2019 #48 REEF IN REVIEW - Australian Coral Reef Society
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REEF IN REVIEW
THE MAGAZINE OF THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY
2019
#48
Colourful reefs
Colours, patterns, and
coral reef fishes. pp 8-9
People & the GBR
How do people perceive ongoing changes
in our iconic Great Barrier Reef? pp 10-11
ACRS Research Awards
2018 award recipients share their
fascinating research. pp. 15-25
A large school of trevallies cruises along coral reef. © Yen-Yi Lee/Coral Reef Image Bank
The Australian Coral Reef Society
acknowledges the Traditional Owners
of coral reefs throughout Australia.We
pay respect to their elders, past,
present, and emerging.
Message from the President
This year, like many others, has showcased the continued commitment of the ACRS
to supporting student research, rewarding excellence in research and management,
providing a voice for the reef through engagement, and facilitating terrific
conferences that allow scientists and managers to come together and discuss
solutions that may help conserve the reefs that we all love. All of this could not be
achieved without a very hard-working Council. Their energy and professionalism is
inspiring and deserves a big thank you!
The society is currently ~260 members strong, and this year we have introduced a
perpetual membership. So for those of you that don’t like keeping track of your
payments and want to support the ACRS into the future, this might be a good
option. We have also had a bit of a makeover, as we have rebranded and are
incredibly proud of our new website. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s a one-
stop shop for all things ACRS (membership, conference registration, merchandise,
opinion pieces and submissions etc). We also have fantastic Facebook and Twitter
feeds that provide numerous reef-related stories every week.
Our 2018 conference in Exmouth, Western Australia, was highly successful with 116
national and international delegates in attendance. This event showcased the high
quality fundamental and applied research that is being done on reefs here in
Australia and overseas, and has also provided a mechanism to ensure the exchange
of ideas between researchers on both sides of the country. The Exmouth conference
was also the first time that we included an adjoined the AGM. This facilitated much
greater membership engagement and a fruitful discussion about ACRS activities.
While our northern reefs have fared relatively well in terms of bleaching of late, it is
saddening to see patchy bleaching occurring on some of our more southern reefs. A
reminder that subtropical locations are not necessarily a refuge during times of
environmental change. As one of the more southern members of the ACRS, I
personally would love to see more research occurring on these reefs and I hope to
see a migration of researchers (even if you don’t overwinter here!) exploring key
questions relating to their function and susceptibility.
Anna Scott
ACRS President
Left: Mixed school of planktivorous reef fish
on a tropical coral reef slope.
© Yen-Yi Lee/Coral Reef Image Bank
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 5
Editorial foreword Dear members, Australian coral reefs continued to be in the spotlight in 2018-19. We showcase some of this work and the important role of research stations and management partnerships in the ‘new look’ 2019 magazine ( former ACRS newsletter). In 2018 the ACRS Conference was held in Exmouth, attracting a large and diverse array of scientists and managers. Five exceptional keynote speakers covered a variety of subjects ranging from Marine Park monitoring, macroalgae as fish habitats, spatial resilience, meeting the challenge of climate extremes, and fish physiology. This year’s conference will be held on Moreton Island from 7-9 May 2019 and we look forward to enabling important scientific insights into the study and conservation of coral reefs. The ACRS continues to celebrate the beauty and value of coral reefs through its membership, mentoring of up-and-coming researchers, science communication and evidence-based advice to policy makers. In 2018 a submission was provided to the New South Wales government on their decision to abandon sanctuary zones in the proposed Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion. The submission reiterated the need for evidence-based management in marine spatial planning and refuted the proposal that conservation zones would provide adequate protection for species, habitats and dependent industries. The need for effective and representative planning in this area, but also around Australia is heightened given a growing population and pressures from climate change. In 2019, coral reefs around Australia seem to be continuously recovering from an increased disturbance frequency. The 2018 ACRS medal recipient, Assoc. Prof. Tracy Ainsworth summarised it perfectly “it is now very clear that the future is going beyond what we ever imagined was possible, more than ever I am convinced that to meet this challenge, so too should we”. So as we enter 2020, as engaged reef scientists, reef lovers, and managers, we need to be mindful of what the reefs around Australia are experiencing and what that may mean for Australians. We need to persuasively, accurately and honestly communicate what the ramifications for reefs will be and what can be done to fix it. This will require reaching different audiences in different ways, not just through scientific papers and conferences. In this issue, we feature cutting-edge research by ACRS members across Australia. Also, recipients of the 2018 ACRS Awards made some room in their busy schedules to describe the progress of their exciting research projects. As in previous editions, we are excited to share with you the latest news straight from reef field research stations across Australia. Finally, Taryn Laubenstein, 2018 FameLab finalist and ACRS member, shares with us science communication tips to take scientific outreach for early career researchers to new heights. We hope you enjoy the 2019 issue of Reef in Review, the magazine of the Australian Coral Reef Society. Victor Huertas Jessica Hoey Peter Cowman Chris Roelfsema Left: Two spotted clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) shelter amongst the tentacles of their host anemone (Heteractis magnifica). © Victor Huertas 2017 ACRS Photo Competition
Table of contents ACRS
COUNCIL
2018-19
5 Message from the President
6 Editorial foreword PRESIDENT
Anna Scott Southern Cross University
7 Table of contents
VICE-PRESIDENT
8 Colours, patterns, and coral reef fishes Sarah Hamylton University of Wollongong
10 Monitoring community responses to change in the Great PAST PRESIDENT
Barrier Reef.
