1
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Martins CPP, Ziegler M, Schubert P, Wilke T, Wall M. Effects of water flow and ocean acidification on oxygen and pH gradients in coral boundary layer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12757. [PMID: 38830941 PMCID: PMC11148076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63210-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Reef-building corals live in highly hydrodynamic environments, where water flow largely controls the complex chemical microenvironments surrounding them-the concentration boundary layer (CBL). The CBL may be key to alleviate ocean acidification (OA) effects on coral colonies by partially isolating them. However, OA effects on coral CBL remain poorly understood, particularly under different flow velocities. Here, we investigated these effects on the reef-building corals Acropora cytherea, Pocillopora verrucosa, and Porites cylindrica. We preconditioned corals to a control (pH 8.0) and OA (pH 7.8) treatment for four months and tested how low flow (2 cm s-1) and moderate flow (6 cm s-1) affected O2 and H+ CBL traits (thickness, surface concentrations, and flux) inside a unidirectional-flow chamber. We found that CBL traits differed between species and flow velocities. Under OA, traits remained generally stable across flows, except surface pH. In all species, the H+ CBL was thin and led to lower surface pH. Still, low flow thickened H+ CBLs and increased light elevation of surface pH. In general, our findings reveal a weak to null OA modulation of the CBL. Moreover, the OA-buffering capacity by the H+ CBL may be limited in coral species, though low flow could enhance CBL sheltering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina P P Martins
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Patrick Schubert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marlene Wall
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148, Kiel, Germany
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2
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Strand EL, Wong KH, Farraj A, Gray S, McMenamin A, Putnam HM. Coral species-specific loss and physiological legacy effects are elicited by an extended marine heatwave. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246812. [PMID: 38774956 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Marine heatwaves are increasing in frequency and intensity, with potentially catastrophic consequences for marine ecosystems such as coral reefs. An extended heatwave and recovery time-series that incorporates multiple stressors and is environmentally realistic can provide enhanced predictive capacity for performance under climate change conditions. We exposed common reef-building corals in Hawai'i, Montipora capitata and Pocillopora acuta, to a 2-month period of high temperature and high PCO2 conditions or ambient conditions in a factorial design, followed by 2 months of ambient conditions. High temperature, rather than high PCO2, drove multivariate physiology shifts through time in both species, including decreases in respiration rates and endosymbiont densities. Pocillopora acuta exhibited more significantly negatively altered physiology, and substantially higher bleaching and mortality than M. capitata. The sensitivity of P. acuta appears to be driven by higher baseline rates of photosynthesis paired with lower host antioxidant capacity, creating an increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. Thermal tolerance of M. capitata may be partly due to harboring a mixture of Cladocopium and Durusdinium spp., whereas P. acuta was dominated by other distinct Cladocopium spp. Only M. capitata survived the experiment, but physiological state in heatwave-exposed M. capitata remained significantly diverged at the end of recovery relative to individuals that experienced ambient conditions. In future climate scenarios, particularly marine heatwaves, our results indicate a species-specific loss of corals that is driven by baseline host and symbiont physiological differences as well as Symbiodiniaceae community compositions, with the surviving species experiencing physiological legacies that are likely to influence future stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Strand
- Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA
| | - Kevin H Wong
- Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Alexa Farraj
- Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Sierra Gray
- Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8P 5C2
| | - Ana McMenamin
- Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Hollie M Putnam
- Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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3
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Williams A. Multiomics data integration, limitations, and prospects to reveal the metabolic activity of the coral holobiont. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae058. [PMID: 38653719 PMCID: PMC11067971 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Since their radiation in the Middle Triassic period ∼240 million years ago, stony corals have survived past climate fluctuations and five mass extinctions. Their long-term survival underscores the inherent resilience of corals, particularly when considering the nutrient-poor marine environments in which they have thrived. However, coral bleaching has emerged as a global threat to coral survival, requiring rapid advancements in coral research to understand holobiont stress responses and allow for interventions before extensive bleaching occurs. This review encompasses the potential, as well as the limits, of multiomics data applications when applied to the coral holobiont. Synopses for how different omics tools have been applied to date and their current restrictions are discussed, in addition to ways these restrictions may be overcome, such as recruiting new technology to studies, utilizing novel bioinformatics approaches, and generally integrating omics data. Lastly, this review presents considerations for the design of holobiont multiomics studies to support lab-to-field advancements of coral stress marker monitoring systems. Although much of the bleaching mechanism has eluded investigation to date, multiomic studies have already produced key findings regarding the holobiont's stress response, and have the potential to advance the field further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Williams
- Microbial Biology Graduate Program, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States
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4
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Roussel S, Coheleach M, Martin S, Day R, Badou A, Huchette S, Dubois P, Servili A, Gaillard F, Auzoux-Bordenave S. From reproductive behaviour to responses to predators: Ocean acidification does not impact the behaviour of an herbivorous marine gastropod. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167526. [PMID: 37793449 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA), which reduces ocean pH and leads to substantial changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, may strongly impact organisms, especially those with carbonate skeletons. In marine molluscs, while the physiological effects of OA are well known, with a reduction of growth and shell calcification, there are few studies on behavioural effects. A large marine gastropod, Haliotis tuberculata, was exposed to ambient (pHT 8.0) or low pH (pHT 7.7) during a 5-month experiment. Because animal fitness can be affected through various behavioural changes, a broad spectrum of behavioural parameters was investigated, including situations involving no stress, responses to predators, righting to evaluate indirectly the level of energy reserves, and finally, reproductive behaviour. In addition, we measured the expression profile of the GABA A-like and serotonin receptor genes, often described as central neuromodulators of sensory performance and behaviour and known to be affected by OA in molluscs. No significant effect of low pH as compared to ambient pH was observed on abalone behaviour for any of these behavioural traits or gene expressions after either one week or several months of exposure to OA. The significance tests were corroborated by estimating the size of pH effects. The behaviour of this mollusc appears not to be affected by pH decrease expected by the end of the century, suggesting some resilience of the species to OA at the adult stage. This is probably related to the ecological niche of this abalone, where important pH variations can be observed at tidal, diurnal or seasonal scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Roussel
- Université de Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, Plouzané F-29280, France.
| | - Manon Coheleach
- Université de Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, Plouzané F-29280, France
| | - Sophie Martin
- UMR 7144 "Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin" (AD2M), CNRS/SU, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff Cedex 29680, France
| | - Rob Day
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Aicha Badou
- Direction Générale Déléguée à la Recherche, l'Expertise, la Valorisation et l'Enseignement (DGD REVE), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Station marine de Concarneau, Concarneau 29900, France
| | | | - Philippe Dubois
- Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels CP160/15 1050, Belgium
| | - Arianna Servili
- IFREMER, Université de Brest, CNRS, Plouzané IRD, LEMAR, F-29280, France
| | - Fanny Gaillard
- UMR 7144 "Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin" (AD2M), CNRS/SU, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff Cedex 29680, France
| | - Stéphanie Auzoux-Bordenave
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques" (BOREA), MNHN/CNRS/SU/IRD, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Station Marine de Concarneau, Concarneau 29900, France
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Röthig T, Trevathan-Tackett SM, Voolstra CR, Ross C, Chaffron S, Durack PJ, Warmuth LM, Sweet M. Human-induced salinity changes impact marine organisms and ecosystems. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:4731-4749. [PMID: 37435759 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is fundamentally altering marine and coastal ecosystems on a global scale. While the effects of ocean warming and acidification on ecology and ecosystem functions and services are being comprehensively researched, less attention is directed toward understanding the impacts of human-driven ocean salinity changes. The global water cycle operates through water fluxes expressed as precipitation, evaporation, and freshwater runoff from land. Changes to these in turn modulate ocean salinity and shape the marine and coastal environment by affecting ocean currents, stratification, oxygen saturation, and sea level rise. Besides the direct impact on ocean physical processes, salinity changes impact ocean biological functions with the ecophysiological consequences are being poorly understood. This is surprising as salinity changes may impact diversity, ecosystem and habitat structure loss, and community shifts including trophic cascades. Climate model future projections (of end of the century salinity changes) indicate magnitudes that lead to modification of