The effects of thermal and high-CO2 stresses on the metabolism and surrounding microenvironment of the coral Galaxea fascicularis

• Main Authors: Agostini, Sylvain, Fujimura, Hiroyuki, Higuchi, Tomihiko, Yuyama, Ikuko, Casareto, Beatriz E, Suzuki, Yoshimi, Nakano, Yoshiyuki
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2013
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphate; per unit protein; Alkalinity; total; Animalia; Aragonite saturation state; Benthic animals; Benthos; Bicarbonate ion; Bottles or small containers/Aquaria (<20 L); Calcite saturation state; Calculated using CO2SYS; Calculated using seacarb after Nisumaa et al. (2010); Carbon; inorganic; dissolved; Carbonate ion; Carbonate system computation flag; Carbon dioxide; Cnidaria; Coast and continental shelf; Comment; Figure; Fugacity of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Galaxea fascicularis; Gross photosynthesis rate; oxygen; Identification; Laboratory experiment; North Pacific; OA-ICC; Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre; Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); pH; standard deviation; Potentiometric; Potentiometric titration; Primary production/Photosynthesis; Respiration; Respiration rate; Salinity; Single species; Species; Temperate; Temperature; water; Pacific; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.835319; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.835319

The effects of elevated temperature and high pCO2 on the metabolism of Galaxea fascicularis were studied with oxygen and pH microsensors. Photosynthesis and respiration rates were evaluated from the oxygen fluxes from and to the coral polyps. High-temperature alone lowered both photosynthetic and respiration rates. High pCO2 alone did not significantly affect either photosynthesis or respiration rates. Under a combination of high-temperature and high-CO2, the photosynthetic rate increased to values close to those of the controls. The same pH in the diffusion boundary layer was observed under light in both (400 and 750 ppm) CO2 treatments, but decreased significantly in the dark as a result of increased CO2. The ATP contents decreased with increasing temperature. The effects of temperature on the metabolism of corals were stronger than the effects of increased CO2. The effects of acidification were minimal without combined temperature stress. However, acidification combined with higher temperature may affect coral metabolism due to the amplification of diel variations in the microenvironment surrounding the coral and the decrease in ATP contents.