Federal Register/Vol. 86, No. 4/Thursday, January 7, 2021/Notices

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Federal Register/Vol. 86, No. 4/Thursday, January 7, 2021/Notices Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2021 / Notices 1091 of an endangered species or a threatened Dated: January 4, 2021. • Email: Submit written comments to species; and/or (3) the listed entity does Angela Somma, [email protected]. not meet the statutory definition of a Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office Instructions: We may not consider species. Any change in Federal of Protected Resources, National Marine comments if they are sent by any other classification would require a separate Fisheries Service. method, to any other address or rulemaking process. [FR Doc. 2021–00031 Filed 1–6–21; 8:45 am] individual, or received after the end of BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the specified period. All comments Background information on each of received are a part of the public record the 15 species is available on the NMFS and will generally be posted for public website at: https:// DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE viewing on www.regulations.gov www.fisheries.noaa.gov/corals. without change. All personal identifying National Oceanic and Atmospheric Public Solicitation of New Information information (e.g., name, address, etc.), Administration confidential business information, or To ensure that the reviews are [RTID 0648–XA644] otherwise sensitive information complete and based on the best submitted voluntarily by the sender will available scientific and commercial Endangered and Threatened Species; be publicly accessible. We will accept information, we are soliciting new Initiation of a 5-Year Review of anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in information from the public, Staghorn Coral, Elkhorn Coral, Pillar the required fields if you wish to remain governmental agencies, Tribes, the Coral, Rough Cactus Coral, Lobed Star anonymous). scientific community, industry, Coral, Mountainous Star Coral, and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: environmental entities, and any other Boulder Star Coral Alison Moulding at the above email interested parties concerning the status AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries address or by phone at 727–551–5607. of Acropora globiceps, Acropora Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 9, jacquelineae, Acropora lokani, Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2006, we listed elkhorn coral and Acropora pharaonis, Acropora retusa, Commerce. staghorn coral as threatened under the Acropora rudis, Acropora speciosa, ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-Year ESA (71 FR 26852). On September 10, Acropora tenella, Anacropora spinosa, Review; request for information. 2014, we listed lobed star coral, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora mountainous star coral, boulder star crateriformis, Montipora australiensis, SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 5-year coral, rough cactus coral, and pillar Pavona diffluens, Porites napopora, and review of staghorn coral (Acropora coral as threatened and reaffirmed the Seriatopora aculeata. Categories of cervicornis), elkhorn coral (Acropora status of elkhorn coral and staghorn requested information include: (1) palmata), pillar coral (Dendrogyra coral as threatened (79 FR 53852). Species biology including, but not cylindrus), rough cactus coral Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires (Mycetophyllia ferox), lobed star coral limited to, population trends, that we conduct a review of listed (Orbicella annularis), mountainous star species at least once every 5 years. The distribution, abundance, demographics, coral (Orbicella faveolata), and boulder ESA’s implementing regulations at 50 and genetics; (2) habitat conditions star coral (Orbicella franksi) under the CFR 424.21 require that we publish a including, but not limited to, amount, Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). notice in the Federal Register distribution, and important features for A 5-year review is based on the best announcing those species currently conservation; (3) status and trends of scientific and commercial data available under active review. On the basis of this threats to the species and its habitats; (4) at the time of the review; therefore, we review, under section 4(c)(2)(B), we conservation measures that have been are requesting submission of any such determine whether these species should implemented that benefit the species, information on staghorn coral, elkhorn be delisted or reclassified from including, but not limited to, coral, pillar coral, rough cactus coral, endangered to threatened or from monitoring data demonstrating lobed star coral, mountainous star coral, threatened to endangered. As described effectiveness of such measures; and (5) and boulder star coral that has become in 50 CFR 424.11(e), the Secretary will other new information, data, or available since their original listings as delist a species if the Secretary finds corrections including, but not limited threatened species or the most recent that, after conducting a status review to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, status review for staghorn and elkhorn based on the best scientific and and improved analytical methods for coral in 2014. commercial data available: (1) The evaluating extinction risk. DATES: To allow us adequate time to species is extinct; (2) the species does If you wish to provide information for conduct this review, we must receive not meet the definition of an the reviews, you may submit your your information no later than March 8, endangered species or threatened species; or (3) the listed entity does not information and materials electronically 2021. However, we will continue to accept meet the statutory definition of a or via mail (see ADDRESSES section). We new information about any listed species. Changes to the listing status of request that all information be species at any time. a species can only be made following accompanied by supporting ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, publication of a proposed rule with an documentation such as maps, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2020–0147, opportunity for public comment and our bibliographic references, or reprints of by either of the following methods: consideration of the comments before pertinent publications. We also would • Electronic Submissions: Submit all making a final determination to appreciate the submitter’s name, electronic public comments via the reclassify or delist the species. address, and any association, Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Public Solicitation of New Information institution, or business that the person 1. Go to www.regulations.gov/ represents; however, anonymous document?D=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0147, To ensure that the 5-year review is submissions will also be accepted. 2. Click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete and based on the best (Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) complete the required fields, and available scientific and commercial 3. Enter or attach your comments. information, we are soliciting new VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Jan 06, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 1092 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2021 / Notices information from the public, year (FY) 2021 for the Disability RSAGrantInfo.aspx within six days after governmental agencies, Tribes, the Innovation Fund—Career Advancement the pre-application meeting. scientific community, industry, Initiative Model Demonstration Project, Deadline for Intergovernmental environmental entities, and any other Assistance Listing Number 84.421C. The Review: May 7, 2021. interested parties concerning the status Department intends to fund a multi-site ADDRESSES: For the addresses for of staghorn coral, elkhorn coral, pillar model demonstration project designed obtaining and submitting an coral, rough cactus coral, lobed star to assist State vocational rehabilitation application, please refer to our Common coral, mountainous star coral, and (VR) agencies, in partnership with other Instructions for Applicants to boulder star coral. entities, to develop career pathways Department of Education Discretionary The 5-year review considers the best focused on career advancement. This Grant Programs, published in the scientific and commercial data and all competition will help VR-eligible Federal Register on February 13, 2019 new information that has become individuals with disabilities, including (84 FR 3768) and available at available since the listing determination previously served VR participants in www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR–2019– or most recent status review. Categories employment who re-enter the VR 02–13/pdf/2019–02206.pdf. of requested information include (A) program, to advance in high-demand, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: species biology including, but not high-quality careers, such as science, Cassandra P. Shoffler, U.S. Department limited to, population trends, technology, engineering, and math of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue distribution, abundance, demographics, (STEM), including computer science, SW, Room 5065A, Potomac Center and genetics; (B) habitat conditions careers; to enter career pathways in Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–2800. including, but not limited to, amount, industry-driven sectors through pre- Telephone: (202) 245–7827. Email: distribution, and suitability; (C) apprenticeships, registered [email protected]. conservation measures that have been apprenticeships and Industry If you use a telecommunications implemented that benefit the species; Recognized Apprenticeship Program device for the deaf (TDD) or a text (D) status and trends of threats; and (E) (IRAP); to improve and maximize telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay other new information, data, or competitive
Recommended publications
  • Looe Key Mooring Buoy Service Interrupted July 15-18
    Looe Key Mooring Buoy Service Interrupted July 15-18 Help Us Preserve the Reef The survey requires the same preferred The United States Geological Survey conditions for divers: good visibility and calm (USGS) will be conducting a mission to seas (typical of summer weather) in order to capture high-resolution baseline imagery of establish a high-resolution set of baseline Looe Key reef prior to multi-million dollar images that will allow evaluation of growth of coral restoration efforts taking place under restored corals over time. the Mission: Iconic Reefs initiative. This mission requires the removal of 20 mooring The FKNMS mooring system buoys so the towed, five-camera system (SQUID-5) can safely navigate slow passes Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary USGS prepares the SQUID-5 for capturing across the entire site, similar to mowing established a mooring buoy program 40 imagery at Eastern Dry Rocks. grass on a football field. The moorings will years ago. Looe Key Sanctuary Preservation be removed on, July 14th and returned to Area features 39 of the nearly 500 first-come, service on July 19th. first-served mooring buoys throughout FKNMS. 14 mooring buoys will remain This activity is a critical part of the $100 available during the survey work. Vessels are million Mission: Iconic Reefs restoration allowed to anchor elsewhere within the program, a partnership between federal, Sanctuary Preservation Area when mooring state and conservation and nonprofit buoys are unavailable--but only on sand. organizations and our local community in one of the largest commitments to coral We are requesting that the public refrain restoration anywhere in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs (2019)
    THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS This PDF is available at http://nap.edu/25279 SHARE A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs (2019) DETAILS 258 pages | 6 x 9 | PAPERBACK ISBN 978-0-309-48535-7 | DOI 10.17226/25279 CONTRIBUTORS GET THIS BOOK Committee on Interventions to Increase the Resilience of Coral Reefs; Ocean Studies Board; Board on Life Sciences; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine FIND RELATED TITLES SUGGESTED CITATION National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2019. A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25279. Visit the National Academies Press at NAP.edu and login or register to get: – Access to free PDF downloads of thousands of scientific reports – 10% off the price of print titles – Email or social media notifications of new titles related to your interests – Special offers and discounts Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the National Academies Press. (Request Permission) Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs A RESEARCH REVIEW OF INTERVENTIONS TO INCREASE THE PERSISTENCE AND RESILIENCE OF CORAL REEFS Committee on Interventions to Increase the Resilience of Coral Reefs Ocean Studies Board Board on Life Sciences Division on Earth and Life Studies A Consensus Study Report of Copyright National Academy of Sciences.
