The abundance of macroalgae and herbivory in some degraded reefs and coral recovery at Samui Islands
Keywords:
brown algae, reef degradation, management, diversityAbstract
Coral reefs are recognized as important ecosystems that harbor thousands of species, providing food and livelihoods for people who live near coastal areas in Thailand. Nowadays, coral reefs were degraded by several factors, especially from climate change and local anthropogenic stressors. Samui Islands are a popular tourism destination, consequently the coastal development are increased in recent years. Macroalgae are considered as a factor limiting the resilience of coral communities, by competing with coral for space and light. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the macroalgal covers from three degraded reef areas at Samui Islands. This study was conducted in March, 2020. The coverage of seaweeds was estimated using random quadrat sampling. Results showed that a total of 15 species were found in this study. Our results revealed that the highest coverage was found in Tean Island (58.75±10.64%), followed by Tong Tanote Beach and Phangka Beach (45.17±9.87% and 36.60±13.21%, respectively). The brown seaweeds belonging to family Sargassaceae were the dominant species at all reef sites, include Sargassum swartzii (5.23-9.23%), Turbinaria decurrents (1.16-19.54%) and Turbinaria conoides (8.53-19.12%). These seaweeds are native species in reef ecosystems, particularly they were abundant species in these areas. However, the overgrowth of them can be a potential threat to corals that can be outcompeted, therefore, proper management strategies are necessarily needed for coral mortality prevention, enhancing coral recovery, maintaining coral reef ecosystems.
References
Allen G, Steene R, Humann P, DeLoach N (2015) Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific. New World Publications, Jacksonville, Florida USA.
Bonaldo RM, Hay ME (2014) Seaweed-Coral interactions: variance in seaweed allelopathy, coral susceptibility, and potential effects on coral resilience. PLoS ONE 9(1): e85786. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085786
Browne NK, Tay JKL, Low J, Larson O, Todd PA (2015) Fluctuations in coral health of four common inshore reef corals in response to seasonal and anthropogenic changes in water quality. Marine Environmental Research 105: 39–52.
Bulleri F, Thiault L, Mills SC, Nugues MM, Eckert EM, Corno G, Claudet J (2018) Erect macroalgae influence epilithic bacterial assemblages and reduce coral recruitment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 597: 65–77.
Cetz-Navarro NP, Carpizo-Ituarte EJ, Espinoza-Avalos J, Chee-Barragán G (2015) The effect of flamentous turf algal removal on the development of gametes of the coral Orbicella annularis. PLoS One 10:e0117936
Cheal AJ, Macneil MA, Cripps E, Emslie MJ, Jonker M, Schaffelke B, Sweatman H (2010) Coral-macroalgal phase shifts or reef resilience: links with diversity and functional roles of herbivorous fshes on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 29: 1005–1015.
Cheal A, Emslie M, Miller I, Sweatman H (2012) The distribution of herbivorous fshes on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology 159: 1143–1154.
Cheal AJ, Emslie MJ, Macneil MA, Miller I, Sweatman H (2013) Spatial variation in the functional characteristics of herbivorous fish communities and the resilience of coral reefs Ecological Applications 23: 174–188.
Coppejans E, Prathep A, Laliaert F, Lewmanomont, De Clerk O (2010) Seaweeds of Mu Ko Tha Lae Tai (SE Thailand) Methodologies and field guide to the dominant species. Biodiversity Research and Training Program (BRT) Bangkok 274 pp.
De’ath G, Fabricius KE (2010) Water quality as regional driver of coral biodiversity and macroalgal cover on the Great Barrier Reef. Ecological Applications 20: 840–850.
English S, Wilkinson C, Baker V (1997) Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resouces. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Queensland.
Fabricius KE, De'ath G, Mccook LJ, Turak E, Williams DM (2005) Changes in algal, coral and fish assemblages along water quality gradients on the inshore Great Barrier Reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51: 384–398.
Fong J, Lim ZW, Bauman AG, Valiyaveettil S, Liao LM, Yip ZT, Todd PA (2019) Allelopathic effects of macroalgae on Pocillopora acuta coral larvae. Marine Environmental Research. 151: 104745.
Fulton CJ, Depczynski M, Holmes TH, Noble MM, Radford B, Wernberg T, Wilson SK (2014) Sea temperature shapes seasonal fluctuations in seaweed biomass within the Ningaloo coral reef ecosystem. Limnology and Oceanography 59: 156–166.
Houk P, Benavente D, Iguel J, Johnson S, Okano R (2014) Coral reef disturbance and recovery dynamics differ across gradients of localized stressors in the Mariana Islands. PLoS One 9:e110068
Hughes TP, Rodrigues MJ, Bellwood DR, Ceccarelli D, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mccook L, Moltschaniwskyj N, Pratchett MS, Steneck RS, Willis B (2007) Phase shifts, herbivory, and the resilience of coral reefs to climate change. Current Biology 17: 360–365.
