| Summary: | This dataset shows the combined effects of climate change (ocean warming (OW) and ocean acidification (OA)) and the herbicide diuron (frequently detected in the Great Barrier Reef catchments) on the chlorophyll a fluorescence (effective quantum yield, Delta F/Fm'), net photosynthesis (photosynthetic oxygen production and respiration rates) and calcification rates (light and dark calcification) on the coral Acropora millepora during laboratory experiments conducted in 2018. The aim of this project was to investigate the combined effects of climate change (OW and OA) and the herbicide diuron on the chlorophyll a fluorescence (effective quantum yield, Delta F/Fm'), net photosynthesis (oxygen production and respiration rates) and calcification rates (light and dark calcification) on the coral Acropora millepora. These toxicity data will enable improved assessment of the risks posed by PSII herbicides to coral in a changing climate. Methods: Four adult colonies (30-40 cm diameter) of Acropora millepora were collected from Backnumbers Reef (18° 29.264 S, 147° 09.174 E), GBR under Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) permit G12/35236.1. Colonies were transported to the National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville and maintained in 1700 L flow-through tanks. Terminal portions of A. millepora branches (~2 cm height) were affixed on marked glass tiles and maintained in flow-through filtered seawater at 27 ± 1 °C under 150 µmol m-2 s-1 for at least one week prior to experimentation. Coral fragments were fed daily with Artemia nauplii (0.5 nauplii mL-1) during the healing period; however, corals were not fed during the duration of the experiment due to possible effect on water quality within the experimental chambers. Experimental setup A. millepora were exposed to three climate change scenarios (OW + OA): 28.1 ± 0.3°C and 397 ± 64 ppm CO2, 29.1 ± 0.3°C and 680 ± 90 ppm CO2, 30.2 ± 0.3°C and 858 ± 149 ppm CO2, and six concentrations of diuron (measured: 0, ...
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