Current Search:  Studivan, Michael (x)

View All Items

  • CSV Spreadsheet
(1 - 4 of 4)
Connectivity and Plasticity of Mesophotic Corals in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Title
Connectivity and Plasticity of Mesophotic Corals in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Creator
Studivan, Michael, Voss, Joshua, Graduate College
Abstract/Description
Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are threatened by disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change. Recently mesophotic coral ecosystems MCEs have been discovered and characterized as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths. Because MCEs appear to be sheltered from many of the stressors known to affect shallow reefs, Glynn 1996 originally proposed that deeper reefs may act as a refuge for coral species by providing larvae to nearby shallow reefs. My dissertation...
Show moreCoral reef ecosystems worldwide are threatened by disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change. Recently mesophotic coral ecosystems MCEs have been discovered and characterized as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths. Because MCEs appear to be sheltered from many of the stressors known to affect shallow reefs, Glynn 1996 originally proposed that deeper reefs may act as a refuge for coral species by providing larvae to nearby shallow reefs. My dissertation research will address key questions that underlie this theory and advance our knowledge of coral ecology and physiology at mesophotic depths. including: 1 How well are MCEs connected to shallow reefs, and 2 Can corals adapt their morphology and gene expression to match changing environmental stimuli? Microsatellite based analysis of genetic connectivity will be complemented by morphometric analyses of corallite phenotypic plasticity and gene expression profiling in the dominant coral species, Montastraea cavernosa. MCEs in the Flower Garden Banks and Pulley Ridge have been surveyed and sampled using both ROVs and technical diving in 2011-2013, with additional expeditions planned for 2014-2015. A reciprocal transplant experiment on Carrie Bow Cay, Belize will assess the physiological and morphological plasticity of M. cavernosa in shallow and mesophotic environments. This project will address the influences of both environment and genotype control on coral’s potentially plastic responses. Additionally, this research is designed to provide data for improved regional management of mesophotic coral reef ecosystems and to strengthen collaborative marine research through NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology CIOERT.
Show less
Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005168
Format
Document (PDF)
Genetic Connectivity and Phenotypic Plasticity of Shallow and Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico
Title
Genetic Connectivity and Phenotypic Plasticity of Shallow and Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.
Creator
Studivan, Michael, Voss, Joshua, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description
Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing degradation due to disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been recently gaining attention through increased characterization as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths (>30 m). As MCEs appear to be sheltered from many stressors affecting shallow reefs, MCEs may act as a coral refuge and provide larvae to nearby shallow...
Show moreCoral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing degradation due to disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been recently gaining attention through increased characterization as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths (>30 m). As MCEs appear to be sheltered from many stressors affecting shallow reefs, MCEs may act as a coral refuge and provide larvae to nearby shallow reefs. The Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis (DRRH) posits that shallow and mesophotic reefs may be genetically connected and that some coral species are equally compatible in both habitats. The research presented here addresses key questions that underlie this theory and advances our knowledge of coral connectivity and MCE ecology using the depth-generalist coral Montastraea cavernosa. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the DRRH, a description of MCEs in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), and the framework of research questions within existing reef management infrastructure in the GOM. Through microsatellite genotyping, Chapter 2 identifies high connectivity among shallow and mesophotic reefs in the northwest GOM and evidence for relative isolation between depth zones in Belize and the southeast GOM. Historical migration and vertical connectivity models estimate Gulf-wide population panmixia. Chapter 3 focuses on population structure within the northwest GOM, identifying a lack of significant population structure. Dominant migration patterns estimate population panmixia, suggesting mesophotic populations currently considered for National Marine Sanctuary protection benefit the Flower Garden Banks. Chapter 4 quantifies the level of morphological variation between shallow and mesophotic M. cavernosa, revealing two distinct morphotypes possibly representing adaptive tradeoffs. Chapter 5 examines the transcriptomic mechanisms behind coral plasticity between depth zones, discovering a consistent response to mesophotic conditions across regions. Additionally, variable plasticity of mesophotic corals resulting from transplantation to shallow depths and potential differences in bleaching resilience between shallow and mesophotic corals are identified. The dissertation concludes with a synthesis of the results as they pertain to connectivity of shallow and mesophotic corals in the Gulf of Mexico and suggests future research that will aid in further understanding of MCE ecology and connectivity.
Show less
Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005961
Subject Headings
Coral reef ecology--Mexico, Gulf of, Phenotypic plasticity, Montastraea, Ecological genetics
Format
Document (PDF)
Cruise Report. Cuba's Twilight Zone Reefs: Remotely Operated Vehicle Surveys of Deep/Mesophotic Coral Reefs and Associated Fish Communities of Cuba
Title
Cruise Report. Cuba's Twilight Zone Reefs: Remotely Operated Vehicle Surveys of Deep/Mesophotic Coral Reefs and Associated Fish Communities of Cuba.
Creator
Reed, John K., Farrington, Stephanie, Gonzalez-Diaz, Patricia, Lopez, Linnet Busutil, Martínez-Daranas, Beatriz, Cobián Rojas, Dorka, Voss, Joshua, Hanisak, M. Dennis, Diaz, Maria Cristina, Jiang, Mingshun, Studivan, Michael, David, Andrew, Drummond, Felicia, Mendez, Juliett Gonzalez, Garcia Rodriguez, Alain, González-Sanchez, Patricia M., Fernández, Jorge Viamontes, Pérez, Daniel Estrada, Horn, Lance, White, Jason, Pomponi, Shirley A.
Abstract/Description
The purpose of this research cruise was to discover and characterize, for the first time, the extent of mesophotic reefs along the entire coastline of Cuba, and to compare the health and connectivity (physical, genetic and ecological) among both mesophotic and previously well-characterized shallow reef systems in Cuba, the southeastern United States, and Gulf of Mexico (in particular, the FGBNMS and FKNMS). Moreover, the project will directly address a recommendation in the Report from...
Show moreThe purpose of this research cruise was to discover and characterize, for the first time, the extent of mesophotic reefs along the entire coastline of Cuba, and to compare the health and connectivity (physical, genetic and ecological) among both mesophotic and previously well-characterized shallow reef systems in Cuba, the southeastern United States, and Gulf of Mexico (in particular, the FGBNMS and FKNMS). Moreover, the project will directly address a recommendation in the Report from MarCuba (2015) in which the U.S. and Cuban participants in this project stated their intention to initiate an international collaboration.
Show less
Date Issued
2017-10-31
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000226
Format
Citation
Cuba's Mesophotic Coral Reefs and Associated Fish Communities
Title
Cuba's Mesophotic Coral Reefs and Associated Fish Communities.
Creator
Reed, John K., Gonzalez-Diaz, Patricia, Busutil, Linnet, Farrington, Stephanie, Martínez-Daranas, Beatriz, Cobián Rojas, Dorka, Voss, Joshua, Diaz, Maria Cristina, David, Andrew, Hanisak, M. Dennis, Mendez, Juliett Gonzalez, Garcia Rodriguez, Alain, González-Sanchez, Patricia M., Viamontes Fernandez, Jorge, Estrada Perez, Daniel, Studivan, Michael, Drummond, Felicia, Jiang, Mingshun, Pomponi, Shirley A.
Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000351
Format
Citation