Ocean acidification and warming alter photosynthesis and calcification of the symbiont-bearing foraminifera Marginopora vertebralis

Sinutok, Sutinee; Hill, Ross; Kühl, Michael; Doblin, Martina A.; Ralph, Peter J.

doi:10.1007/s00227-014-2494-7

Cited by 26 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 55 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although extracellular calcification may be more sensitive to changes in seawater chemistry, Gibbs et al [ 75 ] showed that the effects of ocean acidification were only evidenced when paired with elevated temperatures, in accordance with the outcome of previous studies [e.g. 11 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. Interestingly, similar findings were observed during a mesocosm experiment performed at the CRETACOSMOS mesocosm facility in HCMR Crete, where acidification alone (amendment to IPCC 2100 predictions) seemed to produce a short term enhancement of total phytoplankton biomass; warming alone had a similar effect but on primary production while acidification coupled to warming (greenhouse effect) seemed to further enhance the observed responses of phytoplankton community to each climatic stressor, respectively [ 79 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Coccolithophore community response along a natural CO2 gradient off Methana (SW Saronikos Gulf, Greece, NE Mediterranean)

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A natural pH gradient caused by marine CO2 seeps off the Methana peninsula (Saronikos Gulf, eastern Peloponnese peninsula) was used as a natural laboratory to assess potential effects of ocean acidification on coccolithophores. Coccolithophore communities were therefore investigated in plankton samples collected during September 2011, September 2016 and March 2017. The recorded cell concentrations were up to ~50 x103 cells/l, with a high Shannon index of up to 2.8, along a pH gradient from 7.61 to 8.18, with values being occasionally <7. Numerous holococcolithophore species represented 60–90% of the surface water assemblages in most samples during September samplings. Emiliania huxleyi was present only in low relative abundances in September samples, but it dominated in March assemblages. Neither malformed nor corroded coccolithophores were documented. Changes in the community structure can possibly be related to increased temperatures, while the overall trend associates low pH values with high cell densities. Our preliminary results indicate that in long-termed acidified, warm and stratified conditions, the study of the total coccolithophore assemblage may prove useful to recognize the intercommunity variability, which favors the increment of lightly calcified species such as holococcolithophores.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Coccolithophore community response along a natural CO2 gradient off Methana (SW Saronikos Gulf, Greece, NE Mediterranean)

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…M. vertebralis , A. radiata , and H. depressa photosynthesis did not show significant change in laboratory OA incubations (Vogel & Uthicke, 2012). On the other hand, in a different study, photosynthesis rates of M. vertebralis decreased at lower pH in laboratory experiments (Reymond et al, 2013; Sinutok et al, 2011, 2014). Decreased maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), symbiont density, and chlorophyll content were also observed in OA conditions (Reymond et al, 2013; Sinutok et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Finally, it is also important to stress that while our experiments were performed at a temperature optimized for maximum growth of 25 ± 0.5°C, combined effects, especially of OA and warming, have been proven to be stressful in terms of photosynthesis (and also calcification) in both diatom‐bearing and dinoflagellate‐bearing LBF species (Schmidt et al, 2014; Sinutok et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Sensitivity of a Symbiont‐Bearing Foraminifer to Seawater Carbonate Chemistry in a Decoupled DIC‐pH Experiment

