Leachate effects of pelagic Sargassum spp. on larval swimming behavior of the coral Acropora palmata.

ABSTRACT: An emerging disturbance for Caribbean reefs is the massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum, which deteriorates water quality due to the production of leachates. The highest arrivals of Sargassum took place when broadcasting corals spawned. We experimentally determined the effect of Sargassum leachates on swimming behavior of Acropora palmata larvae through five treatments (control, stain (simulating 100% leachate color), and 25%, 50% and 100% Sargassum leachate concentrations) during 30 min (10 min of videos and 20 min of post-observations). In the videos, larvae with leachates reduced swimming speed, were positively geotactic, the percentage of individuals that swam in a spiral pattern increased, and most behavioral displacements occurred at lower frequencies than larvae without leachates. M

SUBMITTER: Antonio-Martinez F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7054338 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature