TY - JOUR
T1 - The combined effects of ocean acidification and copper on the physiological responses of the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata
AU - Cryer, Sarah
AU - Schlosser, Christian
AU - Allison, Nicola
N1 - We thank the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland who contributed to the purchase of equipment used in this study (Award SG367).
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - A decrease in ocean pH of 0.3 units will likely double the proportion of dissolved copper (Cu) present as the free metal ion, Cu2+, the most bioavailable form of Cu, and one of the most common marine pollutants. We assess the impact of ocean acidification and Cu, separately and in combination, on calcification, photosynthesis and respiration of sub-colonies of a single tropical Stylophora pistillata colony. After 15 days of treatment, total calcification rates were significantly decreased in corals exposed to high seawater pCO2 (~1000-µatm, 2100 scenario) and at both ambient (1.6 - 1.9 nmols) and high (2.5 - 3.6 nmols) dissolved Cu concentrations compared to controls. The effect was increased when both stressors were combined. Coral respiration rates were significantly reduced by the combined stressors after 2 weeks of exposure, indicating the importance of experiment duration. It is therefore likely rising atmospheric CO2 will exacerbate the negative effects of Cu pollution to S. pistillata.
AB - A decrease in ocean pH of 0.3 units will likely double the proportion of dissolved copper (Cu) present as the free metal ion, Cu2+, the most bioavailable form of Cu, and one of the most common marine pollutants. We assess the impact of ocean acidification and Cu, separately and in combination, on calcification, photosynthesis and respiration of sub-colonies of a single tropical Stylophora pistillata colony. After 15 days of treatment, total calcification rates were significantly decreased in corals exposed to high seawater pCO2 (~1000-µatm, 2100 scenario) and at both ambient (1.6 - 1.9 nmols) and high (2.5 - 3.6 nmols) dissolved Cu concentrations compared to controls. The effect was increased when both stressors were combined. Coral respiration rates were significantly reduced by the combined stressors after 2 weeks of exposure, indicating the importance of experiment duration. It is therefore likely rising atmospheric CO2 will exacerbate the negative effects of Cu pollution to S. pistillata.
KW - Coral
KW - Copper
KW - Ocean acidification
KW - Calcification
KW - Respiration
U2 - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105610
DO - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105610
M3 - Article
SN - 0141-1136
VL - 176
JO - Marine Environmental Research
JF - Marine Environmental Research
M1 - 105610
ER -