Colony-specific calcification and mortality under ocean acidification in the branching coral Montipora digitata.
Ocean acidification (OA) threatens calcifying marine organisms including reef-building corals. In this study, we examined the OA responses of individual colonies of the branching scleractinian coral Montipora digitata. We exposed nubbins of unique colonies (n = 15) to ambient or elevated pCO2 under natural light and temperature regimes for 110 days. Although elevated pCO2 exposure on average reduced calcification, individual colonies showed unique responses ranging from declines in positive calcification to negative calcification (decalcification) to no change. Similarly, mortality was greater on average in elevated pCO2, but also showed colony-specific patterns. High variation in colony responses suggests the possibility that ongoing OA may lead to natural selection of OA-tolerant colonies within a coral population.
Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, 903-0213, Okinawa, Japan. Electronic address: javid.kavousi@gmail.com.
Javid
J
Kavousi
Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 905-0227, Japan; Environment and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Negara, Brunei Darussalam.
Yasuaki
Y
Tanaka
Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8567, Japan; The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Kozue
K
Nishida
Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8567, Japan.
Atsushi
A
Suzuki
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
Yukihiro
Y
Nojiri
Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 905-0227, Japan; Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency/Japan International Cooperation Agency, Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development, Tokyo, Japan.
Takashi
T
Nakamura
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006706:Homeostasis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D002245:Carbon Dioxide
Calcification; Coral colonies; Mortality; Ocean acidification