    [Show full text]
  • Turbidity Criterion for the Protection of Coral Reef and Hardbottom Communities
    DRAFT Implementation of the Turbidity Criterion for the Protection of Coral Reef and Hardbottom Communities Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration Florida Department of Environmental Protection October 2020 Contents Section 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of Document .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background Information ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Proposed Criterion and Rule Language .............................................................................................. 2 1.4 Threatened and Endangered Species Considerations .......................................................................... 5 1.5 Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) Considerations ........................................................................... 5 1.6 Natural Factors Influencing Background Turbidity Levels ................................................................ 7 Section 2. Implementation in Permitting ..................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Permitting Information ........................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 Establishing Baseline (Pre-project) Levels ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Microbiomes of Gall-Inducing Copepod Crustaceans from the Corals Stylophora Pistillata (Scleractinia) and Gorgonia Ventalina
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Microbiomes of gall-inducing copepod crustaceans from the corals Stylophora pistillata Received: 26 February 2018 Accepted: 18 July 2018 (Scleractinia) and Gorgonia Published: xx xx xxxx ventalina (Alcyonacea) Pavel V. Shelyakin1,2, Sofya K. Garushyants1,3, Mikhail A. Nikitin4, Sofya V. Mudrova5, Michael Berumen 5, Arjen G. C. L. Speksnijder6, Bert W. Hoeksema6, Diego Fontaneto7, Mikhail S. Gelfand1,3,4,8 & Viatcheslav N. Ivanenko 6,9 Corals harbor complex and diverse microbial communities that strongly impact host ftness and resistance to diseases, but these microbes themselves can be infuenced by stresses, like those caused by the presence of macroscopic symbionts. In addition to directly infuencing the host, symbionts may transmit pathogenic microbial communities. We analyzed two coral gall-forming copepod systems by using 16S rRNA gene metagenomic sequencing: (1) the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina with copepods of the genus Sphaerippe from the Caribbean and (2) the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata with copepods of the genus Spaniomolgus from the Saudi Arabian part of the Red Sea. We show that bacterial communities in these two systems were substantially diferent with Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria more prevalent in samples from Gorgonia ventalina, and Gammaproteobacteria in Stylophora pistillata. In Stylophora pistillata, normal coral microbiomes were enriched with the common coral symbiont Endozoicomonas and some unclassifed bacteria, while copepod and gall-tissue microbiomes were highly enriched with the family ME2 (Oceanospirillales) or Rhodobacteraceae. In Gorgonia ventalina, no bacterial group had signifcantly diferent prevalence in the normal coral tissues, copepods, and injured tissues. The total microbiome composition of polyps injured by copepods was diferent.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Kitts Final Report
    ReefFix: An Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Ecosystem Services Valuation and Capacity Building Project for the Caribbean ST. KITTS AND NEVIS FIRST DRAFT REPORT JUNE 2013 PREPARED BY PATRICK I. WILLIAMS CONSULTANT CLEVERLY HILL SANDY POINT ST. KITTS PHONE: 1 (869) 765-3988 E-MAIL: [email protected] 1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. Table of Contents 3 List of Figures 6 List of Tables 6 Glossary of Terms 7 Acronyms 10 Executive Summary 12 Part 1: Situational analysis 15 1.1 Introduction 15 1.2 Physical attributes 16 1.2.1 Location 16 1.2.2 Area 16 1.2.3 Physical landscape 16 1.2.4 Coastal zone management 17 1.2.5 Vulnerability of coastal transportation system 19 1.2.6 Climate 19 1.3 Socio-economic context 20 1.3.1 Population 20 1.3.2 General economy 20 1.3.3 Poverty 22 1.4 Policy frameworks of relevance to marine resource protection and management in St. Kitts and Nevis 23 1.4.1 National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) 23 1.4.2 National Physical Development Plan (2006) 23 1.4.3 National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS) 23 1.4.4 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NABSAP) 26 1.4.5 Medium Term Economic Strategy Paper (MTESP) 26 1.5 Legislative instruments of relevance to marine protection and management in St. Kitts and Nevis 27 1.5.1 Development Control and Planning Act (DCPA), 2000 27 1.5.2 National Conservation and Environmental Protection Act (NCEPA), 1987 27 1.5.3 Public Health Act (1969) 28 1.5.4 Solid Waste Management Corporation Act (1996) 29 1.5.5 Water Courses and Water Works Ordinance (Cap.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of Fish and Invertebrates Listed in the CITES Appendices