Andrew Hoey James Cook University
12 2018 ACRS Early Career Research Medal
SECRETARY
15 2018 ACRS Research Awards Carrie Sims University of Queensland
16 Getting to know the neighbours… Halimeda bioherms in the TREASURER
Great Barrier Reef Stephanie Duce James Cook University
18 A shift in the sand. The chemistry of sand in a changing ocean
MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
20 The effects of climate change on reef mesopredators Samantha Goyen University of Technology Sydney
22 Cumulative impacts of future climate conditions and heavy MAGAZINE TEAM
fuel oil on corals Victor Huertas James Cook University
24 Clues from the past. Studying fossil reefs to understand future Jessica Hoey GBR Marine Park Authority
reef resilience Peter Cowman James Cook University
Chris Roelfsema University of Queensland
28 Can extreme environments shape resilient corals?
30 The multi-stage process during substrate attachment of
WEBSITE MANAGER
Acropora fragments Maria del Mar Palacios Deakin University
34 Science communication for early career scientists
COUNCILLORS
Jennifer Donelson James Cook University
36 2018 Social media snap shot
Selma Klanten University of Technology Sydney
Selina Ward University of Queensland
38 2018 ACRS Photography competition
David Booth University of Technology Sydney
42 News from the field. Annual reports from Australian coral reef Paloma Matis University of Technology Sydney
research stations Katie Motson James Cook University
Kerry Cameron Southern Cross University
50 News from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Damian Thomson CSIRO
Sven Uthicke Australian Institute of Marine Science
52 Citizen science news in 2018
Cover: Titan triggerfish (Balistoides
53 Not exactly rocket science… making the most of ordinary tools
viridescens) © J. Thorogood.
during field research
2018 ACRS Photo Competition
54 Book review: The Great Barrier Reef: Biology, Environment,
and Management, Second edition. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers
57 The 2018-19 ACRS Council should be aware that this publication may
contain images or names of people who
have passed away.
Mixed school of sweetlips © Fabrice Dudenhofer/Coral Reef Image Bank
Colours, patterns, and coral reef fishes
By Christopher Hemingson
James Cook University
C
olouration can tell us a lot about how an represent, have intrigued researchers since the dawn
organism behaves and interacts within its of modern sciences.
environment. Whether it is used for
Professor Justin Marshall (University of Queensland)
maintaining species boundaries, aiding mate selection
attempted to decode messages found within the
or providing protection from predators; colouration is
colours of reef fishes. Blue and yellow were the most
critically important. Therefore, it is no surprise that it
common colours used by reef fishes. These colours
has remained a central focus of biological, ecological,
simultaneously matched their respective backgrounds
and evolutionary studies since the times of Charles
(blue water and the yellow average colour of a healthy
Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.
coral reef) but also highly contrasted - aiding
New advances in image analysis techniques have signalling.
opened the door to a plethora of new studies involving
Spectrophotometers operate by detecting the intensity
organism colouration. We now have powerful new
of electromagnetic radiation (light) at each
tools that allow us to analyse the visual appearance of
wavelength, returning a distribution of light at various
an organism; including both colour and pattern.
wavelengths (colours). Many studies in the field of
Measurement of colouration on coral reefs. colouration has used this robust technique. However,
it isn’t without its limitations. While it provides
Coral reefs are one of the most visually diverse extremely detailed measurements of colour, it does
ecosystems on the planet. This vast diversity of colour not incorporate critical information about the
patterns, and the subsequent messages they organism’s full visual appearance: its pattern.
8 REEF IN REVIEW
The difficulty of patterns and their new
solution.
Patterns have historically been an elusive concept to
study. If colours are inherently based upon the
visual capabilities of the viewer, then patterns are
even more so. This is because the classification of
patterns retains a human bias. What is the
difference between stripes and bars? There is no
consensus when classifying colour patterns, just
approximation. This difficulty has resulted in the
exclusion of patterns from many studies.
Above: ‘Patternize’ output, detecting the presence of yellow on a
The most common colours found Chaetodon fasciatus individual. © Chris Hemingson
in reef fishes are blue and yellow.
holds true for brightly coloured coral reef fishes. In
Fortunately, new technological advancements have butterflyfishes (genus: Chaetodon) both sexes are
enabled and understanding of both colouration and visually similar, many species form monogamous
pattern. ‘Patternize’ (a new computing package pairs, and have highly complex patterns that are
openly available in the R) is capable of objectively limited in colours. Using ‘patternize’, similarity
analysing both colour and pattern simultaneously, between pairs of closely related species were
without human bias. Since pattern is just the compared to determine their habitat range.
organisation of colours within a spatial context, the Essentially, we wanted to know whether the
software can record both what colour is present at a patterns on butterflyfish pairs differed if they shared
given location and where that location occurs. where they live with other pairs.
Your neighbours determine your style. Surprisingly, we found exactly that. When a pair
shares a lot of their ‘home’ with another species, and
Colouration, like any other method of advertising these homes are about the same size, the differences
information, can effectively be considered a signal. in appearance are more pronounced. In contrast,
This signal contains important details: who you are, when these species have very different habitat
how you behave, and how you fit into your ranges they become more similar.
environment. For many organisms that rely on
visual cues, colouration is used to identify If you want to learn more about this study, be sure
individuals of the same species and differentiate to check out the original paper titled “Colour pattern
them. divergence in reef fish species is rapid and driven by
both range overlap and symmetry” that was
Terrestrial research has shown when two closely published in Ecology Letters in November 2018.
related species co-occur (i.e. share the same habitat)
the signals they use to identify themselves are more You can read more here: https://
pronounced. We set out to see if this phenomenon onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.13180
Above: Chaetodon reticulatus (left) and Chaetodon meyeri (right), an example of closely related species that share homes but look very different. © François Libert
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 9
human communities should be
Monitoring measurable. The Social and
Perceptions of major
threats to the GBR
community Economic Long Term Monitoring
Program (SELTMP; led by Dr have changed
responses to Nadine Marshall from CSIRO among all of our
and funded by the Great Barrier
change in the Reef Marine Park Authority) for survey groups, and
Great Barrier the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
provides a means of monitoring
climate change is
now regarded as “an
Reef and understanding the state,
trends, and relationships immediate threat
between human communities requiring action”.
