Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments
Abstract The relationship between energy reserves of cold-water corals (CWCs) and their physiological performance remains largely unknown. In addition, it is poorly understood how the energy allocation to different metabolic processes might change with projected decreasing food supply to the deep se...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56280-2 |
| _version_ | 1797266846351622144 |
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| author | Kristina K. Beck Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb Antonia S. Kayser Janine Wendels Alexandra Kler Lago Stefanie Meyer Jürgen Laudien Vreni Häussermann Claudio Richter Marlene Wall |
| author_facet | Kristina K. Beck Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb Antonia S. Kayser Janine Wendels Alexandra Kler Lago Stefanie Meyer Jürgen Laudien Vreni Häussermann Claudio Richter Marlene Wall |
| author_sort | Kristina K. Beck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The relationship between energy reserves of cold-water corals (CWCs) and their physiological performance remains largely unknown. In addition, it is poorly understood how the energy allocation to different metabolic processes might change with projected decreasing food supply to the deep sea in the future. This study explores the temporal and spatial variations of total energy reserves (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) of the CWC Desmophyllum dianthus and their correlation with its calcification rate. We took advantage of distinct horizontal and vertical physico-chemical gradients in Comau Fjord (Chile) and examined the changes in energy reserves over one year in an in situ reciprocal transplantation experiment (20 m vs. 300 m and fjord head vs. mouth). Total energy reserves correlated positively with calcification rates. The fast-growing deep corals had higher and less variable energy reserves, while the slower-growing shallow corals showed pronounced seasonal changes in energy reserves. Novel deep corals (transplanted from shallow) were able to quickly increase both their calcification rates and energy reserves to similar levels as native deep corals. Our study shows the importance of energy reserves in sustaining CWC growth in spite of aragonite undersaturated conditions (deep corals) in the present, and potentially also future ocean. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:07:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f92309f036346aa85efbafea6ab9561 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:07:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f92309f036346aa85efbafea6ab95612024-03-10T12:09:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-56280-2Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environmentsKristina K. Beck0Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb1Antonia S. Kayser2Janine Wendels3Alexandra Kler Lago4Stefanie Meyer5Jürgen Laudien6Vreni Häussermann7Claudio Richter8Marlene Wall9Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungPontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungAbstract The relationship between energy reserves of cold-water corals (CWCs) and their physiological performance remains largely unknown. In addition, it is poorly understood how the energy allocation to different metabolic processes might change with projected decreasing food supply to the deep sea in the future. This study explores the temporal and spatial variations of total energy reserves (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) of the CWC Desmophyllum dianthus and their correlation with its calcification rate. We took advantage of distinct horizontal and vertical physico-chemical gradients in Comau Fjord (Chile) and examined the changes in energy reserves over one year in an in situ reciprocal transplantation experiment (20 m vs. 300 m and fjord head vs. mouth). Total energy reserves correlated positively with calcification rates. The fast-growing deep corals had higher and less variable energy reserves, while the slower-growing shallow corals showed pronounced seasonal changes in energy reserves. Novel deep corals (transplanted from shallow) were able to quickly increase both their calcification rates and energy reserves to similar levels as native deep corals. Our study shows the importance of energy reserves in sustaining CWC growth in spite of aragonite undersaturated conditions (deep corals) in the present, and potentially also future ocean.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56280-2 |
| spellingShingle | Kristina K. Beck Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb Antonia S. Kayser Janine Wendels Alexandra Kler Lago Stefanie Meyer Jürgen Laudien Vreni Häussermann Claudio Richter Marlene Wall Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments Scientific Reports |
| title | Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments |
| title_full | Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments |
| title_fullStr | Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments |
| title_short | Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments |
| title_sort | cold water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56280-2 |
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