Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity
Niue represents one of many important steppingstones facilitating the dispersal of marine organisms across the tropical Pacific Ocean. This study is part of a collaborative expedition involving National Geographic Pristine Seas, the government of Niue, Oceans 5, and the Pacific Community. We present...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230997 |
| _version_ | 1797360191769935872 |
|---|---|
| author | Shai Oron Alan M. Friedlander Enric Sala Beverly N. Goodman-Tchernov |
| author_facet | Shai Oron Alan M. Friedlander Enric Sala Beverly N. Goodman-Tchernov |
| author_sort | Shai Oron |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Niue represents one of many important steppingstones facilitating the dispersal of marine organisms across the tropical Pacific Ocean. This study is part of a collaborative expedition involving National Geographic Pristine Seas, the government of Niue, Oceans 5, and the Pacific Community. We present the first survey documenting the species richness of foraminiferal communities in Niue and nearby Beveridge Reef and explore their significance for ecosystem integrity. A substantial portion (59%) of Niue's foraminiferal assemblages is Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF), a symbiont-bearing group known as ecosystem engineers and indicators of coral reef regime shifts. LBF species reported here reflect the gradual decrease of tropical diversity from the Coral Triangle towards the central Pacific Ocean. Calcarinidae, an LBF family represented in this study by two species, is the easternmost ever recorded in published literature, and the biogeographical dispersal of this temperature-controlled group is of great importance to future global warming related studies. Foraminifera are an important component of beach development in Niue, with a close relationship between source and depositional zones. These essential ecological–sedimentary linkages highlight the importance of habitat conservation not only as a means to safeguard biodiversity, but also for its role in the island's physical framework. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:35:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-956e1b6440174da7bc2d2a8a430d236d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:35:48Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-956e1b6440174da7bc2d2a8a430d236d2024-01-10T00:05:55ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032024-01-0111110.1098/rsos.230997Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrityShai Oron0Alan M. Friedlander1Enric Sala2Beverly N. Goodman-Tchernov3Department of Marine Geosciences, University of Haifa, Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences, Haifa, IsraelPristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USAPristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USADepartment of Marine Geosciences, University of Haifa, Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences, Haifa, IsraelNiue represents one of many important steppingstones facilitating the dispersal of marine organisms across the tropical Pacific Ocean. This study is part of a collaborative expedition involving National Geographic Pristine Seas, the government of Niue, Oceans 5, and the Pacific Community. We present the first survey documenting the species richness of foraminiferal communities in Niue and nearby Beveridge Reef and explore their significance for ecosystem integrity. A substantial portion (59%) of Niue's foraminiferal assemblages is Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF), a symbiont-bearing group known as ecosystem engineers and indicators of coral reef regime shifts. LBF species reported here reflect the gradual decrease of tropical diversity from the Coral Triangle towards the central Pacific Ocean. Calcarinidae, an LBF family represented in this study by two species, is the easternmost ever recorded in published literature, and the biogeographical dispersal of this temperature-controlled group is of great importance to future global warming related studies. Foraminifera are an important component of beach development in Niue, with a close relationship between source and depositional zones. These essential ecological–sedimentary linkages highlight the importance of habitat conservation not only as a means to safeguard biodiversity, but also for its role in the island's physical framework.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230997foraminiferaNiuebiodiversitybiogeographypristine seas |
| spellingShingle | Shai Oron Alan M. Friedlander Enric Sala Beverly N. Goodman-Tchernov Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity Royal Society Open Science foraminifera Niue biodiversity biogeography pristine seas |
| title | Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity |
| title_full | Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity |
| title_fullStr | Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity |
| title_short | Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity |
| title_sort | shallow water foraminifera from niue and beveridge reef south pacific insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity |
| topic | foraminifera Niue biodiversity biogeography pristine seas |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230997 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shaioron shallowwaterforaminiferafromniueandbeveridgereefsouthpacificinsightsintoecologicalsignificanceandecosystemintegrity AT alanmfriedlander shallowwaterforaminiferafromniueandbeveridgereefsouthpacificinsightsintoecologicalsignificanceandecosystemintegrity AT enricsala shallowwaterforaminiferafromniueandbeveridgereefsouthpacificinsightsintoecologicalsignificanceandecosystemintegrity AT beverlyngoodmantchernov shallowwaterforaminiferafromniueandbeveridgereefsouthpacificinsightsintoecologicalsignificanceandecosystemintegrity |