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Intergeneric Differences in Trophic Status of Scleractinian Corals From Weizhou Island, Northern South China Sea: Implication for Their Different Environmental Stress Tolerance
Author(s) -
Xu Shendong,
Yu Kefu,
Zhang Zhinan,
Chen Biao,
Qin Zhenjun,
Huang Xueyong,
Jiang Wei,
Wang Yixuan,
Wang Yinghui
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8961
pISSN - 2169-8953
DOI - 10.1029/2019jg005451
Subject(s) - zooxanthellae , coral , porites , acropora , biology , trophic level , ecology , symbiosis , genetics , bacteria
Abstract The knowledges of trophic status (i.e., autotrophy/heterotrophy) of corals are helpful for understanding the mechanisms driving their environmental stress tolerance and bleaching resilience. We conducted this study to elucidate the differences in trophic status among corals of different genera and then explore the implication of trophic status for their different environmental stress tolerance. In this study, 117 coral samples including five genera (i.e., relatively stress‐tolerant massive genera Porites , Favites , and Favia and relatively vulnerable plating genus Pavona and branching genus Acropora ) were collected from Weizhou Island, northern South China Sea. The symbiotic zooxanthellae density, δ 13 C of host tissues (δ 13 C h ), and symbiotic zooxanthellae (δ 13 C z ) were measured. Besides, the difference in values between δ 13 C h and δ 13 C z (i.e., △ h‐z 13 C) was analyzed. Our results indicated that both zooxanthellae density and δ 13 C z values of Porites , Favites , and Favia are higher than that of Pavona and Acropora and indicate that autotrophic photosynthesis intensity of symbiotic zooxanthellae of Porites , Favites , and Favia is higher than that of Pavona and Acropora . Besides, both δ 13 C h and △ h‐z 13 C of Porites , Favites , and Favia are lower than that of Pavona and Acropora and indicate a higher contribution of heterotrophic predation to the coral host of Porites , Favites , and Favia . These comparisons suggest that trophic status of relatively stress‐tolerant Porites , Favites , and Favia is more plasticity than vulnerable Pavona and Acropora , which is conducive to maintain a positive energy budget. This is one of important factors leading to different environmental stress tolerance and bleaching resilience among corals of different genera.