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Creators/Authors contains: "Renzi, Julianna J"

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  1. Abstract Coral disease is becoming increasingly problematic on reefs worldwide. However, most coral disease research has focused on the abiotic drivers of disease, potentially overlooking the role of species interactions in disease dynamics. Coral predators in particular can influence disease by breaking through protective tissues and exposing corals to infections, vectoring diseases among corals, or serving as reservoirs for pathogens. Numerous studies have demonstrated the relationship between corallivores and disease in certain contexts, but to date there has been no comprehensive synthesis of the relationships between corallivores and disease, which hinders our understanding of coral disease dynamics. To address this void, we identified 65 studies from 26 different ecoregions that examine this predator–prey-disease relationship. Observational studies found over 20 positive correlations between disease prevalence and corallivore abundance, with just four instances documenting a negative correlation between corallivores and disease. Studies found putative pathogens in corallivore guts and experiments demonstrated the ability of corallivores to vector pathogens. Corallivores were also frequently found infesting disease margins or targeting diseased tissues, but the ecological ramifications of this behavior remains unknown. We found that the impact of corallivores was taxon-dependent, with most invertebrates increasing disease incidence, prevalence, or progression; fish showing highly context-dependent effects; and xanthid crabs decreasing disease progression. Simulated wounding caused disease in many cases, but experimental wound debridement slowed disease progression in others, which could explain contrasting findings from different taxa. The negative effects of corallivores are likely to worsen as storms intensify, macroalgal cover increases, more nutrients are added to marine systems, and water temperatures increase. As diseases continue to impact coral reefs globally, a more complete understanding of the ecological dynamics of disease—including those involving coral predators—is of paramount importance to coral reef conservation and management. 
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  2. Abstract Nutrient availability drives community structure and ecosystem processes, especially in tropical lagoons that are typically oligotrophic but often receive allochthonous inputs from land. Terrestrially derived nutrients are introduced to tropical lagoons by surface runoff and submarine groundwater discharge, which are influenced by seasonal precipitation. However, terrigenous inputs presumably diminish along the onshore–offshore gradients within lagoons. We characterized nutrient availability in the lagoons of a tropical high island, Moorea, French Polynesia, using spatially distributed measurements of nitrogen content in the tissues of a widespread macroalga during the rainy season over 4 yr. We used synoptic water column sampling to identify associations among macroalgal nutrient content and the composition of inorganic macronutrients, dissolved organic matter, and microbial communities. We paired these data with quantifications of land use in nearby watersheds to uncover links between terrestrial factors, aquatic chemistry, and microbial communities. Algal N content was highest near shore and near large, human‐impacted watersheds, and lower at offshore sites. Sites with high algal N had water columns with high nitrite + nitrate, silicate, and increased humic organic matter (based on a fluorescence Humification Index), especially following rain. Microbial communities were differentiated among nearshore habitats and covaried with algal N and water chemistry, supporting the hypothesis that terrigenous nutrient enrichment shapes microbial dynamics in otherwise oligotrophic tropical lagoons. This study reveals that land–sea connections create nutrient subsidies that are important for lagoon biogeochemistry and microbiology, indicating that future changes in land use or precipitation will modify ecosystem processes in tropical lagoons. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available October 30, 2026