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) are unicellular eukaryotic calcifying organisms and an important component of tropical and subtropical modern and ancient oceanic ecosystems. They are major calcium carbonate producers and important contributors to primary production due to the photosynthetic activity of their symbiotic algae. Studies investigating the response of LBF to seawater carbonate chemistry changes are therefore essential for understanding the impact of climate changes and ocean acidification (OA) on shallow marine ecosystems. In this study, calcification, respiration, and photosynthesis of the widespread diatom-bearing LBF Operculina ammonoides were measured in laboratory experiments that included manipulation of carbonate chemistry parameters. pH was altered while keeping dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) constant, and DIC was altered while keeping pH constant. The results show clear vulnerability of O. ammonoides to low pH and CO 3 2− under constant DIC conditions, and no increased photosynthesis or calcification under high DIC concentrations. Our results call into question previous hypotheses, suggesting that mechanisms such as the degree of cellular control on calcification site pH/DIC and/or enhanced symbiont photosynthesis in response to OA may render the hyaline (perforate and calcitic-radial) LBF to be less responsive to OA than porcelaneous LBF. In addition, manipulating DIC did not affect calcification when pH was close to present seawater levels in a model encompassing the total population size range. In contrast, larger individuals (>1,200 μm, >1 mg) were sensitive to changes in DIC, a phenomenon we attribute to their physiological requirement to concentrate large quantities of DIC for their calcification process. Plain Language Summary Large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are unicellular marine organisms that build calcium carbonate shells and live in association with oxygen-producing photosymbiotic algae. They are a significant component of tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems and play an important role in the chemical and biological balance of the oceans. Studies investigating the response of these organisms to ocean acidification are essential for understanding the impact of future ocean acidification on shallow subtropical costal systems. In this study, growth rates and oxygen production of a widespread LBF species were measured in laboratory experiments that manipulated key carbonate chemistry parameters. The results show clear vulnerability of this species to lower pH, regardless of the levels of dissolved inorganic carbon (which is the sum of all inorganic carbon in seawater). This finding calls into question recent suggestions that differences in the vulnerability of foraminiferal species relates to shell structure and type of symbionts. Rather, our results highlight that these factors do not necessarily offer protection against ocean acidification. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the impact of increasing carbon dioxide and ocean acidification on a key group...

show abstract

“…During the late Paleocene to early Eocene global warming larger foraminifera were increasingly favored over coral reefs as the dominant carbonate producing organisms in oligotrophic environments, as their biodiversity, size and abundance increased when Tethyan coral reefs declined 40 41 . The potential survival and success of this heat-tolerant species is not certain under global warming, as in recent times both warming and ocean acidification, and other anthropogenic stressors occur in combination, and interactive effects have been shown experimentally on other larger foraminifera 17 42 . It seems highly probable that future reefs will see a transition to dominance of certain larger foraminifera, together with algae over corals 43 ; however this would lower reef function and biodiversity considerably.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extremely heat tolerant photo-symbiosis in a shallow marine benthic foraminifera

Schmidt

Titelboim

Brandt

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bleaching, the loss of algal symbionts, occurs in marine photosymbiotic organisms at water temperatures minimally exceeding average summer SST (sea surface temperatures). Pre-adaptation allows organisms to persist under warmer conditions, providing the tolerance can be carried to new habitats. Here we provide evidence for the existence of such adaptation in the benthic foraminifera Pararotalia calcariformata. This species occurs at a thermally polluted site in the Mediterranean, where water temperatures reach a maxima daily average of 36 °C during the summer. To test whether this occurrence represents a widespread adaptation, we conducted manipulative experiments exposing this species from an unpolluted site to elevated temperatures (20–42 °C). It was kept in co-culture with the more thermally sensitive foraminifera Amphistegina lobifera in two experiments (20–36 °C). Reduced photosynthetic activity in A. lobifera occurred at 32 °C whereas photochemical stress in P. calcariformata was first observed during exposure to 36 °C. Pararotalia calcariformata survived all treatment conditions and grew under 36 °C. The photosymbiosis in P. calcariformata is unusually thermally tolerant. These observations imply that marine eukaryote-eukaryote photosymbiosis can respond to elevated temperatures by drawing on a pool of naturally occurring pre-adaptations. It also provides a perspective on the massive occurrence of symbiont-bearing foraminifera in the early Cenozoic hothouse climate.

show abstract

Ocean acidification and warming alter photosynthesis and calcification of the symbiont-bearing foraminifera Marginopora vertebralis

Cited by 26 publications

References 55 publications

Coccolithophore community response along a natural CO2 gradient off Methana (SW Saronikos Gulf, Greece, NE Mediterranean)

Coccolithophore community response along a natural CO2 gradient off Methana (SW Saronikos Gulf, Greece, NE Mediterranean)

Differential Sensitivity of a Symbiont‐Bearing Foraminifer to Seawater Carbonate Chemistry in a Decoupled DIC‐pH Experiment

Extremely heat tolerant photo-symbiosis in a shallow marine benthic foraminifera

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About