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Environmental gradients drive physiological variation in Hawaiian corals

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Abstract

To evaluate potential coral adaptive mechanisms, we investigated physiological traits (biomass, lipid, protein, chlorophyll, and isotopic proxies for trophic strategy) in eight Hawaiian corals species along an environmental gradient of significant wave height, sea surface temperature, and seawater chlorophyll a concentration around the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. We used the amount of physiological variation expressed in corals, and the proportion of this variation that could be explained by environmental variables, to construct hypotheses about the relative capacity for each species to adapt or acclimatize to differing conditions. Genus-level analyses indicated that Montipora and Pocillopora phenotypes are influenced more strongly by the environment than Porites corals. Species-level analyses revealed that Montipora capitata and Pocillopora acuta have the widest physiological niche boundaries, whereas Porites evermanni and Pocillopora meandrina are more physiologically restricted. Correlations between individual traits and the environmental gradient provided insight into potential adaptive mechanisms employed by each species that allow them to persist in reefs such as those within Kāne’ohe Bay, where water flow is lowest, and temperature, acidity, and nutrient concentrations are highest relative to other reefs around O‘ahu. Potential adaptive mechanisms included (a) increased surface-area-to-volume ratios to facilitate higher material flux across the diffusive boundary layer and/or to maximize light harvesting (M. capitata and P. acuta), (b) strategic investment of metabolic energy toward energy reserves (Montipora and Pocillopora), (c) changes in protein management likely via differential expression and function (Porites), and d) increased chlorophyll concentration per Symbiodiniaceae cell to maximize photosynthesis (Porites compressa). Comparison of our results with established patterns in the relative abundance of these species around O‘ahu suggests that species with wide physiological niche boundaries like M. capitata and M. flabellata might be expected to do better under predicted future ocean conditions and outcompete species such as P. evermanni and P. meandrina, making them potential candidates for coral conservation efforts.

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Data availability

The data analyzed for this study are deposited at BCO-DMO https://www.bco-dmo.org/project/546273

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank J Altschuler, J Armstrong, A Arribas, L Bailey, C Criswell, S Dixon, K Dobson, K Giesy, F Hawkes, H Hayes, A Huber, C Juracka, E Kline, S Lannon, M Locatis, A Moore, M Moran, C Mortemore, L Mullins, B Nainiger, E Nguyen, Y Noggle, E O’Flynn, M Otto, K Rockwell, K Ryan, E Sambuco, A Smith, K Snyder, S Solomon, J Walters, and A Wertz for assistance with laboratory and computer analyses.

Funding

AGG obtained major funding for this research from the National Science Foundation OCE Division of Ocean Sciences (award number: 1459536). Additional support to AGG came from the HW Hoover Foundation and the National Science Foundation OCE Division of Ocean Sciences (award number 1838667) and to CPJ and RJT from UH Sea Grant (award number 2180), the National Science Foundation Ocean Acidification Program (award number: OA-1416889), and OCE Division of Ocean Sciences (award number: 1514861). RHM obtained funding for sample analyses from Sigma Xi—The Scientific Honor Society (National and Ohio State Chapter Awards).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Rowan H. McLachlan, James T. Price & Andréa G. Grottoli

  2. Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University At Mansfield, 1730 University Dr, Mansfield, OH, 44906, USA

    Agustí Muñoz-Garcia

  3. Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, 473 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Noah L. Weisleder

  4. Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i At Mānoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kāne’ohe, HI, 96744, USA

    Christopher P. Jury & Robert J. Toonen

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  1. Rowan H. McLachlan
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  2. James T. Price
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  3. Agustí Muñoz-Garcia
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  4. Noah L. Weisleder
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  7. Andréa G. Grottoli
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Contributions

AGG, CPJ, and RJT conceived of the study, wrote proposals, and secured funding. AGG and RJT supervised the study; CPJ collected samples; RHM and JTP performed the laboratory analyses; JTP performed stable isotope analyses; NW and AMG assisted with method development and facilitated use of laboratory equipment; RHM conducted the data analysis and wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed critically to drafts and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Rowan H. McLachlan.

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Samples were collected under State of Hawai‘i Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources Special Activity Permit (SAP) #2015–48.

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McLachlan, R.H., Price, J.T., Muñoz-Garcia, A. et al. Environmental gradients drive physiological variation in Hawaiian corals. Coral Reefs 40, 1505–1523 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02140-8

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