Coral Physiological Response to Deoxygenated Seawater
Location
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Start
2-13-2025 3:30 PM
End
2-13-2025 3:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Deoxygenation is an emerging threat to coral reefs, with potentially devastating consequences for coral survival, recruitment, and overall reef health. However, the tolerance of different coral species to low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions varies and depends on factors such as life stage, exposure duration, and species-specific physiological traits. This talk synthesizes findings from two studies investigating the impacts of deoxygenation on corals during different life stages.
The first study examined the effects of severe and moderate deoxygenation on larval settlement and early recruit survival in three Caribbean coral species. While larval settlement was largely unaffected, recruit survival varied among species, revealing important differences in vulnerability during early life stages. The second study explored the physiological responses of adult corals to prolonged low-oxygen conditions, identifying shifts in photosynthesis and respiration that indicate metabolic plasticity as a key mechanism for hypoxia tolerance in some species.
Together, these studies highlight the complexity of coral responses to deoxygenation and emphasize the species-specific nature of these impacts. Understanding how corals tolerate or succumb to low-oxygen conditions is critical as deoxygenation prevalence becomes more frequent and severe in the Anthropocene. These findings provide valuable insights for conservation and restoration efforts, particularly for strategies aimed at enhancing coral recruitment and resilience in the face of global environmental change.
Coral Physiological Response to Deoxygenated Seawater
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Deoxygenation is an emerging threat to coral reefs, with potentially devastating consequences for coral survival, recruitment, and overall reef health. However, the tolerance of different coral species to low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions varies and depends on factors such as life stage, exposure duration, and species-specific physiological traits. This talk synthesizes findings from two studies investigating the impacts of deoxygenation on corals during different life stages.
The first study examined the effects of severe and moderate deoxygenation on larval settlement and early recruit survival in three Caribbean coral species. While larval settlement was largely unaffected, recruit survival varied among species, revealing important differences in vulnerability during early life stages. The second study explored the physiological responses of adult corals to prolonged low-oxygen conditions, identifying shifts in photosynthesis and respiration that indicate metabolic plasticity as a key mechanism for hypoxia tolerance in some species.
Together, these studies highlight the complexity of coral responses to deoxygenation and emphasize the species-specific nature of these impacts. Understanding how corals tolerate or succumb to low-oxygen conditions is critical as deoxygenation prevalence becomes more frequent and severe in the Anthropocene. These findings provide valuable insights for conservation and restoration efforts, particularly for strategies aimed at enhancing coral recruitment and resilience in the face of global environmental change.