Subtropical thermal variation supports persistence of corals but limits productivity of coral reefs.

ABSTRACT: Concomitant to the decline of tropical corals caused by increasing global sea temperatures is the potential removal of barriers to species range expansions into subtropical and temperate habitats. In these habitats, species must tolerate lower annual mean temperature, wider annual temperature ranges and lower minimum temperatures. To understand ecophysiological traits that will impact geographical range boundaries, we monitored populations of five coral species within a marginal habitat and used a year of in situ measures to model thermal performance of vital host, symbiont and holobiont physiology. Metabolic responses to temperature revealed two acclimatization strategies: peak productivity occurring at annual midpoint temperatures (4-6°C lower than tropical counterparts), or at annual ma

SUBMITTER: McIlroy SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6661340 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature