The encrusting sponge Terpios hoshinota is a cyanobacteriosponge with symbiotic photosynthetic cyanobacteria. It covers live corals causing their death. Corals at Green Island were suspected to be infected by Terpios hoshinota in 2006, and field investigations indicated there was massive propagation of the species in both Green Island (Lyudao) and Orchid Island (Lanyu) in 2008 to 2010. We propose two hypotheses, either by Self-Seeding or by Long-Range Dispersal, that explain the fast propagation of Terpios hoshinota in the islands offshore of southeastern of Taiwan. We use ribosomal DNA and mitochondria DNA as molecular markers to investigate how the sponge disperses locally and in a greater geographic scale. A total of 110 samples, from Taiwan: Green Island, Orchid Island, and Kenting (Wanlitong). Japan: Okinawa, Nakijin, Miyako, Bise, Shiraho, Arahama Kumeshima, Yakomo (Okinoerabu), San (Takunoshima), and Xisha Island of China, were collected. Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) from ribosomal DNA and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) from mitochondria DNA are used as markers to infer population structure of Terpios hoshinota. No genetic variation within COI sequence over all sponges from Taiwan to Japan and China was found, although the only sponge sample from Wanlitong in Kenting had three variable sites, which suggest different species of Terpios hoshinota. Based on ITS2 analysis, haplotype diversity (h) is commonly high among most populations, but with different single haplotype found at Green Island and Arahama (Japan). Pairwise population differentiations (FST) are usually high and significant among populations supporting self-seeding, although Bise, Shiraho and Lanyu populations showed no significant differentiation that supports long-range dispersal. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) shows no population subdivision; however, genetic differentiations among populations are significantly greater than within populations. TCS analysis indicates that single haplotype in Green Island is originated from Lanyu, and populations in Bise are widely dispersed over other sponge populations in Taiwan and Japan regions. By evidence of TCS analysis with nucleotide diversity, haplotype diversity and field investigation, Bise is the origin of Terpios hoshinota among populations within this study. Frequency of sequence haplotypes indicates one dominant haplotype is shared among most of the sponge populations, and the dominated sponge haplotype takes highest proportions of local populations. The existence of dominant haplotype may result from better dispersal or reproduction ability than other haplotype in populations. Nested clade analysis shows that populations mainly have restricted gene flow with some clade have contiguous range expansion. We suggest that populations of Terpios hoshinota propagate mainly by self-seeding method with occasional long-range dispersal event that leading to genetic connection among populations and obscuring evidence of isolation by distance in these populations. In Green Island, we consider local populations as undergoing explosion within past several years and propagate by self-seeding method coming from single lineage of Lanyu. Populations in Lanyu may come from Bise, Shiraho, and Yakomo, yet may still in status of population explosion. Populations in Japan may underwent founder effect with rapid population growth, while most populations are rarely interact with each other showing deep genetic differentiation among islands, and Bise is the origin of Terpios hoshinota in this study. Not all of the sponge individuals have ability to dominate local populations, expect for one special haplotype of Terpios hoshinota is capable of dominating local population in both range and quantity, which also has capability of spreading across islands as larger distances than its habitats range in Taiwan and Japan.

In order to search for bioactive compounds, we have studied the chemical constituents from the organic extracts of the soft coral Sarcophyton stellatum, collected from Dongsha Atoll. This study had led to the identification of sixteen natural diterpenoids, including six new compounds, stellatumonone (1), stellatumolides A¡VC (2¡V4) and stellatumonins A¡VB (5¡V6), along with ten known compounds. The structures of compounds 1¡V16 were established by detailed spectroscopic data (IR, MS, 1D, 2D NMR) and by comparison of the spectral data with those of the related known compounds. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1¡V16 against the HepG2 (human liver hepatocellular carninoma cells), MDA-MB231 (human breast cancer cells) and A549 (human respiratory epithelial cells) cancer cell lines were determined. Among them, compound 16 showed cytotoxic activity toward the A549 cancer cells.

The coral-inhabiting snail Coralliophila violacea is a common species in the Indo-Pacific coral reefs and it usually lives on the surface of its host, Porites spp. In this study, field survey on the distribution of C. violacea on poritid corals, Porites spp. among sites were conducted. And the influence of flow rate on the distribution of snails was also examined through a simulation model. The sampling sites were northeastern of Taiwan, Taitung, Penghu, Lutao, Hsiao-liu-chiu and Lanyu. The presence of spatial variability in the relative abundance of C. violacea on porited corals has been observed. The highest percentage of corals with snails was in northeastern Taiwan, i.e. 45% and the lowest ones were in Lutao and Lanyu, i.e. 12%. The distribution of snails among sites were heterogeneous (X2-test of independence; p<0.001). Significant differences of shell length in snails among sites were also found. Among them, the distribution pattern of shell length in snails from Lutao and Lanyu was not normal. Difference in the age-distribution of snails among sites was present. In general, five and six years old snails were most abundant. A lack of snails under two years old had been found in Lutao, Lanyu and Penghu. Based on the simulated downward trajectory of snail larvae, it was indicated that a minimum substratum for larval settlement varied with flow rates and depth of water.

The recruitment, growth rate and survival of every juvenile corals on artificial substrates, deployed every 2 months since September 1998, for a total of 6 times, were investigated every 2 months, from November 1998 to September 2000, at Nanwan, southern Taiwan. The influence of season and habitat (e.g., new vs. old substrate and different positions etc.) on the above life history characteristics were the foci of this study. Coral recruitment during the 2-year period was low, averaging 1.3 recruits per 15x15 cm PVC plate; it was dominated by Pocilloporidae (50.7%) and Poritidae (31.9%), with Stylocoeniella guentheri (6.2%), Anthelia flava (5.1%) and Acropora sp. (2.4%) and others as minor constituents. Seasonal variations of new recruit densities were significant on new substrates of 2-months old, but not on old substrates of 14-month old. Pocilloporidae, for example, had the highest new recruit densities in May 1999; although the survival rate in this period, cumulative survivorship and growth rate were lower than those settled in other times. New recruit densities on new substrates were significantly higher than that on old substrates, but the survival rates of new recruits in the first 2 months were not significantly different between new and old substrates. The cumulative suvivorship and the initial juvenile growth rate of Pocilloporidae were higher on new than on old substrates. New recruit density of Pocilloporidae was higher in 1999 than in 2000, with an opposite pattern found in Poritidae. Juveniles prefer to settle on new substrates higher than old substrates and recruit densities decrease as plate age in Pocilloporidae, but an opposite pattern was found in Poritidae. The Pocilloporidae had relatively higher recruit densities but lower cumulative survivorship than Acropora sp. and Stylocoeniella. guentheri. A margin effect on the PVC plates was found, with higher new recruit densities and growth rates in the margin than in the intermediate and the inner region. The survival rate and the cumulative survivorship of recruits, however, were similar among the 3 regions on the plates. Thus the pattern of margin effect on the plate is unlikely a result of active larva preference. Among the scleractinian recruits, Acropora sp. had the highest growth rate, averaging 1.8 mm/month in maximum diameter. Within Pocilloporidae, the maximum diameters of juvenile Seriatopora hystrix was significant smaller than Pocillopora damicornis from 2-12 month. Some recruits of Seriatopora hystrix did not grow for more than a year. The overall cumulative survivorship of coral recruits was low at Nanwan, with 29.2% surviving the first year, and 0.7% surviving 2 years. Within dead juveniles, 65.7% was caused by disappearance and 34.3% was caused by algae, sediment and others organism etc. The relationship between size and mortality on juvenile Pocilloporidae is significant, implying that larger colony corals have higher survivor chance than smaller colony corals.

Abstract In our continuing studies on the chemical constituents of Taiwanese octocorals, the gorgonian coral Isis hippuris and the sea pen coral Virgularia juncea, which were collected from the coast of Green Island and Peng-Hung Islands, respectively, have been the subjects of our investigations. Six compounds, including two new steroids, hippuristerones A and E (1 and 2), along with three known steroids 3£]-hydroxy-5£\-pregnan -20-one (3), prenga-4-ene-3,20-dione (4), prenga-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (5) and a known sesquiterpene subergorgic acid (6) were isolated from I. hippuris. Four compounds, incoulding a new sesquterpene, junceol A (7) and two known diterpenoids, sclerophytin A (8), cladiellisin (9) and a known steroid 24-methylenecholesterol (10) were isolated from V. juncea. The structures of above isolates were determined by physical (mp and optical rotation) and extensive spectral (UV, IR, MS, HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR) analysis and by comparison with the related physical and spectral data from other known compounds. The structure, including the relative configuration of hippuristerone A (1) was further confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray analysis.Furthermore, the relative configuration of hippuristerone E (2) was supported by the chemical dynamics calculations.

Abstract Several sesquiterpenes isolated from a Formosan gorgonian coral Isis hippuris have shown significant cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines. In order to search other active components, we have investigated the chemical constituent of I. hippuris from a Green Island specimen. In the cytotoxcity assay, the EtOAc extract showed potent cytotoxic response toward P-388, A549 and HT-29 cancer cell lines. Thus, the investigation on the chemical content of this extract was carried out. This study finally led to the isolation of twelve steroids(1-12). Nine metabolites, hippuristerone G (1)¡Bhippuristerone H (2), hippuristerone I (3)¡Bhippuristerone J (4)¡Bhippuristerol E (5)¡B2a,3a-diacetoxy-24-methyl- 11b,18; 18,20b; 22,25-triepoxy-5a-furostane (7)¡B2a,3a-diacetoxy-11b- hydroxy-24-methyl-22,25-epoxy-5a-furostan-18,20b-lactone (10)¡B3a- acetoxy-11b,18a-dihydroxy-24-methyl-18,20b; 22,25-diepoxy-5a- furostane (11) and 2a,3a-diacetoxy-11b,18a-dihydroxy-24-methyl-18, 20b; 22,25-diepoxy-5a-furostane (12) are new compounds, whereas hippuristerone A (6), 3a-acetoxy-24-methyl-11b,18; 18,20b; 22,25- triepoxy-5a-furostane (7) and 3a-acetoxy-11b-hydroxy-24-methyl-22,25- epoxy-5a-furostan-18,20b-lactone (9) are known compounds. The structures of 1-12 were elucidated by spectroscopic evidences (IR, MS, 1D NMR, 2D NMR) and chemical method. The stereochemistries of compounds 7 and 9 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Cytotoxicity test revealed that hippuristerone I (3) exhibited moderate inhibition toward NCI cancer cell line.

The advantages that a side-scan sonar can offer include large-scale survey areas and high-resolution imagery which can provide the detection and positioning of underwater targets effectively. The purpose of image analysis, classification and positioning in this research was presented by the development of an automated recognition and classification system based on sonographs collected off Kenting area. Major components of the system include gray level co-occurrence matrix method, Baysian classification and cluster analysis. The sonograph classified by the automated recognition and classification system was split into two stages. The first stage divided the seafloor into three categories: (1) Rocky seafloor. (2) Sandy seafloor. (3) Acoustic shadow seafloor. Based on the characteristics of the rocky seafloor, the rocky seafloor was subdivided into five types in the second stage: (1) Flank reef and small independent reef. (2) Smooth reef. (3) Small coral on reef. (4) Coral on independent reef. (5) Large coral on reef. Analysis and proof of the system was conducted by underwater photographs collected off Kenting area in August 4, to 6, 2004. The identification accuracy of the first stage can reach 93% in Shiniuzai area. The characteristic features selected in this research (i.e., entropy and homogeneity) for the classification of various coral reef seafloors was proved adequate and the results was described in map within a Geographic Information System in the second stage. The results of this research illustrated that the rocky area identified in Shiniuzai was 98,863 m2. Due to image resolution restrictions, only 62,199 m2 of the total rocky area could be defined and classified properly. Among them, the flank reef and small independent reef covered an area of 15,954 m2 (26.3%); the smooth reef covered 3,133 m2 (5.0%); the small coral on reef covered 8,021 m2 (12.8%); the coral on independent reef covered 25,504 m2 (40.7%) and the large coral on reef covered 9,587 m2 (15.3%). Key words:side scan sonar,coral reef,gray level co-occurrence matrix

Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Title from electronic document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 103 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Chair: Noonan, Douglas S.; Committee Co-Chair: Norton, Bryan; Committee Member: Bowman, Kirk; Committee Member: Fox, Mary F. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

In 2001, the Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Program (CREMP) began monitoring the abundance and area covered by three clionid sponges (Cliona delitrix, C. lampa, and C. caribbaea). Subsequently, monitoring has been conducted annually at all 40 CREMP sites throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and the Dry Tortugas. Between 2001 and 2002, mean clionid area decreased significantly from 7.6 cm2/m2 to 4.6 cm2/m2 (Wilcoxon; p= 0.035). Between 2002 and 2003, the decline to 4.5 cm2/m2 was not significant. Approximately 80% of all clionid colonies recorded at the CREMP stations covered less than 50 cm2. Among all recorded stony coral species, Montastraea annularis, M. cavernosa, and Siderastrea siderea were the most frequently and extensively invaded by clionid colonies. However, the vast majority of clionid colonies occurred in substrata not associated with a live coral colony. The mean percent cover for the four coral species identified to be most susceptible to clionid invasion had the greatest decline in the Dry Tortugas deep stations between 2001 and 2003. At Lower Keys patch-reef stations, mean percent cover showed a small, steady decrease, while at Upper Keys patch-reef stations, a small steady increase occurred. Fifteen water-quality parameters collected by the Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN) were analyzed to determine if clionid distributions correlated with water quality. When patch-reef sites were analyzed as a subset of sites, clionid area and abundance correlated strongly ( 0.65) with water-quality parameters that indicated higher nutrient flux and food resources. However, the correlation was weak when all 39 CREMP sites were considered ( 0.10). Clionid sponges are well known to be aggressive and successful bioeroders on coral reefs.