By Dr. Matt Curnock and the Great Barrier Reef. Since
CSIRO Land and Water, commencing in 2011, SELTMP
Townsville Comparing results from our two
has surveyed more than 12,000 major sampling periods so far,
people about their relationship mid-2013 and mid-2017, has
A
with the GBR, including local revealed some significant
s enlightened marine
residents living along the coast of changes in these communities’
biologists know, coral
the GBR catchment region, perceptions, values and
reefs are linked social-
international and domestic
ecological systems, within which sentiments associated with the
tourists visiting the region,
the well-being of humans and GBR, which are likely to reflect
Marine Park tourism operators, responses to the 2016-2017 mass
reef-building corals are
commercial fishers, and coral bleaching events and a
intertwined. Thus, when a major
Australian residents (via online growing public awareness of the
disturbance occurs, like a mass
surveys) around the country.
coral bleaching event, an effect GBR’s perilous outlook in the
on the dependent and associated face of climate change. For
Above: GBR managers are seeking to better understand and engage with recreational users to improve their compliance and stewardship in the GBR Marine Park. SELTMP
provides insights into peoples’ values, attitudes, norms, and trusted messengers, helping managers to engage more effectively with different user groups. © Matt Curnock
10 REEF IN REVIEWAbove: GBR tourism contributes >$5.7 billion annually to Australia’s economy, but the industry is vulnerable to changing perceptions of the reef, as well as its changing
biophysical state. SELTMP monitors the perceptions, sentiments and satisfaction of Australian and international tourists in the GBR, helping managers and industry respond
and adapt to change. © Matt Curnock
example, among tourists, we to reduce impacts) fell SELTMP 2017 data can be
found significant declines in their significantly. interrogated through several
ratings of the quality of GBR- PowerBI™ online dashboards
based activities, such as The GBR is still (https://research.csiro.au/
snorkelling and scuba diving, as seltmp/). A series of sectoral
considered by
well as in their perceptions of the reports detailing the 2013–2017
GBR’s health and aesthetic Australians as the changes will be made available in
beauty. Perceptions of major nation’s most early 2019 via the Great Barrier
threats to the GBR have changed Reef Marine Park Authority and
among all of our survey groups,
inspiring landmark. SELTMP websites. For more
and climate change is now information, feel free to contact
regarded as “an immediate threat Despite a widespread perception matt.curnock@csiro.au and/or
requiring action” by the majority of declining reef health, the GBR nadine.marshall@csiro.au.
of GBR coastal residents, is still considered by Australians
international and domestic as the nation’s most inspiring
tourists, and Marine Park landmark. Our results are helping
tourism operators. Concurrently, GBR managers and community
we found significant increases in leaders to better understand the
2017 ratings by most groups for human dimensions of the GBR
cultural values associated with for adaptive management, more
the GBR, including its effective stakeholder
biodiversity value, scientific engagement, and for statutory
heritage, economic, lifestyle and reporting (e.g. the Reef 2050
icon values. An increasing Plan and the forthcoming
proportion of respondents from Outlook 2019 Report). Survey
most groups indicated that they data from SELTMP are made
“would like to do more to help publicly available online and can
protect the GBR”; however, be analysed for myriad purposes.
corresponding ratings of self- SELTMP 2013 data and reports
assessed capacity to act (i.e. are available via https://
having the knowledge and skills seltmp.eatlas.org.au/.
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 112018 ACRS Early Career Research Medal
Assoc. Prof. Tracy Ainsworth
In 2018, the Australian Coral Reef Society presented Assoc. Prof. Ainsworth’s impact, however, extends
Associate Professor Tracy Ainsworth with the ACRS way beyond academic circles. She is as passionate
Early Career Research Medal for her outstanding about conducting cutting-edge research as she is at
contribution to Australian coral reef research. communicating it. For example, since being awarded
her PhD in 2008, Ainsworth has contributed popular
Associate Professor Tracy Ainsworth is a Scientia
articles to The Conversation, engaged in numerous
Fellow in the School of Biological, Earth and public interviews, and her work has been highlighted
Environmental Sciences at the University of New by international media such as the Washington Post,
South Wales. Ainsworth’s research focuses on the Time, and National Geographic.
impact of environmental stress on reef-building
corals, their host-microbe interactions, symbioses, Assoc. Prof. Ainsworth is an active member of the
and disease outbreaks. coral reef community. Her drive and commitment to
expand and diversify our community is exemplified by
In a relatively short timeframe, Ainsworth has her central role in the ARC Centre of Excellence
established herself as a reference in the coral biology Women in Science Group. Moreover, she is also
field. She has produced 52 scientific articles, including dedicated to mentoring female researchers through
two first author papers in Science. This prolific record
the L’Oreal Women in Science Program and is an
has propelled her to the forefront of the fields of coral International mentor for a NSF international travel
microbiology and stress biology, with significant fellowship, and a member of the International Society
contributions identifying unique prokaryotic coral for Reef Studies Council.
symbionts, highlighting the significance of sub-
bleaching thermal stress in corals, and improving our You can follow Assoc. Prof. Ainsworth on Twitter at
understanding of the rapid changes that coral @CoralTrace
microbial communities are experiencing in a changing
ocean, to name a few.
12 REEF IN REVIEWA biofluorescent West Australian Seahorse (Hippocampus subelongatus) © Maarten De Brauwer People’s Choice Winner 2017 ACRS Photo Competition 39
Two moray eels share the same crevice © Ciemon Caballes 2017 ACRS Photo Competition
2018 ACRS Research Awards
Each year the ACRS supports the research of up to five students through provision of the ACRS Research Awards.
The most outstanding proposals are awarded the Terry Walker Prize ($4,000) or the Danielle Simmons Prize
($4,000). Up to three additional ACRS Research Awards of $2,500 each are also awarded.
Below we present you the recipients of the 2018 ACRS Research Awards. In the following pages, you can read
articles contributed by each awardee.
Terry Walker Prize
MARDI McNEIL
The role of macroalgae genus Halimeda in provision of inter-reef benthic habitat in
the Great Barrier Reef.
Danielle Simmons Prize
COULSON LANTZ
The combined effect of ocean acidification, seawater warming, and eutrophication
on carbonate sediment dissolution and metabolism.
ACRS Awards
SHANNON McMAHON
The effects of temperature and elevated CO2 on reef mesopredators.
MIKAELA NORDBORG
Cumulative impacts of future climate conditions and heavy fuel oil on key life stages
of the coral Acropora millepora.
KELSEY SANBORN
Paleoecology of the last interglacial Tantabiddi Reef of Western Australia.
