2018 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Potential of coral resilience in an acidifying ocean
| Project/Area Number |
17K17621
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | ocean acidification / coral / ETSA / mitochondria / resilience |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The study of mitochondrial activities on additional coral species from the Shikine CO2 seep confirmed the trend observed during FY2017 and further analysis showed that species resilient to OA have the potential to allocate more energy towards skeletal growth compare to less resilient species. These conclusions were presented at the Japanese Coral Reef Symposium and a paper is now in preparation. In addition the effect of OA on coral larvae using microsensors from corals species from Shikine and Vulcano, Italy, showed that OA does not affect their metabolism. A transplantation of juvenile at the CO2 seep in Shikine and Vulcano is now being done. After multiple tests, data is being acquired on the pH micro environment of different coral morphologies to test its link with OA resilience.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The results obtained on the link between mitochondrial activities and OA resilience suggest that the hypothesis tested was correct. I am now checking if this can be true on juvenile corals in addition to adult colonies.
The system built for microsensor measurements of the pH micro-environment of different coral morphologies is working well.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The FY2019 will be used to write the paper on mitochondria and OA resilience. Additional experiment on the resilience of juveniles will be conducted. Data on pH microenvironment will be acquired.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Less microsensors were purchased during FY2018 but they will be purchased during FY2019 to continue measurements.
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