Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming
Abstract Globally, species are migrating in an attempt to track optimal isotherms as climate change increasingly warms existing habitats. Stony corals are severely threatened by anthropogenic warming, which has resulted in repeated mass bleaching and mortality events. Since corals are sessile as adu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97447-5 |
| _version_ | 1819198458002669568 |
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| author | Stephane Martinez Jessica Bellworthy Christine Ferrier-Pagès Tali Mass |
| author_facet | Stephane Martinez Jessica Bellworthy Christine Ferrier-Pagès Tali Mass |
| author_sort | Stephane Martinez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Globally, species are migrating in an attempt to track optimal isotherms as climate change increasingly warms existing habitats. Stony corals are severely threatened by anthropogenic warming, which has resulted in repeated mass bleaching and mortality events. Since corals are sessile as adults and with a relatively old age of sexual maturity, they are slow to latitudinally migrate, but corals may also migrate vertically to deeper, cooler reefs. Herein we describe vertical migration of the Mediterranean coral Oculina patagonica from less than 10 m depth to > 30 m. We suggest that this range shift is a response to rapidly warming sea surface temperatures on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. In contrast to the vast latitudinal distance required to track temperature change, this species has migrated deeper where summer water temperatures are up to 2 °C cooler. Comparisons of physiology, morphology, trophic position, symbiont type, and photochemistry between deep and shallow conspecifics revealed only a few depth-specific differences. At this study site, shallow colonies typically inhabit low light environments (caves, crevices) and have a facultative relationship with photosymbionts. We suggest that this existing phenotype aided colonization of the mesophotic zone. This observation highlights the potential for other marine species to vertically migrate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:00:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-263dd1ba4c634b77afc340b0a8389da8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:00:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-263dd1ba4c634b77afc340b0a8389da82022-12-21T18:02:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-09-0111111510.1038/s41598-021-97447-5Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warmingStephane Martinez0Jessica Bellworthy1Christine Ferrier-Pagès2Tali Mass3Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of HaifaDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of HaifaCoral Ecophysiology Team, Centre Scientifique de MonacoDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of HaifaAbstract Globally, species are migrating in an attempt to track optimal isotherms as climate change increasingly warms existing habitats. Stony corals are severely threatened by anthropogenic warming, which has resulted in repeated mass bleaching and mortality events. Since corals are sessile as adults and with a relatively old age of sexual maturity, they are slow to latitudinally migrate, but corals may also migrate vertically to deeper, cooler reefs. Herein we describe vertical migration of the Mediterranean coral Oculina patagonica from less than 10 m depth to > 30 m. We suggest that this range shift is a response to rapidly warming sea surface temperatures on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. In contrast to the vast latitudinal distance required to track temperature change, this species has migrated deeper where summer water temperatures are up to 2 °C cooler. Comparisons of physiology, morphology, trophic position, symbiont type, and photochemistry between deep and shallow conspecifics revealed only a few depth-specific differences. At this study site, shallow colonies typically inhabit low light environments (caves, crevices) and have a facultative relationship with photosymbionts. We suggest that this existing phenotype aided colonization of the mesophotic zone. This observation highlights the potential for other marine species to vertically migrate.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97447-5 |
| spellingShingle | Stephane Martinez Jessica Bellworthy Christine Ferrier-Pagès Tali Mass Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming Scientific Reports |
| title | Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming |
| title_full | Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming |
| title_fullStr | Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming |
| title_short | Selection of mesophotic habitats by Oculina patagonica in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following global warming |
| title_sort | selection of mesophotic habitats by oculina patagonica in the eastern mediterranean sea following global warming |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97447-5 |
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