open ocean plankton community structure and habitat suitability of coral reef communities. Such salinity changes are also capable of affecting the diversity and metabolic capacity of coastal microorganisms and impairing the photosynthetic capacity of (coastal and open ocean) phytoplankton, macroalgae, and seagrass, with downstream ramifications on global biogeochemical cycling. The scarcity of comprehensive salinity data in dynamic coastal regions warrants additional attention. Such datasets are crucial to quantify salinity-based ecosystem function relationships and project such changes that ultimately link into carbon sequestration and freshwater as well as food availability to human populations around the globe. It is critical to integrate vigorous high-quality salinity data with interacting key environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, nutrients, oxygen) for a comprehensive understanding of anthropogenically induced marine changes and its impact on human health and the global economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Röthig
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Branch of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- Aquatic Research Facility, Nature-Based Solutions Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Stacey M Trevathan-Tackett
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Cliff Ross
- Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Samuel Chaffron
- Nantes Université, École Centrale Nantes, CNRS, LS2N, UMR 6004, F-44000, Nantes, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, F-75016, Paris, France
| | - Paul J Durack
- Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
| | | | - Michael Sweet
- Aquatic Research Facility, Nature-Based Solutions Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, UK
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6
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Tanvet C, Camp EF, Sutton J, Houlbrèque F, Thouzeau G, Rodolfo‐Metalpa R. Corals adapted to extreme and fluctuating seawater pH increase calcification rates and have unique symbiont communities. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10099. [PMID: 37261315 PMCID: PMC10227177 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is a severe threat to coral reefs mainly by reducing their calcification rate. Identifying the resilience factors of corals to decreasing seawater pH is of paramount importance to predict the survivability of coral reefs in the future. This study compared corals adapted to variable pHT (i.e., 7.23-8.06) from the semi-enclosed lagoon of Bouraké, New Caledonia, to corals adapted to more stable seawater pHT (i.e., 7.90-8.18). In a 100-day aquarium experiment, we examined the physiological response and genetic diversity of Symbiodiniaceae from three coral species (Acropora tenuis, Montipora digitata, and Porites sp.) from both sites under three stable pHNBS conditions (8.11, 7.76, 7.54) and one fluctuating pHNBS regime (between 7.56 and 8.07). Bouraké corals consistently exhibited higher growth rates than corals from the stable pH environment. Interestingly, A. tenuis from Bouraké showed the highest growth rate under the 7.76 pHNBS condition, whereas for M. digitata, and Porites sp. from Bouraké, growth was highest under the fluctuating regime and the 8.11 pHNBS conditions, respectively. While OA generally decreased coral calcification by ca. 16%, Bouraké corals showed higher growth rates than corals from the stable pH environment (21% increase for A. tenuis to 93% for M. digitata, with all pH conditions pooled). This superior performance coincided with divergent symbiont communities that were more homogenous for Bouraké corals. Corals adapted to variable pH conditions appear to have a better capacity to calcify under reduced pH compared to corals native to more stable pH condition. This response was not gained by corals from the more stable environment exposed to variable pH during the 100-day experiment, suggesting that long-term exposure to pH fluctuations and/or differences in symbiont communities benefit calcification under OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Tanvet
- Centre IRD NouméaUMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle‐Calédonie, Ifremer)NouméaNew Caledonia
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMARPlouzanéFrance
- Labex ICONA, International CO2 Natural Analogues NetworkShimodaJapan
| | - Emma F. Camp
- Climate Change ClusterUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Jill Sutton
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMARPlouzanéFrance
| | - Fanny Houlbrèque
- Centre IRD NouméaUMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle‐Calédonie, Ifremer)NouméaNew Caledonia
- Labex ICONA, International CO2 Natural Analogues NetworkShimodaJapan
| | | | - Riccardo Rodolfo‐Metalpa
- Centre IRD NouméaUMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle‐Calédonie, Ifremer)NouméaNew Caledonia
- Labex ICONA, International CO2 Natural Analogues NetworkShimodaJapan
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7
