Thalassodendron ciliatum (Cymodoceaceae) in Palau: occurrence, typhoon impacts and changes over time

Patrick L. Colin

doi:10.1515/bot-2017-0079

Article

Thalassodendron ciliatum (Cymodoceaceae) in Palau: occurrence, typhoon impacts and changes over time

Patrick L. Colin
Patrick L. Colin is the Director of the Coral Reef Research Foundation based in the Republic of Palau. He was awarded a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Miami. His research over the past three decades has concerned ocean exploration and biophysical observation, with a focus on discovery of novel species and examination of poorly known/remote habitats of the tropical western Pacific. His work employs a variety of submarine, surface and airborne systems to map and gain knowledge concerning the tropical marine habitats, particularly towards obtaining data needed to assess marine climate change.

Published/Copyright: November 9, 2018

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information Explore this Subject

From the journal Botanica Marina Volume 61 Issue 6

Abstract

The seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum (Cymodoceaceae) is uncommon in Palau, Micronesia, but remnant beds occur in an area of less than 1 km² on the northern tip of Velasco Reef, a sunken atoll, plus small areas on its western rim. The ridges are lengthy, consisting of rhizome mat and seagrass up to 1 m high, and 4–8 m wide forming curving elongate shapes (arcs, concentric curves, circles, patches). Most occur on a gently sloping limestone bottom 22–27 m deep, with some as shallow as 15 m on the Western Rim, and ridges sit directly on top of the limestone pavement, with only the weight of mat and its incorporated rock materials holding them in place. Photographic monitoring over time has indicated they are actively eroding on their edges, but the passage of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 caused much greater damage to the beds. Small patches occur in shallow water on the east side of Babeldaob Island slightly behind the fringing reef crest and have not changed significantly over recent decades.

Keywords: erosion; Palau; sunken atoll; typhoon damage; Velasco Reef

About the author

Patrick L. Colin

Patrick L. Colin is the Director of the Coral Reef Research Foundation based in the Republic of Palau. He was awarded a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Miami. His research over the past three decades has concerned ocean exploration and biophysical observation, with a focus on discovery of novel species and examination of poorly known/remote habitats of the tropical western Pacific. His work employs a variety of submarine, surface and airborne systems to map and gain knowledge concerning the tropical marine habitats, particularly towards obtaining data needed to assess marine climate change.

Acknowledgments

The staff of the Coral Reef Research Foundation provided essential assistance during the field work, particularly Lori J. Bell, Gerda Ucharm, Sharon Patris, Steve Lindfield, Matt Mesubed and Emilio Basilius. Lori J. Bell and Steve Lindfield reviewed the manuscript, while two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their efforts. Mandy Etpison of NECO Marine was instrumental in the initial field work, and Paul Collins assisted with some diving. Dr. Phil Dustan likewise assisted with diving and provided underwater photographs. Permits and agreements for research were obtained from the Bureau of Marine Resources, Palau National Government and appropriate State governments in Palau.

References

Colin, P.L. 2008. Velasco Reef: a sunken atoll with unusual ‘‘remnant’’ beds of the seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum. Coral Reefs 27: 395.10.1007/s00338-007-0351-6Search in Google Scholar

Colin, P.L. 2009. Marine environments of Palau. Indo-Pacific Press. pp. 414. http://coralreefpalau.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Colin-PL-2009-Marine-Environments-of-Palau.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

Coral Reef Research Foundation. 2014. A summary of Palau’s typhoon history 1945–2013, Technical Report. pp. 17. http://coralreefpalau.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CRRF-Palau-Typhoon-History-2014-1.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

den Hartog, C. 1970. The sea-grasses of the world. Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, afd, Natuurkunde, Tweede Reeks 59. pp. 1–275.Search in Google Scholar

Krämer, A. 1919. Results of the South Seas Expeditions. Section III. Settlements,Palau Vol. 2. Friedrichsen, De Gruyter & Co. m. b. Hamburg. (translation 2017).Search in Google Scholar

Ogden, J.C and N.B. Ogden. 1982. A preliminary study of two representative seagrass communities in Palau, Western Caroline Islands (Micronesia). Aquatic Botany 12: 229–244.10.1016/0304-3770(82)90019-5Search in Google Scholar

Ohba, H., S. Victor, Y. Golbuu and J. Yukihira. 2007. Tropical marine plants of Palau. Palau International Coral Reef Center, Koror, Palau. pp. 154.Search in Google Scholar

Short, F., T. Carruthers, W. Dennison and M. Waycott. 2007. Global seagrass distribution and diversity: a bioregional model. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 350: 3–20.10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.012Search in Google Scholar

Tsuda, R.T., F.R. Fosberg and M.-H. Sachet. 1977. Distribution of seagrasses in Micronesia. Micronesica 13: 191–198.Search in Google Scholar

Victor, S. 2007 Seagrasses of Palau: status and threats: 103–109. In: (H. Kayane, M. Omori, K. Fabricius, E. Verheij, P. Colin, Y. Golbuu and Y. Yukihira, eds) Coral reefs of Palau. Palau International Coral Reef Center, Koror, Palau. pp. 238.Search in Google Scholar

Article note

This article is related to special issue Seagrass research in Southeast Asia, published in Botanica Marina 2018, vol. 61, issue 3.

Received: 2017-10-13

Accepted: 2018-10-12

Published Online: 2018-11-09

Published in Print: 2018-12-19

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2017-0079

Keywords for this article

erosion; Palau; sunken atoll; typhoon damage; Velasco Reef