Effect of nutrient enrichment on growth and photosynthesis of the zooxanthellate coral Stylophora pistillata

Ferrier‐Pagés, Christine; Gattuso, Jean‐Pierre; Dallot, S.; Jaubert, Jean

doi:10.1007/s003380000078

Cited by 218 publications

(176 citation statements)

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“…The enhanced respiration rate of symbiotic corals in response to elevated levels of inorganic nutrients and sediments (Ferrier-Pagès et al, 2000;Anthony and Fabricius, 2000) means that such a response is consistent with the new biomineralisation model. For nutrients, the increased respiration appears to be mediated via a significant enlargement (by as much as a factor of 2-3) of the zooxanthellae population (Ferrier-Pagès et al, 2000). For sediments, the cleaning and sediment rejections processes (e.g., ciliary-mucus mechanism; Stafford-Smith, 1993) are metabolically very costly (Anthony and Fabricius, 2000).…”

Section: Sedimentation and Eutrophicationsupporting

confidence: 70%

A new conceptual model of coral biomineralisation: hypoxia as the physiological driver of skeletal extension

Wooldridge

2013

Biogeosciences

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That corals skeletons are built of aragonite crystals with taxonomy-linked ultrastructure has been well understood since the 19th century. Yet, the way by which corals control this crystallization process remains an unsolved question. Here, I outline a new conceptual model of coral biomineralisation that endeavours to relate known skeletal features with homeostatic functions beyond traditional growth (structural) determinants. In particular, I propose that the dominant physiological driver of skeletal extension is night-time hypoxia, which is exacerbated by the respiratory oxygen demands of the coral's algal symbionts (= zooxanthellae). The model thus provides a new narrative to explain the high growth rate of symbiotic corals, by equating skeletal deposition with the "work-rate" of the coral host needed to maintain a stable and beneficial symbiosis. In this way, coral skeletons are interpreted as a continuous (long-run) recording unit of the stability and functioning of the coral–algae endosymbiosis. After providing supportive evidence for the model across multiple scales of observation, I use coral core data from the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) to highlight the disturbed nature of the symbiosis in recent decades, but suggest that its onset is consistent with a trajectory that has been followed since at least the start of the 1900s. In concluding, I outline how the proposed capacity of cnidarians (which includes modern reef corals) to overcome the metabolic limitation of hypoxia via skeletogenesis also provides a new hypothesis to explain the sudden appearance in the fossil record of calcified skeletons at the Precambrian–Cambrian transition – and the ensuing rapid appearance of most major animal phyla

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Section: Sedimentation and Eutrophicationsupporting

confidence: 70%

A new conceptual model of coral biomineralisation: hypoxia as the physiological driver of skeletal extension

Wooldridge

2013

Biogeosciences

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“…At the same time, elevated inorganic nutrient input and sedimentation in near-shore reefs hamper G L , explaining the overall low increase in G L with respect to P g . Reasons for decreased G L under high nutrient levels are found in a decoupling of symbiont and host (Dubinsky et al 1990;Ferrier-Pagès et al 2000;Allemand et al 2004) or a direct inhibition of carbonate crystallization by inorganic nutrients (Simkiss 1964;Gattuso et al 1999). A support of G (light and dark) by either R or elevated nutritional status of the coral host (Houlbrèque et al 2003;Houlbrèque and Ferrier-Pagès 2008) was not evident in this study, except possibly at KAY, where highest R, tissue protein and biomass occurred together with highest G.…”

