Seasonal variation modulates coral sensibility to heat-stress and explains annual changes in coral productivity.

ABSTRACT: The potential effects of seasonal acclimatization on coral sensitivity to heat-stress, has received limited attention despite differing bleaching thresholds for summer and winter. In this study, we examined the response of two contrasting phenotypes, termed winter and summer, of four Caribbean reef corals to similar light and heat-stress levels. The four species investigated were categorized into two groups: species with the ability to harbour large number of symbionts, Orbicella annularis and O. faveolata, and species with reduced symbiont density (Montastraea cavernosa and Pseudodiploria strigosa). The first group showed higher capacity to enhance photosynthetic rates per area (P_max), while P_max enhancement in the second group was more dependent on Symbiodinium perf

SUBMITTER: Scheufen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5504023 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature