Article
Limnology
Hannah E. Aichelman, Colleen B. Bove, Karl D. Castillo, Jessica M. Boulton, Alyssa C. Knowlton, Olivia C. Nieves, Justin B. Ries, Sarah W. Davies
Summary: This study investigated the physiological responses of two coral species under various stressors over different exposure durations. Siderastrea siderea showed resistance to end of century pCO(2) and temperature stress, while Pseudodiploria strigosa was more negatively impacted by elevated temperatures. The findings suggest that coral acclimation to global change stressors can vary among species and locations.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. I. Bertucci, J. Bellas
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the potential risk of the combined effect of global change factors and microplastic pollution on the growth and development of the sea urchin P. lividus. The results showed that exposure to decreased pH and microplastic caused a significant decrease in larval growth, while an increase in water temperature added additional stress, resulting in lower growth and altered development of the sea urchin larvae. The combined stress of ocean warming, acidification, and microplastic pollution may threaten sea urchin populations and have a potential impact on coastal ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lester Kwiatkowski, Olivier Torres, Olivier Aumont, James C. C. Orr
Summary: Studies have shown that the influence of increasing atmospheric CO2 and climate change on the marine CO2 system and ecosystems is mainly manifested in the variability of carbonate chemistry, including seasonal and diurnal variations. Models project that the future ocean will experience enhanced diurnal variability of pCO2 and [H+], which may impose higher metabolic costs on marine organisms.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Geissler, Valentine Meunier, Nils Radecker, Gabriela Perna, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa, Fanny Houlbreque, Christian R. Voolstra
Summary: The diversity of diazotroph communities within corals is generally low and shows variability among different host species and within the same species. Changes in diazotroph communities in response to volcanic CO2 seeps suggest a random assembly of these communities, highlighting the need for further research into the factors influencing their structure and functional role in the coral holobiont.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeff Tollefson
Summary: A New York experiment is part of a commercial race to develop ocean-based technologies to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sun W. W. Kim, Brigitte Sommer, Maria Beger, John M. M. Pandolfi
Summary: Climate change is causing rapid and widespread degradation of the environmental conditions that previously supported species survival. Current projections of climate change mainly focus on acute environmental anomalies and global extinction risks, without considering species-specific patterns. As a result, we lack knowledge about the explicit dimensions of climate risk that are essential for predicting future biodiversity responses and developing effective management and conservation strategies.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Kristy J. Kroeker, Emily M. Donham, Kate Vylet, Joseph K. Warren, Julia Cheresh, Jerome Fiechter, Jan Freiwald, Yuichiro Takeshita
Summary: In upwelling systems, fluctuations in seawater pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and temperature can lead to exposure to extreme conditions for marine species. This study characterized the variability and covariance among these drivers using a time series of observations and a simulation for the California coast. It found that sites with strong upwelling had the greatest intensity and duration of exposure to extreme pH and DO conditions, while sites with weak upwelling had higher and more variable temperature.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haruko Kurihara, Atsushi Watanabe, Asami Tsugi, Izumi Mimura, Chuki Hongo, Takashi Kawai, James Davis Reimer, Katsunori Kimoto, Marine Gouezo, Yimnang Golbuu
Summary: This study evaluated the environmental conditions and benthic community structures in Nikko Bay, Palau, and found that despite significant changes in environmental conditions, coral calcification rate could still be maintained, indicating a strong local acclimatization and adaptation capacity of corals to environmental changes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danling Ma, Luke Gregor, Nicolas Gruber
Summary: The oceans have been acidifying due to the absorption of anthropogenic CO2, with the surface ocean aragonite saturation state and pH declining over the past four decades. The main driver of these trends is the increase in dissolved inorganic carbon from anthropogenic CO2 uptake, with surface warming contributing to the decrease in pH. Regional differences in the ability to take up and buffer anthropogenic CO2 result in variations in the long-term trends.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Juliette Jacquemont, Fanny Houlbreque, Clement Tanvet, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa
Summary: This study investigates physiological differences in coral species from the extreme reef environment of Bourake in New Caledonia. The results show that different species exhibit species-specific responses to extreme climate conditions, with lower photosynthetic rates but compensated by higher chlorophyll contents in Bourake corals compared to reference corals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eric Mortenson, Andrew Lenton, Elizabeth H. Shadwick, Thomas W. Trull, Matthew A. Chamberlain, Xuebin Zhang
Summary: The ocean serves as a major sink for anthropogenic heat and carbon, but the trajectories of heat and CO2 uptake diverge over the 21st century due to regional differences in physical and chemical drivers. Regional variations in heat-to-carbon uptake ratios will result in coherent regional patterns for sea surface warming and acidification by the end of this century.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natasha Garner, Pauline M. Ross, Laura J. Falkenberg, Justin R. Seymour, Nachshon Siboni, Elliot Scanes
Summary: Seagrass may not be a panacea for mitigating the negative impacts of ocean acidification on oysters, but it can benefit oyster growth.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Elliot Scanes, Pauline M. Ross, Justin R. Seymour, Nachshon Siboni, Michael C. Dove, Wayne A. O'Connor, Callum Dittes, Laura M. Parker
Summary: Ocean acidification can affect marine molluscs, but transgenerational plasticity may mitigate some effects. This study investigated how the microbiome can be influenced by transgenerational exposure to ocean acidification in Sydney Rock oysters. The results showed that parental exposure to elevated PCO2 altered the bacterial community composition in both eggs and larvae, with certain Rhodobacteraceae ASVs increasing or decreasing in abundance. These findings suggest that the transfer of maternal microbiomes to larvae is affected by exposure to ocean acidification and may contribute to transgenerational plasticity.
