Scleractinian Coral Species Survive and Recover from Decalcification
Abstract
Anthropogenic-driven accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and projected ocean acidification has 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 finding does not undermine the threats to reef ecosystems in a high carbon dioxide world.
- Publication:
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Science
- Pub Date:
- March 2007
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2007Sci...315.1811F
- Keywords:
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- ECOLOGY