Atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment alters seawater carbonate chemistry, thus threatening calcifying organisms such as corals. Coral populations at carbon dioxide vents are natural acidification experiments that mimic organism responses to seawater pH values projected for 2100. Even if demographic traits are paramount information to assess ecological relationships and habitat suitability, population dynamics studies on corals thriving under acidified conditions are lacking. Here, we investigate the demography and reproduction of popu- lations of the solitary, symbiotic, temperate coral Balanophyllia europaea naturally living along a pH gradient at a Mediterranean CO2 vent. Gametogenesis and larval production were unaffected while recruitment efficiency collapsed at low and variable pH, contributing to coral abundance decline and suggesting that life stages between larval release and early polyp growth are hindered by acidification. Exploring these processes is crucial to assess coral fate in the forthcoming acidified oceans, to preserve coral ecosystems and the socioeconomic ser- vices they provide.

Caroselli E, G.F. (2019). Low and variable pH decreases recruitment efficiency in populations of a temperate coral naturally present at a CO2 vent. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 64(3), 1059-1069 [10.1002/lno.11097].

Low and variable pH decreases recruitment efficiency in populations of a temperate coral naturally present at a CO2 vent

Caroselli E;Gizzi F;Prada F;Marchini C;Airi V;Falini G;Goffredo S
2019

Abstract

Atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment alters seawater carbonate chemistry, thus threatening calcifying organisms such as corals. Coral populations at carbon dioxide vents are natural acidification experiments that mimic organism responses to seawater pH values projected for 2100. Even if demographic traits are paramount information to assess ecological relationships and habitat suitability, population dynamics studies on corals thriving under acidified conditions are lacking. Here, we investigate the demography and reproduction of popu- lations of the solitary, symbiotic, temperate coral Balanophyllia europaea naturally living along a pH gradient at a Mediterranean CO2 vent. Gametogenesis and larval production were unaffected while recruitment efficiency collapsed at low and variable pH, contributing to coral abundance decline and suggesting that life stages between larval release and early polyp growth are hindered by acidification. Exploring these processes is crucial to assess coral fate in the forthcoming acidified oceans, to preserve coral ecosystems and the socioeconomic ser- vices they provide.
2019
Caroselli E, G.F. (2019). Low and variable pH decreases recruitment efficiency in populations of a temperate coral naturally present at a CO2 vent. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 64(3), 1059-1069 [10.1002/lno.11097].
Caroselli E, Gizzi F, Prada F, Marchini C, Airi V, Kaandorp J, Falini G, Dubinsky Z, Goffredo S
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
post-print.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipo: Postprint
Licenza: Licenza per accesso libero gratuito
Dimensione 983.83 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
983.83 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/660160
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 14
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact