Biology subjects

Doropoulos, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Doropoulos, C..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Colouring coral larvae for tracking dispersal

O_LIEcologists have long sought to understand larval dispersal characteristics of benthic marine invertebrates. Direct quantification of coral larvae dispersal has proven challenging, in part due to their complex life-history, minute size, and widespread dispersal at the scale of kilometres. Instead, indirect methods such as particle modelling, chemical signatures, and genetic correlation are often used in dispersal studies. C_LIO_LIHere, we develop a direct method of quantifying larval dispersal by applying vital stains to coral larvae, allowing differentiation and direct tracking of millions of larvae from the pelagic dispersal stage through to the sedentary stages of attachment and metamorphosis on coral reefs. C_LIO_LINeutral red and Nile blue stains were extremely effective at staining coral larvae, while alizarin red and calcein blue showed no visible results. Differences in toxicity to vital stains was noted among species, with Acropora spp. exhibiting decreased larval survival and settlement, while Merulinidae spp. were unaffected. By experimenting with different incubation times and concentrations, our results indicate that neutral red can be effectively applied for short periods (<20 minutes) at low concentrations (1-100 mg l-1), whereas Nile blue requires longer stain times (>60 minutes) at higher concentrations (100-1000 mg l-1). C_LIO_LIThe strong colour of both neutral red and Nile blue stains was retained by newly settled larvae in lab settings upwards of five days following settlement, providing a direct method of differentiating between newly settled larvae on reefs. Field-validation of Nile blue applied to coral larvae from wild-captured coral slicks demonstrates the efficacy of staining across a diverse range of coral taxa. C_LIO_LIVital staining provides a simple, rapid (<60 mins), and low cost (<AUD$0.00001 per larva) method of colouring coral larvae that allows for direct tracking of dispersal and recruitment in studies of reef connectivity and restoration. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2021

Selecting species for restoration in foundational assemblages

O_LIHumans have long sought to restore species, but little attention has been directed at how to best select a subset of foundation species for maintaining rich assemblages that support ecosystems, like coral reefs and rainforests that are increasingly threatened by environmental change. C_LIO_LIWe propose a two-part hedging approach that selects optimized sets of species for restoration. The first part acknowledges that biodiversity supports ecosystem functions and services, and so it takes precaution against loss by ensuring an even spread of phenotypic traits. The second part maximizes species and ecosystem persistence by weighting species based on characteristics that are known to improve ecological persistence--e.g., abundance, species range and tolerance to environmental change. C_LIO_LIUsing existing phenotypic trait and ecological characteristic data for reef building corals, we identified sets of ecologically persistent species by examining marginal returns in occupancy of phenotypic trait space. We compared optimal sets of species with those from the worlds southern-most coral reef which naturally harbors low coral diversity to show these occupy much of the trait space. Comparison with an existing coral restoration program indicated that current corals used for restoration only cover part of the desired trait space and may be improved by including species with different traits. C_LIO_LISynthesis and applications. While there are many possible criteria for selecting species for restoration, the approach proposed here addresses the need to insure against unpredictable losses of ecosystem services by focusing on a wide range of phenotypic traits and ecological characteristics. Furthermore, the flexibility of the approach enables the functional goals of restoration to vary depending on environmental context, stakeholder values, and the spatial and temporal scales at which meaningful impacts can be achieved. C_LI

ecology↗