Can benthic algae mediate larval behavior and settlement of the coral Acropora muricata?

The resilience of coral reefs relies significantly on the ability of corals to recover successfully in algal-dominated environments. Larval settlement is a critical but highly vulnerable stage in the early life history of corals. In this study, we analyzed how the presence of two upright fleshy alga...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coral reefs 2014-06, Vol.33 (2), p.431-440
Main Authors: Denis, V., Loubeyres, M., Doo, S. S., de Palmas, S., Keshavmurthy, S., Hsieh, H. J., Chen, C. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acropora
Algae
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cnidaria. Ctenaria
Coral reefs
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Life Sciences
Marine biology
Marine ecology
Mesophyllum
Oceanography
Padina
Sargassum mcclurei
Sea water ecosystems
Synecology
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Summary:The resilience of coral reefs relies significantly on the ability of corals to recover successfully in algal-dominated environments. Larval settlement is a critical but highly vulnerable stage in the early life history of corals. In this study, we analyzed how the presence of two upright fleshy algae, Sargassum mcclurei (SM) and Padina australis (PA), and one crustose coralline algae, Mesophyllum simulans (MS), affects the settlement of Acropora muricata larvae. Coral larvae were exposed to seawater flowing over these algae at two concentrations. Larval settlement and mortality were assessed daily through four variables related to their behavior: swimming, substratum testing, metamorphosis, and stresses. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, algal growth, and photosynthetic efficiency were monitored throughout the experiment. Results showed that A. muricata larvae can settle successfully in the absence of external stimuli (63 ± 6 % of the larvae settled in control treatments). While algae such as MS may stimulate substrate testing and settlement of larvae in the first day after competency, they ultimately had a lower settlement rate than controls. Fleshy algae such as PA, and in a lesser measure SM, induced more metamorphosis than controls and seemed to eventually stimulate settlement. A diverse combination of signals and/or modifications of microenvironments by algae and their associated microbial communities may explain the pattern observed in coral settlement. Overall, this study contributes significantly to the knowledge of the interaction between coral and algae, which is critical for the resilience of the reefs.
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/s00338-014-1127-4