Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients
Abstract Coral reefs, especially those located near-shore, are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic, eutrophic conditions that are often chronic. Yet, corals under unperturbed conditions may frequently receive natural and usually temporary nutrient supplementation through biological sources such as...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92276-y |
| _version_ | 1818435028528398336 |
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| author | Rene M. van der Zande Yannick R. Mulders Dorothea Bender-Champ Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Sophie Dove |
| author_facet | Rene M. van der Zande Yannick R. Mulders Dorothea Bender-Champ Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Sophie Dove |
| author_sort | Rene M. van der Zande |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Coral reefs, especially those located near-shore, are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic, eutrophic conditions that are often chronic. Yet, corals under unperturbed conditions may frequently receive natural and usually temporary nutrient supplementation through biological sources such as fishes. We compared physiological parameters indicative of long- and short-term coral health (day and night calcification, fragment surface area, productivity, energy reserves, and tissue stoichiometry) under continuous and temporary nutrient enrichment. The symbiotic coral Acropora intermedia was grown for 7 weeks under continuously elevated (press) levels of ammonium (14 µmol L−1) and phosphate (10 µmol L−1) as separate and combined treatments, to discern the individual and interactive nutrient effects. Another treatment exposed A. intermedia twice-daily to an ammonium and phosphate pulse of the same concentrations as the press treatments to simulate natural biotic supplementation. Press exposure to elevated ammonium or phosphate produced mixed effects on physiological responses, with little interaction between the nutrients in the combined treatment. Overall, corals under press exposure transitioned resources away from calcification. However, exposure to nutrient pulses often enhanced physiological responses. Our findings indicate that while continuous nutrient enrichment may pose a threat to coral health, episodic nutrient pulses that resemble natural nutrient supplementation may significantly benefit coral health and physiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:46:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26c2ff5ca45c464b8d2b8d7b794cdd25 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:46:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-26c2ff5ca45c464b8d2b8d7b794cdd252022-12-21T22:54:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-06-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-92276-yAsymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrientsRene M. van der Zande0Yannick R. Mulders1Dorothea Bender-Champ2Ove Hoegh-Guldberg3Sophie Dove4Coral Reef Ecosystems Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandCoral Reef Ecosystems Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandCoral Reef Ecosystems Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandCoral Reef Ecosystems Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandCoral Reef Ecosystems Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of QueenslandAbstract Coral reefs, especially those located near-shore, are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic, eutrophic conditions that are often chronic. Yet, corals under unperturbed conditions may frequently receive natural and usually temporary nutrient supplementation through biological sources such as fishes. We compared physiological parameters indicative of long- and short-term coral health (day and night calcification, fragment surface area, productivity, energy reserves, and tissue stoichiometry) under continuous and temporary nutrient enrichment. The symbiotic coral Acropora intermedia was grown for 7 weeks under continuously elevated (press) levels of ammonium (14 µmol L−1) and phosphate (10 µmol L−1) as separate and combined treatments, to discern the individual and interactive nutrient effects. Another treatment exposed A. intermedia twice-daily to an ammonium and phosphate pulse of the same concentrations as the press treatments to simulate natural biotic supplementation. Press exposure to elevated ammonium or phosphate produced mixed effects on physiological responses, with little interaction between the nutrients in the combined treatment. Overall, corals under press exposure transitioned resources away from calcification. However, exposure to nutrient pulses often enhanced physiological responses. Our findings indicate that while continuous nutrient enrichment may pose a threat to coral health, episodic nutrient pulses that resemble natural nutrient supplementation may significantly benefit coral health and physiology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92276-y |
| spellingShingle | Rene M. van der Zande Yannick R. Mulders Dorothea Bender-Champ Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Sophie Dove Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients Scientific Reports |
| title | Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients |
| title_full | Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients |
| title_fullStr | Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients |
| title_short | Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients |
| title_sort | asymmetric physiological response of a reef building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92276-y |
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