Article
Biology
Hanny E. Rivera, Anne L. Cohen, Janelle R. Thompson, Iliana B. Baums, Michael D. Fox, Kirstin S. Meyer-Kaiser
Summary: Ocean warming is causing coral mortality, but some heat-tolerant populations can replenish affected reefs. The Rock Islands in Palau harbor two thermally tolerant genetic lineages, which can provide tolerant larvae to neighboring areas, essential for coral survival.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Haimanti Biswas
Summary: This study investigates the growth response of Arctic diatom Chaetoceros gelidus under varying CO2 and light levels. The results suggest that this species has a high adaptability to variable light levels and is capable of accumulating substantial amounts of organic carbon at low CO2 levels. Additionally, under nitrogen limitation, intracellular nitrogen resources may be recycled, resulting in an increased carbon-to-nitrogen ratio within the cells.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Or Ben-Zvi, Daniel Wangpraseurt, Omri Bronstein, Gal Eyal, Yossi Loya
Summary: Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are light-dependent coral associated communities found at depths of 30-150 meters. Corals inhabiting these deeper reefs are acclimatized to limited and blue-shifted light conditions. Research on two mesophotic coral species showed minor differences in the photosynthetic abilities of different fluorescence morphs, with no evidence supporting the enhancement of photosynthesis through wavelength transformation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Ecology
T. Shlesinger, D. Akkaynak, Y. Loya
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian R. Voolstra, Jacob J. Valenzuela, Serdar Turkarslan, Anny Cardenas, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Gabriela Perna, Carol Buitrago-Lopez, Katherine Rowe, Monica Orellana, Nitin S. Baliga, Suman Paranjape, Guilhem Banc-Prandi, Jessica Bellworthy, Maoz Fine, Sarah Frias-Torres, Daniel J. Barshis
Summary: Corals from the northern Red Sea, particularly the Gulf of Aqaba, have exceptionally high bleaching thresholds, suggesting a historical selection process for increased heat tolerance. Gene expression and microbiome response differed significantly between Gulf of Aqaba and central Red Sea corals, indicating distinct thermal tolerance mechanisms that may impact coral populations' response to ocean warming.
Article
Microbiology
Vanessa N. Bednarz, Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water, Renaud Grover, Jean-Francois Maguer, Maoz Fine, Christine Ferrier-Pages
Summary: The study reveals the importance of diazotrophic nitrogen sources for the nitrogen budget of Stylophora pistillata corals in the Northern Red Sea, suggesting that nitrogen assimilation may come from planktonic diazotrophs rather than coral-associated diazotrophs. The presence of nifH genes does not necessarily imply functionality.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Chloe A. Pupier, Renaud Grover, Maoz Fine, Cecile Rottier, Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water, Christine Ferrier-Pages
Summary: Hard coral symbioses have higher nitrogen assimilation rates compared to soft coral symbioses, possibly due to the former's reliance on dissolved nitrogen assimilation by algal symbionts while the latter prefer to obtain nitrogen through heterotrophic feeding. This study highlights the different nutritional strategies of soft and hard coral symbioses, with potential implications for coral growth in reefs with varying water quality.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Netanel Kramer, Raz Tamir, Or Ben-Zvi, Steven L. Jacques, Yossi Loya, Daniel Wangpraseurt
Summary: The study found that the optical traits of coral skeletons are adjusted to ambient light conditions and contribute to the microalgal demands for sufficient light, resulting in a spatially efficient photosymbiotic system. Mesophotic corals absorbed up to three times more light than shallow corals, showcasing excellent photosynthetic response under low light conditions. The enhanced light-harvesting capacity of mesophotic corals was achieved by redistributing light through optical scattering in the coral skeleton.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alice C. A. Blanckaert, Dario Omanovic, Maoz Fine, Renaud Grover, Christine Ferrier-Pages
Summary: Climate change-induced increase in seawater temperature has caused coral bleaching, but corals in the northern Red Sea show tolerance due to the frequent dust storms that supply essential bioelements. Dust deposition enhances photosynthesis and metal bioaccumulation in corals, highlighting its role in sustaining coral productivity in the Red Sea reefs.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Christine Ferrier-Pages, Vanessa Bednarz, Renaud Grover, Yehuda Benayahu, Jean-Francois Maguer, Cecile Rottier, Joerg Wiedenmann, Maoz Fine
