Influence of thermal stress and bleaching on heterotrophic feeding of two scleractinian corals on pico-nanoplankton

The feeding strategies of Montipora digitata and Porites lutea, two dominant corals in the Okinawan reefs, were investigated. The focus was on pico- and nanoplankton feeding efficiencies, using 6-h incubations. Although healthy M. digitata consumed from 72% to 87% more pico-nanoplankton cells than P...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2020-09, Vol.158, p.111405-111405, Article 111405
Main Authors: Sangmanee, Kanwara, Casareto, Beatriz E., Nguyen, The Duc, Sangsawang, Laddawan, Toyoda, Keita, Suzuki, Toshiyuki, Suzuki, Yoshimi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bleaching
Carbon/nitrogen ratio
Cells
Coral bleaching
Coral feeding
Coral reefs
Corals
Feeding
Feeding rates
Heat
Heat stress
Heat tolerance
Montipora digitata
Nannoplankton
Organic matter
Pico-nanoplankton
Porites lutea
Thermal stress
Threatened species
Vulnerability
Water heating
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The feeding strategies of Montipora digitata and Porites lutea, two dominant corals in the Okinawan reefs, were investigated. The focus was on pico- and nanoplankton feeding efficiencies, using 6-h incubations. Although healthy M. digitata consumed from 72% to 87% more pico-nanoplankton cells than P. lutea, feeding rates of bleached corals of both species were similarly low at heat stress (33 °C). Heterotrophic carbon acquisition with respect to dark respiration varied from 3% to 65% in M. digitata and from 7% to 68% in P. lutea. A decrease in the feeding efficiency of bleached M. digitata under heat stress shows its vulnerability to water heating events. Feeding rates of P. lutea were low under all conditions and treatments; therefore, this species is less vulnerable to heat stress due to the strategy of meeting metabolic costs by using translocated organic matter from endoliths and selecting pico-nanoplankton cells with a high C/N ratio. •Pico-nanoplankton feeding was assessed in two scleractinian corals from Okinawa.•Heterotrophy is important in recovery from prolonged bleaching events.•Bleached Montipora digitata under heat stress dramatically decreased feeding rates.•Bleached Porites lutea corals under heat stress prefer a diet with a high C/N ratio.•Porites lutea is relatively resistant to prolonged bleaching events.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111405