Abstract
Anthropogenic-driven accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and projected ocean acidification have raised concerns regarding the eventual impact on coral reefs. This study demonstrates that skeleton-producing corals grown in acidified experimental conditions are able to sustain basic life functions, including reproductive ability, in a sea anemone‐like form and will resume skeleton building when reintroduced to normal modern marine conditions. These results support the existence of physiological refugia, allowing corals to alternate between nonfossilizing soft-body ecophenotypes and fossilizing skeletal forms in response to changes in ocean chemistry. This refugia, however, does not undermine the threats to reef ecosystems in a high carbon dioxide world.
Keywords
Ocean acidificationCoral reefReefCoralScleractiniaCarbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphereEcosystemCoral bleachingCarbon dioxideEcologyOceanographyEnvironmental scienceAnthozoaSea anemoneBiologyClimate changeCnidariaGeology
MeSH Terms
AnimalsAnthozoaBiomassCalcificationPhysiologicCalcium CarbonateCarbon DioxideEcosystemEukaryotaHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationSeawaterSymbiosis
Affiliated Institutions
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Publication Info
- Year
- 2007
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 315
- Issue
- 5820
- Pages
- 1811-1811
- Citations
- 315
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Maoz Fine,
Dan Tchernov
(2007).
Scleractinian Coral Species Survive and Recover from Decalcification.
Science
, 315
(5820)
, 1811-1811.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1137094
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.1137094
- PMID
- 17395821