Allelopathic effects of macroalgae on Pocillopora acuta coral larvae

Authors

Jenny Fong, National University of Singapore
Zi Wei Lim, National University of Singapore
Andrew G. Bauman, National University of SingaporeFollow
Suresh Valiyaveettil, National University of Singapore
Lawrence M. Liao, Hiroshima University
Zhi Ting Yip, National University of Singapore
Peter A. Todd, National University of Singapore

ORCID

0000-0001-9260-2153

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Marine Environmental Research

ISSN

1879-0291

Publication Date

10-2019

Keywords

Macroalgae, Allelopathy, Larvae, Larval bioassay, Pocillopora, Settlement

Abstract

Allelopathy has been proposed as a key mechanism mediating coral–algal interactions; however, few studies have tested macroalgal allelochemicals on coral larvae. In this study, we examined the effects of crude extracts from four macroalgal species on Pocillopora acuta larvae under different exposure conditions. Larval mortality increased considerably with increasing concentrations of Bryopsis sp., Endosiphonia horrida, and Lobophora sp. extracts. Increasing E. horrida and Lobophora sp. extract concentrations also substantially decreased larval settlement. No detectable effects on larvae were observed in Hypnea pannosa extracts. Further, while larval mortality increased with exposure duration to Lobophora sp. extracts, larval settlement was enhanced at 12 h exposure, but reduced at shorter and longer durations. Our results emphasize that macroalgal chemical effects are highly dependent on macroalgal species and exposure conditions. On reefs dominated by allelopathic macroalgae, the survivorship and settlement of coral larvae are potentially constrained, thereby limiting the recovery of degraded reefs.

DOI

10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.06.007

Volume

151

First Page

104745

Comments

This study was funded by the National Research Foundation, Prime Minister's Office, Singapore under the Marine Science Research and Development Programme (MSRDP-P03) and Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund. All research was carried out with permission of the Singapore National Parks Board (Permit no. NP/RP17-046).

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NSUWorks Citation

Jenny Fong, Zi Wei Lim, Andrew G. Bauman, Suresh Valiyaveettil, Lawrence M. Liao, Zhi Ting Yip, and Peter A. Todd. 2019. Allelopathic effects of macroalgae on Pocillopora acuta coral larvae .Marine Environmental Research : 104745 . https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/1282.