Lethal and sublethal effects of thermal stress on octocorals early life-history stages.

ABSTRACT: The frequency and severity of marine heatwaves causing mass mortality events in tropical and temperate coral species increases every year, with serious consequences on the stability and resilience of coral populations. Although recovery and persistence of coral populations after stress events is closely related to adult fitness, as well as larval survival and settlement, much remains unknown about the effects of thermal stress on early life-history stages of temperate coral species. In the present study, the reproductive phenology and the effect of increased water temperature (+4°C and +6°C above ambient, 20°C) on larval survival and settlement was evaluated for two of the most representative Mediterranean octocoral species (Eunicella singularis and Corallium rubrum). Our study shows that

SUBMITTER: Viladrich N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9828436 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature