Effects of climate change and light limitation on coral recruits

Brunner, Christopher A., Ricardo, Gerard F., Uthicke, Sven, Negri, Andrew P., and Hoogenboom, Mia O. (2022) Effects of climate change and light limitation on coral recruits. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 690. pp. 65-82.

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Abstract

Climate change impacts and light attenuation from suspended sediments due to runoff, natural resuspension or dredging, can both impede the replenishment of coral populations. Here we tested the independent and combined impacts of climate change (current temperature and dissolved CO2, and two future climate scenarios) and a one-month-long light attenuation period at 5 different light levels (0.1 to 4 mol photons m−2 d−1) on early Acropora millepora recruits. Additionally, we evaluated whether the effects were age dependent by comparing responses of recruits that were one-month-old (‘early attenuation’) vs two months old (‘late attenuation’). Recruit survival, size and Symbiodiniaceae densities increased slightly under moderate future climate conditions (current temperature +0.44°C, 692 ppm pCO2), but decreased under a more severe climate scenario (+0.94°C, 985 ppm pCO2). Light attenuation significantly decreased recruit survival, size and Symbiodiniaceae densities only for recruits exposed to the late attenuation, suggesting an increasing reliance on photosynthesis as recruits age. Under the more severe climate scenario tested, recruit survival was diminished by both climate change (≤ 18 ± 4 [SE]% in the early attenuation) and light limitation (≤ 32 ± 6% in the late attenuation) compared with controls. However, there was no interaction between future climate scenarios and light attenuation indicating these effects were additive. This study demonstrates the potential effects of light limitation and future climate conditions on coral recruitment success and highlights the need to manage the timing of sediment-generating activities near reefs to optimise light availability for several months post-settlement.

Item ID: 74370
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1616-1599
Keywords: Water quality, Runoff, Sediment, Turbidity, Dredging
Copyright Information: © The authors 2022. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are unrestricted. Authors and original publication must be credited.
Funders: AIMS@JCU, NESP Tropical Water Quality Hub
Date Deposited: 05 Jun 2022 23:11
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation > 410102 Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation @ 80%
41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410404 Environmental management @ 20%
SEO Codes: 19 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS > 1901 Adaptation to climate change > 190101 Climate change adaptation measures (excl. ecosystem) @ 50%
18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180505 Measurement and assessment of marine water quality and condition @ 50%
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