Reproduction of an azooxanthellate coral is unaffected by ocean acidification

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: Gizzi F., de Mas L., Airi V., Caroselli E., Prada F., Falini G., Dubinsky Z., Goffredo S.
• Other Authors: Gizzi, F., de Mas, L., Airi, V., Caroselli, E., Prada, F., Falini, G., Dubinsky, Z., Goffredo, S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emission; ocean acidifcation (OA); marine calcifying organism; coral; coral calcifcation; reproduction; temperate coral; sexual reproduction; azooxanthellate; solitary scleractinian; Leptopsammia pruvoti; natural pCO2 gradient; Mediterranean CO2 vent; germ cell production; gametogenesi; embryogenesi; azooxanthellate coral; reproductive potential; ecosystem function and service; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11585/621003; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13393-1; http://www.marinesciencegroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/s41598-017-13393-1.pdf

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and consequent ocean acidifcation (OA) are projected to have extensive consequences on marine calcifying organisms, including corals. While the efects of OA on coral calcifcation are well documented, the response of reproduction is still poorly understood since no information are reported for temperate corals. Here we investigate for the frst time the infuence of OA on sexual reproduction of the temperate azooxanthellate solitary scleractinian Leptopsammia pruvoti transplanted along a natural pCO2 gradient at a Mediterranean CO2 vent. After 3 months, future projection of pH levels did not infuence the germ cell production, gametogenesis and embryogenesis in this azooxanthellate coral. These fndings suggest that reproductive potential may be quite tolerant to decreasing pH, with implications for ecosystem function and services in a changing ocean.