Reduced heterotrophy in the stony coral Galaxea fascicularis after life-long exposure to elevated carbon dioxide

• DOI: 10.1038/srep27019
• Publication Date: 2016-06-03T09:35:25Z
• Authors: Joy N. Smith; Julia Strahl; Sam H. C. Noonan; Gertraud M. Schmidt; Claudio Richter; Katharina E. Fabr...
• Keywords: Ocean Acidification; Autotroph

Abstract Ocean acidification imposes many physiological, energetic, structural and ecological challenges to stony corals. While some corals may increase autotrophy under ocean acidification, another potential mechanism alleviate of the adverse effects on their physiology is heterotrophy. We compared feeding rates Galaxea fascicularis colonies that have lived entire lives conditions at natural carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) seeps with living present-day CO conditions. When provided same quantity composition zooplankton as food, acclimatized high showed 2.8 4.8 times depressed feeding. Results were consistent over four experiments, from two expeditions both in field chamber measurements. Unless replenished by other sources, reduced uptake G. likely entail a shortage vital nutrients, potentially jeopardizing health survival future oceans.