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Castrillón-Cifuentes AL, Zapata FA, Giraldo A, Wild C. Spatiotemporal variability of oxygen concentration in coral reefs of Gorgona Island (Eastern Tropical Pacific) and its effect on the coral Pocillopora capitata. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14586. [PMID: 36721774 PMCID: PMC9884479 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) is one of the main factors limiting benthic species distribution. Due to ocean warming and eutrophication, the ocean is deoxygenating. In the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), deep waters with low DO (<1 mg L-1) may reach coral reefs, because upwelling will likely intensify due to climate change. To understand oxygen variability and its effects on corals, we characterize the Spatio-temporal changes of DO in coral reefs of Gorgona Island and calculate the critical oxygen tension (P crit) to identify the DO concentration that could represent a hypoxic condition for Pocillopora capitata, one of the main reef-building species in the ETP. The mean (±SD) DO concentration in the coral reefs of Gorgona Island was 4.6 ± 0.89 mg L-1. Low DO conditions were due to upwelling, but hypoxia (<3.71 mg L-1, defined as a DO value 1 SD lower than the Mean) down to 3.0 mg O2 L-1 sporadically occurred at 10 m depth. The P crit of P. capitata was 3.7 mg L-1 and lies close to the hypoxic condition recorded on coral reefs during the upwelling season at 10 m depth. At Gorgona Island oxygen conditions lower than 2.3 mg L-1 occur at >20 m depth and coincide with the deepest bathymetric distribution of scattered colonies of Pocillopora. Because DO concentrations in coral reefs of Gorgona Island were comparably low to other coral reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and the hypoxic threshold of P. capitata was close to the minimum DO record on reefs, hypoxic events could represent a threat if conditions that promote eutrophication (and consequently hypoxia) increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lucia Castrillón-Cifuentes
- Department of Marine Ecology/Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany,Departamento de Biología/Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas/Grupo de Investigación en Ecología de Arrecifes Coralinos, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | - Fernando A. Zapata
- Departamento de Biología/Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas/Grupo de Investigación en Ecología de Arrecifes Coralinos, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | - Alan Giraldo
- Departamento de Biología/Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas/Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Oceanográficas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | - Christian Wild
- Department of Marine Ecology/Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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8
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Krämer WE, Iglesias-Prieto R, Enríquez S. Evaluation of the current understanding of the impact of climate change on coral physiology after three decades of experimental research. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1418. [PMID: 36572721 PMCID: PMC9792581 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04353-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
After three decades of coral research on the impacts of climate change, there is a wide consensus on the adverse effects of heat-stress, but the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) are not well established. Using a review of published studies and an experimental analysis, we confirm the large species-specific component of the OA response, which predicts moderate impacts on coral physiology and pigmentation by 2100 (scenario-B1 or SSP2-4.5), in contrast with the severe disturbances induced by only +2 °C of thermal anomaly. Accordingly, global warming represents a greater threat for coral calcification than OA. The incomplete understanding of the moderate OA response relies on insufficient attention to key regulatory processes of these symbioses, particularly the metabolic dependence of coral calcification on algal photosynthesis and host respiration. Our capacity to predict the future of coral reefs depends on a correct identification of the main targets and/or processes impacted by climate change stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke E. Krämer
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Laboratory of Photobiology, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales (Puerto Morelos), Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Quintana Roo Cancún, Mexico
| | - Roberto Iglesias-Prieto
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Laboratory of Photobiology, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales (Puerto Morelos), Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Quintana Roo Cancún, Mexico ,grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Present Address: Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Susana Enríquez
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Laboratory of Photobiology, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales (Puerto Morelos), Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Quintana Roo Cancún, Mexico
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9
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Brown KT, Eyal G, Dove SG, Barott KL. Fine-scale heterogeneity reveals disproportionate thermal stress and coral mortality in thermally variable reef habitats during a marine heatwave. CORAL REEFS (ONLINE) 2022; 42:131-142. [PMID: 36415309 PMCID: PMC9672654 DOI: 10.1007/s00338-022-02328-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Increasing ocean temperatures threaten coral reefs globally, but corals residing in habitats that experience high thermal variability are thought to be better adapted to survive climate-induced heat stress. Here, we used long-term ecological observations and in situ temperature data from Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef to investigate how temperature dynamics within various thermally variable vs. thermally stable reef habitats change during a marine heatwave and the resulting consequences for coral community survival. During the