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 15Getting to know the neighbours…
Halimeda bioherms in the inter-reef seafloor of the GBR
By Mardi McNeil
Queensland University of Technology
Halimeda bioherms. © Mardi McNeil
C
oral reef ecosystems are structure of many of the deep
varied and complex, with inter-reef habitats for the very
many connected habitats. first time. A great example is the
Some of these neighbouring vast Halimeda algal bioherms of
inter-reef habitats may be in the Great Barrier Reef outer
deeper water, remote, continental shelf (Fig. 1), and the
logistically challenging to access subject of my PhD project.
and survey, and lack the
“Bioherm” is a geological term
colourful coral colonies and
which describes an in situ build-
charismatic fishes of their
up of biogenic calcium carbonate
shallow reef neighbours.
sediment or limestone, with
Consequently, these deeper
positive relief above the
inter-reef habitats are not as
surrounding seafloor. Halimeda
well-studied, and have been
bioherms have built up since the
somewhat overlooked as
end of the last ice-age, from the
productive and diverse
disarticulated skeletons of the
ecosystems. However, the inter-
calcareous macroalgae genus
reef seafloor of the Great Barrier
Halimeda. These complex
Reef Province comprises a
geomorphic features can be up
variety of geomorphic features,
to 20 m thick, span over 6,000
including submerged rocky
km2 and six degrees of latitude
shoals and pinnacles, carbonate
of inter-reef seafloor in the
sands, submarine canyons, and
northern GBR, and are the
Halimeda bioherms on the outer
second largest living structure
continental shelf.
on the Reef. Halimeda bioherms
Recent efforts to develop a high are structurally complex,
resolution digital depth model appearing like large fields of
for the entire Great Barrier Reef donut shaped rings and
World Heritage Area (Project reticulate honeycomb patterns
3D-GBR) has combined (Fig. 2). This complexity may
Figure 1. Distribution of mapped Halimeda
multibeam sonar, satellite support a more diverse
bioherms in A Northern Great Barrier Reef, and
remote-sensing and lidar community of fish and
B Swain Reefs complex, southern Great Barrier
bathymetry survey data into a Reef. Bioherms were identified and boundaries invertebrates than previously
single bathymetric grid (gbr30). delineated from high resolution multibeam thought.
Development of this high and lidar bathymetry datasets from Project 3D-
The aims of my PhD project
resolution bathymetry DEM has GBR. (credit: https://doi.org/10.6084/
m9.figshare.7506251.v2). include reconstructing the
revealed the complex
spatial and temporal
topography and detailed
development of the Halimeda
16 REEF IN REVIEWbioherms throughout the
Holocene using radiocarbon
dating of Halimeda sediment
cores and analysis of seismic
sub-surface data; and
investigating the role of
Halimeda bioherms in the
provision of deeper inter-reef
habitat for fish and benthic
invertebrates. The ACRS Terry
Walker Award has provided
Above: A sea of yellow: Preparing the survey equipment for fieldwork at Lizard Island Research Station; Edgetech
funding for fieldwork towards sub-bottom profiler. Right: Iver Ecomapper and BlueROV2. © Mardi McNeil
this aim. In 2018, I lead two field
trips to the Lizard Island
am currently writing up my group has been awarded ship
Research Station, where findings from the two Lizard time on the CSIRO’s R/V
Halimeda bioherms are located Island field trips, and drafting Investigator, to conduct a new
on the continental shelf between manuscripts for the first two survey in mid-2020.
the island and the outer barrier
publications from this work.
reefs. It was a real thrill to finally Acknowledgements
dive on the Halimeda bioherm In 2018 I also presented
I would like to acknowledge the
tops and see the vast green preliminary results of this study support of ACRS for the valuable
carpet of Halimeda algal at an international contribution to cover fieldwork-
meadows as far as visibility sedimentology conference in related expenses; my PhD
would allow. During fieldwork Quebec, Canada, as well as the supervisors Dr Luke Nothdurft, Dr
we surveyed the surface and sub- Australian Marine Science Jody Webster, and Dr Oliver Gaede;
surface of the Halimeda Association and Ecological and collaborators Dr Robin Beaman
bioherms using sidescan sonar, Society of Australia conferences. and Dr Dirk Erler. I would also like
acoustic sub-bottom profiling, Unfortunately, an attempt to to thank Dr Lyle Vail and Dr Anne
AUV water chemistry sensors, Hoggett and acknowledge the
visit the Halimeda bioherms
Australian Museum Lizard Island
and ROV video, as well as known from the southern GBR
Research Station staff for support
collecting sediment and water Swain Reefs was thwarted by bad with fieldwork logistics.
samples for chemical analysis. I weather, however our research
Figure 2. Three-dimensional view of A Halimeda bioherm complex in the northern GBR, with a 2 m multibeam data (rainbow scale) overlaid on 25 m lidar data (greyscale), B
sub-bottom profile between points Z–Z’ shows distinct Halimeda bioherm morphology accreting above a prominent seismic reflector. C The 25 m lidar data across the same
area clearly reveals bioherms, reefs, and palaeochannels. Source: McNeil et al., 2016. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-016-1492-2).
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 17A shift in the sand
By Coulson Lantz
Southern Cross University
C
alcium carbonate water column (coastal produced. Initial analyses of
sediments account for eutrophication), could act in dissolved oxygen and total
roughly 70% of the concert to shift the balance in alkalinity data suggest a positive
benthic area of Heron Island’s sediment metabolism away from effect from both OA and
lagoon and house a rich the present-day autotrophic and eutrophication on sediment
biological community (e.g., calcifying behaviour. dissolution. Relative to control
worms, snails, clams, microbes) flumes, both OA and
To address these concerns, I
whose collective metabolism is eutrophication shifted the
used the Danielle Simmons
responsible for recycling the sediments from net calcifying to
Award to assist with the
majority of the locally produced net dissolving, but the
construction of four 105-L flume
organic matter (e.g., coral mechanism behind this increase
aquariums to replicate Heron
mucus, fish faeces). Relative to in sediment dissolution differed
Island’s shallow lagoon sediment
other marine environments, between treatments. The
environment (with respect to
coral reefs generally contain low increase in calcium carbonate
light, temperature, and flow) and
concentrations of organic matter sediment dissolution in response
examine how ocean acidification
(OM) in the water column. to OA was chemical, as rates of
(OA) and coastal eutrophication, photosynthesis and respiration
The rapid recycling of these both individually and in remained unaffected and
waste products that fall down combination, affect the net dissolution was caused solely by
into the sediment has been autotrophic and calcifying an OA-mediated decline in the
defined to be net autotrophic behaviour of Heron Island’s
overlying seawater pH. In
(Photosynthesis > Respiration sediment communities. contrast, the eutrophication-
over 24 hr), which elevates the
Using buried sediment boxes, mediated increase in dissolution
pH of the sediment porewater
daytime and nighttime changes was biological, as the enrichment
enough to enable these
in dissolved oxygen, total of OM enhanced respiration
sediments to be net calcifying
alkalinity, calcium, and dissolved more than photosynthesis,
(Calcification > Dissolution over
inorganic nutrients were thereby shifting the sediments
24 hr). However, there are
measured to calculate the daily from net autotrophy to net
concerns that global change
balance in photosynthesis/ heterotrophy and depressing the
stressors, such as the decline in
respiration and calcification/ seawater pH. Carbonate
seawater pH (ocean
dissolution. A“heat map” of dissolution rates under the
acidification) or the increase in
dissolved oxygen (mg L-1) at the combination of OA and
concentrations of OM in the
sediment surface was also eutrophication were slightly
18 REEF IN REVIEWcommunities at Heron Island to
respond to a combination of
global change stressors.
