Effect of hyposalinity on coral bleaching and survival in a hard (Pocillopora damicornis) and soft coral (Sarcophyton sp.)
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Published
Aug 11, 2021
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Abstract
This study investigates the effect of hyposalinity on coral bleaching in a species of hard coral (Pocillopora damicornis) and a soft coral (Sarcophyton sp.). Corals were exposed to ambient seawater (32 psu) and reduced-salinity seawater (15 psu and 25 psu) for 32 days. Both the hard coral and soft coral were highly affected by the salinity level of 15 psu. Fragments of Pocillopora damicornis were 90% bleached within four days and died after five days of exposure to salinity levels of 15 psu. Similarly, Sarcophyton sp. was 50%-95% bleached within four days and died after seven days of exposure. Both corals were less impacted by exposure to salinity levels of 25 psu and 32 psu; P. damicornis and Sarcophyton sp. were partially bleached but survived until the end of the experiment. We report that P. damicornis is more susceptible to hyposalinity than Sarcophyton sp. The results of this study can serve as basic information for managers regarding the release of freshwater into areas of the ocean with coral reefs. The study also suggests that salinity monitoring during rainy seasons or flooding may allow prediction of future coral bleaching caused by these low-salinity events.
Keywords: rainfall, bleaching, scleractinian, soft corals, hyposalinity
References
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352(6283), 338–342.
Berkelmans, R., Jones, A. M., & Schaffelke, B. (2012). Salinity thresholds of Acropora spp. on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 31, 1103–111.
Brown, B. (1997). Coral bleaching: causes and consequences. Coral Reef, 16, S129–S138.
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Chavanich, S., Viyakarn, V., Loyjiw, T., Pattaratamrong, P., & Chankong, A. (2009). Mass bleaching of soft coral, Sarcophyton spp. in Thailand and the role of temperature and salinity stress. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66(7), 1515–1519.
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Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Mumby, P. J., Hooten, A. J., Steneck, R. S., Greenfield, P., Gomez, E., … Hatziolos, M. E. (2007). Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. Science, 318, 1737–1742.
Hughes, T. P., Anderson, K. D., Connolly, S. R., Heron, S. F., Kerry, J. T., Lough, J. M., … Wilson, S. K. (2018). Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene. Science, 359(6371), 80–83.
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Kerswell, A. P., & Jones, R. J. (2003). Effects of hypo-osmosis on the coral Stylophora pistillata: nature and cause of ‘low-salinity bleaching’. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 253, 145-154.
Kongjandtre, N., & Chankong, A. (2015). Reproduction in Scleractinian corals following bleaching 2010 and flooding 2011 in Rayong Province. Burapha Science Journal, 20(1), 83-94.
Kuanui, P., Chavanich, S., Viyakarn, V., Omori, M., & Lin, C. (2015). Effects of temperature and salinity on survival rate of cultured corals and photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae in coral tissues. Ocean Science Journal, 50(2), 263-268.
Moberg, F., Nystorm, M., Kautsky, N., Tedengren, M., & Jarayabhan, P. (1997). Effects of reduced salinity on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration in the hermatypic corals Porites lutea and Pocillopora damicornis. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 157, 53-59.
Pengsakun, S., Yeemin, T., Sutthacheep, M., Samsuvan, W., Klinthong, W., & Chamchoy, C. (2019). Monitoring of coral communities in the inner Gulf of Thailand influenced by the elevated seawater temperature and flooding. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 38(1), 102-111. http://dx.doi.org/:doi:10.10
07/s13131-019-1376-8
Saramul, S., & Ezer, T. (2014). On the dynamics of low latitude, wide and shallow coastal system: numerical simulations of the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Ocean Dynamics, 64, 557-571.
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True, J. D. (2012). Salinity as structuring force for near shore coral communities. In D. Yellowlees & T. P. Hughes (Eds.), Proceeding of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, held in Cairns, Australia, 9-13 July 2012 (pp. 9-13). Cairns: Queensland.
van Woesik, R., De Vantier, L. M., & Glazebrook, J. S. (1995). Effects of cyclone ‘Joy’ on nearshore coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 128, 261-270.
Wattayakorn, G. (2006). Environmental issues in the Gulf of Thailand. In E. Wolanski (Ed.), The Environment in Asia Pacific Harbours (pp. 249–259). The Netherlands: Springer, Dordrecht.
Wilkinson, C. R. (2000). Worldwide coral reef bleaching and mortality during 1998: A global climate change warming for the new millennium? In C. Sheppard (Ed.), Seas at the millennium: and environmental evaluation (pp. 43-57). New York: Elsevier.
(2016). Climate change disables coral bleaching protection on the Great Barrier Reef. Science,
352(6283), 338–342.
Berkelmans, R., Jones, A. M., & Schaffelke, B. (2012). Salinity thresholds of Acropora spp. on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 31, 1103–111.
Brown, B. (1997). Coral bleaching: causes and consequences. Coral Reef, 16, S129–S138.
Buranapratheprat, A., Yanagi, T., & Matsumura, S. (2008). Seasonal variations in water column conditions in the upper Gulf of Thailand. Continental Shelf Research, 28, 2509-2522.
