Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata
Abstract The iconic and threatened Caribbean coral, Acropora palmata, is an essential reef-ecosystem engineer. Understanding the processes underpinning this coral’s survival and growth is essential to restoring this foundational species. Here, we compared replicate A. palmata colonies transplanted a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00888-1 |
| _version_ | 1797773994097639424 |
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| author | Leila Chapron Ilsa B. Kuffner Dustin W. Kemp Ann M. Hulver Elise F. Keister Anastasios Stathakopoulos Lucy A. Bartlett Erin O. Lyons Andréa G. Grottoli |
| author_facet | Leila Chapron Ilsa B. Kuffner Dustin W. Kemp Ann M. Hulver Elise F. Keister Anastasios Stathakopoulos Lucy A. Bartlett Erin O. Lyons Andréa G. Grottoli |
| author_sort | Leila Chapron |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The iconic and threatened Caribbean coral, Acropora palmata, is an essential reef-ecosystem engineer. Understanding the processes underpinning this coral’s survival and growth is essential to restoring this foundational species. Here, we compared replicate A. palmata colonies transplanted along 350 km of Florida’s offshore coral reef to determine holobiont and/or environmental variables that predict transplant success. We found a west-to-east gradient in coral physiology coupled with site-specific coral-associated microbiomes. Interestingly, no variables were linked to coral genet. Our results suggest that the unique oceanographic conditions with periodic upwelling events in the Dry Tortugas provide corals with greater opportunity for heterotrophy that in turn enhances coral growth and survivorship, and positively influences the microbiome. Our findings indicate that restoration efforts in the Dry Tortugas, and other places exhibiting higher food availability, could be most effective for A. palmata. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:13:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff42ba3f9f63406ea1e13f31da0a8c8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:13:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff42ba3f9f63406ea1e13f31da0a8c8a2023-07-23T11:27:21ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352023-07-014111210.1038/s43247-023-00888-1Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmataLeila Chapron0Ilsa B. Kuffner1Dustin W. Kemp2Ann M. Hulver3Elise F. Keister4Anastasios Stathakopoulos5Lucy A. Bartlett6Erin O. Lyons7Andréa G. Grottoli8School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State UniversityU.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science CenterDepartment of Biology, University of Alabama at BirminghamSchool of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State UniversityDepartment of Biology, University of Alabama at BirminghamU.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science CenterSchool of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State UniversityAbstract The iconic and threatened Caribbean coral, Acropora palmata, is an essential reef-ecosystem engineer. Understanding the processes underpinning this coral’s survival and growth is essential to restoring this foundational species. Here, we compared replicate A. palmata colonies transplanted along 350 km of Florida’s offshore coral reef to determine holobiont and/or environmental variables that predict transplant success. We found a west-to-east gradient in coral physiology coupled with site-specific coral-associated microbiomes. Interestingly, no variables were linked to coral genet. Our results suggest that the unique oceanographic conditions with periodic upwelling events in the Dry Tortugas provide corals with greater opportunity for heterotrophy that in turn enhances coral growth and survivorship, and positively influences the microbiome. Our findings indicate that restoration efforts in the Dry Tortugas, and other places exhibiting higher food availability, could be most effective for A. palmata.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00888-1 |
| spellingShingle | Leila Chapron Ilsa B. Kuffner Dustin W. Kemp Ann M. Hulver Elise F. Keister Anastasios Stathakopoulos Lucy A. Bartlett Erin O. Lyons Andréa G. Grottoli Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata |
| title_full | Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata |
| title_fullStr | Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata |
| title_short | Heterotrophy, microbiome, and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral Acropora palmata |
| title_sort | heterotrophy microbiome and location effects on restoration efficacy of the threatened coral acropora palmata |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00888-1 |
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