11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

Poster Mini-Symposium 3: Calcification and Coral Reefs - Past and Future
3.37
Growth and Population Dynamics Model of the Solitary Sunset Cup Coral
Leptopsammia pruvoti (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae) in the Mediterranean Sea
Stefano GOFFREDO* 1 , Erik CAROSELLI 1 , Guido MATTIOLI 2 , Elettra PIGNOTTI 3 ,
Francesco ZACCANTI 1
1 Department of Evolutionary and Experimental Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna,
Italy, 2 Operative Unit of Radiology and Diagnostics by Images, Hospital of Porretta
Terme, Local Health Enterprise of Bologna, Porretta Terme, Italy, 3 Taskforce for
Statistical Analysis, Marine & Freshwater Science Group Association, Bologna, Italy
Demographic parameters reveal relationships between organisms and their environment,
and contribute to the assessment of habitat stability. Scattered information is available on
the population dynamics of corals, especially for temperate species. In this study we
describe growth and population turnover in Leptopsammia pruvoti, a dominant species in
shaded habitats (sea caves and crevices) of the Mediterranean Sea, by applying agestructured
demographic models. Age was determined by counting the number of annual
growth bands in corallite skeletons by means of computerized tomography technology.
Populations located at the extremes of the sampled latitudinal range, 890 km apart,
showed similar patterns of growth and population dynamics. Linear growth rates
(corallite’s oral disc length, width, and oral-aboral height) decreased with age according
to power functions. Age explained 83-95% of growth rates variance. Turnover time
ranged from 7 to 10 years, with a maximum longevity of more than 40 years. This is
nearly two times the turnover time and maximum life span recorded for another
dendrophylliid solitary coral in the Mediterranean Sea, Balanophyllia europaea, and
seven times compared to Balanophyllia elegans of the western coast of North America.
The similarity of growth and demographic patterns of Leptopsammia pruvoti among
distant sites may be related to the stability of the species’ habitat.
3.38
Coral Resiliency To Changing Pco2 in Florida Bay
Remy OKAZAKI* 1 , Peter SWART 1 , Chris LANGDON 1 , Frank MILLERO 1
1 University of Miami - RSMAS, Miami, FL
Despite evidence showing increased pCO2 decreases coral calcification, coral growth
appears to be unaffected in Florida Bay, where pCO2 varies seasonally by over 400 ppm.
These changing conditions make Florida Bay an ideal environment in which to study
coral responses to different pCO2 levels. In-situ calcification rates of the dominant coral
species, Solenastrea sp. and Siderastrea sp., are measured bi-monthly. Furthermore,
other variables affecting coral growth are monitored, including temperature, saturation
state, and light. Superimposed on this natural variability, coral growth is measured under
artificially lowered pH conditions. These measurements will evaluate corals' responses
to a range of physiochemical conditions and whether they have adapted to changing
pCO2.
3.39
Physiological Effects Of Co2-Mediated Ocean Acidification On Reef-Associated Corals
Noah BEN-ADERET* 1,2 , Maoz FINE 1
1 Mina & Everard Goodman Dept. of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel,
2 Inter-University Institute for Marine Science, Eilat, Israel
Calcifying organisms rely on carefully balanced levels of calcite and aragonite for skeletal
construction; decreases in ambient pH disrupt these processes. Lower pH has been shown to
increase photosynthetic rates in plants and algae, however it is detrimental to calcification and
growth. This fact raises the questions: How would corals respond to low pH conditions? Do the
benefits to photosynthesis outweigh the detriments to calcification and growth?
I examined four species of reef-building corals found along the Israeli coast of the Red Sea in
the northern Gulf of Aqaba. Fragments of Stylophora pistillata, Pocillopora damicornis and
two Acropora spp. were grown in 3 differing pH levels (7.0, 7.3, and 7.6), with one ambient
control (8.2) in water tables fed from a raw water source pH system. Changes in pH were
achieved by bubbling pure CO2 into seawater in holding tanks to achieve the desired pH.
Fragments were maintained in the system for up to six months. Due to the somewhat
problematic nature of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements in detecting the effect of low pH
on photosynthesis, Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry (MIMS) coupled with Fast Repetition
Rate Fluorometry (FRRF) were used to quantify the effects of low pH on both photosynthesis
and respiration
Gross photosynthesis of corals at the lower pH (7.3) was significantly higher than that of those
in ambient pH (8.2). This may be explained by increases seen in oxygen production by algal
cells in lower pH. We also measured higher respiration rates (dark and light) in the lower pH
treatment; this was attributed mainly to host metabolism.
While the fragments survived the lower pH, demonstrated increased primary production and
even recorded some growth, calcification was reduced. Overall, data indicated definite stress to
the organisms at lower pH, additional work is needed to the significance of acidic stress on
corals.
3.40
Coral Accretion in The Harsh Conditions Of The Western Coast Of Mexico
Luis E. CALDERON-AGUILERA* 1 , Héctor REYES-BONILLA 2 , José CARRRIQUIRY 3
1 Ecology, CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico, 2 Biología Marina, UABCS, La Paz, Mexico,
3 Geoquimica Ambiental, IIO - UABC, Ensenada, Mexico
The aim of this work was to assess comparatively the carbonate potential production along a
latitudinal gradient in the western coast of México, an area that has been subjected to severe
natural perturbations in the last decade. In the study region, coral reefs are small, very shallow
(less than 10 m in depth), and with low relief (