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. 2013:3:1457.
doi: 10.1038/srep01457.

Red coral extinction risk enhanced by ocean acidification

Carlo Cerrano  1 , Ulisse Cardini, Silvia Bianchelli, Cinzia Corinaldesi, Antonio Pusceddu, Roberto Danovaro
Affiliations

Red coral extinction risk enhanced by ocean acidification

Carlo Cerrano et al. Sci Rep. 2013.

Abstract

The red coral Corallium rubrum is a habitat-forming species with a prominent and structural role in mesophotic habitats, which sustains biodiversity hotspots. This precious coral is threatened by both over-exploitation and temperature driven mass mortality events. We report here that biocalcification, growth rates and polyps' (feeding) activity of Corallium rubrum are significantly reduced at pCO2 scenarios predicted for the end of this century (0.2 pH decrease). Since C. rubrum is a long-living species (>200 years), our results suggest that ocean acidification predicted for 2100 will significantly increases the risk of extinction of present populations. Given the functional role of these corals in the mesophotic zone, we predict that ocean acidification might have cascading effects on the functioning of these habitats worldwide.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Daily mass change (%) of coral colonies exposed to different levels of acidification compared to control conditions.
Illustrated are changes estimated for the entire duration of the long-term experiment (0–45 days) (a) and for different time intervals (0–10, 10–30 and 30–45 days) (b).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Relative abundance (%) of cross and capstain newly-accreted sclerites in the three experimental conditions.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Comparison of axial skeleton structures of corals exposed to natural pCO2 and to acidification.
(A), (B) the apex and the axial skeleton under natural conditions. (C), (D) the apex and the axial skeleton under acidified conditions. In the insets a detail for each phase.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Comparison of the two types of coral sclerites exposed to natural pCO2 and to acidification.
(A),(B) capstan and cross-shaped sclerites under natural conditions, respectively. (C),(D) capstan and cross-shaped sclerites under acidified conditions, respectively with evident signs of altered calcification. In the insets a detail for each phase.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Coral's polyps activity and the percentage of open polyps in the three treatments during the short- and long-term experiments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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