Acknowledgements
I would like to sincerely thank
the Australian Coral Reef Society
and its benefactors for providing
me with the opportunity to
conduct this research. I would
like to also thank my advising
committee, Dr. Bradley Eyre and
Dr. Kai Schulz, for their
guidance. This research was also
supported in part by Southern
Cross University and ARC
Discovery Grant DP150102092.
Sediments were collected under
the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority Permit
G17/39703.1.
A Excitation of the opted luminophores using ultra blue 445 nm LEDs. B Processed “heat map” of dissolved
oxygen (mg L-1) at the sediment surface (dashed white line). © Coulson Lantz
higher than the effect from OA will be primarily driven by OA
alone, but more data will need to but could be exacerbated during
be analysed (e.g., fluxes in periods of coastal eutrophication
Calcium or Nitrate) before any and subsequent OM enrichment
experimental effects can be of Heron Island’s lagoon waters.
deemed significant. These results will be an
important contribution to future
Altogether, the data analysed coral reef carbonate budgets and
thus far suggest that coral reef provide insight into how we may
carbonate sediment dissolution
expect the shallow sediment
Above: 105L flume systems placed outdoors at the Heron Island Research Station. Each flume received the same light, temperature, and flow conditions. © Coulson Lantz
Left: Sandy bottom where sand collection took place. © Coulson Lantz
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 19The effects of climate change on reef mesopredators
By Shannon McMahon
James Cook University
O
ne of the greatest threats affected by both projected One of the main reasons for this
our coral reefs face is the temperature and pH levels, gap in knowledge is spawning
advancement of which suggests that marine and larval rearing of broadcast
anthropogenic climate change. species may have the capacity to spawners has been historically
Increasing temperatures and keep up with the environmental difficult. An understanding of
decreasing pH are serious changes that anthropogenic how reef mesopredators will
concerns for many reef climate change is generating. cope in a changing ocean is
organisms. However, as climate critical.
However, the majority of this
change is a relatively gradual
work has been conducted on Tropical snapper such as
process there is the possibility
smaller, demersal spawning reef Lutjanus carponotatus are
that some species may have the
fish species. This has left us with closely associated with the reef
capacity to adapt to these
a knowledge gap in respect to structure and are economically,
environmental changes. In fact,
how larger, broadcast spawning recreationally, and ecologically
research on reef fish has shown
species, especially important. They are a suitable
that some species are able to
mesopredators such as snapper species for reef mesopredator
restore a number of negatively
and trout, will fare under these research, however, have not
affected traits, such as aerobic
changing conditions. been spawned or reared in
scope or growth rates, through
captivity. In order to gain the
as little as one generation. This
skills and husbandry needed to
has been shown for traits
28Above: The 35,000 l brood stock system where snappers have been bred at the Marine Aquaculture and Research Facility at James Cook University © Shannon McMahon.
Left: a school of snappers (Lutjanus fulviflamma) in the Great Barrier Reef © Victor Huertas. Below: eggs of Lutjanus carponotatus 12 hours after fertilisation © Shannon
McMahon
successfully spawn and rear a were then transferred to the hatching) and transition to larger
tropical snapper, I went to New rearing tanks. live food (Artemia at 25 days
Zealand to work at the National post hatching). Reared L.
Nutrition is critical to
Institute of Water and carponotatus will
health and reproduction.
Atmospheric Research with a now be used to
Rotating diet of fish,
similar species, the Australasian pursue critical
aquaculture pellets,
snapper, Chrysophrys auratus. climate change
and specifically
This species has been the subject related questions
formulated feed was
of aquaculture research for a with this model
used to ensure brood
number of years due to its mesopredator
stock received a
economic importance, These species. For
complete diet, L.
learnings have now been applied example, the next
carponotatus were
to tropical Reef Snapper steps of my research
successfully spawned
in rearing facilities will focus on investigating
without any artificial
in Townsville. how thermally sensitive this
inducement (e.g.
Successful species is during reproduction
hormones) after
spawning and early life stages, and the
water temperatures
requires capacity to acclimate and adapt
reached 28oC and
healthy to future projected
just before the new
brood environmental conditions. By
moon.
stock. doing this I will be able to build
35,000 L Following expand our knowledge of how
temperature successful spawning coral reef fishes will cope and
controlled correct timing and their capacity to adapt to project
aquaria system application of climate change scenarios.
were built to husbandry techniques was
house the brood critical to producing a
stock. Mature adult snapper successful cohort of juveniles.
collected by hook and line from The larvae have now progressed
the northern Great Barrier Reef to first feeding (2 days post
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 21environments (e.g. ultraviolet differences generally prevent
Cumulative light; UV)2, the often long direct comparisons between
recovery times following spill studies it appears that larval
impacts of events3 and the projected future settlement and survival may be
increases in shipping in reef among the most sensitive
future climate areas of high importance (e.g. endpoints for coral6.
the Great Barrier Reef region)4.
conditions and “The vast majority of
The phototoxicity of petroleum
heavy fuel oil oils (i.e. an increase in toxicity in studies have not
the presence of UV light) is well
accounted for
on corals documented5 and illustrates the
potential for cumulative impacts potential
By Mikaela Nordborg between oil pollution and interactions with
James Cook University/AIMS environmental stressors.
