Reproduction of the Azooxanthellate Coral Caryophyllia inornata Is Not Affected by Temperature Along an 850 km Gradient on the Western Italian Coast

Marchini, Chiara; Tortorelli, Giada; Guidi, Elena; Airi, Valentina; Falini, Giuseppe; Dubinsky, Zvy; Goffredo, Stefano

doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00785

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…As a proxy of warming, a latitudinal gradient of temperature along the coast of Italy where zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate corals are found (8° range) has been studied [ 50 ]. Azooxanthellate corals were more resistant to increased temperature, with Leptopsammia pruvoti and Caryophyllia inornata having the same growth rate [ 51 , 52 ] and the same reproductive efficiency at the different sites [ 53 , 54 ]. In contrast, zooxanthellate corals were more affected by increased temperature with inhibition of calcification and a decrease in reproduction efficiency along the gradient of temperature for Balanophyllia europaea , possibly owing to inhibition of photosynthesis at elevated temperature [ 55 , 56 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of two temperate scleractinian corals to projected ocean warming and marine heatwaves

Carbonne,

Comeau,

Plichon

et al. 2024

R. Soc. Open Sci.

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The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of global change, particularly exposed to ocean warming and the increasing occurrence of marine heatwaves (MHWs). However, experiments based on long-term temperature data from the field are scarce. Here, we investigate the response of the zooxanthellate coral Cladocora caespitosa and the azooxanthellate coral Astroides calycularis to future warming and MHWs based on 8 years of in situ data. Corals were maintained in the laboratory for five months under four temperature conditions: Warming (3.2°C above the in situ mean from 2012 to 2020), Heatwave (temperatures of 2018 with two heatwaves), Ambient ( in situ mean) and Cool (deeper water temperatures). Under the Warming treatment, some C. caespitosa colonies severely bleached and A. calycularis colonies presented necrosis. Cladocora caespitosa symbiosis was impaired by temperature with a decrease in the density of endosymbiotic algae and an increase in per cent whiteness in all the treatments except for the coolest. Recovery for both species was observed through different mechanisms such as regrowth of polyps of A. calycularis and recovery of pigmentation for C. caespitosa . These results suggest that A. calycularis and C. caespitosa may be resilient to heat stress and can recover from physiological stresses caused by heatwaves in the laboratory.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of two temperate scleractinian corals to projected ocean warming and marine heatwaves

Carbonne,

Comeau,

Plichon

et al. 2024

R. Soc. Open Sci.

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“…Notwithstanding, our current knowledge on the reproductive biology of scleractinians from temperate and cold waters is still scarce, in particular regarding the Mediterranean ( Goffredo et al, 2006 ). Indeed, reproductive data of Mediterranean corals mostly originates from observations of the species Caryophyllia smithii , Balanophyllia regia , Leptosammia pruvoti , Astroides calycularis and Cladopsammia rolandi by Lacaze-Duthiers (1873) , as well as from Balanophyllia europea ( Goffredo, Arnone & Zaccanti, 2002 ), L. pruvoti ( Goffredo et al, 2005 , 2006 ), A. calycularis ( Goffredo et al, 2010 , 2011 , Terrón-Sigler, 2016 ), Cladocora caespitosa ( Kružić, Žuljević & Nikolić, 2008 ) and Caryophyllia inornata ( Caroselli et al, 2017 ; Goffredo et al, 2012 ; Marchini et al, 2020 ) which have been studied most recently. From these species, only C. smithii, C. inornata and L. pruvoti cover a wide bathymetric range, from shallow waters to more than 150 m in depth ( Altuna & Poliseno, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive characteristics and gametogenic cycle of the scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia ramea

