Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.

The effects of ocean acidification and elevated seawater temperature on coral calcification and photosynthesis have been extensively investigated over the last two decades, whereas they are still unknown on nutrient uptake, despite their importance for coral energetics. We therefore studied the sepa...

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Main Authors: Claire Godinot, Fanny Houlbrèque, Renaud Grover, Christine Ferrier-Pagès
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3174978?pdf=render
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author Claire Godinot
Fanny Houlbrèque
Renaud Grover
Christine Ferrier-Pagès
author_facet Claire Godinot
Fanny Houlbrèque
Renaud Grover
Christine Ferrier-Pagès
author_sort Claire Godinot
collection DOAJ
description The effects of ocean acidification and elevated seawater temperature on coral calcification and photosynthesis have been extensively investigated over the last two decades, whereas they are still unknown on nutrient uptake, despite their importance for coral energetics. We therefore studied the separate and combined impacts of increases in temperature and pCO(2) on phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate uptake rates by the scleractinian coral S. pistillata. Three experiments were performed, during 10 days i) at three pH(T) conditions (8.1, 7.8, and 7.5) and normal temperature (26°C), ii) at three temperature conditions (26°, 29°C, and 33°C) and normal pH(T) (8.1), and iii) at three pH(T) conditions (8.1, 7.8, and 7.5) and elevated temperature (33°C). After 10 days of incubation, corals had not bleached, as protein, chlorophyll, and zooxanthellae contents were the same in all treatments. However, photosynthetic rates significantly decreased at 33°C, and were further reduced for the pH(T) 7.5. The photosynthetic efficiency of PSII was only decreased by elevated temperature. Nutrient uptake rates were not affected by a change in pH alone. Conversely, elevated temperature (33°C) alone induced an increase in phosphate uptake but a severe decrease in nitrate and ammonium uptake rates, even leading to a release of nitrogen into seawater. Combination of high temperature (33°C) and low pH(T) (7.5) resulted in a significant decrease in phosphate and nitrate uptake rates compared to control corals (26°C, pH(T) = 8.1). These results indicate that both inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism may be negatively affected by the cumulative effects of ocean warming and acidification.
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spelling doaj.art-a78e7a5170194dfab46474f0e3d89ea12022-12-22T03:11:05ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-0169e2502410.1371/journal.pone.0025024Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.Claire GodinotFanny HoulbrèqueRenaud GroverChristine Ferrier-PagèsThe effects of ocean acidification and elevated seawater temperature on coral calcification and photosynthesis have been extensively investigated over the last two decades, whereas they are still unknown on nutrient uptake, despite their importance for coral energetics. We therefore studied the separate and combined impacts of increases in temperature and pCO(2) on phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate uptake rates by the scleractinian coral S. pistillata. Three experiments were performed, during 10 days i) at three pH(T) conditions (8.1, 7.8, and 7.5) and normal temperature (26°C), ii) at three temperature conditions (26°, 29°C, and 33°C) and normal pH(T) (8.1), and iii) at three pH(T) conditions (8.1, 7.8, and 7.5) and elevated temperature (33°C). After 10 days of incubation, corals had not bleached, as protein, chlorophyll, and zooxanthellae contents were the same in all treatments. However, photosynthetic rates significantly decreased at 33°C, and were further reduced for the pH(T) 7.5. The photosynthetic efficiency of PSII was only decreased by elevated temperature. Nutrient uptake rates were not affected by a change in pH alone. Conversely, elevated temperature (33°C) alone induced an increase in phosphate uptake but a severe decrease in nitrate and ammonium uptake rates, even leading to a release of nitrogen into seawater. Combination of high temperature (33°C) and low pH(T) (7.5) resulted in a significant decrease in phosphate and nitrate uptake rates compared to control corals (26°C, pH(T) = 8.1). These results indicate that both inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism may be negatively affected by the cumulative effects of ocean warming and acidification.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3174978?pdf=render
spellingShingle Claire Godinot
Fanny Houlbrèque
Renaud Grover
Christine Ferrier-Pagès
Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.
PLoS ONE
title Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.
title_full Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.
title_fullStr Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.
title_full_unstemmed Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.
title_short Coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and pH.
title_sort coral uptake of inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen negatively affected by simultaneous changes in temperature and ph
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3174978?pdf=render
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