Section: Calcificationcontrasting

confidence: 58%

“…Calcification is not only dependent on the metabolic behavior of the holobiont but also directly affected by environmental factors. In particular, inorganic nutrients were found to have a negative effect on calcium carbonate precipitation (Marubini and Davies 1996;Ferrier-Pagès et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional status and metabolism of the coral Stylophora subseriata along a eutrophication gradient in Spermonde Archipelago (Indonesia)

et al. 2011

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Coral responses to degrading water quality are highly variable between species and depend on their trophic plasticity, acclimatization potential, and stress resistance. To assess the nutritional status and metabolism of the common scleractinian coral, Stylophora subseriata, in situ experiments were carried along a eutrophication gradient in Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. Coral fragments were incubated in light and dark chambers to measure photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification in a number of shallow reefs along the gradient. Chlorophyll a (chl a), protein content, maximum quantum yield (F v / F m ), and effective quantum yield (U PS II) were measured on the zooxanthellae, in addition to host tissue protein content and biomass. Photosynthetic rates were 2.5-fold higher near-shore than mid-shelf due to higher areal zooxanthellae and chl a concentrations and a higher photochemical efficiency (U PS II). A 2-and 3-fold increase in areal host tissue protein and biomass was found, indicating a higher nutritional supply in coastal waters. Dark respiration, however, showed no corresponding changes. There was a weak correlation between calcification and photosynthesis (Pearson r = 0.386) and a lack of metabolic stress, as indicated by constant respiration and F v /F m and the ''clean'' and healthy appearance of the colonies in spite of high turbidity in near-shore waters. The latter suggests that part of the energetic gains through increased auto-and heterotrophy were spent on metabolic expenditures, e.g., mucus production. While coastal pollution is always deleterious to the reef ecosystem as a whole, our results show that the effect on corals may not always be negative. Thus, S. subseriata may be one of the few examples of corals actually profiting from land-based sources of pollution.

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“…Stambler et al 1991;Hoegh-Guldberg et al 1997;Ferrier-Pages et al 2000) but an indirect effect of enhanced growth of the algal competitor (Miller and Hay 1996). Although this conclusion supports the accepted mechanism of the bottom-up view of nutrient effects on corals (in the absence of herbivores), it emphasizes the importance of the competitive interaction to that effect.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of nutrients and herbivory on competition between a hard coral (Poritescylindrica) and a brown alga (Lobophora variegata)

Jompa

McCook

2002

Limnology & Oceanography

129

102

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Coral reef degradation often involves a phase shift from coral-to macroalgal-dominated reefs. Declining levels of herbivory or increasing supply of nutrients have both been suggested as a cause of increased algal abundance and consequent competitive overgrowth of corals. However, explicit demonstration of the processes involved and their relative strengths requires simultaneous tests of all three factors: competition, herbivory, and nutrient effects. We experimentally tested the factorial effects of nutrients and herbivory on the competitive interaction between a brown alga Lobophora variegata and a scleractinian coral Porites cylindrica. The results of the experiment show that coral tissue mortality was strongly enhanced by the presence of the competitor (L. variegata), and this effect was significantly greater when herbivores were excluded. In contrast, the coral growth (skeletal extension) of P. cylindrica was not significantly affected by any treatments. The addition of nutrients did not have a significant effect on corals overall, but had a small effect on algal growth and consequent coral tissue mortality when herbivores were excluded. The factorial combination of treatments in this experiment allows interpretation of the causal relationships between each factor, demonstrating that nutrient effects on algal growth only led to competitive effects on corals when herbivory was insufficient to consume excess algal growth and that both herbivore and nutrient effects on corals were dependent on the strength and outcome of the competitive interaction between corals and algae.

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Effect of nutrient enrichment on growth and photosynthesis of the zooxanthellate coral Stylophora pistillata

Cited by 218 publications

References 0 publications

A new conceptual model of coral biomineralisation: hypoxia as the physiological driver of skeletal extension

A new conceptual model of coral biomineralisation: hypoxia as the physiological driver of skeletal extension

Nutritional status and metabolism of the coral Stylophora subseriata along a eutrophication gradient in Spermonde Archipelago (Indonesia)

The effects of nutrients and herbivory on competition between a hard coral (Poritescylindrica) and a brown alga (Lobophora variegata)

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