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Calcification rates in the lower photic zone and their ecological implications

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A Correction to this article was published on 25 September 2023

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Abstract

Photosymbiotic corals inhabit depths 0–170 + m and form the foundation of coral reef ecosystems by creating complex habitats with their calcium carbonate skeletons. While well studied in shallow waters, almost nothing is known about their basic biology & ecology at depths > 60 m. Here, we report on the first measurements of skeletal density and coral calcification rates from Leptoseris spp. growing at depths of 70–111 m in Hawaii. These corals have very thin, nonporous, skeletons that are considerably denser (2.7 g cm−3) than most shallow water corals. Their calcification rates (0.042–0.085 g cm−2 yr−1) are the lowest ever reported for a photosymbiotic scleractinian coral and ~ 20–40 times lower than the dominant shallow water corals in Hawaii. Given their colony geometry, calcification rate and tissue biomass productivity (per unit area) are tightly coupled, and a constant calcification rate leads to an increasing radial extension rate with colony size. These growth parameter relationships contrast sharply with hemispheroidal colonies in shallow water. Despite their extremely low calcification rates, these corals are very productive at increasing planar area over time, which is consistent with their phototrophic strategy at depth.

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Acknowledgements

This research was made possible by funding from the JSPS Invitational Fellowship for Research in Japan (Fellowship ID L20527) and by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL). Special thanks to T. Kirby, M. Cremer and the HURL staff for operational support with the Pisces IV/V submersibles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1000 Pope Road, HI, 96822, Honolulu, USA

    Sam Kahng

  2. Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Sapporo, Japan

    Sam Kahng, Takumi Kishi, Ryohei Uchiyama & Tsuyoshi Watanabe

  3. Kikai Institute for Coral Reef Sciences, 1523 Shiomichi, Kikai, Oshima District, Kagoshima, 891-6151, Kikai Town, Japan

    Sam Kahng & Tsuyoshi Watanabe

  4. Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8047, Kyoto, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Watanabe

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  1. Sam Kahng
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  2. Takumi Kishi
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  3. Ryohei Uchiyama
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  4. Tsuyoshi Watanabe
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Correspondence to Sam Kahng.

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Kahng, S., Kishi, T., Uchiyama, R. et al. Calcification rates in the lower photic zone and their ecological implications. Coral Reefs 42, 1207–1217 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-023-02410-7

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