Increasing water temperature
environmental
factors.”
C
due to climate change may also
oral reef health and
affect the toxicity of petroleum
resilience are affected by
oils but this remains largely Additionally, many broadcast
both global (e.g. climate
untested. For reef-associated spawning coral larvae spend a
change) and local stressors such
organisms, sensitivity to oil substantial amount of time at or
as oil pollution. As the impacts of
exposure has been most near the surface during early
climate change on coral reef
extensively studied in reef- development where exposure to
ecosystems continue to increase1
building corals (Nordborg et al. both oil and UV can be expected
management and risk
in prep.). However, the vast to be highest. Therefore, to
assessments relating to reef
majority of studies have not investigate the potential
environments will have to
accounted for potential interactions between heavy fuel
account for the potential
interactions with environmental oil toxicity, UV and high
interactions between local
factors, such as UV or increasing temperature (marine heatwave
stressors and climate change. Oil
temperature, and no studies conditions and projected future
pollution remains a substantial
have combined all three increases), chronic exposures of
threat to reef environments due
stressors (Nordborg et al. in Acropora millepora larvae were
to its interactions with
prep.). While methodological performed in the National Sea
environmental factors in reef
22 REEF IN REVIEWSimulator at the Australian project, the Australian Institute 4. NESMG. North-East shipping
management plan. 2014. North-East
Institute of Marine Science, of Marine Science, the National
Shipping Management Group,
Townsville in November and Sea Simulator, James Cook Australian Maritime Safety
December 2018. University, AIMS@JCU, my Authority, Canberra. https://
supervisors Dr. Andrew Negri www.amsa.gov.au/marine-
Mass cultured Acropora environment/marine-pollution/
(AIMS) and Assoc. Prof. Michael
millepora larvae were exposed to shipping-management-plans/north-
Oelgemöller (JCU) as well as the
six concentrations of the water east-shipping-management-plan
fantastic volunteers who assisted Accessed on 13 Sep 2018. (2014).
accommodated fractions of me during the 2018 coral
heavy fuel oil (including a 5. Barron, M. G. Photoenhanced Toxicity
spawning.
seawater control) for 48 h at one of Petroleum to Aquatic
Invertebrates and Fish. Archives of
of three treatment temperatures References
Environmental Contamination and
in the presence or absence of Toxicology 73, 40-46, doi:10.1007/
1. Hughes, T. P. et al. Global warming
ecologically relevant UV. Larvae and recurrent mass bleaching of s00244-016-0360-y (2017).
from each replicate were then corals. Nature 543, 373-377 (2017).
6. Turner, N. R. & Renegar, D. A.
transferred to individual wells,
2. Nordborg, F. M., Flores, F., Brinkman, Petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity to
larval survival assessed and D. L., Agustí, S. & Negri, A. P. corals: A review. Mar. Pollut. Bull.
larvae induced to settle using Phototoxic effects of two common 119, 1-16, doi:http://dx.doi.org/
extracts of the crustose coralline marine fuels on the settlement 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.050
success of the coral Acropora tenuis. (2017).
algae Porolithon onkodes7.
Sci. Rep. 8, doi:10.1038/
Samples for chemical analysis 7. Heyward, A. J. & Negri, A. P. Natural
s41598-018-26972-7 (2018).
were collected at the start of inducers for coral larval
3. Haapkylä, J., Ramade, F. & Salvat, B. metamorphosis. Coral Reefs 18,
exposure as well as at the end of
Oil pollution on coral reefs: a review 273-279 (1999).
exposure for each combination
of the state of knowledge and
of light and temperature management needs. Vie Milieu 57,
treatment and sent to an 95-111 (2007).
accredited analytical laboratory
for analysis.
Experiments went well and
decoding of collected data (288
replicates, ~3000 larvae) is now
underway. Once results from
chemical analysis of treatment
solutions have been finalized
statistical analysis of data will
commence.
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to the ACRS
for granting me an ACRS
Student Research Award as it
allowed me to undertake more
complete chemical analysis of
the treatment solutions used in
the current project. This will
ensure the results of this study
can be utilized for management
purposes as well as future
modelling of oil toxicity to coral
reef organisms. Additionally I’d
like to thank the Great Barrier
Above: The author preparing heavy oil fuel WAF for testing the cumulative impacts of oil pollution,
Reef Marine Park Authority for ultraviolet light and temperature on coral larvae. © Tristan Lever
their financial support of this
Left: Acropora millepora releasing egg-sperm bundles at the National Sea Simulator, AIMS Townsville, during the 2017 coral spawning © Mikaela Nordborg
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 23Clues from the past
How fossil reefs help us to understand past sea-level changes and future reef resilience
By Kelsey Sanborn
University of Sydney
M ore than once, I’ve been
met with confusion
when describing how
years ago), prior to the last ice
age (~20,000 years ago) when
lower sea level allowed the
have been 6 to 9 meters above
present-day levels. However,
there is debate concerning the
my research on coral reefs migration of early Aboriginal timing and nature of the LIG
doesn’t involve SCUBA diving or Australians. This time period is sea-level peak, which may help
aquariums, but instead cores valuable for understanding near- constrain predictions on sea
and outcrop samples of future climate scenarios, as polar level in the coming decades and
limestone rock exposed on land temperatures were at least centuries.
or from the deep seabed. As a several degrees higher and
geologist studying fossil coral global sea-level is thought to “The Last
reef systems, I’m interested in
learning about what lies deep Interglacial warm
beneath the cover of living coral, period is valuable
and what it can tell us about past
for understanding
climate change.
near-future climate
As coral reef communities are
already facing the effects of
scenarios.”
anthropogenic climate change, it
is important to use information There is evidence from global
from the geological record to records that sea level did not just
inform long-term future rise and fall with a single peak,
predictions. Using proxy data but instead multiple small
from fossil reefs, we can build an (meter) scale oscillations
understanding of both how sea occurred as the ice sheets
level has changed in the past, melted. Sea-level
and how coral reefs have or have reconstructions from several
not been resilient to past climate existing studies show two LIG
change. With the generous sea-level peaks separated by an
support of ACRS through a 2018 ephemeral sea-level fall, which
student research award, I am preliminary stratigraphic
currently investigating this on evidence from the Tantabiddi
the Tantabiddi Terrace, by the may also support. Given that
modern Ningaloo Reef in most future sea-level projections
northwest Western Australia. describe a smooth rise under
sustained global warming
The Tantabiddi terrace grew conditions, it is crucial that we
Above: Reef cores containing different
during the Last Interglacial use past records to improve our
morphologies & species of fossil Acropora.
