Reproduction, energy storage and metabolic requirements in a mesophotic population of the gorgonian Paramuricea macrospina

Grinyó, Jordi; Viladrich, Núria; Díaz, David; Muñoz, Anabel; Mallol, Sandra; Salazar, Janire; Castillo, Raquel Navarro; Gili, Josep María; Gori, Andrea

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203308

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…However, in the Mediterranean Sea the definition of mesophotic zone needs to be clarified, being adopted for a wide range of depths and environmental factors (e.g. Cerrano et al 2010;Bianchelli et al 2013;Giusti et al 2014;Cau et al 2015a;Grinyó et al 2018b). For instance, there is a partial overlap with the definition of coralligenous habitats that could have led to possible confusion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems: gaps and perspectives of an emerging conservation challenge for the Mediterranean Sea

Cerrano

Bastari

Calcinai

et al. 2019

The European Zoological Journal

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Mesophotic habitats, hosting benthic assemblages totally unknown and unexpected in the early 2000s, are attracting an increasing interest from scientists. Realizing that many long living and habitat forming species are playing a unique pocket of biodiversity in the frame of climate crisis, it is important to recognize the potential of the mesophotic zone in conservation strategies. The mesophotic zone is characterized by environmental factors generally more stable than the shallow counterpart; therefore, it represents a refuge habitat to preserve species that, in shallow waters, may be involved in bleaching events, massive mortalities or other pathologies generally triggered by thermal anomalies. The definition of the mesophotic zone in the temperate seas is confused, creating possible misunderstandings and problems not only from a scientific point of view but also in communication and outreach strategies. Here, we review the scientific literature to build the best definition possible based on the maximum consensus coming from papers analysis. Moreover, the key roles of mesophotic habitats, including ecosystem engineers as animal forests, have been schematized to enhance the perception of the potential risks we are running in case of damage or loss of these habitats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems: gaps and perspectives of an emerging conservation challenge for the Mediterranean Sea

Cerrano

Bastari

Calcinai

et al. 2019

The European Zoological Journal

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“…Several efforts have been made in the last decades to fill the gap in the knowledge of the so-called mesophotic biogenic reefs, also in the Mediterranean Sea. Coralligenous only partially overlaps with the wide range of the bioconstructions found in the mesophotic zone, developing at different depths and under different environmental factors (e.g., Cerrano et al, 2010Cerrano et al, , 2019Bianchelli et al, 2013;Giusti et al, 2014;Cau et al, 2015;Grinyó et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Main Builders of Mediterranean Coralligenous: 2D and 3D Quantitative Approaches for its Identification

et al. 2022

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Along the Mediterranean Sea shelf, algal reefs made of crustose coralline algae and Peyssonneliales are known as Coralligenous. It ranks among the most important ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea because of its extent, complexity, and heterogeneity, supporting very high levels of biodiversity. Descriptive approaches for monitoring purposes are often aimed at assessing the surficial ephemeral canopy, which is sustained and controlled by the occurrence of the long-lasting rigid structure at the base. This practice led to the non-univocal definition of Coralligenous, sometimes indicated as “animal Coralligenous” because of the surficial dominance of these components. The quantitative assessment of the builders that actively build up the persistent structure through geological time is therefore a fundamental topic. We collected two discrete coralligenous samples in front of Marzamemi village (Sicily, Ionian Sea), the first from an area of a dense coralligenous cover (- 37 m) and the second one from an area with sparse build-ups (- 36 m). By using image analysis and computerized axial tomography, we distinguished and quantified the different components both on the surface and inside the framework. In both cases, our results confirm the primary role of crustose coralline algae as major builders of the Mediterranean Coralligenous, this aspect matching with the evidence from the Quaternary fossil record. We suggest that the role of encrusting calcareous red algae in the Coralligenous should be considered in conservation and management policies.

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“…However, these studies have largely focused on shallow zooxanthellate coral species and their responses to bleaching events, and few have explicitly considered the impacts of repeated thermal stress or thermal variability on reproduction (but see Liberman et al 31 ). Results of warming experiments 26,27 and descriptions of reproduction and metabolic demand across environmental gradients [32][33][34][35][36] suggest that the energetic requirements of survival in suboptimal temperatures, particularly during gametogenesis when metabolic demand is already elevated 35 , may not be sustainable across coral species 33,[36][37][38] . Living in suboptimal environments has also been shown to affect reproductive output in corals 32,36 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Living in suboptimal environments has also been shown to affect reproductive output in corals 32,36 . In some cases, this appears as a temporal offset across depths, possibly due to differences in temperature between habitats 34,35,[39][40][41] . In other species, changes in reproductive phenology can disrupt broadcast spawning synchrony 42 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shallow-emerged coral may warn of deep-sea coral response to thermal stress

Johnstone

Waller

Stone

2021

Sci Rep

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In the Gulf of Alaska, commercially harvested fish species utilize habitats dominated by red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) for shelter, feeding, and nurseries, but recent studies hint that environmental conditions may be interrupting the reproductive lifecycle of the corals. The North Pacific has experienced persistent and extreme thermal variability in recent years and this pattern is predicted to continue in coming decades. Recent discovery of deep-water emerged coral populations in Southeast Alaska fjords provided opportunity for detailed life-history studies and comparison to corals in managed habitats on the continental shelf. Here we show that sperm from deep colonies develops completely, but in shallow colonies, sperm development is prematurely halted, likely preventing successful production of larvae. We hypothesize that the divergence is due to differing temperature regimes presently experienced by the corals. Compared to deep populations below the thermocline, shallow populations experience much greater seasonal thermal variability and annual pulses of suspected near-lethal temperatures that appear to interrupt the production of viable gametes. The unique opportunity to comprehensively study emerged populations presently affected by thermal stress provides advance warning of the possible fate of deep corals in the Gulf of Alaska that will soon experience similar ocean conditions.

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Reproduction, energy storage and metabolic requirements in a mesophotic population of the gorgonian Paramuricea macrospina

Cited by 16 publications

References 83 publications

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems: gaps and perspectives of an emerging conservation challenge for the Mediterranean Sea

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems: gaps and perspectives of an emerging conservation challenge for the Mediterranean Sea

The Main Builders of Mediterranean Coralligenous: 2D and 3D Quantitative Approaches for its Identification

Shallow-emerged coral may warn of deep-sea coral response to thermal stress

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