    JOINTS NATURE \=^ CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Checklist of fish and mvertebrates Usted in the CITES appendices JNCC REPORT (SSN0963-«OStl JOINT NATURE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Report distribution Report Number: No. 238 Contract Number/JNCC project number: F7 1-12-332 Date received: 9 June 1995 Report tide: Checklist of fish and invertebrates listed in the CITES appendices Contract tide: Revised Checklists of CITES species database Contractor: World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL Comments: A further fish and invertebrate edition in the Checklist series begun by NCC in 1979, revised and brought up to date with current CITES listings Restrictions: Distribution: JNCC report collection 2 copies Nature Conservancy Council for England, HQ, Library 1 copy Scottish Natural Heritage, HQ, Library 1 copy Countryside Council for Wales, HQ, Library 1 copy A T Smail, Copyright Libraries Agent, 100 Euston Road, London, NWl 2HQ 5 copies British Library, Legal Deposit Office, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ 1 copy Chadwick-Healey Ltd, Cambridge Place, Cambridge, CB2 INR 1 copy BIOSIS UK, Garforth House, 54 Michlegate, York, YOl ILF 1 copy CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of EC Member States total 30 copies CITES Authorities, UK Dependencies total 13 copies CITES Secretariat 5 copies CITES Animals Committee chairman 1 copy European Commission DG Xl/D/2 1 copy World Conservation Monitoring Centre 20 copies TRAFFIC International 5 copies Animal Quarantine Station, Heathrow 1 copy Department of the Environment (GWD) 5 copies Foreign & Commonwealth Office (ESED) 1 copy HM Customs & Excise 3 copies M Bradley Taylor (ACPO) 1 copy ^\(\\ Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report No.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomic Checklist of CITES Listed Coral Species Part II
    CoP16 Doc. 43.1 (Rev. 1) Annex 5.2 (English only / Únicamente en inglés / Seulement en anglais) Taxonomic Checklist of CITES listed Coral Species Part II CORAL SPECIES AND SYNONYMS CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED IN THE UNEP‐WCMC DATABASE 1. Scleractinia families Family Name Accepted Name Species Author Nomenclature Reference Synonyms ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrolhosensis Veron, 1985 Veron (2000) Madrepora crassa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860; ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrotanoides (Lamarck, 1816) Veron (2000) Madrepora abrotanoides Lamarck, 1816; Acropora mangarevensis Vaughan, 1906 ACROPORIDAE Acropora aculeus (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora aculeus Dana, 1846 Madrepora acuminata Verrill, 1864; Madrepora diffusa ACROPORIDAE Acropora acuminata (Verrill, 1864) Veron (2000) Verrill, 1864; Acropora diffusa (Verrill, 1864); Madrepora nigra Brook, 1892 ACROPORIDAE Acropora akajimensis Veron, 1990 Veron (2000) Madrepora coronata Brook, 1892; Madrepora ACROPORIDAE Acropora anthocercis (Brook, 1893) Veron (2000) anthocercis Brook, 1893 ACROPORIDAE Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora aspera Dana, 1846; Acropora cribripora (Dana, 1846); Madrepora cribripora Dana, 1846; Acropora manni (Quelch, 1886); Madrepora manni ACROPORIDAE Acropora aspera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Quelch, 1886; Acropora hebes (Dana, 1846); Madrepora hebes Dana, 1846; Acropora yaeyamaensis Eguchi & Shirai, 1977 ACROPORIDAE Acropora austera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora austera Dana, 1846 ACROPORIDAE Acropora awi Wallace & Wolstenholme, 1998 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora azurea Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora batunai Wallace, 1997 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bifurcata Nemenzo, 1971 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora branchi Riegl, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora brueggemanni Brook, 1891; Isopora ACROPORIDAE Acropora brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) Veron (2000) brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bushyensis Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) Acropora fasciculare Latypov, 1992 ACROPORIDAE Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985 Veron (2000) CoP16 Doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Euphyllia Paradivisa :: Biological Information