Summary: This study examined the photosynthesis rates and assimilation rates of dissolved inorganic carbon and nitrogen in mesophotic coral ecosystems, revealing limited autotrophic capacities in soft coral symbionts at mid-lower depths. Nitrogen limitation and high carbon to nitrogen ratios in host tissues of certain soft coral species may contribute to their scarcity in deeper waters compared to shallow reefs. Overall, nitrogen availability appears to be significant for the distribution of the Cnidarian- Symbiodiniaceae association in mesophotic depths.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Correction
Ecology
Raymond B. Banister, Melbert T. Schwarz, Maoz Fine, Kim B. Ritchie, Erinn M. Muller
Article
Ecology
Raymond B. Banister, Melbert T. Schwarz, Maoz Fine, Kim B. Ritchie, Erinn M. Muller
Summary: This study focused on the differences in microbial communities of the seagrass species Cymodocea nodosa in natural environments, revealing that the microbial community of seagrass leaves remains consistent under different pH conditions, indicating a potential resilience of seagrass to environmental changes.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Guilhem Banc-Prandi, Neta Baharier, Tal Benaltabet, Adi Torfstein, Gilad Antler, Maoz Fine
Summary: This study investigated the physiological response of the common and thermally tolerant scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata to Cu contamination and elevated seawater temperatures, revealing that elevated temperatures can affect coral's antioxidant capacity and recovery ability. Successful recovery was achieved only at ambient temperature, while elevated temperatures resulted in reduced Cu bioaccumulation and photosynthetic yield.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Nicolas R. Evensen, Christian R. Voolstra, Maoz Fine, Gabriela Perna, Carol Buitrago-Lopez, Anny Cardenas, Guilhem Banc-Prandi, Katherine Rowe, Daniel J. Barshis
Summary: Global warming is causing unprecedented loss of species and habitats. Tropical coral reefs are particularly affected, with an increasing number of reefs experiencing mass bleaching and mortality. Therefore, there is a need for a standardized experimental approach to assess coral thermal limits and predict their survival across regions.
Article
Ecology
Ronen Liberman, Tom Shlesinger, Yossi Loya, Yehuda Benayahu
Summary: Many species display phenological shifts and differences in response to climate change. This study focused on the reproductive activity of the soft coral Rhytisma fulvum and found that fewer reproducing colonies were found in habitats deeper than 30 m. The study also showed that an increase in seawater temperature correlated with the onset of reproductive activity along the depth gradient, leading to different reproductive periodicities in different depths. The results suggest that depth may not provide a long-term and viable refuge for corals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Netanel Kramer, Raz Tamir, Claudia Tatiana Galindo-Martinez, Daniel Wangpraseurt, Yossi Loya
Summary: Urbanization and infrastructure development have caused changes in the night-time light regime of coastal marine habitats, and Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is now a global ecological concern for nearshore coral reef ecosystems. In this study, we conducted a long-term ex situ experiment to investigate the effects of ALAN on the morphology and optical properties of juvenile Stylophora pistillata corals. Corals exposed to ALAN showed altered skeletal morphology and reduced light capture capacity, but also exhibited better structural and optical modifications in response to increased light levels. Additionally, light-polluted corals developed a more porous skeleton compared to control corals. We suggest that ALAN induces light stress in corals, leading to decreased solar energy available for photosynthesis during the day.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Or Ben-Zvi, Eyal Ofer, Gal Eyal, Yossi Loya
Summary: Coral bleaching, a major threat to coral reefs globally, has been extensively studied, but mesophotic corals at depths of 30 to 150 m have not been well studied under thermal stress. Experimentally, high-fluorescence corals bleached after short-term thermal stress in summer, while low-fluorescence corals did not bleach in winter despite elevated temperatures. Differences in fluorescence suggest its potential benefits under thermal stress, supporting the use of coral fluorescence as a noninvasive tool for early bleaching detection.