Buranapratheprat, A., Luadnakrob, P., Yanagi, T., Morimoto, A., & Qiao, F. (2016). The modification of water column conditions in the Gulf of Thailand by the influences of the South China Sea and monsoonal winds. Continental Shelf Research, 118, 100-110.
Chavanich, S., Viyakarn, V., Loyjiw, T., Pattaratamrong, P., & Chankong, A. (2009). Mass bleaching of soft coral, Sarcophyton spp. in Thailand and the role of temperature and salinity stress. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66(7), 1515–1519.
Coles, S. L. (1992). Experimental comparison of salinity tolerances of reef corals from the Arabian Gulf and Hawaii. Evidence for hyperhaline adaptation. In R. H. Richmond (Ed.), Proceedings of the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium held in Guam, Micronesia, 22-27 June 1992 (pp. 227-234). University of Guam Press.
Coles, S. L., & Jokiel, P. L. (1992). Effects of salinity on coral reefs. In D.W. Connell & D.W. Hawker (Eds.), Pollution in Tropical Aquatic Systems (pp. 147-166). London: CRC Press.
Eakin, C. M., Sweatman, H. P. A., & Brainard, R. E. (2019). The 2014–2017 global-scale coral bleaching event: insights and impacts. Coral Reefs, 38, 539–545.
English, S., Wilkinson, C., & Baker. (1997). Survey manual of Tropical Marine Resources (2nd ed.). Townsville: Australian Institute Resources.
Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (1999). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world's coral reefs. Marine and Freshwater Research, 50, 839-866.
Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2011). Coral reef ecosystems and anthropogenic climate change. Regional Environmental Change, 11, 215-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-010-0189-2
Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Mumby, P. J., Hooten, A. J., Steneck, R. S., Greenfield, P., Gomez, E., … Hatziolos, M. E. (2007). Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. Science, 318, 1737–1742.
Hughes, T. P., Anderson, K. D., Connolly, S. R., Heron, S. F., Kerry, J. T., Lough, J. M., … Wilson, S. K. (2018). Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene. Science, 359(6371), 80–83.
Jokiel, P. L., Hunter, C. L., Taguchi, S., & Watarai, L. (1993). Ecological impact of a fresh water "kill" on the reefs of Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Coral Reefs, 12, 177–184.
Kerswell, A. P., & Jones, R. J. (2003). Effects of hypo-osmosis on the coral Stylophora pistillata: nature and cause of ‘low-salinity bleaching’. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 253, 145-154.
Kongjandtre, N., & Chankong, A. (2015). Reproduction in Scleractinian corals following bleaching 2010 and flooding 2011 in Rayong Province. Burapha Science Journal, 20(1), 83-94.
Kuanui, P., Chavanich, S., Viyakarn, V., Omori, M., & Lin, C. (2015). Effects of temperature and salinity on survival rate of cultured corals and photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae in coral tissues. Ocean Science Journal, 50(2), 263-268.
Moberg, F., Nystorm, M., Kautsky, N., Tedengren, M., & Jarayabhan, P. (1997). Effects of reduced salinity on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration in the hermatypic corals Porites lutea and Pocillopora damicornis. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 157, 53-59.
Pengsakun, S., Yeemin, T., Sutthacheep, M., Samsuvan, W., Klinthong, W., & Chamchoy, C. (2019). Monitoring of coral communities in the inner Gulf of Thailand influenced by the elevated seawater temperature and flooding. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 38(1), 102-111. http://dx.doi.org/:doi:10.10
07/s13131-019-1376-8
Saramul, S., & Ezer, T. (2014). On the dynamics of low latitude, wide and shallow coastal system: numerical simulations of the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Ocean Dynamics, 64, 557-571.
Studivan, M. S., Hatch, W. I., & Mitchelmore, C. L. (2015). Responses of the soft coral Xenia elongata following acute exposure to a chemical dispersant. SpringerPlus, 4, 1–10.
True, J. D. (2012). Salinity as structuring force for near shore coral communities. In D. Yellowlees & T. P. Hughes (Eds.), Proceeding of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, held in Cairns, Australia, 9-13 July 2012 (pp. 9-13). Cairns: Queensland.
van Woesik, R., De Vantier, L. M., & Glazebrook, J. S. (1995). Effects of cyclone ‘Joy’ on nearshore coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 128, 261-270.
Wattayakorn, G. (2006). Environmental issues in the Gulf of Thailand. In E. Wolanski (Ed.), The Environment in Asia Pacific Harbours (pp. 249–259). The Netherlands: Springer, Dordrecht.
Wilkinson, C. R. (2000). Worldwide coral reef bleaching and mortality during 1998: A global climate change warming for the new millennium? In C. Sheppard (Ed.), Seas at the millennium: and environmental evaluation (pp. 43-57). New York: Elsevier.
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Research Articles
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How to Cite
KONGJANDTRE, Narinratana et al.
Effect of hyposalinity on coral bleaching and survival in a hard (Pocillopora damicornis) and soft coral (Sarcophyton sp.).
Naresuan University Journal: Science and Technology (NUJST), [S.l.], v. 30, n. 2, p. 38-49, aug. 2021.
ISSN 2539-553X.
Available at: <https://www.journal.nu.ac.th/NUJST/article/view/Vol-30-No-2-2022-38-49>. Date accessed: 19 apr. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.14456/nujst.2022.14.