    LISTED CORALS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC Euphyllia paradivisa :: Biological Information MORPHOLOGY Pacific Islands Region Colonies of Euphyllia paradivisa are made up of branching, separate corallites. Polyps have branching tentacles. Color is pale greenish-grey or pink (in rare instances) with lighter tentacle tips. Photos copyright: J.E.N. Veron (left), Douglas Fenner (right) REPRODUCTION Euphyllia paradivisa’s reproductive mode is not known. Other Euphyllia species display a variety of reproductive modes so it is unclear which is most probable of this species. :: Spatial Information GEOGRAPHIC RANGE Based on confrmed observations and strong predictions of occurrence in areas that have not yet been surveyed sufciently, Euphyllia paradivisa is likely distributed mostly in the Coral Triangle area (the Philippines to Timor Leste and east to the Solomon Islands). It is also confrmed to occur in American Samoa. For more information contact: NMFS Pacifc Islands Regional Offce 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 Tel: 808-725-5000 Website: www.fpir.noaa.gov U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries NOAA Fisheries | Listed Corals in the Indo-Pacific:Euphyllia paradivisa LEGEND Region with confrmed record of species occurrence Region with predicted record of species occurrence Region with published record of species occurrence that needs further investigation Region with no record of species occurrence Veron JEN, Stafford-Smith MG, Turak E and DeVantier LM (in prep.) Corals of the World www.coralsoftheworld.com OCCURRENCE IN U.S. JURISDICTIONS Euphyllia paradivisa has not yet been reported from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and the Pacifc Remote Island Areas (PRIA).
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to the Identification of Precious and Semi-Precious Corals in Commercial Trade
    'l'llA FFIC YvALE ,.._,..---...- guide to the identification of precious and semi-precious corals in commercial trade Ernest W.T. Cooper, Susan J. Torntore, Angela S.M. Leung, Tanya Shadbolt and Carolyn Dawe September 2011 © 2011 World Wildlife Fund and TRAFFIC. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-9693730-3-2 Reproduction and distribution for resale by any means photographic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems of any parts of this book, illustrations or texts is prohibited without prior written consent from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Reproduction for CITES enforcement or educational and other non-commercial purposes by CITES Authorities and the CITES Secretariat is authorized without prior written permission, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Any reproduction, in full or in part, of this publication must credit WWF and TRAFFIC North America. The views of the authors expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the TRAFFIC network, WWF, or the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The designation of geographical entities in this publication and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WWF, TRAFFIC, or IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The TRAFFIC symbol copyright and Registered Trademark ownership are held by WWF. TRAFFIC is a joint program of WWF and IUCN. Suggested citation: Cooper, E.W.T., Torntore, S.J., Leung, A.S.M, Shadbolt, T. and Dawe, C.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Structure of Pleistocene Coral Reefs of Curacë Ao, Netherlands Antilles
    Ecological Monographs, 71(1), 2001, pp. 49±67 q 2001 by the Ecological Society of America COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF PLEISTOCENE CORAL REEFS OF CURACË AO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES JOHN M. PANDOLFI1 AND JEREMY B. C. JACKSON2 Center for Tropical Paleoecology and Archeology, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 2072, Balboa, Republic of Panama Abstract. The Quaternary fossil record of living coral reefs is fundamental for un- derstanding modern ecological patterns. Living reefs generally accumulate in place, so fossil reefs record a history of their former biological inhabitants and physical environments. Reef corals record their ecological history especially well because they form large, resistant skeletons, which can be identi®ed to species. Thus, presence±absence and relative abun- dance data can be obtained with a high degree of con®dence. Moreover, potential effects of humans on reef ecology were absent or insigni®cant on most reefs until the last few hundred years, so that it is possible to analyze ``natural'' distribution patterns before intense human disturbance began. We characterized Pleistocene reef coral assemblages from