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Marchini C, Gizzi F, Pondrelli T, Moreddu L, Marisaldi L, Montori F, Lazzari V, Airi V, Caroselli E, Prada F, Falini G, Dubinsky Z, Goffredo S. Decreasing pH impairs sexual reproduction in a Mediterranean coral transplanted at a CO 2 vent. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 2021; 66:3990-4000. [PMID: 35873528 PMCID: PMC9293323 DOI: 10.1002/lno.11937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification, due to the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere and its absorption by the oceans, affects many aspects of marine calcifying organisms' biology, including reproduction. Most of the available studies on low pH effects on coral reproduction have been conducted on tropical species under controlled conditions, while little information is reported for either tropical or temperate species in the field. This study describes the influence of decreasing pH on sexual reproduction of the temperate non-zooxanthellate colonial scleractinian Astroides calycularis, transplanted in four sites along a natural pH gradient at the underwater volcanic crater of Panarea Island (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). The average pH values of each site (range: pHTS 8.07-7.40) match different scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the end of the century. After 3 months under experimental conditions, the reproductive parameters of both oocytes and spermaries (abundance, gonadal index, and diameters) seem to be unaffected by low pH. However, a delay in spermary development in the pre-fertilization period and a persistence of mature oocytes in the fertilization period were observed in the most acidic site. Furthermore, no embryos were found in colonies from the two most acidic sites, suggesting a delay or an interruption of the fertilization process due to acidified conditions. These findings suggest a negative effect of low pH on A. calycularis sexual reproduction. However, long-term experiments, including the synergistic impact of pH and temperature, are needed to predict if this species will be able to adapt to climate change over the next century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Marchini
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
- Fano Marine CenterThe Inter‐Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and BiotechnologiesFanoItaly
| | - Francesca Gizzi
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
- MARE ‐ Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreAgência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI)FunchalMadeiraPortugal
| | - Thomas Pondrelli
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Lisa Moreddu
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Luca Marisaldi
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Francesco Montori
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Valentina Lazzari
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Valentina Airi
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Erik Caroselli
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
- Fano Marine CenterThe Inter‐Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and BiotechnologiesFanoItaly
| | - Fiorella Prada
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
- Fano Marine CenterThe Inter‐Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and BiotechnologiesFanoItaly
| | - Giuseppe Falini
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”University of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Zvy Dubinsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan UniversityRamat GanIsrael
| | - Stefano Goffredo
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
- Fano Marine CenterThe Inter‐Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and BiotechnologiesFanoItaly
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Orlando-Bonaca M, Pitacco V, Slavinec P, Šiško M, Makovec T, Falace A. First Restoration Experiment for Gongolaria barbata in Slovenian Coastal Waters. What Can Go Wrong? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:239. [PMID: 33530631 PMCID: PMC7911296 DOI: 10.3390/plants10020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The global decline of brown algal forests along rocky coasts is causing an exceptional biodiversity loss. Regardless of conservation efforts, different techniques have been developed for large-scale restoration strategies in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study we tested ex situ pilot restoration of Gongolaria barbata (=Treptacantha barbata) for the first time in Slovenian coastal waters. Healthy apical fronds of the species were collected and the development of recruits on clay tiles was followed under laboratory conditions for 20 days. Despite the experimental difficulties experienced, especially due to the lack of antibiotics to prevent the growth of the biofilm, G. barbata recruits were outplanted in the sea on two concrete plates with 48 tiles each, protected by purpose-built cages to avoid grazing by herbivorous fish. The high survival rate of juveniles after four months in the field (89% of the tiles on the plate that was constantly protected) suggests that outplanting G. barbata is an operable approach for restoration efforts in the northern Adriatic Sea. Our first experiment in Slovenian coastal waters provides new information for the optimization of the best practices during the laboratory cultivation and addresses the early steps of restoration and introduction of young thalli in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Orlando-Bonaca
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Valentina Pitacco
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Petra Slavinec
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Milijan Šiško
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Tihomir Makovec
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Annalisa Falace
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
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