Potential of coral resilience in an acidifying ocean

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17621
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental dynamic analysis; Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: AGOSTINI Sylvain 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (20700107)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 造礁サンゴ / 海洋酸性化 / 適応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Both laboratory experiments and field studies at natural analogues for ocean acidification (OA) have highlighted different responses among coral species, with some showing a stronger resistance than others. We showed that the fast growing tabular and branching corals Acropora solitaryensis was more sensitive to both temperature and OA stresses than the slow growing sub-massive coral Porites heronensis. In the case of the tabular species, mor strong variation in the pH at the surface of the coral. Using resistant and sensitive corals from CO2 seeps, we showed that resistant species have the potential to invest more energy in inorganic growth (calcification) compare to sensitive species that allocated more energy towards somatic growth. Finally, we showed for two sensitive species, that OA increase the respiration rates of the early life stage planula larvae, and that it could impair their capacity to respond to chemical cues required for their settlement.

Free Research Field

海洋生理生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

サンゴの群集組成の将来予測が求められている中、海洋酸性化に対するその適応メカニズムを知ることが必要である。本プロジェクトでは、サンゴの群体形状および生理的特色が適応性の決定要因になることを明らかにした。その特色は種特異的であり、海洋酸性化が生じるタイムスケールでは、脆弱種が新たに適応性を獲得するとは考えにくい。更に海洋酸性化はサンゴの幼生にも負の影響を与えることが示された。これらの影響は、海洋酸性化がサンゴの群集組成の激変を引き起こすことを意味している。