all transects was 6.7±12.2%, with the highest average transect cover of 19.4±14.3% and up to 84% cover recorded for an individual still image. The remaining substrate comprised mixed benthos with veneers of carbonate sand. Benthic data were shown to significantly relate to the underlying geomorphology. BVSTEP analyses identified depth and backscatter as the strongest correlating explanatory variables driving benthic community structure. The prevalence of scleractinian corals on the submerged reef features at Balls Pyramid, and the mesophotic depths to which these corals extend, demonstrates the important role of this subtropical island shelf as habitat for modern coral communities in the southwest Pacific Ocean. As Balls Pyramid is located beyond the known latitudinal limit of coral reef formation, these findings have important implications for potential coral reef range expansion and deep reef refugia under a changing climate.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
We investigated the spatial distribution of adult and juvenile coral assemblages in the southwest... more We investigated the spatial distribution of adult and juvenile coral assemblages in the southwestern lagoon of New Caledonia, from disturbed fringing reefs within bays, to oceanic barrier reefs. Generic richness, abundance, and percent cover were highly variable at this scale, but no clear cross-shelf gradient was found. Rather, community composition was more related to reef biotopes. Correlations and canonical correspondence analyses revealed that composition and abundance of coral assemblages were related to substrate types (cover of turf algae and cover of encrusting coralline algae), but not to water quality or metal concentrations in sediments. We found a strong relationship between juvenile and adult distribution for all dominant genera, which suggests that recruitment processes are also a major factor structuring these populations. The densities of juveniles and their proportion in the coral assemblages were relatively low, which implies that replenishment capacities and potential for recovery are probably limited for these reefs.
The ISME journal, Nov 19, 2016
Reef-building corals possess a range of acclimatisation and adaptation mechanisms to respond to s... more Reef-building corals possess a range of acclimatisation and adaptation mechanisms to respond to seawater temperature increases. In some corals, thermal tolerance increases through community composition changes of their dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodinium spp.), but this mechanism is believed to be limited to the Symbiodinium types already present in the coral tissue acquired during early life stages. Compelling evidence for symbiont switching, that is, the acquisition of novel Symbiodinium types from the environment, by adult coral colonies, is currently lacking. Using deep sequencing analysis of Symbiodinium rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) PCR amplicons from two pocilloporid coral species, we show evidence consistent with de novo acquisition of Symbiodinium types from the environment by adult corals following two consecutive bleaching events. Most of these newly detected symbionts remained in the rare biosphere (background types occurring below 1% relative abundanc...
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
Background / Purpose: Understanding the distribution and abundance of sponges and their associate... more Background / Purpose: Understanding the distribution and abundance of sponges and their associated benthic habitats is of paramount importance for the management and monitoring of the marine estate, especially marine reserves, due largely to the role of many sponges as habitat providers for other biota. Here we present three case studies to showcase how underwater imagery has been used in relation to sponges. Main conclusion: This research demonstrates the importance of integrating biological and physical data to provide unique and meaningful maps of predicted distributions and habitat suitability for key ecological benthic habitats. As one of the major groups of habitat-forming fauna in many regions, sponges are an ideal biological parameter to be considered in broadscale habitat mapping and classification.
International Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia 13-16 September 2015, 2015
Coral Reefs, 2011
Extensive coral bleaching on the world's southernmost coral reef at Lord Howe Island, Australia T... more Extensive coral bleaching on the world's southernmost coral reef at Lord Howe Island, Australia The world's southernmost fringing coral reef and extensive high-latitude coral and reef assemblages occur at Lord Howe Island (LHI) (31°33¢S, 159°05¢E) (Harriott et al. 1995). More than 80 scleractinian species have been recorded from LHI reefs, and these corals dominate much of the reef benthos (Harriott et al. 1995; Harrison 2008). The first widespread coral bleaching event recorded at LHI occurred during the 1998 austral summer season when sea temperatures increased above 27°C (P. Harrison pers. obs.), but the bleaching had limited detectable impact on coral cover. During the 2010 summer season, sea temperatures around LHI were abnormally high and exceeded 28°C (~2-3°C above normal summer maximum), with an accumulated thermal stress of more than 19 degree heating weeks (http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov). This thermal stress coincided with calm seas and high light penetration, resulting in the most extensive and severe coral bleaching event recorded at LHI to date (Fig. 1). Bleached and partially bleached coral cover exceeded 90% at Sylph's Hole and Comet's Hole in the lagoon during March 2010, with less extensive and patchy bleaching at other reef sites around LHI. Pocilloporid corals (Stylophora, Pocillopora and Seriatopora) and Montipora spp. bleached more extensively than other corals, with some Porites, Isopora and other acroporid and faviid colonies, and host sea anemones, observed with substantial or partial pigmentation loss at some sites. Some bleaching-related coral mortality was evident during March 2010, with up to 25% of corals at Comet's Hole having partial or complete bleaching-induced mortality. Rising sea temperatures are predicted to induce more frequent coral bleaching events in future, leading to range shifts in reef corals to higher-latitude regions (Greenstein and Pandolfi 2008). However, this severe coral bleaching event at LHI demonstrates that even the highest latitude coral reef assemblages are also susceptible to bleaching stressors, which could limit future reef development and predicted range shifts to higher latitudes. Isolated reefs such as those at LHI, which lie more than 1,000 km south of the Great Barrier Reef, are likely to be slower to recover from severe disturbances due to their geographic and genetic isolation from other reefs that could potentially supply allochthonous coral larvae for recruitment (Harrison 2008).
Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate h... more Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate high latitude reefs along the eastern seaboard of Australia. The main aims of this study were to: (i) monitor coral health and spatial patterns of coral bleaching response at the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) and Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP), to determine variability of bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa; (ii) predict coral bleaching thresholds at 30 °S and 31.5 °S, extrapolated from published bleaching threshold data; and (iii) propose a subtropical northern New South Wales coral bleaching model from biological and physical data. Between 2005 and 2007 minor bleaching was observed in dominant coral families including Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Dendrophylliidae in the SIMP and Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Acroporidae (Isopora and Montipora spp.) in the LHIMP, with a clear difference in bleaching susceptibility found between sites, both within and between locations. Bleaching susceptibility was highest in Porites spp. at the most offshore island site within the SIMP during summer 2005. Patterns of subtropical family bleaching susceptibility within the SIMP and LHIMP differed to those previously reported for the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These differences may be due to a number of factors, including temperature history and/or the coral hosts association with different zooxanthellae clades, which may have lower thermal tolerances. An analysis of published estimates of coral bleaching thresholds from the Caribbean, South Africa, GBR and central and northern Pacific regions suggests that the bleaching threshold at 30-31.5 °S ranges between 26.5-26.8 °C. This predicted threshold was confirmed by an extensive coral
