Exploring the Lack of Funding for Coral Reef Research and it’s Effects on Coral Reef Management and Conservation

Climate change is greatly harming coral reefs (Gibbs and West, 2019). It is important to research how to help these coral reefs build resilience against climate change but research programs are severely underfunded (Johnston et al. 2020). This paper explored how lack of funding prevents scientists from saving coral reefs and how scientists themselves can be affected. The goal of this paper was to bring to light the struggles faced in the midst of underfunding to feasibly gain support from politicians and government officials to promote funding for these programs. Through three virtual interviews with two scientists and one college professor, I gathered personal experiences from these participants on how coral reefs are being affected today, why research is necessary, and how lack of funding prevents the restoration of these reefs. With the use of a thematic analysis, I was able to recognize common themes between the interviews in order to conclude how lack of program funding prevents scientists from managing and restoring these coral reef ecosystems. The initial assumption for this paper was that coral reef research is underfunded because coral reefs are considered less important, however, the analysis of the data for this paper concluded that all research programs are underfunded. In essence, marine biology, in general, is underfunded as opposed to mainly research on coral reefs. As a result, scientists can be very limited in their abilities to conduct research.

Bioactive compounds in the algae of Kappaphycus alvarezii from Belang waters, Southeast Minahasa Regency

Algae Kappaphycus alvarezii is one of the leading commodities from fisheries and marine sectors in Indonesia. This algae species has many benefits in the fields of marine biology, chemistry, pharmacy, and pharmacology, as well as an excellent nutritional content for health. It is cultivated in the coastal waters of Minahasan Peninsula, especially in Buku Village, Belang District, Southeast Minahasa Regency. This study was carried out to analyze bioactive compound in the algae. Samples of 2-weeks old were taken directly from the cultivation area. Screening test was done qualitatively while an advanced test was done using LC-HRMS method. The results showed 4 bioactive compounds detected in the sample, they are alkaloids, tannins/phenolics, saponins, and flavonoids. From the advanced test, it was found 10 major compounds in the sample, i.e. (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, phthalic acid, D-(+)-proline, maraniol, stigmatellin Y, Pentyl isopentyl phthalate, methyl thiofentanyl, phenylethanolamine, acetyl hexamethyl tetralin, and fucoxanthin.Indonesian title: Senyawa bioaktif pada alga Kappaphycus alvarezii dari perairan Belang, Kabupaten Minahasa Tenggara

An Extensive Literature Review on Underwater Image Colour Correction

The topic of underwater (UW) image colour correction and restoration has gained significant scientific interest in the last couple of decades. There are a vast number of disciplines, from marine biology to archaeology, that can and need to utilise the true information of the UW environment. Based on that, a significant number of scientists have contributed to the topic of UW image colour correction and restoration. In this paper, we try to make an unbiased and extensive review of some of the most significant contributions from the last 15 years. After considering the optical properties of water, as well as light propagation and haze that is caused by it, the focus is on the different methods that exist in the literature. The criteria for which most of them were designed, as well as the quality evaluation used to measure their effectiveness, are underlined.

Unpaid Work in Marine Science: A Snapshot of the Early-Career Job Market

Graphical AbstractBrief summary of the early-career job market in marine biology and conservation.

Corals and Sponges Under the Light of the Holobiont Concept: How Microbiomes Underpin Our Understanding of Marine Ecosystems

In the past 20 years, a new concept has slowly emerged and expanded to various domains of marine biology research: the holobiont. A holobiont describes the consortium formed by a eukaryotic host and its associated microorganisms including bacteria, archaea, protists, microalgae, fungi, and viruses. From coral reefs to the deep-sea, symbiotic relationships and host–microbiome interactions are omnipresent and central to the health of marine ecosystems. Studying marine organisms under the light of the holobiont is a new paradigm that impacts many aspects of marine sciences. This approach is an innovative way of understanding the complex functioning of marine organisms, their evolution, their ecological roles within their ecosystems, and their adaptation to face environmental changes. This review offers a broad insight into key concepts of holobiont studies and into the current knowledge of marine model holobionts. Firstly, the history of the holobiont concept and the expansion of its use from evolutionary sciences to other fields of marine biology will be discussed. Then, the ecology and physiology of marine holobionts will be investigated through the examples of corals and sponges. We will discuss the impacts of environmental change on organisms at the holobiont level and how microbiomes contribute to the resilience and/or vulnerability of their host in the face of environmental stressors. Finally, we will conclude with the development of new technologies, holistic approaches, and future prospects for conservation biology surrounding marine holobionts.