Identification of Crustose Coralline Algae Species in Florida and Their Ability to Induce Coral Larval Settlement in Florida of Caribbean Corals
Location
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Start
2-14-2025 4:00 PM
End
2-14-2025 4:15 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are a diverse, globally spread and yet poorly studied group of benthic organisms. These red algae produce a calcium carbonate skeleton that grows horizontally across loose sediment and rocks, binding them together, making them a key reef building species. CCA also act as settlement cues for coral larvae and provide coral recruits readily available carbonate for growth. Despite their ecological importance, information on these species’ abundance and distribution in the world’s ocean is limited. Their taxonomical identification at the species level is complicated by morphological plasticity, and these morphological characteristics can often only be assessed under a microscope. DNA extraction is difficult, as their skeleton makes the lysis process more complicated. Previous literature reviews have shown that of 127 species of CCA said to exist in the Caribbean Sea, 44 of these were either incorrectly identified, synonymous to another species, or had no information on the name provided. While CCA have been shown to promote coral settlement, settlement induction is often species-specific, while some CCA species produce inhibitory cues for settlement of corals. Genetic analysis will be conducted to identify CCA species growing along Florida’s Reef Tract and their capacity to induce or inhibit larval settlement of multiple Caribbean coral species will be tested through settlement experiments. This will provide a better understanding of CCA diversity in South Florida, which can be used as a new avenue for assessing coral health by determining the abundance of beneficial or inhibitory CCA across the reef. Knowing settlement promoting CCA species also optimizes methodologies of sexual propagation of corals for reef restoration at ex situ nurseries.
Identification of Crustose Coralline Algae Species in Florida and Their Ability to Induce Coral Larval Settlement in Florida of Caribbean Corals
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are a diverse, globally spread and yet poorly studied group of benthic organisms. These red algae produce a calcium carbonate skeleton that grows horizontally across loose sediment and rocks, binding them together, making them a key reef building species. CCA also act as settlement cues for coral larvae and provide coral recruits readily available carbonate for growth. Despite their ecological importance, information on these species’ abundance and distribution in the world’s ocean is limited. Their taxonomical identification at the species level is complicated by morphological plasticity, and these morphological characteristics can often only be assessed under a microscope. DNA extraction is difficult, as their skeleton makes the lysis process more complicated. Previous literature reviews have shown that of 127 species of CCA said to exist in the Caribbean Sea, 44 of these were either incorrectly identified, synonymous to another species, or had no information on the name provided. While CCA have been shown to promote coral settlement, settlement induction is often species-specific, while some CCA species produce inhibitory cues for settlement of corals. Genetic analysis will be conducted to identify CCA species growing along Florida’s Reef Tract and their capacity to induce or inhibit larval settlement of multiple Caribbean coral species will be tested through settlement experiments. This will provide a better understanding of CCA diversity in South Florida, which can be used as a new avenue for assessing coral health by determining the abundance of beneficial or inhibitory CCA across the reef. Knowing settlement promoting CCA species also optimizes methodologies of sexual propagation of corals for reef restoration at ex situ nurseries.