CuracËao, Netherlands Antil- les, Caribbean Sea, focusing on predictability in species abundance patterns from different reef environments over broad spatial scales. Our data set is composed of .2 km of surveyed Quaternary reef. Taxonomic composition showed consistent differences between environ- ments and along secondary environmental gradients within environments. Within environ- ments, taxonomic composition of communities was markedly similar, indicating nonrandom species associations and communities composed of species occurring in characteristic abun- dances. This community similarity was maintained with little change over a 40-km distance. The nonrandom patterns in species abundances were similar to those found in the Caribbean before the effects of extensive anthropogenic degradation of reefs in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
    [Show full text]
  • Response of Fluorescence Morphs of the Mesophotic Coral Euphyllia Paradivisa to Ultra-Violet Radiation
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Response of fuorescence morphs of the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa to ultra-violet radiation Received: 23 August 2018 Or Ben-Zvi 1,2, Gal Eyal 1,2,3 & Yossi Loya 1 Accepted: 15 March 2019 Euphyllia paradivisa is a strictly mesophotic coral in the reefs of Eilat that displays a striking color Published: xx xx xxxx polymorphism, attributed to fuorescent proteins (FPs). FPs, which are used as visual markers in biomedical research, have been suggested to serve as photoprotectors or as facilitators of photosynthesis in corals due to their ability to transform light. Solar radiation that penetrates the sea includes, among others, both vital photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and ultra-violet radiation (UVR). Both types, at high intensities, are known to have negative efects on corals, ranging from cellular damage to changes in community structure. In the present study, fuorescence morphs of E. paradivisa were used to investigate UVR response in a mesophotic organism and to examine the phenomenon of fuorescence polymorphism. E. paradivisa, although able to survive in high-light environments, displayed several physiological and behavioral responses that indicated severe light and UVR stress. We suggest that high PAR and UVR are potential drivers behind the absence of this coral from shallow reefs. Moreover, we found no signifcant diferences between the diferent fuorescence morphs’ responses and no evidence of either photoprotection or photosynthesis enhancement. We therefore suggest that FPs in mesophotic corals might have a diferent biological role than that previously hypothesized for shallow corals. Te solar radiation that reaches the earth’s surface includes, among others, ultra-violet radiation (UVR; 280– 400 nm) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm).
    [Show full text]
  • Resurrecting a Subgenus to Genus: Molecular Phylogeny of Euphyllia and Fimbriaphyllia (Order Scleractinia; Family Euphylliidae; Clade V)
    Resurrecting a subgenus to genus: molecular phylogeny of Euphyllia and Fimbriaphyllia (order Scleractinia; family Euphylliidae; clade V) Katrina S. Luzon1,2,3,*, Mei-Fang Lin4,5,6,*, Ma. Carmen A. Ablan Lagman1,7, Wilfredo Roehl Y. Licuanan1,2,3 and Chaolun Allen Chen4,8,9,* 1 Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines 2 Shields Ocean Research (SHORE) Center, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines 3 The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines 4 Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 5 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia 6 Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan 7 Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research (CENSER), De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines 8 Taiwan International Graduate Program-Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 9 Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan * These authors contributed equally to this work. ABSTRACT Background. The corallum is crucial in building coral reefs and in diagnosing systematic relationships in the order Scleractinia. However, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed a paraphyly in a majority of traditional families and genera among Scleractinia showing that other biological attributes of the coral, such as polyp morphology and reproductive traits, are underutilized. Among scleractinian genera, the Euphyllia, with nine nominal species in the Indo-Pacific region, is one of the groups Submitted 30 May 2017 that await phylogenetic resolution. Multiple genetic markers were used to construct Accepted 31 October 2017 Published 4 December 2017 the phylogeny of six Euphyllia species, namely E. ancora, E. divisa, E.
    [Show full text]