BIO

My name is Avery Vargason and I am from Pensacola Florida. I hope to become a veterinarian later in life, but as of right now I want to conduct research. I am specifically interested in ecology and animal sciences.

Won’t you be my neighbor? Ecological associations between Acropora cervicornis and other organisms and substrates in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Abstract

Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) used to be a dominant coral species, but in the last few decades has suffered a devastating population decline. Currently, the species is listed as endangered; because of this, several organizations have undertaken efforts to restore this coral. Staghorn is a fast-growing coral that primarily reproduces via fragmentation, making it ideal for restoration. Research has been done on how to restore this coral, but much less has focused on where to restore this coral. Little is understood about how staghorn coral interacts with the benthic community, and whether certain substrates or organisms facilitate or hinder the growth of this species. We collected thousands of benthic photographs in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean using novel AI technology to cover large spatial areas that included staghorn patches and its surrounding community. Using machine learning technology, we classified the organisms in these photos, calculated the percent cover of different organisms and substrates, and correlated them to the percent cover of staghorn coral. We found no significant relationship between the presence of any other benthic organism (e.g., gorgonians) or substrates (e.g., sand, rubble) and the presence of staghorn coral. This could be attributed to the study including both wild and restored staghorn patches. Dynamics could be different in these two types of patches, so further studies should focus on examining these differences. By acquiring a better understanding of the community structure and substrates that best facilitate (or inhibit) staghorn growth, organizations could maximize the success of their restoration efforts.

Keywords: Acropora cervicornis, endangered species, Caribbean, benthic community, machine learning