(LIG) warm period (~125,000 understanding of the dynamic
© Kelsey Sanborn
24 REEF IN REVIEWrelationship between climate, integrate all evidence to
ice-sheet melting and sea-level determine how relative sea-level
dynamics. changed over time. As we
develop our understanding of
So, how do we do this? First, we past climate, sea level and reef
must recover the fossil material growth, we can improve
from submerged or exposed projections to assist in future
fossil reef terraces using cores.
coastal management and Below: Well-preserved small coral heads on
From these cores, we use a resilience. exposed land © Kelsey Sanborn
several methods to describe and
identify the communities of
coral, coralline algae and
associated reef taxa. Based on
this, we can determine the water
depth and environment that the
fossil assemblage would have
grown in using analogs from the
modern reef environment. By
pairing this with radiometric
ages obtained by Uranium-
Thorium dating, as well as
spatial and geomorphic
information, we can piece
together a reconstruction of the
reef through time.
Interpreting the morphology and
species of corals and other reef
biota in Tantabiddi, we identify
vertical assemblage changes
representing shallowing upwards
(sea-level fall) and deepening
upwards (sea-level rise), as well
as potential changes in water
turbidity and hydrodynamic
setting. We are now working to
temporally constrain these
community changes, and
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 25A large whipgoby (Bryaninops amplus) on a sea fan © Maarten de Brauwer 2018 ACRS Photo Competition
study site presents two different being exposed to similar heat
Can extreme environments: the intertidal and stress during peak bleaching .
subtidal (see photo below). Both However, the observed
environments experience similar average differences in recovery capacity
temperatures during high tide are consistent with the known
shape resilient and host similar coral patterns of heat tolerance for
communities which are these corals.
corals? dominated by branching
Several physiological parameters
Acropora spp. However, during
By Maria Jung of Acropora aspera from both
low tide, the intertidal becomes a
University of Bremen/UWA environments twere then
tide pool and corals become
assessed to identify the
exposed to air for up to four
O
mechanisms underlying both
cean warming is one of hours while being subjected to
heat tolerance and recovery
the major threats to coral strong daily temperature
capacity of Kimberley corals.
reefs today and leads to fluctuations of up to 7°C. In
Analyses of symbiont dynamics
global mass bleaching events of contrast, subtidal corals
confirmed visual differences in
increasing severity and experience moderate daily
bleaching susceptibility and
frequency. In 2016, a strong El temperature changes of only up
severity reported by previous
Niño associated marine to 3°C and are generally not
studies with more severe
heatwave caused unprecedented exposed to air during low tides.
bleaching in the subtotal than
bleaching in the extreme
As part of my Master’s studies in intertidal.
macrotidal Kimberley region in
Marine Biology at the University
northwestern Australia. Although corals from both
of Bremen, Germany, I first
environments host the same
Our study site Shell Island is a documented both the recovery
symbiont genus (Cladocopium;
great natural laboratory where and extent of coral mortality six
formerly Symbiodinium clade
strong differences in heat months after peak bleaching via
C), genetic analyses are currently
tolerance exist over very small photo-quadrat analyses. Results
underway to determine whether
spatial gradients, driven by a of the health surveys revealed
more heat tolerant symbiont
tidal range of up to 8 m. These divergent patterns of recovery:
species were potentially present
conditions make Shell Island an while intertidal corals had
in intertidal corals.
exceptional location to evaluate returned to pre-bleaching
the recovery capacity and conditions, the majority of Composition of energy reserves I
physiology of Kimberley corals subtotal corals had suffered can also play a key role in
after the bleaching event. The from extensive mortality despite
Above:Study site at Shell Island in the Kimberley region. © Verena Schoepf
28 REEF IN REVIEWdetermining heat tolerance and
recovery capacity. Surprisingly,
only intertidal corals catabolized
energy reserves when bleached,
demonstrating that maintaining
energy reserves during bleaching
cannot guarantee survival.
Therefore, this parameter
appears to be a poor predictor of
bleaching resistance and
recovery capacity in Kimberley
corals.
Our findings challenge the
traditional view that high energy
reserves contribute to bleaching
resilience and survival. We
suggest that future research
Above: Six months after the 2016 bleaching event: remarkable coral recovery in the intertidal (left) but
should assess whether fitness
extensive mortality in the subtidal (right) © Verena Schoepf
trade-offs are associated with
survival in sub-optimal
Acknowledgements and V. Schoepf and C. Richter
conditions, particularly when
for the supervision and
combined with climate change I am very grateful for the examination of my thesis. I
stressors. Kimberley Marine Research especially thank the Bardi Jawi
Station (KMRS) price awarded
The faster recovery of intertidal Indigenous Rangers and
by the KMRS and the Australian
corals in our study provides hope Traditional Owners who enabled
Coral Reef Society. I would like
for reef habitats that suffered this research through their
to thank the staff at KMRS and
from extensive mortality during advice and consent to access
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm for
the 2016 bleaching event in the their traditional lands.
assistance in the field and lab,
Kimberley region.
Above: What determines whether a coral recovers from bleaching or not? © Verena Schoepf
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 29The multi-stage process during substrate attachment of
Acropora fragments
By Brett Lewis
Queensland University of Technology
S
ome Scleractinian corals have adapted to and/or competition. Currently, asexual reproduction
constant fragmentation from severe storm and is central to a variety of coral reef restoration
wave events by way of asexual reproduction. strategies.
