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Assessing metabolic changes in the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata during gametogenesis using a newly developed diver-portable underwater and non-intrusive respirometer

Published Article

Puerto Rico

Publication date: December 19, 2024

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This study measured in situ metabolic rates of the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata throughout its gametogenic cycle to test whether reproduction alters key physiological processes. Using a diver‑portable CISME respirometer in Puerto Rico, researchers tracked respiration, photosynthesis and calcification from April to September 2018. Results show clear metabolic shifts and reduced calcification near the end of the reproductive cycle, supporting the hypothesis that energy is reallocated from growth to gamete production. This is the first study to document coral metabolic changes in ambient conditions across an entire gametogenic cycle.

Subject Tags

  • Conservation Technology
  • Life Sciences
  • Reefs

Abstract

Coral reefs are declining at alarming rates due to the synergistic effects of natural and anthropogenic impacts. Natural recovery is dependent on reproductive success of the main reef-building species. Assessing metabolic activity and its variability over biological processes such as reproduction in scleractinian corals has been a challenging task. The main question of this study was if the high-energy process of gametogenesis affects other important metabolic processes (calcification, growth, etc.) by diverting energy to the production of eggs in scleractinian corals. Therefore, the goals of this study were to characterize the changes/variability in metabolic demands of the Caribbean, reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia, Cnidaria) throughout the gametogenic cycle. To answer this question changes in the respiration, photosynthesis, and calcification rates were measured in six large, tagged, healthy-looking colonies in Turrumote reef, La Parguera Natural Reserve on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. Four incubations lasting 20 minutes each were done between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the surface of each colony once a month, from April to September, 2018, to measure respiration and photosynthesis rates using a newly developed, diver-portable, non-invasive respirometer called Community In Situ Metabolism (CISME). Water samples were collected from the surrounding water and from the incubation chamber to measure total alkalinity (TA) to calculate calcification rates. Results indicate changes in respiration, photosynthesis and calcification rates, suggesting energy translocation during gametogenesis. The energy translocation hypothesis is supported by lower calcification rates obtained by the end of the reproductive cycle, indicating a probable transition from asexual to sexual reproduction. This study is the first to measure metabolic rates in ambient conditions in situ along the gametogenic process of a scleractinian coral.

Citation

González-Casañas, F., Croquer, A., Cruz-Motta, J. J., & Weil, E. (2024). Assessing Metabolic Changes in the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata During Gametogenesis Using a Newly Developed Diver-Portable Underwater and Non-Intrusive Respirometer. Caribbean Journal of Science, 54(2), 566-583. https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v54i2.a31

TNC Authors