Table of Contents

• Coverage
• Dataset Description
  • Methods & Sampling
  • Data Processing Description
• Data Files
• Related Publications
• Parameters
• Instruments
• Deployments
• Project Information
• Funding

Behavioral observation data of tagged and untagged Acanthaster.

To evaluate how tagging might affect Acanthaster behavior, we conducted experiments comparing righting ability and feeding behavior of tagged and untagged Acanthaster (n = 10 individuals treatment-1) that were caged on the reef flat of Votua’s MPA. Ten individuals were each tagged by inserting five plastic tag fasteners at the base of individual arms near the oral disk, and all individuals were held in individual cages on the reef flat for the 7-day duration of this experiment. Two days were allowed for tag acclimation among the treatment group before experiments were conducted. Righting ability was assessed on days 3 and 7 post-tagging by flipping individuals onto their aboral surface and measuring the time required to right themselves onto their oral surface. This was repeated three times for each individual with a 1-minute rest interval between trials. Individuals were also offered two small fragments of the coral Montipora hispida (~8-10 cm length) on days three and five post-tagging to assess the effects of tagging on feeding behavior.To evaluate how tagging might affect Acanthaster behavior, we conducted experiments comparing righting ability and feeding behavior of tagged and untagged Acanthaster (n = 10 individuals treatment^-1) that were caged on the reef flat of Votua’s MPA. Ten individuals were each tagged by inserting five plastic tag fasteners at the base of individual arms near the oral disk, and all individuals were held in individual cages on the reef flat for the 7-day duration of this experiment. Two days were allowed for tag acclimation among the treatment group before experiments were conducted. Righting ability was assessed on days 3 and 7 post-tagging by flipping individuals onto their aboral surface and measuring the time required to right themselves onto their oral surface. This was repeated three times for each individual with a 1-minute rest interval between trials. Individuals were also offered two small fragments of the coral Montipora hispida (~8-10 cm length) on days three and five post-tagging to assess the effects of tagging on feeding behavior.

These are the raw data.

BCO-DMO Data Processing Notes:

- reformatted the column names to comply with BCO-DMO standards
- replaced spaces with underscores
- replaced "N/A" with "nd"

Extracted from the NSF award abstract:

Coral reefs are in dramatic global decline, with reefs commonly converting from species-rich and topographically-complex communities dominated by corals to species- poor and topographically-simplified communities dominated by seaweeds. These phase-shifts result in fundamental loss of ecosystem function. Despite debate about whether coral-to-algal transitions are commonly a primary cause, or simply a consequence, of coral mortality, rigorous field investigation of seaweed-coral competition has received limited attention. There is limited information on how the outcome of seaweed-coral competition varies among species or the relative importance of different competitive mechanisms in facilitating seaweed dominance. In an effort to address this topic, the PI will conduct field experiments in the tropical South Pacific (Fiji) to determine the effects of seaweeds on corals when in direct contact, which seaweeds are most damaging to corals, the role allelopathic lipids that are transferred via contact in producing these effects, the identity and surface concentrations of these metabolites, and the dynamic nature of seaweed metabolite production and coral response following contact. The herbivorous fishes most responsible for controlling allelopathic seaweeds will be identified, the roles of seaweed metabolites in allelopathy vs herbivore deterrence will be studied, and the potential for better managing and conserving critical reef herbivores so as to slow or reverse conversion of coral reef to seaweed meadows will be examined.

Preliminary results indicate that seaweeds may commonly damage corals via lipid- soluble allelochemicals. Such chemically-mediated interactions could kill or damage adult corals and produce the suppression of coral fecundity and recruitment noted by previous investigators and could precipitate positive feedback mechanisms making reef recovery increasingly unlikely as seaweed abundance increases. Chemically-mediated seaweed-coral competition may play a critical role in the degradation of present-day coral reefs. Increasing information on which seaweeds are most aggressive to corals and which herbivores best limit these seaweeds may prove useful in better managing reefs to facilitate resilience and possible recovery despite threats of global-scale stresses. Fiji is well positioned to rapidly use findings from this project for better management of reef resources because it has already erected >260 MPAs, Fijian villagers have already bought-in to the value of MPAs, and the Fiji Locally-Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) Network is well organized to get information to villagers in a culturally sensitive and useful manner.

The broader impacts of this project are far reaching. The project provides training opportunities for 2-2.5 Ph.D students and 1 undergraduate student each year in the interdisciplinary areas of marine ecology, marine conservation, and marine chemical ecology. Findings from this project will be immediately integrated into classes at Ga Tech and made available throughout Fiji via a foundation and web site that have already set-up to support marine conservation efforts in Fiji and marine education efforts both within Fiji and internationally. Business and community leaders from Atlanta (via Rotary International Service efforts) have been recruited to help organize and fund community service and outreach projects in Fiji -- several of which are likely to involve marine conservation and education based in part on these efforts there. Media outlets (National Geographic, NPR, Animal Planet, Audubon Magazine, etc.) and local Rotary clubs will be used to better disseminate these discoveries to the public.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

Rasher DB, Stout EP, Engel S, Kubanek J, and ME Hay. "Macroalgal terpenes function as allelopathic agents against reef corals", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 108, 2011, p. 17726.

Beattie AJ, ME Hay, B Magnusson, R de Nys, J Smeathers, JFV Vincent. "Ecology and bioprospecting," Austral Ecology, v.36, 2011, p. 341.

Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Seaweed allelopathy degrades the resilience and function of coral reefs," Communicative and Integrative Biology, v.3, 2010.

Hay ME, Rasher DB. "Corals in crisis," The Scientist, v.24, 2010, p. 42.

Hay ME and DB Rasher. "Coral reefs in crisis: reversing the biotic death spiral," Faculty 1000 Biology Reports 2010, v.2, 2010.

Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v.107, 2010, p. 9683.