Mortality of newly settled individuals is a key factor in shaping adult population size and distr... more Mortality of newly settled individuals is a key factor in shaping adult population size and distribution of many marine invertebrates. Despite this recognized importance, few studies have addressed early post-settlement mortality rates and causes in reef-building corals. To investigate the effects of exclusion of macro-predators and grazers on mortality of Acropora striata (Verrill) recruits, a caging experiment was completed at Moorea, French Polynesia. More than half of the recruits died within 7 days in the field, and although the exclusion of macro-predators and grazers did not significantly reduce nor enhance mortality, it certainly altered their cause. In the presence of macro-predators and grazers, coral recruits faced significant predation-induced mortality (50.0% of dead recruits presented a heavily damaged or missing skeleton). Conversely, in the absence of macro-predators and grazers, dead recruits were mainly intact (91.7%), and most likely suffered from competition with turf algae and associated sediment trapping. These results underline complex interacting effects of predation, competition with turf algae, and sedimentation on coral early postsettlement mortality. Keywords Post-settlement Á Acropora striata Á Recruits Á Predation Á Moorea, French Polynesia For many benthic organisms, the first days or weeks following settlement are characterized by very high rates of mortality (Gosselin & Qian, 1997). This drastic bottleneck has profound implications on population structure, dynamics, and capacity for recovery after disturbance (Gosselin & Qian, 1997; Hunt & Scheibling, 1997; Arthur et al., 2006). Scleractinian corals are the dominant reef-building organisms in coral reefs. They are responsible for Handling editor: I.A. Nagelkerken
Marine and Freshwater Research
Subtropical reefs are predicted to be dynamic areas of change under increased warming of global s... more Subtropical reefs are predicted to be dynamic areas of change under increased warming of global sea-surface temperature. A critical knowledge gap exists for deeper, mesophotic corals in these higher-latitude settings, where little is known about their spatial and depth distributions. At the latitudinal limits of coral-reef growth in the Pacific Ocean, abundant mesophotic corals were revealed on the shelf surrounding the subtropical, mid-ocean island of Balls Pyramid, which is a World Heritage-listed and marine park-protected area. Our study extended these findings to the nearby Lord Howe Island shelf to assess mesophotic coral cover and explore spatial patterns in mesophotic benthic communities. Underwater towed-video data collected around Lord Howe Island (24 sites) were combined with existing benthic data from the Balls Pyramid shelf. Results showed that similar habitats occur across both shelves, with communities varying among inner-, mid- and outer-shelf zones. Corals were most ...
Diversity, 2011
Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate h... more Limited information is available on the bleaching susceptibility of coral species that dominate high latitude reefs along the eastern seaboard of Australia. The main aims of this study were to: (i) monitor coral health and spatial patterns of coral bleaching response at the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) and Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP), to determine variability of bleaching susceptibility among coral taxa; (ii) predict coral bleaching thresholds at 30 °S and 31.5 °S, extrapolated from published bleaching threshold data; and (iii) propose a subtropical northern New South Wales coral bleaching model from biological and physical data. Between 2005 and 2007 minor bleaching was observed in dominant coral families including Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Dendrophylliidae in the SIMP and Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and Acroporidae (Isopora and Montipora spp.) in the LHIMP, with a clear difference in bleaching susceptibility found between sites, both within and between locations. Bleaching susceptibility was highest in Porites spp. at the most offshore island site within the SIMP during summer 2005. Patterns of subtropical family bleaching susceptibility within the SIMP and LHIMP differed to those previously reported for the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These differences may be due to a number of factors, including temperature history and/or the coral hosts association with different zooxanthellae clades, which may have lower thermal tolerances. An analysis of published estimates of coral bleaching thresholds from the Caribbean, South Africa, GBR and central and northern Pacific regions suggests that the bleaching threshold at 30-31.5 °S ranges between 26.5-26.8 °C. This predicted threshold was confirmed by an extensive coral
Science of The Total Environment
Ocean & Coastal Management
Marine pollution bulletin, Jan 30, 2017
Marine seismic surveys are an important tool to map geology beneath the seafloor and manage petro... more Marine seismic surveys are an important tool to map geology beneath the seafloor and manage petroleum resources, but they are also a source of underwater noise pollution. A mass mortality of scallops in the Bass Strait, Australia occurred a few months after a marine seismic survey in 2010, and fishing groups were concerned about the potential relationship between the two events. The current study used three field-based methods to investigate the potential impact of marine seismic surveys on scallops in the region: 1) dredging and 2) deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) were undertaken to examine the potential response of two species of scallops (Pecten fumatus, Mimachlamys asperrima) before, two months after, and ten months after a 2015 marine seismic survey; and 3) MODIS satellite data revealed patterns of sea surface temperatures from 2006-2016. Results from the dredging and AUV components show no evidence of scallop mortality attributable to the seismic survey, alt...
