Light induced intraspecific variability in response to thermal stress in the hard coral Stylophora pistillata

Recent research suggests that prior exposure of several months to elevated irradiance induces enhanced thermal tolerance in scleractinian corals. While this tolerance has been reported at the species level, individual coral colonies may react differently due to individual variability in thermal tole...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PeerJ
Main Authors: Tilstra, Arjen, Wijgerde, Tim, Dini-Andreote, Francisco, Eriksson, Britas Klemens, Salles, Joana Falcão, Pen, Ido, Osinga, Ronald, Wild, Christian
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Journal Article
Stylophora pistillata
Thermal tolerance
Intraspecific variability
Photoprotection
Light stress
NECROSIS
REEF CORAL
GALAXEA-FASCICULARIS
GONIASTREA-ASPERA
SERIATOPORA-HYSTRIX
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
RADIATION INCREASES
Ocean acidification
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11370/77789ee1-3a7b-4270-95ba-a1e5a33d94cd
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/77789ee1-3a7b-4270-95ba-a1e5a33d94cd
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3802
https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/49393045/peerj_3802.pdf
Description
Summary:Recent research suggests that prior exposure of several months to elevated irradiance induces enhanced thermal tolerance in scleractinian corals. While this tolerance has been reported at the species level, individual coral colonies may react differently due to individual variability in thermal tolerance. As thermal anomalies are predicted to become common in the upcoming future, intraspecific variation may be key to the survival of coral populations. In order to study light-history based thermal stress responses on individual colonies, we developed a preliminary microcosm experiment where three randomly chosen, aquacultured colonies of the model coral Stylophora pistillata were exposed to two irradiance treatments (200 and 400 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1)) for 31 days, followed by artificially induced heat stress (∼33.4 °C). We found different responses to occur at both the intraspecific and the intracolonial levels, as indicated by either equal, less severe, delayed, and/or even non-necrotic responses of corals previously exposed to the irradiance of 400 compared to 200 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1). In addition, all individual colonies revealed light-enhanced calcification. Finally, elevated irradiance resulted in a lower chlorophyll a concentration in one colony compared to the control treatment, and the same colony displayed more rapid bleaching compared to the other ones. Taken together, this study highlights the potential importance of intra-individual variability in physiological responses of scleractinian corals and provides recommendations for improving methodological designs for future studies.

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