This process sees the new fragments quickly attach to
Reef restoration relies on manually fragmented brood
the substrate and begin to form new colonies.
colonies (in and ex-situ) to be reared in nurseries until
The initial success of asexual recruitment is dictated they form adult colonies. The adult colonies are then
by the speed of attachment, recovery and regrowth out-planted onto degraded reefs – allowing the corals
which help the recruits avoid mortality during the to avoid the early growth phase. The success of
“early growth phase” - the phase when they are most restoration through nursery-grown corals is dictated
susceptible to disease, sedimentation, overgrowth by robust attachment of the colony. Despite its
Above: Backscatter SEM overlayed with confocal fluorescence microscopy image of the lappet appendage highlighting the complex morphology and sites of new skeletal
formation. © Brett Lewis
30 REEF IN REVIEWimportant biological and restorative role, the Understanding the biomechanics of coral attachment
biomechanics of coral attachment have not been allows for improved choice of substrates and coral
documented. taxa to maximise attachment and begin establish
baselines for coral regrowth. We hope this creates a
This study used brood colonies of Acropora that were better framework for restoration management on
fragmented into 5 cm to 10 cm pieces to document the
degraded reefs requiring intervention strategies while
biomechanics of coral fragment and substrate also creating novel observational and sample
interaction leading to attachment. Each fragment then preparation techniques.
had a large, immovable sediment clast placed onto its
surface (Fig 1). The interface between the clast and
the fragments tissues was observed using time-lapse
light microscopy over a 28-day period.
The three-stage process of substrate attachment:
Stage 1 - Immune response (1-2 days):
This stage is characterised by lesion formation,
inflammation and increased mucus production at the
interface between the coral tissue and the substrate.
The coral formed a mucus shield that aided tissue
recovery and protected the contact site from the
surrounding environment. Mesenterial filaments
cleaned the substrate and lesion while aiding mucus
excretion (Fig 1). Increases in epitheliomuscular cells
increased epithelial complexity leading to thickened
and undulated morphology in tissue directly in
contact with the substrate.
Stage 2 - Proto-lappet development (3-8 days):
A weak anchor to the substrate is created as
epitheliomuscular cells continue to increase, and
surface tissues undulate and extend to the substrate
surface. We define this as the ‘proto-lappet’. Once the
proto-lappet has formed the coral deploys mesenterial
filaments to surface inside the sealed area to carry out
autolysis of the epidermal tissues. Despite the
increase in mobility and a weak attachment, the
proto-lappet has limited capacity for migration along
the substrate surface.
Stage 3 - Lappet development leading to
accretion (4 to 14 days):
The proto-lappet eventually forms a full lappet
structure that was previously only seen in epithecate
corals. The lappet acts as the junction between the
epithelial layers (Fig 3). The increased morphological
complexity and musculature help seal off the corals
corallum and sites of new skeletal formation. A thin
appendage or ‘tongue’ forms at the lappet transition
zone and extends along the substrate between the Images of the experimental process. Top: In some cases, glass was used as the
lappet and the surface and accretes the initial skeletal sediment clast to get a better view of the coral/substrate interaction. Bottom:
layer. This thin layer of skeleton is thickened as the Timelapse image of the coral/substrate interface showing tissue inflammation
lappet migrates over the surface via systematic and large number of mesenterial filaments active. © Brett Lewis
pulsing - facilitated by the increased musculature.
THE AUSTRALIAN CORAL REEF SOCIETY 31Painted sweetlips (Diagramma pictum) resting on a shallow reef © Victor Huertas
Science communication for early
career scientists
By Taryn Laubenstein
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University
ScienceTaryn
G
reat scientists have skills in match. For those with a competitive variety of competitions, including the
experimental design, streak, there are science annual ACRS photo competition, or
laboratory techniques, communication competitions for larger competitions like the
literature review, and statistics. PhD students, like Three Minute Australian Geographic Nature
However, an often-overlooked “soft Thesis (university / national) and Photographer of the Year (national)
skill” is just as essential to success in FameLab (national/ international) or the Royal Society Photo
science: communication. The most that come with free presentation Competition (international). For
sophisticated research cannot make workshops and training. You can also videographers, there are lots of new
an impact if it is not written clearly, volunteer for one-off events: lead a opportunities each year; the
so it is crucial to develop a strong tour group of teachers through your Australian Society for Fish Biology
foundation in communication. lab, visit your old high school to give has an annual video competition, and
a talk, or even attend a networking the Visualise Your Thesis
During the course of my PhD, I have event. Each time you speak you’ll get competition (university/ national)
sought out a variety of opportunities a little more relaxed and a little less launched in 2018. However, if you
for communicating my research and nervous, so you can give your next are not already talented in visual
the research of others. These conference talk without breaking a arts, you can still improve these
experiences have opened doors for sweat. skills. Many universities offer
me that I did not think possible, and workshops or classes in photography,
have led me into a career path that videography, and graphic design at a
will involve science communication. “The most discounted rate or free to students.
In this piece, I’d like to share some
sophisticated
opportunities that I have found
useful for improving communication research cannot Written
skills, including oral, visual, written,
make an impact if
and social media. This is not an Peer-reviewed papers are the gold
exhaustive list, but you’ll find once it is not written standard for written communication
you enter the world of science in science, but they are just the tip of
clearly.”
communication, there are simply too the iceberg when it comes to science
many possibilities to try them all! writing. You can branch out by
Visual writing for science blogs or
magazines (like this one!) about your
Oral If you are the type of scientist that research. If you have a strong story,
has an artistic flair, there are plenty you could also pitch to The
We all have to give talks at of opportunities to use your skills to Conversation, a media outlet that
conferences, and it can be nerve- promote your science. Visual artists publishes articles written by
wracking to present your work to the can create stunning graphics for academics. However, if you’d like a
top scientists in your field. Aside paper figures, visual abstracts, and break from writing about your own
from having top-notch research, social media posts. Some researchers work, you can try freelance writing.
another way to calm your nerves and have had success in freelance visual Some journals, like Conservation
prepare for conferences is to seek out arts; for instance, Dr. Erin Walsh has Physiology and Evolution, have
other opportunities for public helped me to create a figure for a sections devoted to 500-word
speaking. There are informal events paper as well as a gorgeous drawing summaries of new papers that are
like Pint of Science (national) and of salmon for a popular science aimed at a general audience. If you
Inspiration on Tap (university) that article. Photographers can apply to a reach out, you could become a
mix beer and science, a winning
34 REEF IN REVIEWYou can also read
