David M. Baker
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View article: Trophic niche partitioning in giant clams
Trophic niche partitioning in giant clams Open
Ecosystems are influenced by competition for limited resources, a driver of niche partitioning. Over time, the emergence of novel traits facilitating new resource exploitation can reduce competition. However, additional layers of complexit…
View article: A glimpse into a vanished ecosystem: reconstructing diet and palaeoenvironment of <i>Palaeoloxodon</i> from the Pleistocene of Taiwan
A glimpse into a vanished ecosystem: reconstructing diet and palaeoenvironment of <i>Palaeoloxodon</i> from the Pleistocene of Taiwan Open
Palaeoloxodon is the largest known terrestrial mammal in the history of Taiwan. However, little is known about the palaeoecology and palaeoenvironment of these extinct proboscideans. In this study, we investigate the stable carbon and oxyg…
View article: Assessing the Effectiveness of 3D-Printed Ceramic Structures for Coral Restoration: Growth, Survivorship, and Biodiversity Using Visual Surveys and eDNA
Assessing the Effectiveness of 3D-Printed Ceramic Structures for Coral Restoration: Growth, Survivorship, and Biodiversity Using Visual Surveys and eDNA Open
Coral reef degradation has spurred the development of artificial structures to mitigate losses in coral cover. These structures serve as substrates for coral transplantation, with the expectation that growing corals will attract reef-assoc…
View article: Host Evaluation: Reliance on Symbionts: A new metric for quantifying nutrient exchange in nutritional mutualisms
Host Evaluation: Reliance on Symbionts: A new metric for quantifying nutrient exchange in nutritional mutualisms Open
Mutualisms between autotrophs and heterotrophs that exchange nutrients are of pivotal importance in the ecology and evolution of life on Earth. However, investigation of holobiont trophic strategy (reliance on autotrophy vs. heterotrophy) …
View article: Assessing the Effectiveness of 3D-Printed Ceramic Structures for Coral Restoration: Growth, Survivorship, and Biodiversity Using Visual Surveys and eDNA
Assessing the Effectiveness of 3D-Printed Ceramic Structures for Coral Restoration: Growth, Survivorship, and Biodiversity Using Visual Surveys and eDNA Open
Coral reef degradation has spurred the development of artificial structures to mitigate losses in coral cover. These structures serve as substrates for coral transplantation, with the expectation that growing corals will attract reef-assoc…
View article: A mammoth task: stable isotope analyses as a tool to prevent illegal trade of elephant ivory
A mammoth task: stable isotope analyses as a tool to prevent illegal trade of elephant ivory Open
Although mammoth ivory was claimed as a substitute to elephant ivory, there are several issues with the current methods to differentiate the two ivory, which provided a loophole to laundering and illegal trade. To contribute to developing …
View article: First assessment of biofouling assemblages in the northern Red Sea, an important region for marine non-indigenous species transfer
First assessment of biofouling assemblages in the northern Red Sea, an important region for marine non-indigenous species transfer Open
Introduction Maritime traffic and coastal urbanisation significantly contribute to the introduction and proliferation of non-indigenous species (NIS). However, the lack of information might prevent effective monitoring in data-limited regi…
View article: Chemical pollution drives taxonomic and functional shifts in marine sediment microbiome, influencing benthic metazoans
Chemical pollution drives taxonomic and functional shifts in marine sediment microbiome, influencing benthic metazoans Open
Microbial communities in marine sediments contribute significantly to the overall health and resiliency of marine ecosystems. However, increased human disturbance undermines biodiversity and, hence, natural functionality provided by marine…
View article: Changes within the coral symbiosis underpin seasonal trophic plasticity in reef corals
Changes within the coral symbiosis underpin seasonal trophic plasticity in reef corals Open
Scleractinian corals are mixotrophic organisms that use both autotrophic and heterotrophic pathways to fulfill their metabolic needs. Corals span a spectrum of trophic strategies and vary in their dependence on associated algal symbionts, …
View article: Wildlife trade investigations benefit from multivariate stable isotope analyses
Wildlife trade investigations benefit from multivariate stable isotope analyses Open
The investigation of wildlife trade and crime has benefitted from advances in technology and scientific development in a variety of fields. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) represents one rapidly developing approach that has considerable pote…
View article: The bacterial microbiome of symbiotic and menthol-bleached polyps of long-term aquarium-reared Galaxea fascicularis
The bacterial microbiome of symbiotic and menthol-bleached polyps of long-term aquarium-reared Galaxea fascicularis Open
Coral reefs support the livelihood of half a billion people but are at high risk of collapse due to the vulnerability of corals to climate change and local anthropogenic stressors. While understanding coral functioning is essential to guid…
View article: Life goes on: Spatial heterogeneity promotes biodiversity in an urbanized coastal marine ecosystem
Life goes on: Spatial heterogeneity promotes biodiversity in an urbanized coastal marine ecosystem Open
