Effects of feeding and light intensity on the response of the coral Porites rus to ocean acidification.

Year: 

2013
Authors: 
Comeau, S.Carpenter, R. C.Edmunds, P. J.

Source: 

Marine Biology

Abstract: 

Recently, it has been suggested that there are conditions under which some coral species appear to be resistant to the effects of ocean acidification. To test if such resistance can be explained by environmental factors such as light and food availability, the present study investigated the effect of 3 feeding regimes crossed with 2 light levels on the response of the coral Porites rus to 2 levels of pCO2 at 28oC. After 1, 2, and 3 weeks of incubation under experimental conditions, none of the factors—including pCO2—significantly affected area-normalized calcification and biomass-normalized calcification. Biomass also was unaffected during the first 2 weeks, but after 3 weeks, corals that were fed had more biomass per unit area than starved corals. These results suggest that P. rus is resistant to short-term exposure to high pCO2, regardless of food availability and light intensity. P. rus might therefore represent a model system for exploring the genetic basis of tolerance to OA.

Volume: 

160

Pages: 

1127-1134

ISBN: 

0025-3162

Publication Type: 

Journal Article

Research Areas: