TY - JOUR

T1 - Metabolic performance and thermal and salinity tolerance of the coral Platygyra carnosa in Hong Kong waters

AU - Dellisanti, Walter

AU - Tsang, Ryan HL

AU - Ang Jr, Put

AU - Wu, Jiajun

AU - Wells, Mark L

AU - Chan, Leo L

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Stress-tolerant coral species, such as Platygyra spp., are considered to be well adapted to survive in marginal reefs, but their physiological response to short term exposure to abnormally high temperature and lowered salinity remains poorly understood. Using non-invasive techniques to quantitatively assess the health of Platygyra carnosa (e.g. respiration, photosynthesis, biocalcification and whiteness), we identified the plasticity of its energetics and physiological limits. Although these indicators suggest that it can survive to increasing temperature (25–32 °C), its overall energetics were seriously diminished at temperatures >30 °C. In contrast, it was well adapted to hyposaline waters (31–21 psu) but with reduced biocalcification, indicating short term adaptation for expected future changes in salinity driven by increased amounts and intensities of precipitation. Our findings provide useful insights to the effect of these climate drivers on P. carnosa metabolism and thus better forecast changes in their health status under future climate change scenarios.

AB - Stress-tolerant coral species, such as Platygyra spp., are considered to be well adapted to survive in marginal reefs, but their physiological response to short term exposure to abnormally high temperature and lowered salinity remains poorly understood. Using non-invasive techniques to quantitatively assess the health of Platygyra carnosa (e.g. respiration, photosynthesis, biocalcification and whiteness), we identified the plasticity of its energetics and physiological limits. Although these indicators suggest that it can survive to increasing temperature (25–32 °C), its overall energetics were seriously diminished at temperatures >30 °C. In contrast, it was well adapted to hyposaline waters (31–21 psu) but with reduced biocalcification, indicating short term adaptation for expected future changes in salinity driven by increased amounts and intensities of precipitation. Our findings provide useful insights to the effect of these climate drivers on P. carnosa metabolism and thus better forecast changes in their health status under future climate change scenarios.

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111005

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111005

M3 - Journal article

VL - 153

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

SN - 0025-326X

M1 - 111005

ER -