Both human populations and marine biodiversity are concentrated along coastlines, with growing conservation interest in how these ecosystems can survive intense anthropogenic impacts. Tropical urban centres provide valuable research opport…
View article: Trophic niche partitioning in symbiotic marine invertebrates
Trophic niche partitioning in symbiotic marine invertebrates Open
Fierce competition for food and space underpins coral reefs’ biodiversity - supported by photosymbiotic foundational species. In contrast to other ecosystems, there is scant evidence that competition is mitigated by niche partitioning. Ind…
View article: Coral carbonate-bound isotopes reveal monsoonal influence on nitrogen sources in Southeastern China's Greater Bay Area from the mid-Holocene until the Anthropocene
Coral carbonate-bound isotopes reveal monsoonal influence on nitrogen sources in Southeastern China's Greater Bay Area from the mid-Holocene until the Anthropocene Open
Most anthropogenic nitrogen (N) reaches coastal waters via rivers carrying increasing loads of sewage, fertilizer, and sediments. To understand anthropogenic N impacts, we need to understand historical N-dynamics before human influence. St…
View article: The bacterial microbiome of symbiotic and menthol-bleached polyps of long-term aquarium-reared<i>Galaxea fascicularis</i>
The bacterial microbiome of symbiotic and menthol-bleached polyps of long-term aquarium-reared<i>Galaxea fascicularis</i> Open
A bstract Coral reefs support the livelihood of half a billion people but are at high risk of collapse due to the vulnerability of corals to climate change and local anthropogenic stressors. While understanding coral functioning is essenti…
View article: The reef-building coral Galaxea fascicularis: a new model system for coral symbiosis research
The reef-building coral Galaxea fascicularis: a new model system for coral symbiosis research Open
Reef-building corals owe their evolutionary success to their symbiosis with unicellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae). However, increasingly frequent heat waves lead to coral mass-bleaching events and pose a serious threat to the survival of ree…
View article: The reef-building coral<i>Galaxea fascicularis</i>: a new model system for coral symbiosis research
The reef-building coral<i>Galaxea fascicularis</i>: a new model system for coral symbiosis research Open
Reef-building corals owe their evolutionary success to their symbiosis with unicellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae). However, increasingly frequent heat waves lead to coral mass-bleaching events and pose a serious threat to the survival of ree…
View article: Development of an eDNA‐based survey method for urban fish markets
Development of an eDNA‐based survey method for urban fish markets Open
Fish and fishery products are among the most highly traded commodities in the world, and over‐exploitation continues to threaten the biodiversity and sustainability of global stocks. The state of knowledge for many fish species is limited …
View article: Grand Challenges in Coevolution
Grand Challenges in Coevolution Open
Open access journal
View article: An Updated Checklist of Sea Slugs (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from Hong Kong Supported by Citizen Science.
An Updated Checklist of Sea Slugs (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from Hong Kong Supported by Citizen Science. Open
Research on heterobranch sea slug diversity in Hong Kong was flourishing in the 1980-90s, with the first checklist and guidebook published and many new species and records documented later. This golden era of sea slug research ended abrupt…
View article: Coral-associated nitrogen fixation rates and diazotrophic diversity on a nutrient-replete equatorial reef
Coral-associated nitrogen fixation rates and diazotrophic diversity on a nutrient-replete equatorial reef Open
The role of diazotrophs in coral physiology and reef biogeochemistry remains poorly understood, in part because N2 fixation rates and diazotrophic community composition have only been jointly analyzed in the tissue of one tropical coral sp…
View article: The benefits of herbivory outweigh the costs of bioerosion in a eutrophic coral community
The benefits of herbivory outweigh the costs of bioerosion in a eutrophic coral community Open
Herbivores play an integral part in maintaining the health of coral reefs by suppressing the growth of algae and accumulation of sediment and facilitating coral growth. However, in predator-depleted systems where densities of herbivores ar…
View article: Response to Comment on Trophic strategy and bleaching resistance in reef-building corals
Response to Comment on Trophic strategy and bleaching resistance in reef-building corals Open
We outline best practices for using Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R analysis to measure symbiotic trophic niches.
View article: Holobiont Nitrogen Control and its Potential for Eutrophication Resistance in an Obligate Photosymbiotic Jellyfish
Holobiont Nitrogen Control and its Potential for Eutrophication Resistance in an Obligate Photosymbiotic Jellyfish Open
Background: Marine holobionts depend on microbial partners for health and nutrient cycling. This is particularly evident amongst cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses, where nutrient acquisition is facilitated. However, the symbiosis is sens…
View article: Multifunctionality of an Urbanized Coastal Marine Ecosystem
Multifunctionality of an Urbanized Coastal Marine Ecosystem Open
Coastal marine ecosystems provide numerous invaluable services and benefits to humankind. However, urbanization of coastal areas has homogenized and reduced the biodiversity of the surrounding marine environment and the sustainability of t…