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Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Evaluating Species At Risk In Data-Limited Fisheries: A Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis For Marine Aquarium Fish, Gabrielle A. Baillargeon, Alice A. Wynn, Jemelyn Grace P. Baldisimo, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne Jan 2026

Evaluating Species At Risk In Data-Limited Fisheries: A Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis For Marine Aquarium Fish, Gabrielle A. Baillargeon, Alice A. Wynn, Jemelyn Grace P. Baldisimo, Michael F. Tlusty, Andrew L. Rhyne

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The marine aquarium trade (MAT) is a significant global industry harvesting millions of wild-caught, live coral reef fishes for public and private aquaria markets in the United States and Europe annually, while supporting fisher livelihoods in the Indo-Pacific. This diverse and species-rich trade is considered data-limited, creating barriers to quantifying the current and future socio-ecological sustainability of the fishery. We present a revised and expanded productivity–susceptibility analysis (PSA) that serves as a holistic risk assessment to estimate the vulnerability of marine aquarium fish to overfishing. Our global analysis includes 306 species that are actively in trade. Improvements to the PSA …


Selective Nutrient Incorporation May Underestimate Heterotrophy Of A Mixotrophic Reef-Building Coral, Connor R. Love, Marleen Stuhr, Michael D. Fox, Veronica Z. Radice, Maoz Fine, Kelton W. Mcmahon, David L. Valentine Jan 2025

Selective Nutrient Incorporation May Underestimate Heterotrophy Of A Mixotrophic Reef-Building Coral, Connor R. Love, Marleen Stuhr, Michael D. Fox, Veronica Z. Radice, Maoz Fine, Kelton W. Mcmahon, David L. Valentine

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mixotrophic reef-building corals acquire nutrition via photosynthate translocation from endosymbiotic microalgae and by heterotrophic prey/particle capture. Heterotrophy promotes resistance to, and recovery from, environmental stress, but quantifying coral heterotrophy remains difficult due to complex resource exchanges within the coral holobiont. We interrogated the response of multiple biomarkers to coral heterotrophy using fatty acid profiling and stable isotope analysis of Stylophora pistillata grown along a controlled feeding gradient from pure autotrophy to pure heterotrophy. We found that fatty acids and nitrogen were effectively incorporated into both coral host and symbiont tissues, while carbon, which is the primary target for conventional heterotrophy …


Practical Solutions To The Invasion Of Lionfish In Utila, Honduras: Science, Education, Food, And Jewelry, Carolyn Corley May 2023

Practical Solutions To The Invasion Of Lionfish In Utila, Honduras: Science, Education, Food, And Jewelry, Carolyn Corley

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lionfish (Pterois sp.) are invasive species capable of devastating coral reef ecosystems due to their lack of predators, large appetites, generalist diet, high fecundity, and rapid spawning rates. As lionfish have expanded their distribution across the Caribbean, many conservation groups have taken it upon themselves to systematically remove these predators from environments where they are threatening native species. However, few have involved the community the way I observed while interning with the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center in Utila, Honduras. Protecting coral reefs is extremely important, especially in small communities like Utila, where the majority of people’s …


Levels Of Autotrophy And Heterotrophy In Mesophotic Corals Near The End Photic Zone, Amy Carmignani, Veronica Z. Radice, Kathryn M. Mcmahon, Alex I. Holman, Karen Miller, Kliti Grice, Zoe Richards Jan 2023

Levels Of Autotrophy And Heterotrophy In Mesophotic Corals Near The End Photic Zone, Amy Carmignani, Veronica Z. Radice, Kathryn M. Mcmahon, Alex I. Holman, Karen Miller, Kliti Grice, Zoe Richards

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mesophotic corals live at ~30-150 m depth and can sustain metabolic processes under light-limited conditions by enhancing autotrophy through specialized photoadaptations or increasing heterotrophic nutrient acquisition. These acclimatory processes are often species-specific, however mesophotic ecosystems are largely unexplored and acclimation limits for most species are unknown. This study examined mesophotic coral ecosystems using a remotely operated vehicle (Ashmore Reef, Western Australia at 40–75m depth) to investigate the trophic ecology of five species of scleractinian coral (from genera Leptoseris, Pachyseris, and Craterastrea) using stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) of host and symbiont tissues …


Coral Bleaching And The Effect Of Disturbances On The Damselfish Community On Lizard Island, Australia, Alejandra Munoz Jan 2017

Coral Bleaching And The Effect Of Disturbances On The Damselfish Community On Lizard Island, Australia, Alejandra Munoz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Coral reefs are characterized by their dynamic ecological processes that supports a high diversity through the recruitment of marine species and temporal disturbances that can have positive effects on the system. In the face of global climate change however, coral reefs face intense coral bleaching and increased degradation as they may begin to have less time to recover between bleaching events in the near future. Little is known on the long term effects of coral bleaching and habitat degradation on reef fish communities and much less is known about the mechanisms that bring about changes to reef fish assemblages.

This …


Fall 2014, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2014

Fall 2014, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Spring 2014, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2014

Spring 2014, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Fall 2013, Nova Southeastern University Jan 2013

Fall 2013, Nova Southeastern University

Currents

No abstract provided.


Winter 2012, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2012

Winter 2012, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Fall 2012, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2012

Fall 2012, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Summer 2011, Nova Southeastern University Jan 2011

Summer 2011, Nova Southeastern University

Currents

No abstract provided.


Spring 2011, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2011

Spring 2011, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Fall 2010, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2010

Fall 2010, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Winter 2010, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2010

Winter 2010, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Summer/Fall 2009, Nsu Oceanographic Center Aug 2009

Summer/Fall 2009, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Effect Of The Herbivorous Channel Clinging Crab (Mithrax Spinosissimus) On Patch Reef Algal Communities In The Florida Keys, Florida (Usa), Angela M. Mojica Osorio Jul 2009

Effect Of The Herbivorous Channel Clinging Crab (Mithrax Spinosissimus) On Patch Reef Algal Communities In The Florida Keys, Florida (Usa), Angela M. Mojica Osorio

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Coral reefs worldwide are undergoing dramatic habitat modification from coral to macroalgal dominance due to water pollution, coral diseases, global. warming, and the loss of herbivores. This phase-shift bas been particularly severe on Caribbean reefs due in large measure to the decline of piscine and echinoderm grazers, whose presence appears crucial for stemming the decline of coral reefs and enhancing their resilience. Virtually unknown, however, is the role of other macrograzers in coral reef ecosystems. This is the first study to examine the feeding ecology and grazer effect of the herbivorous West Indian spider crab (Mithrax spinosissimus) on inshore patch …


Spring 2009, Nsu Oceanographic Center Apr 2009

Spring 2009, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Winter 2009, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2009

Winter 2009, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Fall 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center Oct 2008

Fall 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Summer 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center Aug 2008

Summer 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Spring 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center Apr 2008

Spring 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Winter 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2008

Winter 2008, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Summer/Fall 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center Sep 2007

Summer/Fall 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Spring 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center Apr 2007

Spring 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Winter 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2007

Winter 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Fall 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center Oct 2006

Fall 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Summer 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center Aug 2006

Summer 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Spring 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center Apr 2006

Spring 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Winter 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center Jan 2006

Winter 2006, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.


Fall 2005, Nsu Oceanographic Center Oct 2005

Fall 2005, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.