heatwave, thermally variable habitats experienced larger surges in daily mean and maxima temperatures compared to stable sites, including extreme hourly incursions up to 36.5 °C. The disproportionate increase in heat stress in variable habitats corresponded with greater subsequent declines in hard coral cover, including a three-times greater decline within the thermally variable Reef Flat (70%) and Deep Lagoon (83%) than within thermally stable habitats along sheltered and exposed areas of the reef slope (0.3-19%). Interestingly, the thermally variable Reef Crest experienced comparatively small declines (26%), avoiding the most severe tidal ponding and resultant heat stress likely due to proximity to the open ocean equating to lower seawater residence times, greater mixing, and/or increased flow. These results highlight that variable thermal regimes, and any acclimatization or adaptation to elevated temperatures that may lead to, do not necessarily equate to protection against bleaching and mortality during marine heatwaves. Instead, thermally stable habitats that have greater seawater exchange with the open ocean may offer the most protection to corals during the severe marine heatwaves that accompany a changing climate. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00338-022-02328-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen T. Brown
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Gal Eyal
- School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Sophie G. Dove
- School of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Katie L. Barott
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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10
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Alderdice R, Perna G, Cárdenas A, Hume BCC, Wolf M, Kühl M, Pernice M, Suggett DJ, Voolstra CR. Deoxygenation lowers the thermal threshold of coral bleaching. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18273. [PMID: 36316371 PMCID: PMC9622859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to deoxygenation from climate warming and pollution is emerging as a contributing factor of coral bleaching and mortality. However, the combined effects of heating and deoxygenation on bleaching susceptibility remain unknown. Here, we employed short-term thermal stress assays to show that deoxygenated seawater can lower the thermal limit of an Acropora coral by as much as 1 °C or 0.4 °C based on bleaching index scores or dark-acclimated photosynthetic efficiencies, respectively. Using RNA-Seq, we show similar stress responses to heat with and without deoxygenated seawater, both activating putative key genes of the hypoxia-inducible factor response system indicative of cellular hypoxia. We also detect distinct deoxygenation responses, including a disruption of O2-dependent photo-reception/-protection, redox status, and activation of an immune response prior to the onset of bleaching. Thus, corals are even more vulnerable when faced with heat stress in deoxygenated waters. This highlights the need to integrate dissolved O2 measurements into global monitoring programs of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Alderdice
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Benjamin C C Hume
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Martin Wolf
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael Kühl
- Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000, Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - David J Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
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11
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Net effect of environmental fluctuations in multiple global-change drivers across the tree of life. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2205495119. [PMID: 35914141 PMCID: PMC9371701 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205495119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Jensen's inequality predicts that the response of any given system to average constant conditions is different from its average response to varying ones. Environmental fluctuations in abiotic conditions are pervasive on Earth; yet until recently, most ecological research has addressed the effects of multiple environmental drivers by assuming constant conditions. One could thus expect to find significant deviations in the magnitude of their effects on ecosystems when environmental fluctuations are considered. Drawing on experimental studies published during the last 30 years reporting more than 950 response ratios (n = 5,700), we present a comprehensive analysis of the role that environmental fluctuations play across the tree of life. In contrast to the predominance of interactive effects of global-change drivers reported in the literature, our results show that their cumulative effects were additive (58%), synergistic (26%), and antagonistic (16%) when environmental fluctuations were present. However, the dominant type of interaction varied by trophic level (autotrophs: interactive; heterotrophs: additive) and phylogenetic group (additive in Animalia; additive and positive antagonism in Chromista; negative antagonism and synergism in Plantae). In addition, we identify the need to tackle how complex communities respond to fluctuating environments, widening the phylogenetic and biogeographic ranges considered, and to consider other drivers beyond warming and acidification as well as longer timescales. Environmental fluctuations must be taken into account in experimental and modeling studies as well as conservation plans to better predict the nature, magnitude, and direction of the impacts of global change on organisms and ecosystems.
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Environmental stability and phenotypic plasticity benefit the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus in an acidified fjord. Commun Biol 2022; 5:683. [PMID: 35810196 PMCID: PMC9271058 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03622-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The stratified Chilean Comau Fjord sustains a dense population of the cold-water coral (CWC) Desmophyllum dianthus in aragonite supersaturated shallow and aragonite undersaturated deep water. This provides a rare opportunity to evaluate CWC fitness trade-offs in response to physico-chemical drivers and their variability. Here, we combined year-long reciprocal transplantation experiments along natural oceanographic gradients with an in situ assessment of CWC fitness. Following transplantation, corals acclimated fast to the novel environment with no discernible difference between native and novel (i.e. cross-transplanted) corals, demonstrating high phenotypic plasticity. Surprisingly, corals exposed to lowest aragonite saturation (Ωarag < 1) and temperature (T < 12.0 °C), but stable environmental conditions, at the deep station grew fastest and expressed the fittest phenotype. We found an inverse relationship between CWC fitness and environmental variability and propose to consider the high frequency fluctuations of abiotic and biotic factors to better predict the future of CWCs in a changing ocean. The cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus benefits from stable environmental conditions in deep waters of Comau Fjord (Chile) and is able to acclimatise quickly to new environmental conditions after transplantation.
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van Woesik R, Shlesinger T, Grottoli AG, Toonen RJ, Vega Thurber R, Warner ME, Marie Hulver A, Chapron L, McLachlan RH, Albright R, Crandall E, DeCarlo TM, Donovan MK, Eirin‐Lopez J, Harrison HB, Heron SF, Huang D, Humanes A, Krueger T, Madin JS, Manzello D, McManus LC, Matz M, Muller EM, Rodriguez‐Lanetty M, Vega‐Rodriguez M, Voolstra CR, Zaneveld J. Coral-bleaching responses to climate change across biological scales. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4229-4250. [PMID: 35475552 PMCID: PMC9545801 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The global impacts of climate change are evident in every marine ecosystem. On coral reefs, mass coral bleaching and mortality have emerged as ubiquitous responses to ocean warming, yet one of the greatest challenges of this epiphenomenon is linking information across scientific disciplines and spatial and temporal scales. Here we review some of the seminal and recent coral-bleaching discoveries from an ecological, physiological, and molecular perspective. We also evaluate which data and processes can improve predictive models and provide a conceptual framework that integrates measurements across biological scales. Taking an integrative approach across biological and spatial scales, using for example hierarchical models to estimate major coral-reef processes, will not only rapidly advance coral-reef science but will also provide necessary information to guide decision-making and conservation efforts. To conserve reefs, we encourage implementing mesoscale sanctuaries (thousands of km2 ) that transcend national boundaries. Such networks of protected reefs will provide reef connectivity, through larval dispersal that transverse thermal environments, and genotypic repositories that may become essential units of selection for environmentally diverse locations. Together, multinational networks may be the best chance corals have to persist through climate change, while humanity struggles to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global EcologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFloridaUSA
| | - Tom Shlesinger
- Institute for Global EcologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFloridaUSA
| | | | - Rob J. Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, KāneʻoheUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | | | - Mark E. Warner
- School of Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of DelawareLewesDelawareUSA
| | - Ann Marie Hulver
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Leila Chapron
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Rowan H. McLachlan
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of MicrobiologyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | | | - Eric Crandall
- Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Mary K. Donovan
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and School of Geographical Sciences and Urban PlanningArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Jose Eirin‐Lopez
- Institute of EnvironmentFlorida International UniversityMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Hugo B. Harrison
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Scott F. Heron
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Physics and Marine Geophysical LaboratoryJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingapore
| | - Adriana Humanes
- School of Natural and Environmental SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Thomas Krueger
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, KāneʻoheUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | - Derek Manzello
- Center for Satellite Applications and ResearchSatellite Oceanography & Climate DivisionNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - Lisa C. McManus
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, KāneʻoheUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | - Mikhail Matz
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jesse Zaneveld
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of WashingtonBothellWashingtonUSA
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