MANOA — University of Hawai‘i at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology researchers found that human-induced environmental stressors have a large effect on the genetic composition of coral reef populations in Hawai‘i.
According to a recent study, they confirmed that there is an ongoing loss of sensitive genotypes in nearshore coral populations due to stressors resulting from poor land-use practices and coastal pollution. This reduced genetic diversity compromises reef resilience.
The study identified closer genetic relationships between nearshore corals in Maunalua Bay, Oʻahu, and those from sites off West Maui, than to corals from the same islands, but further offshore. This pattern can be described as “isolation by environment” in contrast to isolation by distance. This is an adaptive response by the corals to watershed discharges that contain sediment and pollutants from land.
“While the results were not surprising, they clearly demonstrate the critical need to control local sources of stress immediately while concurrently addressing the root causes of global climate change,” said Robert Richmond, UH Manoa research professor, director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory and co-author of the study.
“Additionally, this innovative science shows the need to track biodiversity at multiple levels.”
This research provides valuable information to coral reef managers in Hawai‘i and around the world who are developing approaches and implementation plans to enhance coral-reef resilience and recovery through reef restoration and stressor reduction, he said.
“This study shows the value of applying molecular tools to ecological studies supporting coral-reef management,” said Kaho Tisthammer, the study’s lead researcher.
While the loss of coral colonies and species is easy to see with the naked eye, molecular tools are needed to uncover the effects of stressors on the genetic diversity within coral reef populations, he said.
This research, performed by Richmond, Tisthammer, Rob Toonen and Zac Forsman, was a collaborative effort between researchers at SOEST’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Pacific Biosciences Research Center and the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology.