Orejas,

Antón-Sempere,

Terrón-Sigler

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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The present study marks a pioneering investigation into the reproductive cycle of the scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia ramea. This is one of the first reproduction studies conducted in the Mediterranean Sea for a colonial azooxanthellate coral. Coral samples were collected in 2017 (May and October) and 2018 (February and July) in the Alborán Sea (SW Mediterranean). This location was selected due to its rarity as one of the few sites where this species thrives at depths shallower than 40 m. These samples were used to study the sexual patterns, fertilization mechanisms and gametogenic cycles by means of histological techniques. To broaden the scope, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) data from open access databases have been considered to explore the potential influence of these environmental factors as triggers for gamete development and spawning time. The findings cast D. ramea as a gonochoric species, since no hermaphroditic specimens were observed among the analysed samples. Additionally, the lack of larvae and embryos in any of the analysed polyps, suggest that this species is fertilised externally. Two oocyte cohorts have been detected simultaneously, hinting at a yearly reproductive cycle, characterised by a prolonged oocyte maturation and seasonal spawning period taking place between August and October. Nevertheless, D. ramea display a low fecundity compared to other scleractinians inhabiting deep waters. Lastly, the early stages of gametogenesis seem to be coupled with the highest Chl-a values (i.e., March and December), whereas spawning takes place throughout the warmest period of the year (August to October).

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“…Reproduction has a fundamental role in the population structure, dynamics, and distribution of benthic animals, which are an important component of marine ecosystems. Studying reproductive traits can provide relevant evolutionary information, which may be crucial for understanding the short-and long-term impacts of climate change that are occurring in the Mediterranean Sea (Airi et al, 2014;Airi et al, 2017;Gizzi et al, 2017;Marchini et al, 2020;Marchini et al, 2021). Within Scleractinian corals, the current global knowledge on reproduction is the result of many decades of research in which studies have identified an exceptional diversity in the reproductive patterns (Harrison and Wallace, 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual reproduction and biometry of the non-zooxanthellate papillose cup coral Paracyathus pulchellus

Marchini

Fossati²,

Cerpelloni³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Basic information on the reproductive biology of many scleractinian corals species is limited or entirely lacking, particularly from temperate zones, though it is essential for a better understanding of their ecology. This study describes the morphological aspects and the annual cycle of gametogenesis and biometric parameterss of the papillose cup coral Paracyathus pulchellus collected at Palinuro (Italy, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea), filling a knowledge gap about the reproductive biology of a widespread Mediterranean and Northern Atlantic coral. Samples of P. pulchellus were collected by SCUBA diving between 5- and 10-meters depth during 18 monthly collections from June 2010 to December 2011. Sexually active polyps displayed either oocytes or spermaries, indicating that P. pulchellus was gonochoric. The sex ratio of sexually active polyps was 1:1. Gametogenesis began with undifferentiated germ cells arose in the gastrodermis that migrated towards the mesoglea of the mesentery where they completed the development. During spermatogenesis, spermary diameter increased from 25 to 83 µm. Oocyte diameter ranged from 9 to 146 µm and during oogenesis the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio decreased due to the accumulation of yolk. The nucleus migrated to the periphery of the oocyte adhering closely to the cell membrane. No embryo was observed in the coelenteric cavity of the polyps, suggesting an external development of planktotrophic larvae due to the small-sized mature oocytes and a possible broadcast spawning reproductive mode. Gonadal index of both females and males increased significantly from August until November and fertilization took place from November to January. Only sexually inactive individuals were observed from February to April, suggesting a quiescence period in both males and females. Seasonal variations in water temperature and photoperiod may have a key role in regulating gametogenesis. The analysis of the main biometric parameters (polyp width, height, dry skeletal mass, volume, surface/volume ratio and bulk skeletal density) showed a negative correlation between size and skeletal density, and no sexual dimorphism.

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Reproduction of the Azooxanthellate Coral Caryophyllia inornata Is Not Affected by Temperature Along an 850 km Gradient on the Western Italian Coast

Cited by 4 publications

References 51 publications

Response of two temperate scleractinian corals to projected ocean warming and marine heatwaves

Response of two temperate scleractinian corals to projected ocean warming and marine heatwaves

Reproductive characteristics and gametogenic cycle of the scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia ramea

Sexual reproduction and biometry of the non-zooxanthellate papillose cup coral Paracyathus pulchellus

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