Scleractinian coral species survive and recover from decalcification.
Anthropogenic-driven accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and projected ocean acidification have raised concerns regarding the eventual impact on coral reefs. This study demonstrates that skeleton-producing corals grown in acidified experimental conditions are able to sustain basic life functions, including reproductive ability, in a sea anemone-like form and will resume skeleton building when reintroduced to normal modern marine conditions. These results support the existence of physiological refugia, allowing corals to alternate between nonfossilizing soft-body ecophenotypes and fossilizing skeletal forms in response to changes in ocean chemistry. This refugia, however, does not undermine the threats to reef ecosystems in a high carbon dioxide world.
Fine
Maoz
M
Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel. finema@mail.biu.ac.il
Tchernov
Dan
D
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D018533:Biomass; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017753:Ecosystem; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000502:physiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013559:Symbiosis
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002119:Calcium Carbonate