Continental Shelf Research, 2016
Balls Pyramid is a volcanic monolith rising 552 m from the Tasman Sea, 24 km southeast of the Pac... more Balls Pyramid is a volcanic monolith rising 552 m from the Tasman Sea, 24 km southeast of the Pacific Ocean's southernmost modern coral reef at Lord Howe Island. High resolution seabed mapping of the shelf surrounding Balls Pyramid has revealed an extensive submerged reef structure in 30-50 m water depth, covering an area of 87 km 2 . Benthic community composition analysis of high-resolution still images revealed abundant scleractinian corals on the submerged reef, extending to a maximum depth of 94 m. Scleractinian coral occurred predominantly in 30-40 m depth where it comprised 13.3% of benthic cover within this depth range. Average scleractinian coral cover for all transects was 6.7±12.2%, with the highest average transect cover of 19.4±14.3% and up to 84% cover recorded for an individual still image. The remaining substrate comprised mixed benthos with veneers of carbonate sand. Benthic data were shown to significantly relate to the underlying geomorphology. BVSTEP analyses identified depth and backscatter as the strongest correlating explanatory variables driving benthic community structure. The prevalence of scleractinian corals on the submerged reef features at Balls Pyramid, and the mesophotic depths to which these corals extend, demonstrates the important role of this subtropical island shelf as habitat for modern coral communities in the southwest Pacific Ocean. As Balls Pyramid is located beyond the known latitudinal limit of coral reef formation, these findings have important implications for potential coral reef range expansion and deep reef refugia under a changing climate.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
We investigated the spatial distribution of adult and juvenile coral assemblages in the southwest... more We investigated the spatial distribution of adult and juvenile coral assemblages in the southwestern lagoon of New Caledonia, from disturbed fringing reefs within bays, to oceanic barrier reefs. Generic richness, abundance, and percent cover were highly variable at this scale, but no clear cross-shelf gradient was found. Rather, community composition was more related to reef biotopes. Correlations and canonical correspondence analyses revealed that composition and abundance of coral assemblages were related to substrate types (cover of turf algae and cover of encrusting coralline algae), but not to water quality or metal concentrations in sediments. We found a strong relationship between juvenile and adult distribution for all dominant genera, which suggests that recruitment processes are also a major factor structuring these populations. The densities of juveniles and their proportion in the coral assemblages were relatively low, which implies that replenishment capacities and potential for recovery are probably limited for these reefs.
The ISME journal, Nov 19, 2016
Reef-building corals possess a range of acclimatisation and adaptation mechanisms to respond to s... more Reef-building corals possess a range of acclimatisation and adaptation mechanisms to respond to seawater temperature increases. In some corals, thermal tolerance increases through community composition changes of their dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodinium spp.), but this mechanism is believed to be limited to the Symbiodinium types already present in the coral tissue acquired during early life stages. Compelling evidence for symbiont switching, that is, the acquisition of novel Symbiodinium types from the environment, by adult coral colonies, is currently lacking. Using deep sequencing analysis of Symbiodinium rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) PCR amplicons from two pocilloporid coral species, we show evidence consistent with de novo acquisition of Symbiodinium types from the environment by adult corals following two consecutive bleaching events. Most of these newly detected symbionts remained in the rare biosphere (background types occurring below 1% relative abundanc...
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
Background / Purpose: Understanding the distribution and abundance of sponges and their associate... more Background / Purpose: Understanding the distribution and abundance of sponges and their associated benthic habitats is of paramount importance for the management and monitoring of the marine estate, especially marine reserves, due largely to the role of many sponges as habitat providers for other biota. Here we present three case studies to showcase how underwater imagery has been used in relation to sponges. Main conclusion: This research demonstrates the importance of integrating biological and physical data to provide unique and meaningful maps of predicted distributions and habitat suitability for key ecological benthic habitats. As one of the major groups of habitat-forming fauna in many regions, sponges are an ideal biological parameter to be considered in broadscale habitat mapping and classification.
International Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia 13-16 September 2015, 2015