Abstract
The purpose of this study was to document the renewed presence of the free-living coral Psammocora stellata in the nearly submerged volcanic cone of Devil's Crown, Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, and to determine if there were changes in coral cover between two survey periods. This coral species was previously present at Devil's Crown until being extirpated in 1982-83 by impacts associated with the 1982-1983 El Niño-Southern Oscillation. It was observed there in 2007 and was surveyed in 2009 and again in 2011 using the random walk quadrat method. Colony density and live tissue cover was determined using CPCe software analysis. Between the two surveys the number of colonies increased significantly (p<0.001) from 163±79.4 colonies m-2 to 323±93.3 colonies m-2, that could be a result of asexual fragmentation and/or sexual recruitment. Total coral tissue area also increased significantly (p<0.001) from 2,414±1,091 cm2 m-2 to 3,625±1,036 cm2 m-2 due to coral replication and/or colony growth. Average colony size decreased significantly (p<0.001) from 15.8±4.8 cm2 11.6±3.3 cm2 from one survey to the next which is one expected outcome from fragmentation and/or new coral recruitment. These data indicate that Psammocora shows a renewed presence and signs of recovery from earlier extirpation from the site, adding structural complexity and creating habitat for associated organisms. This is heartening news during a period of world-wide coral decline.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Joshua Feingold
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-12-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2013 5:30 PM
Renewed Presence of the Free-Living Coral Psammocora stellata at Devil's Crown, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Alvin Sherman Library
The purpose of this study was to document the renewed presence of the free-living coral Psammocora stellata in the nearly submerged volcanic cone of Devil's Crown, Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, and to determine if there were changes in coral cover between two survey periods. This coral species was previously present at Devil's Crown until being extirpated in 1982-83 by impacts associated with the 1982-1983 El Niño-Southern Oscillation. It was observed there in 2007 and was surveyed in 2009 and again in 2011 using the random walk quadrat method. Colony density and live tissue cover was determined using CPCe software analysis. Between the two surveys the number of colonies increased significantly (p<0.001) from 163±79.4 colonies m-2 to 323±93.3 colonies m-2, that could be a result of asexual fragmentation and/or sexual recruitment. Total coral tissue area also increased significantly (p<0.001) from 2,414±1,091 cm2 m-2 to 3,625±1,036 cm2 m-2 due to coral replication and/or colony growth. Average colony size decreased significantly (p<0.001) from 15.8±4.8 cm2 11.6±3.3 cm2 from one survey to the next which is one expected outcome from fragmentation and/or new coral recruitment. These data indicate that Psammocora shows a renewed presence and signs of recovery from earlier extirpation from the site, adding structural complexity and creating habitat for associated organisms. This is heartening news during a period of world-wide coral decline.
