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High rates of nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) on coral skeletons following bleaching mortality

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Abstract

Nubbins of the coral Acropora aspera were artificially bleached and nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) rates were measured on the developing epilithic communities. Seasonal comparisons were made between corals that died in summer of heat stress and corals that died in winter from natural cold stress. Rates of acetylene reduction from artificially bleached corals peaked at 26.66 nmol cm−2 h−1 2 weeks after summer mortality, while rates from natural winter mortality peaked at 18.07 nmol cm−2 h−1 12 days after coral death. Comparative rates of acetylene reduction taken from live corals and coral rubble ranged between 0.56 and 1.16 nmol cm−2 h−1, and 0.15 and 12.77 nmol cm−2 h−1, respectively. N2-fixation rates from dead corals were up to 30 times greater than those measured on live corals. The observed increase in N2-fixation from dead corals may increase the availability of nitrogen for use in trophic processes within the reef for an extended period following the initial mortality event. If the spatial scale over which coral mortality has occurred in past thermal bleaching events is considered the ramifications of such an increase may be substantial.

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Acknowledgments

MD would like to thank J. Davy, P. Fisher. A. Grinham and the management and staff of Heron Island Research Station for their assistance during the project. MD especially thanks G. Kerven and R. Diocares for analytical assistance, as well as O. Hoegh-Guldberg, S.K. Davy, I. Tibbetts and O. Pantos for reviewing the manuscript. The authors would also like to acknowledge the financial assistance of the Cooperative Research Centre for Reef Research and the Global Education Fund-World Bank Coral Bleaching Program.

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  1. Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    M. Davey, G. Holmes & R. Johnstone

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  1. M. Davey
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  2. G. Holmes
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  3. R. Johnstone
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Correspondence to M. Davey.

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Communicated by Biology Editor M.P. Lesser.

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Davey, M., Holmes, G. & Johnstone, R. High rates of nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) on coral skeletons following bleaching mortality. Coral Reefs 27, 227–236 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0316-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0316-9

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