Experimental bleaching of a tropical sea anemone insitu

Finn, Maureen H., Lönnstedt, Oona M., Rizzari, Justin R., Jones, Geoffrey P., and Frisch, Ashley J. (2016) Experimental bleaching of a tropical sea anemone insitu. Marine Ecology, 37 (3). pp. 691-696.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/maec.12333
 
1


Abstract

Bleaching (whitening) of cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones has caused widespread degradation of coral reefs around the world and is therefore an urgent issue for coral reef science and conservation. Although cnidarians often bleach in aquaria, methods for experimental induction of bleaching in wild cnidarians are lacking, which impedes scientists' ability to understand the ultimate effects of bleaching on the broader ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the utility of an insitu method for experimental induction of bleaching in the tropical sea anemone Heteractis crispa. Healthy, wild anemones were covered with opaque black plastic sheets, mesh cages or left undisturbed (controls) and tentacle colour and body size were monitored with a colour reference card and flexible tape, respectively, every 1-3days for 15days. Caged and control anemones remained unchanged for the duration of the experiment, but covered anemones commenced whitening after 4-6days and were completely white after 7-14days (mean time to bleaching +/- SE=10.1 +/- 0.7days). Experimental bleaching occurred without reduction in anemone body size and was visibly similar to natural bleaching seen previously in H.crispa. We hypothesize that light-deprivation, reduced water flow, physical contact or some combination of these factors caused the bleaching. This study provides the basis for a simple and rapid method of inducing bleaching insitu, which releases scientists' dependence on sporadic natural bleaching events or artificial aquarium experiments, and provides a means to investigate the effects of bleaching on other ecosystem components such as fishes.

Item ID: 45442
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1439-0485
Keywords: climate change, coral bleaching, Great Barrier Reef, zooxanthellae
Date Deposited: 27 Jul 2016 07:46
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation > 410102 Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation @ 20%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 80%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page