Jompa J, McCook L (1998) Seaweeds save the reef?!: Sargassum canopy decreases coral bleaching on inshore reefs. Reef Research 8:5.
Kang Y-H, Choo H-S, Sin J-A, Lee C (2016) Numerical modeling of propagule dispersal for Sargassum bed restoration in Gamak Bay, Korea. Journal of Applied Phycology 28: 1859–1874.
Marimuthu N, Ramachandran P, Robin RS, Tudu D, Hariharan G, Ramesh R (2016) Spatial variation in the health of coral reef communities of Palk Bay, southeast coast of India. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 19: 360–367.
McClanahan TR, Bergman K, Huitric M, Mcfield M, Elfwing T, Nystrom M, Nordemar I (2000) Response of fishes to algae reduction on Glovers Reef, Belize. Marine Ecology Progress Series 206: 273–282.
McClanahan TR, Donner SD, Maynard JA, MacNeil MA, Graham NAJ, Maina J, Baker AC, Alemu JBI, Beger M, Campbell SJ, Darling ES, Eakin CM, Heron SF, Jupiter SD, Lundquist CJ, McLeod E, Mumby PJ, Paddack MJ, Selig ER, van Woesik R (2012) Prioritizing key resilience indicators to support coral reef management in a changing climate. PLoS ONE 7(8): e42884. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042884
McClanahan TR, Mcfield M, Huitric M, Bergman K, Sala E, Nystrom M, Nordemar I, Elfwing T, Muthiga NA (2001) Responses of algae, corals and fish to the reduction of macroalgae in fished and unfished patch reefs of Glovers Reef Atoll, Belize. Coral Reefs 19: 367–379.
Mumby PJ, Harborne AR, Williams J, Kappel CV, Brumbaugh DR, Micheli F, Holmes KE, Dahlgren CP, Paris CB, Blackwell PG (2007) Trophic cascade facilitates coral recruitment in a marine reserve. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 104: 8362–8367.
Nugues MM, Roberts CM (2003) Coral mortality and interaction with algae in relation to sedimentation. Coral Reefs 22: 507–516.
Pongponrat K (2009) Social capital in participatory planning for local tourism development: a case study of Samui Island, Thailand. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Scientific Conference: Planning for the Future-Learning from the Past-Contemporary Developments in Tourism, Travel and Hospitality, Rhodes Island, Greece, pp. 45–60.
Prathep A, Pongparadon S, Darakrai A, Wichachucherd B, Sinutok S (2011) Diversity and distribution of seaweed at Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 33: 633–640.
Titioatchasai J, Prathep A, Mayakun J (2019) Pattern of Algal Succession in the Tropical Subtidal Coral Reef Community at Koh Taen, Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, the Gulf of Thailand. Journal of Fisheries and Environment. 43(3): 11–19.
Thompson A, Costello P, Davidson J, Logan M, Coleman G, Gunn K, Schaffelke B. (2017) Marine monitoring program. Annual report for inshore coral reef monitoring: 2015 to 2016. Report for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville
Yeemin T, Sutthacheep M, Pettongma R (2006) Coral reef restoration projects in Thailand. Ocean and Coastal Management 49: 562–575.
Yeemin T, Saengchaisuk C, Sutthacheep M, Pengsakun S, Klinthong W, K Saengmanee (2009) Conditions of coral communities in the Gulf of Thailand: a decade after the 1998 severe bleaching event. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies 11: 207–217.
Yeemin T, Pengsakun S, Yucharoen M, Klinthong W, Sangmanee K, Sutthacheep M (2013) Long-term changes in coral communities under stress from sediment. Deep-Sea Research II 96: 32–40.
Webster FJ, Babcock RC, Van Keulen M, Loneragan NR (2015) Macroalgae inhibits larval settlement and increases recruit mortality at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. PLoS One 10:e0124162
Wenger A, Fabricius KE, Jones GP, Brodie JE (2015) Sedimentation, eutrophication and chemical pollution: effects on coral reef fishes. Pages 145-153 In: Mora C, (ed) Coral Reef Fishes. Cambridge University Press
Wismer S, Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2009) Cross-shelf benthic community structure on the Great Barrier Reef: relationships between macroalgal cover and herbivore biomass. Marine Ecology Progress Series 376: 45–54.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright Notice: a copyright on any article in the published journal is retained by the Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology. Readers or Users grant the right to use of the Article contained in the Content in accordance with the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND license and the Data contained in the Content in accordance with the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND.
