Species-specific calcification response of Caribbean corals after 2-year transplantation to a low aragonite saturation submarine spring

Ana Martinez, Elizabeth D. Crook, Daniel J. Barshis, Donald C. Potts, Mario Rebolledo-Vieyra, Laura Hernandez, Adina Paytan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Coral calcification is expected to decline as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increases. We assessed the potential of Porites astreoides, Siderastrea siderea and Porites porites to survive and calcify under acidified conditions in a 2-year field transplant experiment around low pH, low aragonite saturation (Varag) submarine springs. Slow-growing S. siderea had the highest post-transplantation survival and showed increases in concentrations of Symbiodiniaceae, chlorophyll a and protein at the low Varag site. Nubbins of P. astreoides had 20% lower survival and higher chlorophyll a concentration at the low Varag site. Only 33% of P. porites nubbins survived at low Varag and their linear extension and calcification rates were reduced. The density of skeletons deposited after transplantation at the low Varag spring was 15 - 30% lower for all species. These results suggest that corals with slow calcification rates and high Symbiodiniaceae, chlorophyll a and protein concentrations may be less susceptible to ocean acidification, albeit with reduced skeletal density. We postulate that corals in the springs are responding to greater energy demands for overcoming larger differences in carbonate chemistry between the calcifying medium and the external environment. The differential mortality, growth rates and physiological changes may impact future coral species assemblages and the reef framework robustness.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20190572
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume286
Issue number1905
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 Jun 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acclimatization
  • Calcification
  • Coral
  • Ocean acidification
  • Phenotypic plasticity
  • Transplant experiment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Environmental Science
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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